Chapter 19: Daimyo Conference
The regions of Wano Country were separated by deep and wide bodies of water. To cross these rivers, one had to rely on boats or bridges.
In previous years, the major bridges leading into Kuri were guarded on only one side. Now, Ren had specifically stationed people to guard both ends of every bridge.
Under normal circumstances, the only ones who entered Kuri were wanted criminals. Ren welcomed them all. Once they arrived, they would fall under the arrangements of the Serpent's Seal and obediently undergo labor reform.
Criminals?
In Ren's eyes, they were all free labor.
The purpose of guarding the main routes was not to stop people from entering Kuri, but to prevent the scattered bandits who had fled into the mountains from finding a chance to escape.
Once the defensive lines were established, guards on both ends of the bridges could clearly see one another. In this way, the changes in Kuri gradually spread outward.
This was no small matter. Soon, with deliberate promotion from Ren and Orochi, the news reached the Flower Capital and entered the ears of the Shogun, Kozuki Sukiyaki.
After all, no one had ever heard of a figure like Ren before. A sudden newcomer had quietly taken control of Kuri and openly proclaimed himself the Daimyo of Kuri. It was impossible not to take notice.
If the person occupying Kuri had been Oden, the situation would have been entirely different.
"What do you all think?" Sukiyaki asked.
He lacked exceptional talent, so when faced with such matters, he preferred to consult the other Daimyo.
"From the standpoint of Wano Country, the pacification of Kuri is a good thing," Ushimaru said calmly.
His territory lay in Ringo, which did not border Kuri, so he had no direct concerns.
"Kuri is vast. If it truly develops, it will become prosperous within a few years, and the nation's wealth will increase accordingly."
Sukiyaki nodded. This was also his own thinking.
If Kuri developed, the Flower Capital would gain an additional source of taxes without effort. The real issue was Ren himself, whose background was unknown.
"I disagree," the Daimyo of Udon said coldly. "Since ancient times, there have only been five Daimyo families: Kozuki, Shimotsuki, Fugetsu, Utsuzuki, and Kurozumi. Now that the Kurozumi Clan has fallen, how can someone of unknown origin become a Daimyo?"
"Regardless," another Daimyo interjected, "according to the intelligence we've gathered, that man has indeed pacified the bandits of Kuri and now commands a large force of samurai. If we deny his legitimacy outright, it may lead to war. That would be a net loss for the country."
These words caused the hall to fall silent.
The samurai of Kuri were desperate men, hardened by bloodshed. If they truly rebelled, even suppressing them would come at a heavy cost.
More importantly, who would suppress them?
The Daimyo exchanged glances, yet none were willing to volunteer.
No one wanted such a thankless task.
If Sukiyaki promised that whoever pacified Kuri would be granted Kuri itself, perhaps someone would consider it. But that was unrealistic. Otherwise, Kuri would not have remained lawless for so many years.
"Why aren't you speaking?" Sukiyaki suddenly asked, turning his gaze toward Kōya.
In his eyes, Kōya was a steady and cautious man, and his opinion carried weight.
"Lord Shogun," Kōya said, nodding slightly. "I was thinking that I may have heard of this person before."
"Oh?" Sukiyaki raised an eyebrow.
Several Daimyo immediately turned to look at him.
"Some time ago, I heard people in the streets of Hakumai discussing a man and a woman who claimed they would pacify Kuri. At the time, everyone treated it as a joke. I did not expect news of Kuri's pacification to arrive so quickly."
Kōya picked up a newspaper. On it was a clear image of Ren and Yukiko standing before the newly built Daimyo's Mansion.
"So it really is those two?" someone asked.
Kōya nodded. "Before coming here, I specifically sought out residents who had personally seen them. It was indeed those two. I also investigated their identities. There were no apparent issues."
"In that case, there shouldn't be a major problem," the Daimyo of Kibi said after some thought.
She continued, "Lord Shogun, why not temporarily acknowledge him as the Daimyo of Kuri? When Oden eventually arrives in Kuri, let him judge whether this Daimyo is qualified. It would also provide an opportunity for you and Oden to reconcile."
"That's not a bad idea," Ushimaru agreed.
"If Oden deems him unqualified, he can remove him and then assume the position of Daimyo of Kuri."
Hearing this, Sukiyaki nodded slowly.
From this perspective, it would actually be best if the Daimyo of Kuri proved unqualified. That way, when he and Oden repaired their father–son relationship, it would be even more convincing.
Although Sukiyaki had once severed ties with Oden in anger, everyone knew their relationship would eventually be restored. Sukiyaki had no other children, and in their eyes, the future ruler of Wano Country could only be Oden.
"Where is Oden now?" Sukiyaki asked.
"He left Kibi some time ago and headed south. He should be in Udon by now."
Sukiyaki nodded, then paused briefly.
"In that case, let us first bestow the title of Daimyo of Kuri upon the man named Ren."
He did not particularly care about Kuri. To him, it was land he could not control anyway. Now that it had a ruler, he could benefit from it, so there was no reason to refuse.
As for Ren's lineage, considering the samurai forces now under his command, Sukiyaki felt it was no longer important.
The ease with which those samurai had fallen before Ren was misleading. In truth, Ren's current strength was no weaker than Doflamingo's. With such power, he could easily rule a country by force in the New World.
Soon, the news of Sukiyaki officially acknowledging Ren as the Daimyo of Kuri was published in the newspapers.
For the people of Kuri, life seemed to have entered an entirely different world.
In the past, they lived in thatched huts, barely clothed and constantly hungry. Now, there was food to eat. Their homes were rebuilt, and with the help of the Tenryu Bugyo, every household moved into a new residence.
For a time, Ren's prestige in Kuri rose to an extraordinary height.