Inuarashi and Nekomamushi still didn't return directly to Oden Castle. They stayed outside for a few days to recover from their injuries before heading back.
The events on Kuri Beach naturally reached Ghost Island as well.
"Setsuna had a fight with those two from the Fur Race?"
"Yes, Zeraora joined in at the end, but the impact of that event is limited, Great Beast Lord. However, this particular matter is quite important."
Shaina pulled out a document from a stack and handed it to Arceus. This was the internal order of handling matters within the Beasts Pirates, with the highest priority assigned to those related to the Plates, followed by matters concerning crew members.
Whether someone had a conflict with another, or if anyone broke the rules, etc. However, this incident was somewhat unexpected.
"Kojiro was assassinated in the Flower Capital?"
As the current exclusive merchant of the Beasts Pirates, Kojiro was considered one of them. Since the incident where Kinemon's subordinate caused trouble and got caught in the mines, no one had dared to mess with Kojiro.
With the backing of the Beasts Pirates, Kojiro's business in the Flower Capital flourished, and he had started expanding to other regions of Wano Kuni.
The market share in Wano Kuni is limited. Previously, Kojiro's family's decline allowed others to seize their market, but now with his resurgence, he not only reclaimed what was lost but also expanded into a broader market.
He had many things that Wano Kuni lacked, and his family was a well-established name in Wano Kuni. Using this reputation, his family even surpassed their former status, though without replenishing their numbers, he was still the sole member of the main family.
In such circumstances, the business association was entirely supported by Kojiro alone. If he disappeared, the large association would undoubtedly be affected.
His actions moved many people's interests; driven by wealth, someone inevitably resorted to foul play.
"How is he? Is he seriously injured?"
If Kojiro had died, the report would have stated he was killed. This at least implies he is still alive.
"Uh... no, not only is he uninjured, but he also killed the attacker and captured two alive. He's outside now, and it seems he wants to meet you."
"Bring him here."
...
Outside Ghost Island, Kojiro had become well-associated with the pirates there. He was currently narrating the events of the previous night to the crowd.
"Those guys really dared to commit a crime in the Flower Capital. Fortunately, my family dog, after the decline of our household, only a few elders stayed by my side, and apart from them, there's only this dog." Kojiro stroked the head of the large dog in his arms.
It was a common Shiba Inu, looking quite old, raised by him since he was young. He now slept with this dog at night.
"Those people were light on their feet, but unfortunately, little Ka smelled them. Not professional at all."
"More importantly, how did you manage to kill them? Those guys weren't weak." Asked a pirate with a bandage wrapped around his shoulder; they were pirates following Kojiro.
However, with peaceful times, they let their guard down, allowing those people to sneak in. Now, punishment was unavoidable. But since Kojiro was unharmed, the punishment wouldn't be severe.
This piqued their curiosity since those attackers were skilled. Even having witnessed Kojiro's clumsy attempts at rowing, they'd considered him a weakling.
"Well, do you know why I'm the only one left in my family?"
Though they were familiar with him, they didn't interject, waiting quietly for Kojiro's answer.
"Because I can fight! Don't underestimate me; I practice Iaido. In fact, my family was originally a samurai lineage that produced many powerful figures. My grandfather said we used to have the family name Sasaki."
In Wano Kuni, commoners don't have family names; only samurais and noble families have them. Kojiro's notion of "used to have" means his family name was stripped away.
However, that was part of their complex family history, which the pirates weren't interested in.
"So should we call you Sasaki Kojiro?"
"No, that surname is in the past. I'm going to start a new era, one that belongs to me, Kojiro."
"That's quite impressive, but could you show us your Iaijutsu?"
"Well... it's better not; that move is too dangerous,"
Despite his boasting, he indeed knew only that one move. The assassin didn't expect Kojiro to sleep with his sword, which led to a fatal strike.
It's said that his ancestor was a Sword Master, capable of cutting down a flying swallow with a single swing, hence the move's name 'Aerial Ace,' but all this time, none in his family managed it.
Among his family, he was the most capable fighter, but only relatively so. Compared to real experts, he was nothing. Last night's performance was more of an extraordinary fluke under life-and-death pressure.
Boasting was fine, but messing it up in practice would be embarrassing.
However, the pirates didn't intend to let him off, continuously egging him on when Shaina suddenly appeared.
"Come with me; the Great Beast Lord wants to see you. Also, you guys, are you so idle? Get to your tasks!"
"Yes!" The Minister of Discipline's appearance ended the pirates' slacker lifestyle, and Kojiro was brought before Arceus, while those captured were sent to King.
...
"Is there something you want to say?"
"Well, Great Beast Lord, I've been doing reasonably well, haven't I?"
"In terms of business, you're indeed exceptional. So what's your point?" Apart from the initial goods and background support, Kojiro achieved nearly everything on his own, rapidly rising from selling goods with a cart to reopening a business association.
He also worked hard to gather the refugees caused by Orochi, and his achievements were evident.
"So... can I make a small request? The fact that they attempted one assassination means there could be a second. I feel my situation is somewhat dangerous, and I heard you have a way to make people stronger quickly."
The Arceus Sect people didn't spare efforts in promoting this, so Kojiro was aware of the legends surrounding the Beasts Pirates.
However, the tales were exaggerated, to the point that CP9 investigating deemed it a brainwashing tactic by the Beasts Pirates, believing it to be a smoke bomb to hide Queen's technology.
"So you want to gain abilities?"