"Report! The Roger Pirates have been spotted offshore!"
At dawn, the sudden report shattered the calm of Onigashima.
Kaido set down his sake gourd and personally headed to the surveillance room.
Upon hearing the news, Bai Feng followed the Queen there as well.
Inside the spacious monitoring chamber, over a dozen Transponder Snails projected live images from beyond Wano's towering outer cliffs.
Through the screens, they could clearly see the Oro Jackson, flying the Roger Pirates' flag, maneuvering three giant carp as they climbed the massive waterfall along Wano's outer wall.
If nothing was done, they would soon reach the top and enter Wano's inland sea.
Once that happened, the initiative would no longer belong to Kaido. The entire Beasts Pirates might even be driven out of Wano.
"Boss Kaido, should we attack?"
The Queen asked in a low voice.
They held the aerial advantage.
All three top combatants now possessed flight capabilities.
As the saying went—high ground versus low ground, it's a slaughter.
Roger was undeniably powerful. But unless he could instantly eliminate them, he would never set foot in Wano.
Yet Kaido shook his head.
"No. Let them in."
"Worororo!"
He laughed lightly.
"I'll give Kouzuki Oden a chance to turn the tables. Let's see if he can seize it."
With that, Kaido left the surveillance room without another glance and returned to drink.
Seeing this, Bai Feng also turned to leave.
He wasn't yet qualified to interfere in the clash between Kaido, Kouzuki Oden, and the Roger Pirates.
Whatever he did wouldn't change the outcome.
Better to return to the training grounds and continue his rehabilitation, patiently awaiting the final result.
Splash!
The Oro Jackson cleared the waterfall and crashed into Wano's inland sea, sending spray everywhere.
"We're finally here! Getting to Wano is always such a pain!"
Before long, the ship docked safely at Itachi Port in Kuri.
Kouzuki Oden stepped ashore alone.
"Yo! See you, guys!"
He waved cheerfully at his crewmates.
Led by Rayleigh, the Roger Pirates tearfully said their goodbyes.
"Why the tears? I'm not marching to my death! I'm going home!"
Oden laughed heartily, then turned and strode inland.
Until his figure disappeared entirely from the crew's sight—
He never once turned back to Rayleigh to say, "Could you do me a small favor?"
Rayleigh stood at the railing, gazing toward the smokestacks rising within Wano.
A flicker of concern crossed his eyes.
But it quickly faded.
Just as Oden had said—Wano was his homeland. This was his home ground.
Even if his opponent was Kaido, he shouldn't lose.
With that thought, Rayleigh dismissed the urge to meddle further and ordered the crew to set sail.
The Oro Jackson departed Wano from the opposite waterfall.
Onigashima, surveillance room.
Queen watched almost the entire process—from Oro Jackson's entry to its departure.
Only when the ship vanished completely did he finally breathe out in relief.
"Muhahaha! Kouzuki Oden, your doom is here!"
"Boss Kaido gave you a chance to call for help, and you didn't take it. Useless fool!"
"Muhahahaha…"
Back in Kuri—
Oden's return filled Lady Toki with overwhelming joy.
The couple embraced tightly at once, joined by Momonosuke and Hiyori.
The family shared their longing and reunion.
Afterward, Oden received an enthusiastic welcome from Kuri's citizens.
He was somewhat taken aback.
Before leaving Wano, his reputation hadn't been bad—but it certainly hadn't been this good.
After some explanation, he learned it was all thanks to Lady Toki.
In his absence, she had worked alongside the people, eased their hardships, and told stories of Oden's overseas adventures.
Meanwhile, under Kurozumi Orochi's tyrannical rule, Wano's people longed desperately for a hero to save them.
Oden—by bloodline and strength—perfectly fit that role.
The combination caused his reputation to soar far beyond what it had been before he left.
After the welcoming ceremony, Oden entered Oden Castle and began asking his retainers about the changes in Wano over the years.
Kin'emon and the others explained in detail.
First, about Ashura Doji and Denjiro, who hadn't come to greet him.
The former had once again become the leader of bandits to suppress the rising wave of rogues and brigands across Wano.
The latter had been traveling across the country, borrowing and repaying debts.
They then described Orochi's inexplicable rise to power—and how, backed by Kaido, he had imposed tyranny across all of Wano.
Up to this point, Oden's expression had merely been stern.
He listened almost like an outsider hearing a tragic tale about some distant land.
Until—
Kin'emon mentioned that when they attempted to confront Orochi, "Kaido's subordinates" infiltrated Kuri and attempted to assassinate Momonosuke.
Lady Toki had been shot through the leg by an arrow while protecting her son.
At those words—
Oden exploded with fury.
He forcibly lifted Toki's skirt to inspect the wound.
After confirming it was true—
His face twisted with rage.
"I understand Orochi's schemes well enough!"
"You all—protect my family!"
Leaving only brief instructions, Oden seized his two swords and charged alone toward the Flower Capital.
Beasts Pirates agents hidden in Kuri immediately used Wano's native snail-shaped communication devices to report.
"Kouzuki Oden is heading for the Flower Capital! Inform Lord Orochi immediately!"
Meanwhile, Kuri's citizens erupted in excitement.
"The rightful heir has returned!"
"Our hero is back!"
"Wano will finally have its true shogun!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Flower Capital.
Oden's overwhelming combat strength was far beyond what Orochi's soldiers could resist.
In mere minutes, they were completely annihilated.
Like a raging storm, Oden carved his way into the city and burst into Orochi's palace—
Where Orochi was still drinking and indulging himself.
Orochi nearly fainted from terror.
"Wait!"
"O-Oden! Think carefully!"
"If I die, Kaido won't stand by!"
"Think about what will happen to this country!"
But Oden, enraged by his wife's injury, had already lost all patience.
"I'll chop you down first—then think about it!"