Inside the banquet hall—
The girl dropped to her knees in a flawless motion.
"Father! I was wrong!"
"I've come to my senses. These past years, I was clearly in the wrong. I shouldn't have deluded myself into thinking I was Kozuki Oden. Please rest assured, I've accepted the truth!"
"I am your daughter, Yamato!"
"From now on, I will obediently follow your words. If you say one, I'll never say two. If you say east, I won't even glance west!"
Her forehead pressed tightly against the ground, Yamato finally let out a breath of relief.
She had practiced this entire kneeling apology scene in the cell at least hundreds of times. It had been hard to accept at first, but when she thought about how Kozuki Oden had danced naked for five years, kneeling and apologizing to her father wasn't even a big deal.
Rogan-sensei, I'll endure it!
The room was so silent, you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone stared at the kneeling girl, utterly dumbfounded. Even King, who rarely ever showed emotion, had his mouth wide open beneath his mask.
T-This…
They weren't dreaming, right?
Yamato-sama… actually kneeled to apologize to Kaidou-sama?!
Impossible. Completely impossible.
For fifteen years, Yamato had been beaten by Kaidou countless times—so many times she had nearly died.
And even that hadn't changed her!
Wait… could this be an impostor?
The crowd exchanged subtle glances.
They remembered that Orochi once had a subordinate with the Copy-Copy Fruit who could perfectly mimic someone's appearance just by touching them.
But that person was dead.
And this was Onigashima. No one could sneak in here that easily.
After silently debating for a while, they all wisely chose to simply glance at Kaidou out of the corners of their eyes. This was a family matter—they weren't getting involved.
At the head seat—
Kaidou gripped his kanabō, half-drawn from his cloak, unmoving.
After a long pause, he slowly slid it back into its sheath.
His eyes were filled with utter confusion.
He'd fought all his life, but this… this was a first.
The one kneeling below him was definitely Yamato. Appearance could be faked, but not a child's presence.
But something didn't feel right.
His daughter… shouldn't be this obedient!
Had he drunk too much?
Kaidou frowned, drew the kanabō from behind his back, and smashed it into his own forehead.
A crimson line of blood trickled down the center of his brow.
Good. He wasn't drunk!
"Wororororo!!!"
Kaidou burst into hearty laughter.
Good, good, GOOD!
His daughter had finally submitted!
"Yamato, stand up!"
"Yes, Father!"
Yamato rose swiftly, forehead smeared with blood. She had bowed so forcefully that she'd made a dent in the stone floor.
Kaidou waved his massive hand joyfully.
"I'm pleased you've admitted your faults. I won't pursue what happened in the past."
He didn't care why she suddenly changed. He had no interest in the details. So long as Yamato was usable as a weapon, that was enough.
Just like the many enemies who once wanted his head but eventually bowed to him—if they could fight, he welcomed them.
The more warriors, the better.
As for betrayal?
Who cared? Plenty wanted to betray him, but as long as he was around, no one would dare.
Kaidou tossed his sake bottle to Yamato.
"Yamato, drink!"
"Yes!"
Yamato raised the jug and gulped it down in big mouthfuls.
So refreshing!
She'd thought her father might interrogate her, but instead he had simply let it slide. Rogan's prepared list of excuses hadn't even been needed.
Her scumbag dad had some good points after all.
Setting down the jug, she raised her hands, eyes filled with hope.
"Father, may I remove my handcuffs now?"
"Worororo! Of course! What kind of father makes his daughter wear cuffs all day?"
Kaidou laughed, turning to King.
The key to the seastone cuffs was always kept by King on Onigashima.
He wasn't worried Yamato would escape Wano.
All the ports were under Beasts control. Yamato couldn't sail, and even if she escaped, he'd catch her again.
"King, unlock her."
"Understood, Kaidou-aniki."
King stepped forward and unlocked the cuffs, though his gaze was icy cold.
He didn't trust Yamato.
With his years of interrogation experience, he could tell—Yamato hadn't truly submitted. This apology was likely just a ploy.
Kaidou might not care, but King would remain vigilant. Yamato had inherited Kaidou's blood. She was absurdly powerful.
If she ever turned traitor at a critical moment, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Clink!
The cuffs hit the floor.
"Wow! My body feels so light!"
Yamato bounced with joy.
For fifteen years—ever since she was eight—those seastone cuffs had suppressed her strength.
Now that she was free, her body felt like it was bathing in a hot spring. Her Devil Fruit powers were awakening again.
She didn't notice the cold, scrutinizing stare focused on her.
King!
"Kaido-aniki."
King turned to Kaidou, speaking seriously.
"Now that Yamato-sama is back under your wing, I think it's time we give her something to do."
"You're right."
Kaidou nodded.
The Beasts Pirates didn't keep freeloaders.
Yamato was powerful—her strength shouldn't be wasted. But assigning her a position was tricky.
As the Oni's child, she couldn't be treated like just another grunt. But all the key roles were already filled.
Kaidou looked at King.
"Got any suggestions?"
"Kaido-aniki."
King pulled out a document from under his wing.
"In the past month, the Kozuki remnants have been active again. I propose we send Yamato-sama to subdue them."
"…"
Kaidou looked deeply at King.
He knew exactly what King was doing.
If Yamato was still playing Oden, she'd never kill the Kozuki warriors.
But if she truly crushed the rebellion, then it would prove she was truly loyal.
"Fine. Let's do it your way."
Kaidou turned to Yamato, his eyes piercing.
"Yamato, can you handle this task?"
"No problem!"
To everyone's surprise, Yamato agreed instantly and without hesitation.
"Worororo!"
Kaidou laughed, raising his cup.
"As expected of my daughter!"
"Drink!"
"Today we celebrate! No one leaves sober!"
–––––––––––––––
Two hours later, back in the dungeon.
Remote and isolated, it was the perfect place for a secret rendezvous.
"Bleghhh~~!"
Yamato clutched the wall, vomiting a rainbow.
Only after emptying her stomach did she turn to Rogan, face pale and eyes anxious.
"Rogan! My father wants me to kill the samurai!"
"Calm down."
Rogan sipped his tea, completely unbothered.
"Tell me exactly what happened today."
"O-Okay."
Yamato quickly recounted everything that happened at the banquet.
She was panicking.
If Rogan hadn't told her to accept any request from her father no matter what, and to come back afterward to plan together, she might've transformed into Kozuki Oden on the spot.
Kill the samurai? She'd rather die!
"Rogan, those Kozuki samurai were Oden's followers—I could never kill them. Quick, think of something!"
"No need to worry. I already have a plan."
Rogan chuckled.
Kaidou wasn't the kind to trust sudden loyalty. Even if he didn't mind, the other officers certainly would.
The fastest way to test her would be to force her into murder, to commit crimes, to join the Beasts' way of life.
It was all expected.
Yamato's eyes lit up. She grabbed Rogan's sleeve.
"What's the plan?!"
"Simple."
Rogan's gaze turned dark and sly.
"I'll do the killing."
(End of Chapter)
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