"So... you really came to throw yourself into the trap after all."
With blazing flames burning across his back, King held his long sword and stared coldly at the woman who had willingly come to surrender herself.
"Yeah, I'm here!!!"
Wearing a pink ninja outfit, Shinobu — who had already put on some weight over the years — looked up seriously at the tall, imposing King.
"As you promised, now let Kawamatsu go!!!"
"Idiot!!! You've already delivered yourself to us. How could we possibly release Kozuki Oden's underling?!"
The round, plump Queen, his glasses gleaming, grinned wickedly as he stared at Shinobu with a sinister expression.
"Nani?!!!"
...
"Roar~"
"Fast as always, huh? As expected of you, King~"
When King arrived, Orin was sitting cross-legged, leisurely savoring a bowl of soup.
And resting on his lap was none other than the Beasts Pirates' young master — Yamato, dressed in black.
"..."
King didn't know what to say.
This was the same man who had nearly beaten Yamato's biological father to death and used it as leverage — yet here Yamato sat so comfortably on his lap, almost as if...
Orin was the real father instead.
"Black Gun, I brought you the one you wanted."
King couldn't be bothered with such family matters. He simply flicked his wrist, tossing the bound Shinobu onto the floor before Orin.
As she hit the ground, Shinobu let out a cry of pain.
Lifting her head, she looked at the tall, handsome man with long black hair before her.
He wasn't as massive or muscular as Oden-sama, yet he had easily defeated a monster like Kaido.
How could someone so young and handsome possess such overwhelming power?
She couldn't accept it...
King pressed his foot onto her back, the ropes digging tightly into her body. Gritting her teeth, Shinobu glared up at Orin.
"Orin-san, why?!!!"
"I heard... that you once saved Lady Toki right in front of Kaido! So why won't you save Wano Country from its suffering?!!!"
"Shut up!!!"
Hearing this, King stomped down hard, silencing her instantly.
His bloodshot eyes burned with rage.
If this kunoichi's words somehow managed to convince Orin with her talk-no-jutsu, the Beasts Pirates would be doomed today!
But Orin simply raised his hand, freezing King in place with a gesture.
His eyes lowered slightly, amusement flickering in them as he gazed at the loyal kunoichi — one who had seen all the folly and corruption of the Kozuki clan, yet still served them faithfully.
"So what are you trying to say?"
Despite the pain wracking her body, Shinobu glared back at Orin with determination.
"Oden-sama once said before his death — that Wano is waiting for the arrival of a savior! When that person appears, they will open Wano's borders!!!"
"That person... why couldn't it be you?!!!"
Orin had the power to crush everything, the legacy of being Oden's former comrade...
So why couldn't he be the savior?
"Me?"
Orin blinked, then let out a soft laugh. The idea seemed genuinely amusing to him.
Since when had anyone mistaken him for a savior?
"Hahahahaha... I'm no savior of Wano, my dear~"
At those words, King suddenly recalled something Kaido once said to him.
"If there truly is a Joy Boy in this world... he'd be the one who defeats me."
Black Gun...
Could he be Joy Boy?
Before King could ponder further, a booming, familiar laugh cut through his thoughts.
"Woah-hahaha! You're not saying Orin is Joy Boy, are you?!!!"
Bang—
Unsurprised, Orin glanced over his shoulder as a towering figure wrapped head to toe in bandages hobbled out from the room behind him.
Limping slightly, still not fully healed.
"Kaido!!!"
"Kaido-sama!!!"
"Yo~ Kaido."
Orin had never bothered to restrain Kaido — nor did he need to. The man couldn't run, and he certainly couldn't win.
He could strike him down again anytime he wished.
For King, Kaido's appearance was a shock of relief — but for Shinobu, it was pure horror and despair.
The very man who had slain Oden-sama... was working with Orin?!!!
Her face twisted in terror, leaving Orin rubbing his temple helplessly.
"What's with that look? It's not like I was close to Oden or anything — but I wasn't exactly buddies with Kaido either. We just beat each other half to death not long ago~"
He waved dismissively, while Kaido scowled darkly beside him.
"You're a real bastard, you know that..."
Taking a swig from his gourd, Kaido sat himself down beside Orin without hesitation.
He ignored Yamato sitting on Orin's lap entirely — whether because he didn't care, or because getting angry had proven pointless, no one could tell.
Nor did he bother with Shinobu, the loyal retainer of Oden.
Instead, he burped lightly and picked up their earlier conversation.
"No matter who else you claim could be Joy Boy, I might have my doubts — but Orin? Impossible!!!"
Kaido guzzled more sake, his voice echoing through the room.
He had once heard the name Joy Boy — the one said to bring joy and freedom to the world.
But Orin?
Sure, you could say his dream was to seek freedom and pleasure...
But the thing was—
Orin's so-called "freedom and happiness" were only for himself!
...
"Maybe he can defeat me," Kaido muttered, "but knowing him — there's no way in hell he'd ever do something like 'liberating Wano'!!!"
Shinobu's eyes widened in disbelief.
She turned to Orin, searching his face for an answer.
But Orin merely took a sip of chilled juice, listening to Kaido's words without the slightest objection.
That silence said everything.
He didn't care for this country.
Orin lived entirely by his own whims — and that had never changed.
Alabasta, Dressrosa...
So many countries were the same story.
He knew of the suffering and disasters across the world — but he only involved himself where he wanted to.
Places like Sabaody...
Joy Boy?
That laughing fool with noble ideals and selfless love — he and Orin couldn't be further apart.
The conversation ended there.
Orin stood up, lifting the girl Yamato from his lap and setting her gently down.
With a casual wave, the tightly bound Shinobu floated up into his hand.
"Well then... I'll be taking her with me. You can have this guy, Kaido, back."
He ruffled Yamato's hair as she looked up at him with reluctant eyes, then turned to leave.
Kaido frowned, clearly irritated, but still didn't make a move.
Yet his instincts screamed at him — Orin's actions were never as simple as they seemed.
Especially not for a twisted monster as unpredictable as him.
"Hey!!! Orin!!! What the hell are you scheming now?!!!"
Kaido, draped in his purple coat, bellowed toward the distant figure.
Orin didn't even turn his head — he just waved with a grin.
"What, didn't we talk about this already? About dragging the whole world down together..."
"A great war!!!"