Habu Port, Wano Country's largest port.
Rows of red maple trees stood on the rock walls on both sides of the estuary, with red leaves flying everywhere, a truly spectacular sight.
"Wow, so beautiful!"
Yamato jumped off the ship and eagerly ran to the center of the dock, spreading her arms as if to embrace the world.
For a full 15 years, she had finally set foot on the land she yearned for, and could move freely.
The girl turned to look at Daichi, revealing a foolishly bright smile.
"Daichi, thank you!"
"Hmm."
Daichi nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the depths of Habu Port.
People flowed in and out, making it extremely lively.
Wano Country was not just the Flower Capital. Other regions also had relatively prosperous towns, like Bakura Town in Kuri.
Habu Port in Hakumai was no different.
These prosperous towns were ruled by the newly emerging wealthy people who had submitted to Orochi, replacing old wealthy families like the Shimotsuki and Amatsuki.
And the underground bosses!
The person they were looking for on this trip was the underground boss of Hakumai, Tsunagoro. According to the intelligence provided by King, the Kozuki remnants who had appeared recently seemed to be in contact with the bosses of various regions.
"Time to go, Yamato."
"Oh."
Yamato quickly followed behind Daichi, looking around like a country person who had never seen the world, interested in everything.
There was also worry.
The girl tugged at Daichi's sleeve and whispered. "Daichi, can we not go looking for those Kozuki samurai?"
"No, this is not up for discussion."
Daichi responded coldly.
Kaido's orders must be carried out.
Yamato's sudden change, those above would definitely investigate, and he had been in contact with Yamato the most during this time.
Without a doubt, King was watching him.
Choosing to bet on Yamato, he naturally knew he would be watched by those above, so he could not make any treacherous moves.
He would die!
This punitive mission, not only could it not be done carelessly, but he also had to go all out. If Yamato couldn't bring herself to do it, then he would kill!
He took a great risk involving himself with Yamato, if there wasn't a sufficiently generous return, it would be a loss down to his underwear.
His goal was not just to cling to a powerful figure. Ambition also grew with strength.
"Hmph."
Yamato gritted her teeth in annoyance.
"You're a devil!"
"Coincidentally, others say the same about me."
Daichi grinned.
Soon, the two arrived at a casino.
The economic sources of underground bosses were basically all related to gambling, prostitution, and drugs. Even the highly respected Hyogoro back then was involved in dirty businesses like casinos.
They were all villains with blood on their hands, no better than pirates.
Inside the casino, it was bustling with noise.
No matter how poor their lives were, countless gambling addicts would still come here, squandering their hard-earned money, and it was not uncommon for them to lose so much that they sold their wives and children.
Daichi casually found a corner and sat down.
Yamato looked around curiously, somewhat eager to try her luck.
She was not unfamiliar with casinos.
She had never gambled herself, but she had seen it many times. Onigashima had casinos, and pirates often gathered to gamble a few rounds during their breaks.
"Aren't we going to play?"
"No interest."
Daichi shook his head.
If there was mahjong, he wouldn't mind playing a few rounds for entertainment, but the casino had games he hadn't encountered, and the only one he understood was dice.
He didn't know how to play, and wasn't interested.
Yamato was utterly confused.
If they weren't going to play, why come here?
"Then what are we going to do?"
"Watch the show."
Daichi crossed his legs and waved to a casino employee.
Soon, a casino worker came over to the two, extremely polite, even a little fearful.
Their distinctive Viking clothing was enough to make the casino not dare to provoke them easily.
Daichi took out 1 gold coin and handed it to the worker.
"Brew a pot of tea, the rest is for you."
"Alright, sir."
The attendant left excitedly.
1 gold coin was equal to 100 silver coins, enough for a family of three to live on for a month, while a pot of good tea didn't even cost 5 silver coins.
The generous gesture attracted many gazes.
Daichi calmly drank his tea, ignoring the surrounding noise, as if he were in a teahouse, not a casino.
"Lost, I lost everything!"
"You want to borrow more money? Old man, you've even sold your wife and children, what else can you mortgage? If you don't pay back the debt within three days, I'll throw you into the river to feed the fish!"
"You dare to cheat, do you know what the consequences are?!"
"Don't cut off my hand, ahhh!"
"Hahaha, I won, I won!"
Gamblers constantly lost everything, crying and wailing, revealing all sorts of ugly behaviors, and some even had their hands and feet chopped off.
There were also a small number of gamblers who returned with full pockets.
Yamato was restless, her good mood from earlier long gone.
"Daichi, we..."
"What, can't you accept it?"
"Yes."
"But this is a microcosm of Wano Country."
Daichi responded calmly.
Wano Country's high-pressure environment created the scene before them. The more people fell into difficulties, the more they wanted to take shortcuts, unaware that they were heading down a dead end.
"If you want to save this country, you must first understand it, just as you want to become Oden, you must first understand Oden."
"I..."
Yamato was a little at a loss.
"No need to rush."
Daichi rubbed Yamato's head, then stood up and stretched.
"Let's go, the tea's almost done."
"Huh? We're leaving already?"
Yamato stood up blankly.
"It's getting dark, do you want to stay here overnight?!"
Daichi glared at the girl in frustration.
She was truly adorably foolish.
Of course, he had other purposes for bringing Yamato to the casino, but sitting for so long was mainly to broaden Yamato's horizons.
Not just the casino, there were many other places to go.
Before leaving, Daichi looked around, his gaze settling on the worker who had brewed his tea, and waved at him.
The worker quickly walked over, bowing and asking. "Sir, is there anything you need?"
"Give this letter to Tsunagoro!"
Daichi pulled a letter from his clothes and handed it to the worker, then left the casino with Yamato without looking back.
Night fell, in the casino's backyard.
Lights came on in the room.
Tsunagoro sat at his desk, opening the envelope his subordinate had brought, and carefully read it by the dim light.
"An invitation?"
During the day, he had stayed in the casino, but he hadn't shown himself, instead observing the two uninvited guests from the shadows.
Recently, an old friend had found him, trying to drag him into a scheme to attack Onigashima together.
But he didn't want to participate.
As a boss, his feelings for the Kozuki clan were not deep, nor did he pledge allegiance to Kozuki like the great families of Shimotsuki and Amatsuki.
His greatest hatred for the Beast Pirates was that they had killed Boss Hyogoro's entire family, and he constantly wanted to avenge Boss Hyogoro.
At this time, Kaido's subordinates suddenly appearing in his casino naturally made his heart pound.
He had thought the matter was exposed, but now he was a little unsure.
"Heavenly Abode Inn?"
The letter sent by the pirate was actually an opening invitation, inviting him to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the shop's opening.
The time was half a month later, and the location was the southern suburbs of the Flower Capital.
And the most important point:
Inviter: Yamato, the Ogre Princess!