Wano Country was just as Arthur had imagined—a land steeped in feudal traditions and suffocating oppression. Now that he was here, his assumptions were confirmed.
As the group walked through the streets, Arthur observed the locals going about their daily routines. Outwardly, it appeared like any ordinary country, but Arthur knew better.
In his mind, Wano wasn't a thriving nation—it was a facade. Behind the grandeur of its main streets lay villages where people struggled to survive, many unable to even afford a meal. The thought left Arthur in somber silence.
Noticing the shift in Arthur's mood, Luffy turned to him, his carefree expression replaced with genuine concern. "Hey, what's wrong? Why do you look so down all of a sudden?"
Arthur hesitated for a moment before replying, "I just remembered something… it made me feel a bit down, that's all."
Arthur was surprised by Luffy's observation. He had always thought of Luffy as an impulsive and carefree person, not someone attuned to others' emotions. Yet, Luffy had noticed his change in demeanor immediately.
Hearing Arthur's reply, Luffy didn't press further, respecting his friend's feelings. Instead, he simply nodded and carried on, leaving Arthur with his thoughts.
"I'm in Wano Country now, but we haven't run into Momonosuke and the others yet," Zoro remarked. "I think it's better if we split up. I need to look into the whereabouts of Hatchan. This country is probably crawling with spies. Hawkins showing up earlier is proof of that."
Arthur nodded in agreement with Zoro's suggestion. Luffy, on the other hand, looked a bit reluctant. He clearly didn't want to split from the group. However, Zoro's point made sense—staying together could attract unnecessary attention and endanger everyone.
After thinking it over, Luffy reluctantly agreed. "Alright," he said with a hint of hesitation, "we'll split up and blend into Wano on our own terms."
Arthur wandered through Wano Country alone. He realized that his foreign attire would make him stand out immediately. To avoid suspicion, he used a special system he carried with him to change into traditional Wano clothing.
The outfit resembled those of the samurai from Wano's past—practical and slightly casual. Dressed in his new attire, Arthur took a moment to adjust to the culture and environment of Wano, ready to explore and gather information discreetly.
Since Arthur wasn't with Luffy and the others, he had no idea which path they were currently following in Wano Country.
Luffy and his group had their own missions, carefully lying low and waiting for the right moment to act. They seemed to be waiting for someone, though Arthur didn't know who.
For Arthur, life in Wano quickly became monotonous. The isolationist nature of the country, along with its lack of excitement, left him feeling out of place.
After some time, Arthur grew restless. Wano's closed-off culture and rigid environment didn't offer much in terms of entertainment or purpose for him. Frustrated, he began considering leaving the country altogether.
"I don't even know where Luffy and the others are right now," Arthur muttered to himself. "But knowing Luffy, he's not the type to stay hidden for long. His reckless nature will probably get him discovered in no time."
With that thought, Arthur decided to track down his crewmates, unsure if it was time to regroup or move on.