Night had fallen.
On a high northern slope of Asakura Island, beside the sea, lay a cemetery.
Shanu casually slung Sakuraba's corpse over his shoulder and stepped through the cemetery gate, while Junichi bit his lip in silence, following closely behind.
"Where?"
"Here, Boss." Junichi led Shanu to an old grave.
The tombstone bore the name Sakuraba.
They dug open the grave, and as expected, it was empty.
The cold, lonely night wind swept through the cemetery. Cherry blossoms wilted and fell, drifting onto the shoulders of the frail boy.
Junichi knelt, suddenly bursting into tears.
How he wished it had all been a nightmare—that the creature, mad beyond comprehension, was not his father, and that the real Sakuraba lay peacefully in this grave.
Shanu watched quietly.
At times like this, words weren't needed—just space to vent emotions.
He understood Junichi's pain: the person he had revered most had suddenly turned into a deranged monster. Such a blow could break anyone.
Looking back toward the city, Shanu was thoughtful.
Earlier at the dojo, after defeating the true "Woodman," the puppet corpses that hadn't fully transformed began slowly regaining consciousness.
Outside, a large contingent of Navy soldiers had arrived, along with reporters ready to capture the scene.
If they didn't leave now, they'd become the center of public attention, something Shanu wanted to avoid. So he carried Sakuraba's body and, with Junichi, left the city from the north, arriving at this cemetery.
With witnesses and evidence already present, the truth wouldn't be lost.
From now on, the legend of Sakuraba on Asakura Island would likely shift—from the great swordsman who founded the Kendo Tournament to a deranged, murderous demon.
Junichi's dream of revitalizing the Asakura Dojo might also…
After some time, Junichi's emotions gradually stabilized.
With Shanu's help, he placed the body in the grave, then quietly sprinkled a few crumpled cherry blossom candies over it, and finally covered it with soil.
After bowing deeply several times and taking a long look at the tombstone, he followed Shanu out of the cemetery.
The Celestial Dragon… Vice Admiral Stainless… the frail boy's fists clenched silently.
…
After walking for a while:
"Did your old dojo, or your house, have any hidden underground rooms?" Shanu suddenly asked.
Junichi froze. "Boss, why ask this all of a sudden?"
"I found something in your father's body."
Shanu pulled out a dark yellow wooden box, shaped like a heart.
"This is his heart. I don't know if the Puppet Fruit made it a cold wooden block, or if it was already cold and caused him to slowly become a true puppet."
Who could say?
Junichi's gaze was complex, unsure how to respond, when he saw Shanu open the box to reveal an old-fashioned key.
"A key hidden in his heart. There's definitely something important behind a door. Let's go see."
…
Half an hour later:
Following Junichi's childhood memories, they found a very concealed underground passage beneath the old Sakuraba Dojo.
At the end, a plain wooden door blocked their way.
Shanu knocked with his fist and immediately felt something. "There's a thick steel plate behind this. Without the key, probably no one in the East Sea could open it."
Undoubtedly, this was Sakuraba's most important and secretive place.
Using the key, they opened the door. When they stepped inside and turned on the lights, both instinctively shielded their eyes.
The small room was lined with cabinets on all sides, overflowing with glittering gold and silver treasures, almost blinding them.
"This… is my father's vault?" Junichi looked around in shock. "The billions he earned… it's all here?"
"Doesn't look like it," Shanu estimated, then shook his head, his gaze drawn to the desk.
It was covered in ledgers, letters, and maps.
He pulled out a chair and carefully went through everything. After organizing it, Sakuraba's revenge plan became crystal clear.
"Gotta admit… your father's revenge plan had a real chance of success." Shanu was a bit surprised.
The Puppet Fruit could control far more people and at greater distances than Sakuraba had claimed. Its range even reached hundreds of nautical miles into the Kingdom of Rayacot.
About three years ago, using the Kendo Tournament's draw, Sakuraba invited some local officials from Rayacot to Asakura Island.
He planted puppet strings in a dozen promising officials, then used his wealth to promote them, making them trusted ministers of the Rayacot royal family.
Two were recommended by the royal family and, a month ago, passed the World Government's selection to work in Mary Joa.
Eventually, he would have the chance to encounter those two female Celestials.
Thinking the time was right, Sakuraba planned to abandon Asakura Island and go to the Sabaody Archipelago—the closest island to Mary Joa on the Grand Line, within range to manipulate the two officials.
"After years of operation, he invested six to seven hundred million Berries. Now it's finally paying off."
Shanu tossed the letters back and continued. "The remaining funds: over 500 million Berries. About 100 million here, the rest in a Log Town bank vault. Keys and ID are here."
"So, Junichi," Shanu smiled, "you're officially a billionaire now."
"Don't joke, Boss."
Junichi shook his head decisively. "All that money is tainted. I won't inherit it. That guy has nothing to do with me now! Honestly, this money should belong to you."
"Me?" Shanu blinked.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Junichi said seriously, "The evil spirit in my father's body could only be defeated with your help. You found the key. Isn't all this rightfully your spoils?"
…Maybe it really was.
Shanu didn't have Junichi's moral compulsion, but… seriously, all this money is mine?
He had only gone after the Kendo Tournament's 5 million Berry prize at first. Now, after all seven dojo masters were gone, he didn't even know who to claim it from.
Now, the 5 million had multiplied over a hundredfold—600 million Berries. A true super-rich.
"Taking all 600 million feels… wrong."
Shanu shook his head. Looking back at the corpses in the dojo, "And the rest of this treasure… cash is easy to carry, but the rest is too bulky. We can't take it."
"Leave it for now, and come back later?" Junichi paused. "No one can open it anyway, right?"
"No need. I only need the 400 million in the bank. I counted over a million in cash here—we can take that too. The rest, about 100 million, should go to the victims' families."
Shanu grabbed paper and pen and began writing.
"We'll erase all documents about the revenge plan, especially those involving the Celestial Dragon. The remaining treasure…"
He turned to Junichi. "Who on the island's upper class can be trusted?"
"There's one," Junichi recalled seriously. "Mr. Az, honorary head of the Kendo Association. Honest all his life, stubborn, powerful, spent most of his wealth helping poor children. Respected by all. Before my father went mad, he treated him as a teacher for decades."
"A few others too, but none with as much influence…"
"Then let Mr. Az supervise. Make copies of the documents for a few trustworthy people. Anyone questionable gets nothing. Ensure the victims' families get as much treasure as possible."
"All right, done! Let's clear the letters."
After storing the notices, Shanu and Junichi cleaned the secret room to ensure nothing was left behind.
While tidying, Shanu noticed a drawer with a seemingly ordinary scabbard.
Next to it was a newspaper photo of a smiling middle-aged bearded man wearing a white cloak of justice.
"Could this scabbard be…"
Shanu immediately realized something. Ensuring Junichi wasn't looking, he grabbed the scabbard and performed a sacrifice.
Sure enough.
In an instant, the scabbard vanished, replaced by a system panel:
[Sacrifice: Stainless' Sword Scabbard]
[Rarity: Epic]
[Value: 600 Points]
[Appraisal: One of the fifty 'Skillful Grade Blades' swords, original scabbard 'Winter Rain,' fell into the sea five years ago with the struggling Sakuraba. The scabbard that accompanied him for nearly twenty years disappeared, leaving Vice Admiral Stainless often regretful.]