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Land of Wano
The Great Battle has concluded!!!
Kaido's death sent shockwaves throughout Wano Country, causing intense upheaval.
Those who learned of this news were all astounded. Although Kozuki Oden was defeated eighteen years ago, even now in Wano Country...
There were still many samurai loyal to Kozuki Oden resisting Orochi's rule, including the Atamayama Thieves led by Ashura Doji and others!
Kurozumi Orochi relied on Kaido's backing, Kaido's overwhelming strength made him unafraid of the samurai. The samurai all knew that without defeating Kaido, it was impossible to overthrow Kurozumi Orochi. But now... Kaido is dead!
This meant that Kurozumi Orochi had lost his support; the mountain pressing down on them had vanished. The Beasts Pirates of the Yonko Kaido were shattered in this battle, their strength reduced to less than one-tenth!
Shogun Kurozumi Orochi was overthrown and executed, and his remnants were all purged by Denjiro. Even though Wano Country urgently needed people for reconstruction, the people's unanimous demand was to bring him to justice!
Wano Country has opened a new chapter!
While conflicts among various forces on the seas intensified, Wano Country gradually calmed down. Although women could not inherit the position of Shogun, since Kurozumi Orochi's rise to power, he had destroyed the daimyos of various regions, causing the original system, where the Shogun appointed daimyos to manage different areas, to collapse!
Furthermore, with Momonosuke missing, no one could be sure whether he would reappear in a few years. Therefore, as Kozuki Oden's only daughter, Kozuki Hiyori was pushed by the samurai to the position of Daimyo!
She took charge of both domestic affairs and the crucial decision of opening the country. Wano Country entered a stable period of reform and development. The position of Shogun was temporarily left vacant; if Momonosuke were to reappear in the future, he would inherit the title!
Otherwise, Hiyori would abolish the position of Shogun, retain only the title of Daimyo of Wano Country, and pass down the title through the Kozuki lineage!
As for Ian, who killed Kaido and stood behind Hiyori to support her in overthrowing Kurozumi Orochi, whether as a Warlord of the Sea or a former Marine, he could be considered a force of justice on these seas and was Admired as the "Wise King"!
This title was originally held by Kaido in Wano Country; it represented a status above the country's system, akin to a national guardian God. Now, it belonged to Ian!
As for Whitebeard, the reason for his involvement was concealed; it was said that Kaido and Big Mom had provoked his family, forcing him to team up with Ian. Even though Whitebeard's actions were righteous, he was still a pirate and could not be associated with Wano Country!
...
At the center of the Flower Capital!
This was originally Kurozumi Orochi's shogunate residence, but it had now been rebuilt as the Daimyo's mansion. Inside the newly constructed mansion...
In a spacious hall, Ian sat behind a table placed at the center. On his left was Tashigi sitting nearby. On his right was Kozuki Hiyori, dressed in a Daimyo's kimono. Below in the hall, Ashura Doji, Kawamatsu, Denjiro, and other Kozuki retainers knelt.
"If you wish to open the country, then do so," Ian said, raising the cup on the table.
Looking at Denjiro and the others kneeling on the ground, opening Wano Country was Kozuki Oden's last wish.
After retaking the country and supporting Hiyori as Daimyo, Denjiro and the others began to discuss opening the country. But to undertake such a task, they obviously needed Ian's approval first.
"After opening the country, you may sail the seas under my flag," Ian said calmly. Hearing his words, Denjiro and the others all raised their heads, showing expressions of gratitude.
"Thank you, sir!"
Although they didn't know much about the world outside Wano Country, they knew that the seas were dangerous. Opening the country meant facing threats from beyond their borders. Ian's agreement and permission to use the emblem of the Black-Winged Devil meant that Wano Country would be under his protection.
Someone who could easily kill Kaido of the Beasts and Charlotte Linlin was undoubtedly one of the top figures on the seas. With Ian's protection, they need not fear any invaders.
After consideration, he thought it best to have a flag; most pirates would think twice before attacking, and only the foolish would dare to plunder his ships.
Now that he stood at the pinnacle of the world, he no longer needed to hide from anyone, even though Tashigi's Suke Suke no Mi (Invisibility Fruit) could aid in concealment.
But that was only when he didn't want to take action.
His emblem was simple: two crossed black and white wings, symbolizing that he belonged to no faction and embraced freedom!
"Whitebeard-dono in Kuri has sent word; they are preparing to leave," Kawamatsu reported before Denjiro and the others withdrew.
"What! Uncle Whitebeard is leaving? But I haven't properly thanked him yet!" Hiyori immediately showed reluctance.
"If we go now, perhaps it's not too late!"
Kuri, at the ruins of Oden Castle.
This was a desolate ruin, where several old graves stood among overgrown weeds, with crooked tombstones in front.
Kozuki Oden!
Kozuki Momonosuke!
Foxfire Kin'emon!
Kanjuro!
They were none other than the daimyos of the Kozuki clan: Kozuki Oden's family and the retainers known as the Nine Red Scabbards. Tashigi followed behind Ian.
"So this is Kozuki Oden's grave?"
Arriving before the graves, looking at the tombstones standing there, although Wano Country under Orochi's manipulation had tarnished Kozuki Oden's name, Tashigi could still discern truths from the falsehoods.
Moreover, the name Kozuki Oden was not unfamiliar to her. She had learned some things about Wano Country from Ian, and she also knew some of the past regarding the Roger Pirates.
Kozuki Oden was a companion of Pirate King Roger and Whitebeard, a member of both pirate crews, and had a very high bounty.
"It seems to be here..."
Ian walked forward to a tombstone at the back, inscribed with the name "Kozuki Toki." He looked at the ground and spoke calmly.
"Kozuki Toki, the wife of Kozuki Oden, was a person from eight hundred years ago, from the Void Century. She possessed a Devil Fruit called the Toki Toki no Mi (Time-Time Fruit), which allowed her to travel to the future."
"Eh?!" Tashigi showed surprise. "Time travel? Is there really someone with a Devil Fruit ability that can do such a thing?"
Because Kozuki Toki had used the Toki Toki no Mi's ability to cross eight hundred years, the fruit hadn't appeared in the history of those eight hundred years, nor was it recorded in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. It was a fruit speculated to exist but not confirmed.
"It can only travel to the future, not to the past," Ian chuckled. "Time isn't something that can be easily manipulated... Eighteen years ago, Kozuki Oden was defeated by Kaido and died. The Kozuki clan was destroyed, and Kozuki Toki used her ability to send the retainers twenty years into the future..."
"Or rather, the Toki Toki no Mi's ability to send people to the future doesn't actually make them directly travel to a future point but removes them from the current time until this point, bringing them to a predetermined location. The person removed from time returns, which is what's called time travel."
Ian immediately understood why the Toki Toki no Mi could only go to the future and not the past.
It couldn't interfere with the world's flow of time; Momonosuke, Kin'emon, and the others were still in a state sealed in parallel time.
Three days ago, after the battle on Onigashima, Whitebeard declined Hiyori's invitation to rest and recover in the bustling Flower Capital, as they didn't want to interfere too much in Wano's internal affairs.
Ultimately, Whitebeard and his sons temporarily stationed themselves at the ruins of Oden Castle. Twenty-five years had passed since they last parted ways.
Oden, who had been "borrowed" by Roger and never returned, was now separated by life and death. This became the greatest regret in Whitebeard's over seventy years of life.
Whitebeard sat at Oden's grave for three days, venting and sharing everything. Now, it was time to leave. In front of the graves, there was a cross, with the corpse of Kurozumi Orochi tied to it, resembling a large, charred frog, as if coated in breadcrumbs and egg wash, then deep-fried to perfection.
After the battle with Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, Kozuki Hiyori and the retainers gathered the people and bestowed upon this usurper the same punishment as Oden, the boiling execution.
He ended up like this, and that day was a nationwide celebration. Even though the enemy was dead, they felt only anger, no joy.
Because their lord would not return.
"Gurararara, boys, it's about time to send off our family member, Oden, on his final journey!"
"Marco, is everything ready?" Whitebeard stood up, laughing, and called out.
"Pops, we've been ready for a while!"
First Division Commander Marco responded loudly, stepping forward and placing the prepared items between Whitebeard and Oden's graves.
That was... a large pot???
Many of the newer members of the Whitebeard Pirates couldn't help but be dumbfounded, not knowing what their Pops was planning.
"Hey, Jozu, what's Pops doing? Aren't we here to pay respects to Oden?" a crew member asked in confusion.
"You'll see in a moment. This is a unique way of paying respects between our Pops and Oden!" Diamond Jozu said with a nostalgic expression.
As he spoke, Marco, Vista, and the other commanders had already set up a bonfire in front of Oden's grave. Whitebeard waved his large hand and placed the pot over the blazing fire, then added water to boil.
They filled the pot with all kinds of ingredients, and the aroma immediately spread. If someone saw this scene, they would be utterly shocked, thinking that the person buried below must be an enemy, not a friend. After all, who in this world would cook hot pot over a dear friend's grave as a way of paying respects? This was simply outrageous!
But today, the world's strongest man, Whitebeard, was using such a bizarre way to pay his respects!
Cooking oden over a comrade's grave? If word got out, it would surely shock the world. But Marco, Jozu, and the other veteran members didn't mind at all, acting as if it were natural. Even Yamato was full of excitement; she had seen this in the logbook.
"Oden loved eating oden when he was alive. He once made a promise with me that if he died someday, he hoped someone would cook oden over his grave when paying respects. Even if he couldn't eat it, just smelling it would be good!" Whitebeard said nostalgically, with a hint of reminiscence on his face.
"Hahaha, indeed, Oden used to cook oden over others' bones as a farewell. This is a man's promise between Pops and Oden. Now we're even cooking hot pot using the place where the fried body of his killer, Kurozumi Orochi, lies!"
"Oden-sama would surely be happy!"
When Ian brought Hiyori and Tashigi to the ruins of Oden Castle, what they saw was the members of the Whitebeard Pirates, led by Whitebeard, scrambling to eat oden over Oden's grave, a bizarre scene!
"Uncle Whitebeard, what are you doing?" Seeing this nonsensical scene, Tashigi and Ian were momentarily dumbfounded, then helplessly shook their heads.
Hiyori, also shocked, realized that Whitebeard and others were cooking hot pot over her father's grave, and couldn't help but puff up her cheeks angrily.
"Ah, Ian-dono, and little Hiyori!" Seeing the two appear, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates were stunned. They never expected them to come so quickly and suddenly!
According to their estimation, by the time Hiyori came to see them off, they would have finished eating and cleaned up.
But now they were caught red-handed!
This was quite an awkward situation!
"Ah, little Hiyori, I... I... this..." The usually calm Marco couldn't find the words. Yamato couldn't help but laugh beside him, pulling Hiyori to Whitebeard.
After two days of persistent pleading, she had successfully joined the Whitebeard Pirates. She had thought she would undergo the same difficult trials as Oden, but Marco had also pleaded with Whitebeard.
Immediately, the other division commanders realized his intentions. For the happiness of his foolish son, Whitebeard had to agree to the request.
After all, he valued family above all, and Yamato's strength was even greater than Marco's!
Naturally, she was not a frail woman!
"Lady Hiyori, Oden-sama loved this when he was alive, so..." Izo stammered.
"Pfft..." Just as Whitebeard was awkwardly shrinking back, Hiyori, who was angry a moment ago, suddenly burst into laughter and said, "Alright, alright, Uncle Whitebeard, everyone, I understand!"
"If Father knew, he would surely be dancing with joy. The soup is boiling; everyone, please eat quickly!" Kozuki Hiyori smiled brightly.
She didn't mind Whitebeard and the others' actions at all; she even joined in, serving big bowls of oden to Ian and Tashigi.
"Hahahaha..."
At the ruins of Oden Castle, the atmosphere became joyful once again!
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