The lingering glow of the sunset bathed the mountain path leading to Oden Castle, dyeing the entire road in a golden-red hue.
Kaidou, accompanied by several trusted subordinates, walked slowly alongside Kurozumi Higurashi and Kurozumi Kanjuro's group. Higurashi, disguised as Kouzuki Oden, led the procession, perfectly mimicking Oden's gait and mannerisms. However, the faint, eerie smile at the corner of her lips appeared particularly glaring under the sunset's illumination.
By the time they reached the castle grounds, the evening clouds had stained the entire sky blood-red, as if foretelling the impending upheaval. At the castle gate, Kin'emon had long been waiting with the retainers, lined up in formation.
"Lord Oden, you've finally returned!" Kin'emon hurried forward, performing a formal samurai bow with reverence. When he lifted his head, his eyes sparkled with joy. "The banquet is all prepared, awaiting only your and Lord Kaidou's presence."
Just then, the Fish-man samurai Kawamatsu emerged from the shadows of the castle gate. Standing behind Kin'emon, his gaze remained fixed on "Kouzuki Oden." Kawamatsu's brow unconsciously furrowed, an indescribable sense of dissonance spreading in his heart.
"Kin'emon, are you reproaching me for returning too late?" the false Oden suddenly snapped sharply, his voice carrying an unnatural shrillness, starkly different from Oden's usual gentle tone.
Kin'emon shuddered at the sudden reprimand, hastily lowering his head. "I wouldn't dare! Please calm your anger, Lord Oden!"
Kurozumi Higurashi snorted coldly, commanding in a deliberately lowered voice, "Begin the banquet at once!" Though she strained to mimic Oden's vocal tone, she couldn't conceal the condescending arrogance in her delivery.
"Yes, Lord Oden, Lord Kaidou, please follow me." Kin'emon quickly led the way, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He discreetly wiped his brow with his sleeve, inwardly puzzled: Why is Lord Oden so unusual today?
Kawamatsu walked at the rear of the procession with Inuarashi and Nekomamushi. Nekomamushi keenly noticed Kawamatsu's troubled expression and asked in a hushed voice, "Kawamatsu, what's wrong? You've been distracted since earlier."
"Something feels off..." Kawamatsu shook his head, his gaze still locked on the "Kouzuki Oden" ahead. "But I can't pinpoint what exactly."
Inuarashi leaned in closer. "What seems off?"
Kawamatsu lowered his voice further. "Lord Oden encountered visitors from overseas yet showed no interest in seafaring matters whatsoever. That's completely unlike him."
Nekomamushi slapped his forehead abruptly. "You're right! No wonder I felt something was strange! Lord Oden always loves hearing about overseas affairs!"
Inuarashi's expression suddenly turned grave. "Let's hurry inside. I have a bad feeling about this." He glanced around and added in a whisper, "And of all times, Ashura Doji and Denjiro are away elsewhere now. The earliest they can return is tomorrow."
The three exchanged worried glances and quickened their pace to catch up with the group ahead.
Inside Oden Castle, the halls were brilliantly lit. Following "Lord Oden's" instructions, Kin'emon had meticulously arranged an extravagant banquet. The long tables were laden with Wano's specialty delicacies, from exquisite sushi to fragrant tempura, everything one could desire.
Most conspicuous was the Oden personally prepared by Kin'emon, Lord Oden's favorite daily meal. Attendants wove through the crowd carrying sake flasks, the entire castle immersed in what appeared to be a joyous atmosphere.
The fake Oden sat rigidly in the host's seat, a stiff smile plastered across his face. Raising his cup, he addressed Kaidou: "Lord Kaidou, please enjoy these fine wines and delicacies—they bear witness to our friendship."
"Wororororo! Excellent sake!" Kaidou roared with hearty laughter, lifting a massive sake flask and draining it in one gulp. "Kouzuki Oden, you truly are a straightforward man!" His laughter echoed through the banquet hall, making the candle flames tremble slightly.
As the banquet reached its fever pitch with clinking cups and flowing drinks, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi finally succumbed to their burning curiosity and approached Queen, who seemed the most approachable.
"Are there really five islands in the world?" Inuarashi cautiously inquired, his eyes sparkling with intellectual curiosity.
Queen stared blankly for a moment before bursting into uproarious laughter: "Muhahaha! You two idiots, what kind of joke is this!" He laughed so hard he nearly spilled the cup in his hand.
Nekomamushi blinked in confusion: "Then... are there six?"
"Fools! Completely wrong!" Queen's laughter grew even more exaggerated, tears nearly streaming from his eyes. "Though I don't know the exact number, there must be ten to twenty million islands at least!"
"What?!" Inuarashi and Nekomamushi exclaimed in unison, their faces etched with utter disbelief. This number far exceeded anything they could have imagined.
"You country bumpkins are absolutely hilarious! Muhahaha!" Queen's laughter continued to reverberate through the banquet hall.
Meanwhile, Sebastian and Kawamatsu were conversing in a corner. The towering Fish-man Sebastian looked down at Kawamatsu with curious eyes.
"You're... also of the Fish-man race?" Kawamatsu gazed in astonishment at the tall member of his own kind, his voice trembling with barely contained excitement.
Sebastian responded with a puzzled counterquestion: "Have you never seen other Fish-men before?"
Kawamatsu's expression suddenly darkened: "When I was young, my mother and I accidentally wandered into Wano Country. After she passed away, I never saw any of our kind again." His voice grew heavy with profound loneliness, clearly recalling his mother who had suffered persecution and death.
"Kawamatsu, right?" Sebastian suddenly lowered his voice, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "How about joining our Beasts Pirates? Besides me, we have nearly a hundred Fish-man compatriots on board. And in the future, you'll have the chance to return with us to Fish-Man Island, our people's homeland where hundreds of thousands of our kind reside."
"So many of our people?!" Kawamatsu's eyes widened in shock, but he firmly shook his head. "No, I am Lord Oden's retainer, sworn to loyalty only to Lord Oden." Though spoken softly, his voice carried unwavering determination.
Sebastian smiled meaningfully: "The world works in mysterious ways—who knows what the future may hold?" He raised his cup and took a significant sip.
Though Kawamatsu had declined Sebastian's invitation, this marked his first encounter with a member of his own race in many years. Consequently, his favorable impression of Sebastian, and even the Beasts Pirates, continued to grow. These complex emotions intertwined within him, leaving him feeling both kinship and deep conflict.
The clamor of the banquet hall masked the conversation in the corner. Amid the cheerful music, no one noticed the meaningful glance exchanged between "Kouzuki Oden" and Kaidou. In the candlelight, the false Oden's lips curled into a sinister smile, while Kaidou's eyes flashed with a cruel glint.