The night was deep, and Oden Castle was enveloped in silence, with only Kaido's residence brightly lit.
Within the spacious washitsu-style room, candle flames flickered, illuminating the figures sitting in a circle. Kaido sat cross-legged in the seat of honor. To his left was Queen, puffing on a cigar; to his right was King, wearing his mask. Urouge leaned against a wall, while the Fish-Man Sebastian knelt respectfully at the lower end.
The air was filled with a faint mix of tobacco smoke and the aroma of sake, creating a relaxed atmosphere.
Queen was the first to break the silence, his trademark laughter echoing in the room. "Muhahaha, Boss Kaido, these Wano Country fools are way too easy to trick, aren't they?" His corpulent body shook with laughter, cigar smoke swirling above his head. "They actually believe that idiot Kozuki Oden would voluntarily hand over his Daimyo position to you and then set sail in search of freedom."
King gave a slight nod, his steady voice coming from beneath the mask. "According to intelligence, the vast majority of the populace in the Kuri region have accepted this story. Although a small number of samurai still hold hostility toward us, the overall situation is proceeding far more smoothly than anticipated." He paused, then continued, "Many people are even preparing to accept Big Brother Kaido's rule."
Kaido tilted his head back and took a swig of strong liquor, the liquid dripping down his beard. His hearty laughter made the candle flames flicker. "Wororororo! It was just a casual attempt, but I didn't expect it to work this well." He put down the sake jug, a gleam flashing in his eyes. "It seems the schemes and political maneuvers of this world are far too childish compared to the methods I remember. These samurai are too naïve; they don't even engage in the most basic suspicion."
The atmosphere in the room grew livelier with Kaido's words. Queen exhaled smoke rings excitedly, clearly pleased with this unexpected progress. Urouge, leaning against the wall, thoughtfully stroked his chin as if contemplating something. Sebastian maintained a respectful posture, but a light of anticipation shone in his eyes.
Kaido suddenly turned to his Fish-Man subordinate, his tone becoming serious. "Sebastian." His voice was deep and powerful, instantly quieting the entire room.
"Your orders, Captain," Sebastian immediately straightened his back and responded respectfully. His gills trembled slightly, betraying his inner tension.
Kaido spoke slowly. "With Kozuki Oden suddenly gone, his retainers must be in a state of confusion right now." His fingers lightly tapped the sake jug. "I want you to focus on getting close to Kawamatsu, that Fish-Man samurai. Use your shared heritage to slowly gain his trust." He paused, a calculating gleam flashing in his eyes. "Eroding the Oden retainers' hostility toward us from within is far more effective than direct confrontation. Do you understand my meaning?"
"I understand, sir," Sebastian nodded gravely, his voice firm. "I will approach him as a fellow Fish-Man and gradually earn his trust. As one of Oden's retainers, Kawamatsu must possess important information."
Kaido nodded in satisfaction and stood up, walking to the window. His tall figure cast a huge shadow in the candlelight, nearly enveloping the entire room. "Wano Country is just the beginning," he said with his back to the others. "After we fully control this place, I will designate a sea area specifically for the Fish-Man race to inhabit." He turned around, his gaze fixed directly on Sebastian. "I know your people have always yearned to live in seas under the sunlight, not in the deep, sunken Fish-Man Island. When the time comes, you will return to Fish-Man Island as a hero and share this good news with your brethren!"
Sebastian's eyes instantly lit up. He dropped to one knee, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "Captain's great kindness and virtue, this subordinate will never forget! I will certainly live up to your trust!" His fish tail swayed unconsciously, revealing the surging emotions within.
Kaido walked back to his seat and poured himself another cup of sake. He looked at King and continued, "In a while, we'll need to find a way to go to the Flower Capital." His eyes grew profound. "King, whether we can take Wano Country with ease will depend on you then. I need you to make preparations in advance."
King nodded, his voice from beneath the mask still steady. "Big Brother Kaido, leave it to me. I will ensure everything proceeds smoothly."
...
The Flower Capital, inside the Shogun's castle.
Bang! A loud sound echoed as Kozuki Sukiyaki's fist slammed heavily onto the wooden table, rattling the tea set upon it. The current Shogun of Wano Country had a livid expression, veins bulging on his forehead. "What did you say? That scoundrel Oden not only violated the ban by going to sea privately, but before leaving, he abdicated his Daimyo position to a pirate?!"
"Y-yes, Lord Sukiyaki," Denjiro knelt prostrate on the floor, his forehead pressed tightly against the tatami mat, cold sweat trickling down his cheek. As the representative of the Nine Red Scabbards, he was under immense pressure at this moment. Originally, everyone had agreed to conceal this matter and find Lord Oden before the news spread. But as the news got out on its own, they had no choice but to send a representative to report. Denjiro had "fortunately" drawn the short straw in the lottery.
"That damned fool!" Sukiyaki stood up abruptly, the sleeves of his kimono flapping. "Does he treat our ancestral laws as a joke? I hereby announce I am severing all father-son ties with him!"
"Please, calm your anger!" Denjiro hastily kowtowed, his forehead knocking thump-thump against the wooden floor. He could feel the Shogun's rage swirling in the room like a tangible force, making the very air feel scorching.
"Calm down? How can I calm down!" Sukiyaki swept aside a nearby screen, the exquisite lacquer painting shattering into pieces. "I thought that boy had turned over a new leaf, so I specifically restored his inheritance rights. And now he dares... he dares..."
Denjiro lowered his body even further, sighing inwardly: Lord Oden, why must you take this path of no return?
After a long while, Sukiyaki barely managed to rein in his emotions and asked in a deep voice, "What is the background of this pirate named Kaido? Why would Oden entrust Kuri to him?"
"Reporting, my lord," Denjiro straightened up slightly. "At the time, this subordinate was away from Kuri on official business. According to Kanjuro and the others, this person was originally a traveler passing through Wano Country. After clashing with Lord Oden, they developed a mutual respect. During the banquet that night, Lord Oden proposed the abdication, but was dissuaded by everyone. Who knew that at dawn the next day, he would hijack the other party's ship and set sail, leaving behind an official abdication document."
Sukiyaki narrowed his eyes, his fingers unconsciously tapping the scabbard of his sword. "So, this is indeed Oden's handwritten decree?"
"Beyond any doubt," Denjiro took a deep breath and finally voiced the true purpose of his visit. "Now, Kuri is leaderless. We humbly request the Shogun's guidance on how to proceed."
Dead silence fell upon the room, broken only by the rhythmic dripping of the water clock.
After a long while, Sukiyaki spoke to Denjiro. "Denjiro, you are to return now and tell that pirate Kaido that I wish to see him in the Flower Capital."
"Yes, Lord Sukiyaki," Denjiiro replied upon hearing this.
***
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