Using the idol's own actions to restrain an obsessive fan is undoubtedly an effective method—provided the fan is obsessive enough.
Clearly, Yamato was obsessive enough.
Days passed, and it was the final night before her release from prison.
Gurd stood outside the cell door, his expression stern.
On the small table before him lay a steaming bowl of white rice and a large salmon—Yamato's favorite.
Inside the cell, Yamato swallowed hard but refused to glance at the table, standing rigidly at attention instead.
She didn't dare move. Not at all.
Gurd stared at her for a full three minutes before speaking coldly, "Yamato, what is the most important thing about being Oden?"
"Endurance!"
"Louder!"
"ENDURANCE!!!"
Yamato bellowed at the top of her lungs.
After half a month of internal struggle, she had finally convinced herself—to truly become Kozuki Oden, she had to learn to endure.
"Good. Very spirited!"
Gurd's gaze softened with approval.
Getting this stubborn girl to submit to her father was harder than killing her. If not for using Kozuki Oden as leverage, he wouldn't have been able to rein her in.
Proud of the praise, Yamato puffed out her chest, though her eyes involuntarily drifted toward the meal, drool threatening to spill.
"Hmm?"
A killing intent!
The girl hastily averted her gaze.
Gurd gave a slight nod.
"Recite what I've taught you!"
"Yes, Teacher Gurd!"
Like a student terrified of her teacher, Yamato reluctantly but obediently repeated his instructions.
"First, from now on, I must never call myself Kozuki Oden again. I am the daughter of Kaido, the Strongest Creature, the princess of the Beasts Pirates, the Ogre Child!"
"Second, when I see Father tomorrow, I must immediately kneel and apologize—quickly and properly!"
"Third, no matter what Father says, I must not argue."
"Fourth, no matter what orders Father gives me, I must obey, even if it means killing or burning. I must never show defiance in front of him."
"Fifth..."
"And most importantly—"
"Endure, endure, and endure!"
Tears welled in Yamato's eyes.
To become Kozuki Oden, to save Wano Country—
For freedom!
She would endure humiliation and bear the burden!
Clap clap clap clap!
Gurd applauded in satisfaction.
Fifteen straight days of discipline had finally yielded results.
It hadn't been easy.
Training a dog would've been less exhausting.
"Eat, Yamato."
"Yes, Teacher Gurd!"
–––––––––––––––
The next morning.
Skull Castle, third-floor banquet hall.
"Everyone's here."
Kaido sat at the head of the table, gripping a massive sake bowl. Black Maria knelt beside him, smiling as she poured his drink.
Below, the Three Disasters had gathered.
Clearly, something major was about to happen.
As the crew's resident mood-maker, the rotund Queen spoke up first. "Big Bro Kaido, what's the occasion?"
"King, explain."
Kaido took a deep swig, his expression dark, delegating the task to his most trusted subordinate.
King's face remained icy as he tossed a newspaper at Queen.
"Hanafuda's dead."
"Huh? Wait—WHAT?!"
Queen froze for several seconds before finally recalling who Hanafuda was, his beady eyes bulging in shock.
"The Lizard King" Hanafuda, one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea!
But that wasn't the key point. Hanafuda had another special identity—he was the white glove of the Beasts Pirates.
All weapons produced by the Beasts were sold through Hanafuda. Without him as the middleman, their arms trade would inevitably suffer a massive blow.
After all, the Beasts Pirates were notorious for their brutality and savagery. Every member was a reckless brute—not a single one had a head for business!
On another note, last year, "Red-Haired" Shanks defeated the Giant Prince Loki and successfully established himself in the Giant Kingdom of Elbaf, earning the title of "Emperor of the Sea" and solidifying the Yonko hierarchy.
Now, as the Yonko fought fiercely to carve up the New World, they were preparing for the largest-scale expedition in the history of the Beasts Pirates.
At such a critical moment, if the Beasts' economic lifeline were to collapse, it would undoubtedly be a catastrophic disaster.
"Which bastard did this?!"
Queen angrily unfolded the newspaper.
"Fire Fist" Ace!
The entire front page was covered in reports about "Fire Fist" Ace defeating "The Lizard King" Hanafuda. Without a doubt, this was a world-shaking event!
"Fire Fist?"
Who the hell was this kid?!
Queen's eyes bulged as he racked his brain, but he couldn't recall anyone by that name. When he saw that Fire Fist held the title of Supernova, his beady eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
"Huh? A rookie???"
A rookie defeated one of the Royal Seven Warlords?
What kind of sick joke was this?!
Every Warlord was a powerhouse of terrifying strength—even he had to treat those monsters with caution. How could one possibly lose to a rookie?
Queen leaned crookedly toward King, his face twisted in disbelief. "So this brat was the one who killed Hanafuda?"
"No."
King replied flatly.
Thud!
Queen faceplanted onto the ground before springing back up like lightning, grabbing King by the collar and roaring with a reddened face.
"Then why the hell didn't you say so earlier, you bastard?!"
"I just wanted to see you make a fool of yourself, you idiot Queen."
King revealed his true colors.
Queen: "..."
One of these days, he was going to kill this sadistic bastard!
Having satisfied his private amusement at Queen's expense, King wasted no more time and produced a letter of challenge that had just arrived at Oni Island.
"The real culprit behind Hanafuda's death is also one of the Royal Seven Warlords!"
"['Heavenly Yaksha' Doflamingo](https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Donquixote_Doflamingo)!"
"This is the challenge he sent!"
"Heavenly Yaksha" Doflamingo!
Queen and Jack's expressions shifted slightly.
They naturally knew of Doflamingo. He had become one of the Royal Seven Warlords five years ago and entered the New World that same year.
Rumors painted him as a devilishly cunning scoundrel who, in just five short years, had made a name for himself in the New World's underworld—all while maintaining an ambiguous relationship with the World Government.
A man who thrived in both the light and the dark!
"So that guy wants to replace Hanafuda?"
Queen caught on.
As fellow Warlords, they were technically allies, forbidden from killing each other. But as pirates of the sea, who would obediently follow such rules?
Since the newspapers hadn't reported it, it meant Doflamingo had taken advantage of Fire Fist's victory over Hanafuda to secretly finish him off.
And now, with this challenge delivered…
It was clear—Doflamingo wanted to replace Hanafuda, hitch himself to the Beasts' war machine, and become the new middleman of the underworld!
What an ambitious bastard!
"Muhahaha! If you want a piece of the pie, you'd better have the stomach to swallow it!"
Queen sneered.
Hanafuda had collaborated with the Beasts Pirates for over a decade, and now he was just taken out like that. If they chose to swallow their pride, where would they even put their faces?!
Those who dare provoke the Beasts must pay the price!
"Waaahhh!"
"Quick, stop Lady Yamato!"
"Lord Kaido is discussing important matters with the All-Stars—no one is allowed inside!"
"Move aside!"
Suddenly, a commotion erupted from outside the door.
It was Yamato's voice!
The Three Disasters' expressions darkened.
They were already seething with anger, and now someone was causing trouble—it was impossible not to be furious. But judging by the voice, it was the child of their big brother Kaido.
The three turned to look at Big Brother Kaido. When they saw the storm brewing in his eyes, their hearts skipped a beat.
Oh no, Big Brother Kaido was truly angry!
"BOOM!"
The banquet hall doors shattered into pieces.
Yamato stood at the entrance, her Spiked Club resting on her shoulder.
Under the heavy gazes of the crowd, the girl suddenly dashed forward, leaped into the air, and curled into a ball before landing in a textbook-perfect kneeling position right in front of Kaido—her forehead even smashing into the floor.
A full-on "Plummeting Goose" kneeling apology!
"Father! I'm sorry! I know I was wrong!"
"..."
Kaido, King, Queen, Jack.
(⊙x⊙;)×4.
Huh?
HUH?!?!
(End of chapter)