"What exactly do you want to do?" Izou gritted his teeth, asking each word deliberately. He couldn't understand why Wano had changed so much in just a few years. Since when did commoners have the right to exile the Shogun of Wano?
"We don't want to do anything drastic. We're just making decisions that are best for everyone given Wano's current situation," Isshin Ashina replied calmly. Normally, he wouldn't bother explaining to someone like Izou and would have simply cut him down.
"Do you realize that what you're doing will turn Wano into a pirate nation?" Izou stared intently at Isshin. After years of sailing with Whitebeard, he understood the world's political landscape. Nations were divided into those allied with the World Government and those that were not.
World Government member nations received protection from the World Government and the Navy. Non-member nations varied widely. Some couldn't afford the high fees to join, some were strong enough to remain independent, and some were so remote and underdeveloped that they hadn't formed proper nations.
Countries unable to pay the fees often became pirate nations, relying on protection from a powerful pirate crew. This was seen as a disgrace, submitting to pirate rule for protection.
"When Sukiyaki passed the throne to Orochi, when Oden left Wano for personal gain, when Kaido and Orochi ruled with brutality, when Wano's people needed the Kozuki clan the most and they did nothing, the Kozuki clan lost the right to be Wano's rulers!" Isshin Ashina's anger was palpable.
"And if it means that the elderly and children don't have to worry about food, can wear new clothes and eat meat during the New Year, and can afford medical care, then why not become a pirate nation? The glory of the Kozuki clan is your glory, not the glory of Wano's common people. If that glory doesn't benefit the people, then we don't need it!"
As Isshin Ashina finished, Lady Toki saw the cold indifference in the eyes of soldiers from Hakumai, Udon, and other regions. She fell silent.
At that moment, she began to question everything. Would the prophecy from 800 years ago really remain unchanged over time? If Momonosuke was destined to save Wano, could he do so now without the people's support? Did Wano even need saving by the Kozuki clan?
Lady Toki found herself in unprecedented doubt.
New World, waters near Wano.
…
A large stork flew through the sky, its low grumbling betraying its displeasure at the weight of its basket, which carried a large, flightless bird with wings and an unknown flame photographer.
"Stop complaining. Once we return, I'll arrange for you to have three beautiful birds and a month of all-you-can-eat gourmet food," Morgans reassured the stork. Hearing this, the bird's grumbling ceased, and it flew with renewed vigor.
"Boss, are you sure it's safe? I feel uneasy. Last time you said there was no danger in Mariejois, and I nearly got killed. I'm still terrified, you know?" The flame photographer wore a troubled expression. After the News Coo's headquarters were attacked, Morgans was furious and, in an attempt to exact revenge on the World Government and make headlines, had sent the photographer to Pangaea Castle to expose the mysterious figure who had wounded Nicholas. The photographer was almost caught by the guards at the Holy Land and had narrowly escaped.
"That was my mistake. I was too eager. Given that the Holy Land had just been attacked, of course, it was heavily guarded. But this time, you can relax. As long as we stay in Stack's basket, they won't be able to hit us." As the coastline of Wano appeared in the distance, a look of excitement spread across Morgans' face. He carefully caressed the transponder snail in his hand.
Upon hearing that the Whitebeard Pirates had gone to Wano and clashed with the Beasts Pirates, Morgans could barely contain himself. When he learned that the Nicholas Pirates were also heading to Wano, he knew a big story was coming. He even planned to live-stream the battle and announce his return in a high-profile manner.
He believed that the upcoming broadcast would firmly reestablish him in the public eye.
While Morgans was lost in thoughts of his next big scoop, the flame photographer, sitting across from him in the basket, suddenly widened his eyes in shock, as if seeing something unbelievable.
"Hey, why aren't you saying anything? And what's with that expression?" Morgans finally noticed the photographer's odd behavior and asked.
The flame photographer, trembling, pointed behind Morgans and stammered, "A-a monster!"
"What?" Morgans, already suspicious, turned to look behind him. A monster? If it was truly a monster, it would still make a great news story.
When Morgans turned around, he suddenly saw that the sea had disappeared, replaced by a gigantic wall. They were enveloped in a huge shadow, and looking up, he dropped the transponder snail into the basket, his eyes vacant as he muttered to himself, "What kind of monster is this? How can a creature be this enormous?"
Before them stood a giant elephant walking through the sea, its upper body hidden in the clouds. The seawater couldn't even cover the elephant's legs, suggesting a depth of thousands of meters. Such a size made even the largest Sea Kings seem like tiny earthworms by comparison.
The wall Morgans had seen was merely the elephant's trunk.
The stork panicked, screeching and quickly flying to the side. Once the elephant passed, both birds and the man sighed in relief.
Gulp!
The sound of swallowing echoed. Looking at the colossal elephant and its terrifying trunk, both Morgans and the flame photographer felt a wave of gratitude that the elephant hadn't swung its trunk at them, which would have turned them into mince meat.
"Boss, that monster… that monster is heading toward Wano!" the flame photographer suddenly shouted as he noticed the elephant's direction.
"What!?" Morgans quickly looked toward the elephant and saw that it was indeed moving toward Wano.