Meeting Kozuki Oden's blazing gaze, Tengetsu Ares smiled.
"If you want to join us, you can."
Oden's face lit up at once, but then Ares changed tone and laid down a condition.
"Next, I'm going to hold a swordsman tournament in Wano. If you can become Wano's number one samurai, then I'll allow you to join us."
A swordsman tournament?
Wano's number one samurai?
Oden's blood started racing. His whole body burned with excitement, and he agreed without hesitation.
"I'll become the strongest samurai in Wano as soon as possible!"
"Good."
Ares was very satisfied with Oden's enthusiasm. He truly did intend to hold a swordsman tournament in Wano.
And more than that, he would encourage the samurai to open all kinds of sword schools, award different badges, and make swordsmen go around challenging them and collecting those badges before participating in Wano's grand sword tournament.
It was somewhat similar to gym challenges in Pokémon.
He wanted Wano to produce more swordsmen, and stronger ones at that.
Competition.
He absolutely had to make these samurai start competing with each other.
Ares turned and left, shouting to Whitebeard, Kaido, and the others, "All right, time to head back and hold the victory banquet!"
"Oh!" Ivankov cried out excitedly, then let out a whistle. "Everybody, let's go celebrate!"
The crowd automatically parted to make way. Wano's people watched Ares and his group leave, seeing them off with their eyes.
Once they were gone, the whole place erupted into discussion.
"Ares's subordinates are all so powerful. With them around, Wano definitely won't have to fear outside invaders!"
"All the samurai lost. Ares is becoming Wano's shogun, but what if he doesn't know how to govern a country?"
"Is Wano really entering an age of opening its borders? Hey, everybody, go home and practice your swordsmanship. Otherwise, if pirates come, we won't be able to stop them."
"Even Oden is joining Ares and his people. The era of the Kozuki family is about to end."
"Well, Ares is from the Amatsuki family. He probably won't do anything reckless in Wano, right?"
The Fire Festival Night came to an end with the conclusion of the duels.
Fukurokuju reminded him, "Sukiyaki-sama, Ares and the others have left. We should return as well..."
"..."
Sukiyaki slowly raised his head and looked out over the Flower Capital.
"From now on, there's no need to call me lord anymore. Wano's shogun is now Ares..."
Shimotsuki Ushimaru dragged his injured body over, his face full of guilt and self-reproach.
"Sukiyaki-sama, I... I failed in my duty. Please strip me of my position as daimyo."
He could not help but think of his brother-in-law, Roronoa Arashi, and his elder sister, Shimotsuki Furiko, leaving Wano.
Sukiyaki halted and turned back to look at Ushimaru.
"You... you don't intend to remain a daimyo?"
Ushimaru pressed a hand to his forehead and laughed at himself bitterly.
"After losing so completely, how could I still have the face to continue serving as one of Wano's daimyo? I also want to go out to sea and see the vastness of the world for myself..."
"You..."
Sukiyaki was stunned. Now, one after another, they all wanted to set sail.
Then, a thought of relief arose in his heart.
"Perhaps the pride of the samurai has been crushed, and they simply cannot accept defeat like this..."
Ever since Ares appeared, the samurai had not won a single time. Blow after blow had utterly broken their spirit and their edge.
It had made them understand one thing.
There was always someone stronger. There was always a higher sky.
It was not only Ares. Even his subordinates were beyond them, and that had hit them hard.
Sukiyaki let out a long sigh.
"Do as you wish. I'm no longer Wano's shogun. If you want to go to sea, then go."
Like a walking corpse, he returned to the shogun's palace and sat alone in the vast, dark hall.
He stared blankly at the bright moon outside.
Behind Shimotsuki Yasuie, Kurozumi Orochi kept his head lowered, but the corners of his mouth would not stop rising.
He was overjoyed inside.
"With Ares taking the shogun's seat, my status should rise with his. After this, I won't have to keep serving as Yasuie's underling."
His mind could not help drifting into fantasies of owning a luxurious estate of his own, surrounded by women and indulging himself to his heart's content.
Then suddenly, Orochi stopped walking.
"That's right. Why am I still following Yasuie back? I should be heading to Ares's victory banquet instead, enjoying fine wine and food."
Sensing that Orochi had stopped, Yasuie turned around. He saw Orochi lift his head, his lips curled high.
Before Yasuie could ask anything, Orochi laughed and said, "Yasuie, from this moment on, I'm no longer your servant."
"....."
Yasuie froze for a moment, then waved his hand.
"Go on, then. I don't even know how many more days I can remain a daimyo. Leaving early might be the best thing for you."
As he spoke, he reached into his robes, took out a small money pouch, and tossed it to Orochi.
"Take this as your wages."
Orochi was momentarily confused by Yasuie's behavior, but he knew full well that the man...
was just too soft-hearted.
He weighed the pouch in his hand and thought, "Compared to Ares's rewards, this is pitiful. It's not even enough for two trips to the pleasure district."
Though he looked down on it, he still honestly tucked it into his robe, then turned and ran all the way toward Kuri.
His mood soared.
He could not wait to receive Ares's praise and reward, and deep down, he even hoped Ares might grant him the title of daimyo.
Kuri was brightly lit and decorated for celebration.
The Fire Festival spirit had been brought there as well, letting many of the newly settled former slaves feel, for the first time, the warmth of a new home and what it meant to truly belong somewhere.
Inside the estate, Whitebeard drained a mouthful of strong liquor and laughed.
"Gurarara... Ares, now that you've become Wano's shogun, what are you planning to do next?"
"Tch." Ares downed a huge bowl of wine and smiled.
"There's a lot to do next. Becoming Wano's shogun means the weight on my shoulders just got much heavier."
"Before Wano opens its borders, the War God Pirates must have enough strength to face challenges from every power in the world."
"Then..."
"I'll give the entire sea a surprise."
He had no intention of opening the country immediately.
Build high walls. Store abundant grain. Delay declaring yourself king.
In the world of pirates, that meant growing stronger, building military power, and postponing any claim to kingship.
After hearing Ares's plans, Whitebeard felt relieved and laughed.
"Gurarara... Once Kaido and the others mature, I doubt there'll be any pirate crew left on the sea that can stop your War God Pirates."
"Worororo..." Kaido laughed proudly at the praise. "I already told you to join us, and you refused. But in the future, our War God Pirates won't need your strength, Whitebeard."
Marco glared at Kaido indignantly.
"Stop looking down on us. Our pirate crew definitely won't lose to your War God Pirates!"
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