Luffy raised both hands and shouted, "Hey!"
"Ace, where is Kaido?"
Ace glanced toward the distance, a faint smile forming as a certain horned girl crossed his mind.
"Kaido is not in Wano. He is on an island outside the country, Onigashima."
Yamato... I am back.
Luffy immediately brightened.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go to Onigashima and send Kaido flying!"
Before anyone could move, a voice came from the side.
"Hey, are you here to take over Wano Country?"
Everyone turned.
A massive ox charged forward, kicking up dust with every step. Sitting atop it was a tall and broad man with wild pink hair tied into a topknot, a sword resting at his waist.
Rolan recognized him instantly.
Ashura Doji, one of the Akazaya Nine.
What surprised him was that the man recognized him in return.
"In Wano, most people may not know your name, but I do," Ashura Doji said, his tone guarded. "Why are you here? Are you planning to take the shogun's position?"
Before Rolan could respond, Hancock stepped forward.
She raised her slender finger and pointed directly at Ashura Doji, her posture filled with disdain.
"Insolent man, is my husband someone you are qualified to question?"
Her voice was cold, her expression full of contempt.
Luffy frowned, waving his fists impatiently.
"Hey, who are you? You show up and start asking questions right away."
Ashura Doji replied calmly, "Just a mountain bandit."
Compared to the tension in the air, Ace stepped forward with a composed expression.
"We did not come to Wano to seize power. We are here to defeat Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi."
Ashura Doji studied them carefully.
Although Wano was isolated, he had always paid attention to the outside world. For eighteen years, he had waited for the return of his lord and the fulfillment of a long awaited prophecy.
Because of that, he knew the faces standing before him.
Especially Rolan.
A man whose name shook the entire sea.
The strongest existence among pirates.
He was also aware of the conflict between Rolan and Kaido. From that alone, it made sense why they had come.
Even so, rumors about Rolan were far from reassuring.
Ambitious, dangerous, unpredictable.
If someone like him chose to take control of Wano, there would be no taking it back.
Not even the Kozuki Family could reclaim it.
That was why he had to confirm their intentions.
If they threatened the future of Wano, he would act.
Rolan finally spoke, his tone calm.
"Ashura Doji, one of Kozuki Oden's Akazaya Nine. Now a bandit leader in Kuri, known as Shutenmaru."
A brief silence followed.
"You are still loyal to the Kozuki Family."
Ashura Doji's expression changed instantly.
Very few people in Wano knew his true identity anymore.
Yet this outsider spoke it so casually.
His guard rose to its peak.
"Rolan, who exactly are you? What do you want?"
His hand slowly moved to the hilt of his sword.
Rolan looked at him and gave a faint, almost indifferent smile.
"Relax."
"If I wanted Wano, you would not be standing here. Even if Kozuki Oden came back to life, it would make no difference."
The moment those words fell, an overwhelming pressure descended.
It was Conqueror's Haki.
Ashura Doji's body stiffened as sweat poured down his face. His hand trembled uncontrollably on his sword.
His breathing became ragged.
This pressure was beyond anything he had ever experienced.
Not Kaido.
Not even Kozuki Oden.
This was something else entirely.
A level of power that could not be measured.
He realized something in that instant.
If Rolan wanted him dead, it would take less than a second.
"Hey, Rolan."
Ace's voice broke the tension.
Rolan withdrew his Haki immediately.
The pressure vanished.
Ashura Doji staggered, gasping for air as his strength nearly gave out.
Rolan glanced at him, his expression returning to calm indifference.
"I am not interested in ruling Wano."
"Whether it is the Kozuki Family or anyone else, it has nothing to do with me."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"But do not provoke me. I am not patient."
Ashura Doji stared at him in silence.
The land he had fought for, the family he had served, all of it seemed insignificant in Rolan's eyes.
That was what unsettled him the most.
For the first time, he found himself hoping that Momonosuke and the others would stay far away.
If they clashed with this man, the outcome would be disastrous.
Suddenly, a figure flew toward them at high speed.
A cyborg body landed nearby with a heavy thud.
"Rolan!"
It was Franky.
He stood tall, his mechanical frame gleaming under the light.
"Kuri is all set. We can head to Onigashima anytime."
Rolan gave a small nod.
He raised his hand toward the sky.
A massive ship slowly descended from above.
"Ion Tempest," he said calmly.
"Move out."
Without another word, he turned and stepped forward.
The others followed.
◇ I'll drop one bonus chapter for every 10 reviews
(Leave a review/comment)
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100
Power Stones.
◇ Read 80 | 100 chapters ahead on [email protected]/_Zeph