The night was deep, and Oden Castle was shrouded in silence, with only Kaidou's residence brightly lit.
Inside the spacious Japanese-style room, candlelight flickered, illuminating several figures seated in a circle. Kaidou sat cross-legged in the main seat. To his left was Queen, chomping on a cigar, and to his right was the masked King. Urouge leaned against the wall, while the Fish-man Sebastian knelt respectfully in a lower position.
The air was filled with the faint smell of tobacco and the aroma of sake, a mixture that created a relaxing atmosphere.
Queen was the first to break the silence, his signature laugh echoing through the room. "Mwahahaha, Boss Kaidou, are the fools of this Wano Country a little too easy to trick?" His corpulent body jiggled as he laughed, cigar smoke swirling above his head. "They actually believe that idiot Kouzuki Oden would voluntarily give up his position as Daimyo to you and then set sail to find freedom."
King nodded slightly, his steady voice coming from behind the mask. "According to our intelligence, the vast majority of people in the Kuri region have accepted this story. Although a few Samurai are still hostile toward us, the overall situation is much smoother than we anticipated." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Many people are even preparing to accept Big Bro Kaidou's rule."
Kaidou tilted his head back and chugged a mouthful of strong liquor, which dripped down from his beard. His heroic laughter made the candle flames dance. "Worororo! I was just giving it a casual try, I didn't expect it to work so well." He set down his sake gourd, a glint of cunning in his eyes. "It seems the art of political maneuvering in this world is far too naive compared to the methods I remember. These Samurai are too simple-minded; they don't even possess the most basic sense of suspicion."
The atmosphere in the room grew livelier with Kaidou's words. Queen excitedly blew smoke rings, clearly pleased with this unexpected development. Urouge, leaning against the wall, thoughtfully stroked his chin, seemingly lost in thought. Sebastian maintained his respectful posture, but his eyes shone with anticipation.
Kaidou suddenly turned to his Fish-man subordinate, his tone becoming serious. "Sebastian." His voice was deep and powerful, instantly silencing the entire room.
"Your orders, Captain," Sebastian immediately straightened his back and replied respectfully. His gills quivered slightly, betraying his inner tension.
Kaidou spoke slowly, "With Kouzuki Oden's sudden disappearance, his retainers must be in a state of confusion." His fingers tapped lightly on the sake gourd. "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 light flashing in his eyes. "Dismantling the Oden retainers' hostility toward us from the inside is far more effective than a direct confrontation. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I understand, sir," Sebastian nodded solemnly, his voice firm. "I will approach him as a fellow kinsman and gradually earn his trust. As one of Oden's retainers, Kawamatsu is certain to possess important information."
Kaidou nodded in satisfaction and stood up, walking to the window. His towering figure cast a massive shadow in the candlelight, nearly enveloping the entire room. "Wano Country is just the beginning," he said with his back to the others. "Once we have complete control here, I will designate a sea region specifically for the Fish-man race to live in." He turned around, his gaze fixed on Sebastian. "I know your people have always longed to live in the sunlit ocean, not in Fish-Man Island, hidden deep beneath the sea. When that time comes, you will return to Fish-Man Island as a hero and tell your compatriots the good news!"
Sebastian's eyes lit up instantly. He dropped to one knee, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "Your subordinate will never forget the Captain's immense kindness! I will not fail you!" His fish tail wagged involuntarily, showing the turmoil in his heart.
Kaidou walked back to his seat and poured himself another cup of sake. He looked at King and continued, "In a while, we need to find a way to make a trip to the Flower Capital." His gaze deepened. "King, whether or not we can take Wano Country easily will depend on you then. I need you to make preparations in advance."
King nodded, his voice from behind the mask as steady as ever. "Big Bro Kaidou, leave it to me. I will ensure everything proceeds smoothly."
...
In the Flower Capital, inside the Shogun's castle.
Bang! With a loud crash, Kouzuki Sukiyaki's fist slammed down on the wooden table, sending the tea set on it rattling. The current Shogun of Wano Country's face was ashen, veins bulging on his forehead. "What did you say? Not only did that bastard Oden violate the ban and secretly go out to sea, but he also abdicated his position as Daimyo to a Pirate before he left?"
"Y-Yes, Lord Sukiyaki." Denjiro was prostrated on the floor, his forehead pressed tightly against the tatami mat as cold sweat trickled down his cheeks. As the representative of the Nine Red Scabbards, he was under immense pressure. They had all agreed to hide the matter and bring Lord Oden back before the news spread, but as it had leaked anyway, they had no choice but to send a representative to report. Denjiro had been "lucky" enough to draw the short straw.
"That bastard!" Sukiyaki shot to his feet, the sleeves of his kimono whipping through the air. "Does he treat our ancestral teachings as a joke? I'll disown him right now!"
"Please calm your anger!" Denjiro kowtowed in a panic, his forehead thudding against the wooden floor. He could feel the Shogun's rage surging through the room like a physical force, making even the air feel scorching.
"Calm down? How do you expect me to calm down!" Sukiyaki kicked over a nearby folding screen, shattering the exquisite lacquer painting. "I thought that boy had turned over a new leaf, I even specifically restored his right of succession, but he dared... he dared..."
Denjiro pressed himself even lower, sighing inwardly. Lord Oden, why did you have to walk this path of no return!
After a long moment, Sukiyaki managed to compose himself and asked in a heavy voice, "What is the background of this Pirate named Kaidou? Why would Oden entrust Kuri to him?"
"Reporting to you, my lord," Denjiro straightened up slightly. "Your subordinate was not in Kuri at the time due to official business. According to Kanjuro and the others, this man was originally a traveler passing through Wano Country who came to admire Lord Oden after they fought. At the banquet that night, Lord Oden proposed the abdication, but was dissuaded by everyone. Who would have thought that at dawn the next day, he would hijack the other party's ship to go to sea, even leaving behind a formal document of abdication."
Sukiyaki narrowed his eyes, his fingers unconsciously tapping the sheath of his sword. "So, this is indeed Oden's authentic Letter of Command?"
"It is absolutely authentic." Denjiro took a deep breath, finally stating the true purpose of his visit. "Kuri is now without a leader. We implore the Shogun for instructions on how to proceed."
The room fell into a dead silence, broken only by the dripping of the water clock.
After a long while, Sukiyaki spoke to Denjiro. "Denjiro, go back now and tell that Pirate Kaidou that I want to see him in the Flower Capital."
"Yes, Lord Sukiyaki," Denjiro replied upon hearing the command.