Wano Country...
"Kaido?" Lily was startled for a moment.
Sage said nothing, just stared at Shintaro.
"No, it's not Kaido."
Shintaro's gaze was deep, "It's Wano Country! Those who still retain Oden's spirit in Wano Country! As long as you take revenge on them, that's enough!"
Sage raised his hand slightly, "Get up."
Shintaro stood up, and only then did he grin and say, "Why do you have such an idea?"
For Sage, Wano Country was a place even stronger-willed than the Fur Race.
Of course, not everyone there was strong-willed. He remembered there was some alliance later, where pirates and samurai served Kaido.
But those with the bloodline and more than half of the people were headstrong fools, still infected by the good son's virus.
The more capable they were, the more stubborn they became, completely different from Faust.
Especially with a familial legacy...
In Wano Country, the general's child is a general, the daimyo's child is a daimyo, the samurai's child is a samurai, the commoner's child is a commoner. Each path has a lineage.
Even those who wander overseas aren't exceptions.
Oden, even those samurai who joined Kaido would never have dared to rebel when that guy was around.
Yet now a person without a surname actually wants revenge on Wano Country...
"My parents died because of it!"
Shintaro had a tense face, "They talked endlessly about Oden's benevolence, said how great Oden was, but I was young then and couldn't refute it. Also because of my parents' benevolence, I didn't want to refute it."
"But I don't understand..."
He clenched his fist tightly, looking directly at Sage, "What benevolence can a man who gave up resisting have to speak of? What Oden, what daimyo, what general! Why does everyone respect a guy who's no good to his subjects? If it weren't for him, how could my parents harp on and on about him, even at the moment of their death, still telling me not to forget Oden's benevolence!"
"I... don't think he has any benevolence towards me, nor do the people in Wano Country have the right to talk about qualifications! I don't know if Kaido is an enemy, but Oden surely is!"
In fact, he was ready to set sail himself to find Sage at the time.
Growing up in an environment that required him to be grateful to a person who abandoned his family and lineage, Shintaro not only failed to become the shape his parents wished, but became more rebellious instead.
He didn't like Oden, especially after hearing about Kaido's invasion, and how Oden was boiled alive. He disliked him even more then.
Because he didn't die resisting...
Why not use his strength for something strange?
The more Shintaro learned, the more he didn't understand, ultimately leading him to feel immense resentment towards Wano Country when his parents died with regret for it.
He was their child!
Oden was not!
He couldn't even live his freest life!
Though his parents also lost their parents because of Oden's non-resistance in that battle, because of Oden's actions, he lost his brother and sister!
Focused on resentment like this, he settled down locally, originally thinking he would never go to Wano Country, just staying here as a blacksmith would be enough.
But over time, that resentment stuck to him like a maggot in the bone, not only not dissipating but growing thicker.
Rather than seeking revenge, it's more that he just wants to retaliate against Wano Country, to show them he could live well without Oden's influence.
But the more this was the case, the more he needed to go to Wano Country.
Yet on this vast sea, who could help him retaliate...
Kaido?
He didn't like him either.
This was the culprit that made him stranded abroad.
Big Mom, he didn't want to sacrifice his lifespan, and he was of low standing so she'd never go to Wano Country for him.
Red Hair... never seen him.
Until Sage and Teach became famous on the sea, he began to pay attention, but guys like that, though quasi-Four Emperors, were still far from truly being Four Emperors.
After all, Wano Country is Kaido's turf.
It wasn't until Sage became a new Four Emperor that he focused on collecting his rumors, and one thing made him decide.
He killed all the aristocrats in his territory!
If the issue with the Heavenly Celestial Dragon was a coincidence, then this action must point to his character.
This is someone who doesn't care about lineage!
Will definitely help him fulfill his revenge on Wano Country!
Just that the Four Emperors' territory was too dangerous, no ship ever dared to go. Just as Shintaro was going to set sail himself, the opportunity came!
He joined the Revolutionary Army and arrived here.
"Interesting..."
Sage clapped his hands, "Your eyes are interesting, I like you, Ah Qiang."
Not those ambitious eyes, but those resentful ones, wanting to use the human body to accomplish something seemingly impossible, like defying the heavens.
This is someone unwilling to be bound by predetermined fate.
"My name is Shintaro." Shintaro corrected.
Sage laughed, "Alright, you can hope for me to lead and help fulfill your revenge on Wano Country. Kaido, sooner or later, has to be fought, but you must prove your abilities to me."
Not to say if he's small fry he wouldn't fulfill his wishes; on the contrary, he's happy to fulfill the dreams and ambitions of each subordinate, as long as it doesn't conflict with him.
However, there are too many small fry subordinates, he can't remember them all, it's a very real problem.
The greater the skill, the more noticeable by him, gaining the right to fulfill their requests first.
"You won't be disappointed, Your Highness!"
Shintaro knelt again, bowing deeply to Sage, "I will serve you and show you my capabilities! If needed, I will craft for you, to the best of my abilities, a weapon and armor!"
Can't say armor is ineffective, especially if swords are effective, then good armor is also effective.
Back then, Krieg's gilded armor dominated the East Sea.
Nowadays, the Twinkle-Twinkle Fruit consumed by Weevil is also a form of armor.
Just the yield doesn't cover as much as weapons.
"Forget about me, I use fists, don't need it for now."
Sage said, "However, there is indeed a task for you. If you complete it, Ah Qiang, I'll find a place for you in the Disaster Pirates."
He still remembered Lily's sword needed consolidation and upgrading.
Renedia was clueless about forging such swords, and the power of technology and factories just couldn't forge swords surpassing those famed blades across the sea.
So let traditional artisans do it.
Perhaps they could achieve it, allowing Lily's sword to upgrade again, integrate with the sword capable of releasing lightning.
If done well, they might even open a new line of business.