"What?!" everyone exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with disbelief. The morning sun shone on the stone-paved road, yet it couldn't dispel the gloom shrouding their hearts.
Just then, heavy footsteps approached from a distance. Kaidou walked slowly with his Beasts Pirates members. The burly man wore a faint smile on his lips, seemingly unsurprised by everything before him. Following behind him were Executives like Queen, King, Urouge, Sebastian, each bearing meaningful expressions on their faces.
"Quick! To the port!" Ashura Doji was the first to react, dashing outward. Only then did everyone snap out of their daze, rushing frantically toward the port. Their figures cast long shadows on the stone road, urgent footsteps echoing through the morning streets, startling several birds resting under the eaves.
When everyone reached the port, the scene before them sank their hearts. The port was empty, with only a few Pirates lying haphazardly on the ground. The pirate ship originally docked here had disappeared. The sea breeze swept across the deserted dock, as if mocking their belated realization.
"Damn it, wake up!" Kin'emon grabbed a still-slumbering Pirate, shaking him violently. His fingers dug deep into the other's collar, knuckles turning white from the force.
"Who is it?" grumbled the Pirate, annoyed at being awakened. When he opened his bleary eyes and saw the large crowd surrounding him, he jolted in fright. Especially when he caught sight of Kaidou's grim face, he immediately broke free from Kin'emon's grip, scrambling and crawling to Kaidou's side like a terrified mouse.
"C-Captain," the Pirate stammered, his voice trembling almost inaudibly, "Last night, Kouzuki Oden knocked us out, then hijacked the pirate ship and set sail."
"What?!" Kaidou's roar sent ripples through the port's seawater, veins bulging on his forehead, clearly enraged to the extreme. The surrounding air seemed to grow heavy with his fury.
"I knew it!" Kin'emon glared at Kaidou and his group, grinding his teeth, fists clenched until they creaked. "With these Pirates around, Lord Oden would definitely find a way to set sail!"
Ashura Doji turned to Kin'emon and the others, his voice filled with suppressed anger: "Kin'emon, Kanjuro, Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, Kawamatsu, what exactly is going on? Why are there Pirates here? Where has Lord Oden gone?" His gaze swept across their faces, searching for answers.
Kurozumi Kanjuro stepped forward and began to explain: "Ashura Doji, Denjiro, here's what happened. Yesterday, these Pirates landed in Wano Country. Mr. Kaidou and Lord Oden fought, but through their clash, they became good friends. At last night's banquet, Lord Oden even wanted to pass the position of Daimyo of Kuri to Mr. Kaidou, though Mr. Kaidou politely declined."
"What?!" Denjiro shouted in shock, his sword scabbard slamming heavily onto the ground. "Lord Oden is too reckless!"
Ashura Doji also nodded gravely, his brow furrowed deeply: "Indeed."
"After Lord Oden was refused, he didn't say anything more," Kurozumi Kanjuro continued, his voice unnaturally calm. "Who would have thought he would secretly set out to sea while we were resting."
"It's all these pirates' fault!" Kin'emon redirected his fury toward Kaidou and the others, pointing his finger directly at Kaidou's nose. "If it weren't for them, Lord Oden wouldn't have gone to sea!"
Ashura Doji and Denjiro also glared angrily at Kaidou's group, the atmosphere at the port instantly becoming tense. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, as if a single spark could ignite the entire harbor.
"Wororororo!" Kaidou suddenly burst into laughter, though his laughter was filled with anger. "I'm the one who should be angry! That bastard Oden stole my pirate ship!" His laughter abruptly stopped, his eyes turning dangerous.
"Are you looking to die?" King sneered as he drew his newly acquired weapon—the Meito Enma. The blade glinted coldly in the sunlight, reflecting his cold expression.
Members of the Beasts Pirates also drew their weapons one after another, a battle imminent. Queen cracked his arms, making clicking sounds; Urouge assumed a fighting stance, his muscles tensed; Sebastian firmly gripped his meteor hammer.
"Wait!" Denjiro suddenly noticed the sword in King's hand, his pupils contracting sharply. "Why is Enma in your possession?" His voice trembled slightly with shock.
"Damn it! Return Enma to us!" The others also noticed the situation and shouted angrily. The samurai of the Oden family drew their swords one after another, pointing the tips directly at the Beasts Pirates.
"Lord Oden gifted this to Mr. King last night." Kurozumi Kanjuro quickly explained, positioning himself between the two sides in an attempt to ease the tension.
"Muhahaha!" Queen laughed heartily as he pulled out a large sword, its blade reflecting blinding light. "Looks like we're going to fight, huh?!" His laughter was full of provocation.
At this critical moment, Kurozumi Kanjuro suddenly snatched a letter from Kin'emon's hand and raised it high above his head, shouting loudly: "Everyone, stop!" His voice echoed over the port, temporarily suppressing the impending conflict.
"Kanjuro, what are you doing?"
"Why are you stopping us?"
Everyone questioned him, but none lowered their weapons.
"Do you want to be sentenced to decapitation?" Kurozumi Kanjuro sternly shouted, holding the letter high. "This is Lord Oden's handwritten command!" His voice carried undeniable authority.
"First, we must ask Mr. Kaidou to forgive Lord Oden's rudeness in taking your pirate ship." Kurozumi Kanjuro began by bowing to Kaidou, his attitude respectful and sincere: "We deeply apologize for this and hope you can stay in Kuri for some time. During this period, we will build a new pirate ship for you as quickly as possible."
"Wororororo! In that case, let's leave it at that for now!" Kaidou said as he put away his weapon, though the anger in his eyes hadn't completely subsided. Seeing Kaidou's actions, the others also put away their weapons, but the hostility between the two sides remained evident.
Afterward, Kurozumi Kanjuro had several subordinates escort Kaidou's group back to Oden Castle to rest. As the Beasts Pirates members left, they didn't forget to cast provocative glances back at the others.
After Kaidou and the others had left, Ashura Doji turned to Kurozumi Kanjuro and said, "Kanjuro, speak. Why did you do this?" His voice was low, carrying a probing tone.
"Yeah?" The others gathered around as well, waiting for an explanation.
"First of all, Lord Oden was in the wrong for taking Kaidou's pirate ship," Kurozumi Kanjuro stated, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"Dammit, if they hadn't come to Wano, Lord Oden wouldn't have set sail," Kin'emon said indignantly, his fist slamming heavily against a nearby wooden crate with a dull thud.
"Kin'emon, stop showing hostility toward Kaidou. You know the orders Lord Oden left behind," Kurozumi Kanjuro chided him, his tone carrying reproach.
"Kanjuro, do you truly intend to let Kaidou become the Daimyo of Kuri?" Denjiro stepped forward, looking directly into Kurozumi Kanjuro's eyes as he asked.
"No, the Daimyo of Kuri can only be Lord Oden," Kurozumi Kanjuro affirmed, his voice firm and resolute.
Hearing this, the others let out a collective sigh of relief, their tense shoulders relaxing slightly.
"Moreover, Kaidou is someone who can hold his own against Lord Oden in a fight. Even regarding his strength, we must treat him with respect," Kurozumi Kanjuro continued, his voice cautious.
At these words, everyone nodded reluctantly, though they had to acknowledge the truth of it.
"While we cannot let Kaidou become the Daimyo of Kuri, Lord Oden's orders stand, so we cannot completely disregard Kaidou either. We must not give outsiders the impression that Lord Oden's retainers are disobeying his commands," Kurozumi Kanjuro went on, his tone growing increasingly serious.
Even the most defiant Kin'emon nodded subconsciously at this, though his face still bore an expression of reluctance.
"Therefore, while Lord Oden is away, we must treat Kaidou with respect and, at the same time, build ships to set sail and search for Lord Oden," Kurozumi Kanjuro concluded, his eyes scanning everyone present to ensure they all understood the decision.
"Mhm." Everyone agreed, though some still wore furrowed brows, no one voiced any opposition. The port fell silent once more, with only the sound of waves lapping against the shore, as if recounting an unfinished tale.
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