"Can't you do it yourself?"
"No, no, I know my own situation. I'm good at fighting, but if you want me to teach Sulong, I'm afraid I'll mess it up. What about you?"
"I'll pass too. I think I'm even worse than you."
Everything else was fine, but when it came to teaching Sulong, neither Setsuna nor Zeraora had any good solutions. Zeraora didn't know how to use Sulong at all, and as for Setsuna, she could use it, but she wasn't good at teaching. Being able to do something and being able to teach others are two very different things.
Sulong was essentially a Berserk ability. Although the Soothe Bell could prevent the uncontrollable effects of going berserk, Sulong wasn't something you just got used to by doing it repeatedly. Mastery was the key.
"How about... Uncle Hitsugisukan?"
Having spent so much time around Setsuna, Zeraora immediately thought of Hitsugisukan, the "utility sheep." Recently, Hitsugisukan had fully retired, handing over all the governmental affairs of Zou Island to the younger generation, while helping out with paperwork at most once or twice a month.
Other than that, he spent most of his time enjoying a leisurely life in Wano Country or the Whale Forest.
"Forget it, forget it. He only just started relaxing, and besides, it wasn't Duke Hitsugisukan who used to help others learn Sulong on Zou Island."
Due to the country's unique political system, the Duke of Zou Island needed to meet certain strength requirements.
Being able to skillfully use Sulong was the most basic qualification. However, because of their duties, successive kings didn't have much time to train the younger generation. That role usually fell to the leader of the Musketeer Squad.
"Let's leave it to Pedro. He's been training the youngsters on Zou Island for the past few years. Let Carrot and Bepo train together too, see if they have the talent."
Sulong was a racial ability of the Minks, but not a mandatory one. Those who weren't suited for combat didn't put much effort into learning it, while others, due to an innate inability to control the surge of anger, also do not use Sulong.
The power boost from berserk came at a cost. Losing control would only lead to exhaustion and death.
"If you think he's up to it, then let him handle it. But is he on Zou Island right now or at the monastery?"
"He's on Zou Island. I'll bring him back after I get off work tomorrow."
After his eyes were healed, Pedro fully completed his transformation into a believer. He no longer lived solely on Zou Island and would sometimes go out on adventure, though he was much more cautious than he used to be.
While Sulong training had yet to begin, another master of Onigashima had already returned. Before nightfall, Kaido landed on the rooftop of Onigashima riding Hydrachton.
"Worororo, isn't this Aokiji? What an unexpected visitor."
Hydrachton flew back to its home on Sky Island, while Kaido approached Kuzan, who was watching the sunset from the rooftop.
"I've already heard the news. I didn't expect Yamato to actually be able to recruit you."
"Ara, Ara, I didn't expect something like this either. At your daughter's invitation, I guess I'm one of your people now. So, should I call you Governor-General?"
"No need. I've never cared about titles and such. People with strength naturally get certain privileges. But your real goal... is it to kill me and avenge your instructor?"
Kaido brought up something Yamato had never mentioned. Zephyr's death during the Summit War had ties to Kaido.
As the former Marine head instructor, Zephyr had countless students. Among them, Kuzan was one of the few who had a close relationship with him.
"That was... the teacher's own choice."
Kaido's words made Kuzan's face stiffen, and after a pause, he responded with that single sentence.
War means people will die. This is something even Luffy understands. Before the Summit War began, Kuzan already knew that this battlefield was destined to take many lives.
Zephyr could have chosen not to take part in the war. At that time, Zephyr wasn't even considered part of Marine's active combat strength. But Zephyr chose to participate, and he met his end during the war.
"That guy was a decent opponent. Not on the same level as Newgate and the others, but still a rare strong one.
I don't care what you want to do. If you want to try killing me, go ahead and see if you've got what it takes. But if you dare damage this island, you'll learn what consequences really mean!"
Buzz!
Conqueror's Haki erupted from Kaido's body, with all its pressure focused entirely on Kuzan.
Under the impact of Conqueror's Haki, Kuzan's coat became taut, and his face was covered in frost, ready for battle. But what came flying his way after that wasn't an attack, it was a sake gourd.
"Worororo, don't be so tense. Just saying hello. But you'd better remember what I said."
On his very first day on Onigashima, Kuzan had already experienced Kaido's unpredictable mood.
Kaido's behavior was completely incomprehensible to Kuzan. It seemed that, in Kaido's eyes, damaging Onigashima was more serious than an assassination attempt on him.
"What exactly do you want?"
"I already told you, just saying hello. As for what I want to do… Boys! Start the banquet! Let's welcome our newcomer!"
Kaido's voice echoed from the rooftop across the entire Onigashima. At his command, the entire Onigashima began to stir.
Many senior officers weren't present on Onigashima, making this banquet much quieter compared to the celebration after the Summit War. But Kuzan still felt a bit out of place.
While the internal politics of Marines was already bizarre, where a Vice Admiral's death might matter less than a new mochi's flavor, Kaido's erratic thinking still left Kuzan struggling to keep up.
[These two... really are father and daughter…]
Thinking back to Yamato's earlier behavior, everything suddenly seemed to make more sense.
Before long, in Onigashima's banquet hall stood a drunken Kaido and a confused Kuzan. Having just switched sides, Kuzan wasn't used to the pirate way of doing things. Yamato stood beside him, just as confused.
"Wait a second, why is Father throwing a banquet for Kuzan? Shouldn't he be excited to fight him, since he's a former Admiral? Uncle Queen, don't you have anything to say?"
"Wait, something's even weirder, why didn't you host the banquet yourself, Uncle Queen?"
"My recent divination has been terrible. Between Boss Kaido, Kuzan, and you, young miss, I figured if I got up there to host, I'd lose half my life. Besides…."
Halfway through his sentence, Queen glanced around the hall and sure enough spotted Setsuna.
"Do you see Setsuna? She might just sneakily attack me with an arrow and embarrass me in front of everyone."
"Probably not... but even if she did, Uncle Queen, it'd be your own fault. Who told you to store candy together with experimental drugs?"
****Please support on pat*eon for extra chapters; there is date to date subscription enabled on patreon. [There is a 7-day trial version availabe on patreon.]
https://www.pat*eon.com/dmtranslations
You can read ahead upto 75 chapters on my pa*reon.