The morning.
Sunshine bathed the land.
It was strange, for though Wano Country was one entity, each town felt like an island separated by rivers, with its own unique climate.
There was the Flower Capital, warm as spring, and Ringo, where the wind bit to the bone. Of course, there was also Kuri, like summer, and Udon in autumn.
Spring, summer, autumn, and winter, all in this not-so-large Wano Country, forming a cycle. It was quite magical.
“Are we really leaving just like that?”
At the bow of the Sunny, everyone looked down at the chaotic prisoner quarry in Udon below, a flicker of something unusual in their eyes.
As they had expected, after they scattered the newspapers, Wano Country had exploded.
The chaos began last night in the Flower Capital, spreading rapidly, and by this morning, it had engulfed the entire Wano Country.
The remnants of the Beast Pirates, who had remained in Wano, initially disbelieved. But when they went to find their superiors, they discovered they had vanished without a trace.
This sent them into a complete panic. They then used special means to contact the outside world, only to learn that their captain, the Four Emperor Kaido, had died in Dressrosa a week prior, at the hands of a newcomer pirate they had heard of but paid no mind to: Silver-haired Kouta.
What followed was utter pandemonies.
Even the hidden samurai of Wano did not appear. The prisoner quarry had descended into utter chaos on its own.
“Let’s go! There’s really nothing more to see,” Kouta retracted his gaze, piloting the Sunny forward, catching the morning sun, and quickly departing.
It wasn't truly in chaos yet. When abnormalities were discovered, or when Kanjuro Shimotsuki rallied his forces and disseminated the news of Shogun Kurozumi Orochi’s death, that would be Wano’s true liberation.
* * *
*Creak—!*
The thick wooden door was pushed open from the outside.
Looking at the room inside, unchanged from when he had left last night, a flicker of excitement flashed in Kanjuro Shimotsuki’s eyes, even though he had seen it before.
Behind him, a group of samurai in loose martial arts attire, swords at their sides, looked at the scene within, their faces flushing with excitement.
“What Lord Kanjuro said was true. Orochi really is dead. This is great; Wano is saved.”
“Report~”
Just then, a group of samurai ran in from outside the courtyard. They approached Kanjuro Shimotsuki, glanced at the room within, and then, with excitement in their voices, saluted him. “Lord Kanjuro, we searched the entire General’s Mansion. Apart from some unconscious guards and maids, we found no one else.”
“No one?”
Kanjuro Shimotsuki stood outside the main door, not entering.
After leaving last night, he had quickly gathered his former subordinates, then instructed them to contact the hidden samurai. He arrived here early this morning, only to find himself a step too late.
However, even though their benefactors had already left, their deeds would be remembered.
Turning, he looked at the empty courtyard where the Sunny had been parked last night. A resolute expression hardened Kanjuro Shimotsuki’s brow.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand and shouted, “Set off! First, we rescue our compatriots imprisoned in Usagi-gai, and then we march directly to Onigashima to liberate all of Wano Country.”
“At the end of that darkness, I saw light waiting for me, for us, for Wano Country.”
“With this journey, we shall restore our glory.”
These words ignited the hearts of the samurai.
Then, led by Kanjuro Shimotsuki, the samurai departed swiftly.
No one entered this room. They were merely the vanguard. More samurai would follow them.
Although Orochi was dead, he would not be let off so easily.
This place was reserved for the samurai who would come later.
He believed they would ensure Orochi’s corpse received the end it deserved.
* * *
Two days later.
New World.
An unknown sea area.
The sky seemed to press down, so low it felt as though one could touch it.
There was no strong wind, no thunder, and even the clouds appeared to be still. If one didn't look closely, they wouldn't be able to tell if the clouds were moving.
Consequently, the sea surface beneath this sky was equally silent, lacking the ferocity typical of the Grand Line.
Beneath this calm sea, however, it was pitch black, as if ink that could not be diluted, filling one with dread.
Just then, a medium-sized sailing ship with a large windmill head entered this sea area.
As the ship approached, the ripples it created seemed to break the long-standing calm, bringing the area to life in an instant.
The previously dark seabed, as if welcoming the visitor, rapidly changed color.
From an inky black, it gradually faded.
“Something’s not right!”
At the bow of the Sunny, everyone had just navigated through a sea area no less violent than the outer seas of Wano, perhaps even more so. As a result, Ahua, Brook, and the other two were completely exhausted on deck.
Even Robin was leaning against the railing, panting heavily.
Only the idle Kouta and Kuina could stand leisurely on deck, enjoying the calm after the storm.
Of course, Yisheng, who had become like a transparent figure after boarding, sat quietly at the bow. Before him was a tea table, with a teapot and a cup of steaming tea.
Given his demeanor, those who knew him understood it was his nature. Those who didn't might think he was on vacation.
“Uncle Yisheng, do you feel it?”
Just then, Kouta suddenly turned his head to look at Yisheng, his face serious.
“Mmm!” Yisheng nodded, picked up his teacup, took a sip, then raised his head to face the direction of the sea. As if he could truly see something, he spoke softly, “The front doesn't seem as calm as here. I seem to feel a power, similar to the fellow you killed outside Wano, but fundamentally different.”
“Although the sensation isn’t very clear, I can tell that the person ahead is likely in slumber.”
He then turned to Kouta, “What do you think, should we go there?”
“With our strength, even if you can hide, I and Kuina cannot. Going there might awaken It.”
Hearing Yisheng’s words, Kouta remained silent for a long time.
Kuina stared ahead, sparks flashing in her eyes. She didn't feel the aura Yisheng sensed. She wondered if her Observation Haki was inferior to Yisheng's, or if only a special sensing Haki could perceive such auras.
No matter how she scanned, this appeared to be an ordinary sea area, albeit one that was excessively quiet compared to the Grand Line.
At this moment, Ahua and the others also noticed something amiss, standing up with grave expressions as they gazed forward.
“Look,” as if seeing something incredible, Ah Tao’s smoking paused. He sharply turned around, pointing at the sea below the ship, and exclaimed in surprise, “The water here is so black.”
However, before anyone could react in surprise, the seawater seemed to come alive, gradually becoming vibrant as if welcoming the newcomers.