"A Sea Stone processing plant under planning, a large-caliber artillery assembly line with its foundation just laid, and that idiot Kaido's SMILE raw material base that he's only just cordoned off..."
Tatsuki took a deep breath, the curve of his lips widening as a kindly smile appeared on his face, like an old farmer looking at his small plot of land where fine seeds had just been sown.
"What a perfect foundation."
"Since the World Government's hand can't reach in here and the factories haven't taken shape yet, from today onwards, this place is my, Tatsuki's, private back garden."
As long as he gained complete control before construction was finished, the G-5 Branch's source of arms would be entirely independent. Whatever specifications of weapons were needed, they would be built to those specs. He could even resell them to the World Government and make double the money.
To turn this lawless land, still in its infancy, into his own lair.
This thought grew wildly in Tatsuki's mind, instantly transforming into a towering tree.
His mind made up, Tatsuki restrained his presence, tapped his toe lightly on the pine needles, and his figure faded into the wind, sweeping toward Kuri, the center of this land.
Kuri, the market in front of the Daimyo's estate.
Even though it was daytime, this place was noisier than a festival.
Men, women, young and old formed a huge circle, and some even climbed onto roofs just to get a clearer view. There was no reverence for the ruler on their faces, only unabashed mockery and the excitement of watching a monkey show.
"Look! That foolish man is here again."
"Shh... keep it down. It'll be trouble if the Kozuki Family's retainers hear you."
"What's there to fear? He doesn't even care about his own dignity, so why should we worry for him?"
Amidst the roar of laughter, Tatsuki mingled at the back of the crowd and caught sight of the legendary man through the gaps between the shoulders of several burly men.
Kozuki Oden.
The top-tier powerhouse who had once been highly praised by Roger and Whitebeard, who had left the only scar of Kaido's life, and who had reached the final island and knew all the truths of the world.
At this moment, he was bare-chested, standing naked in the mud. Wearing only a loincloth, he held two broken pot lids he'd picked up from somewhere. Like an uncivilized simpleton, he twisted his muscular body in extremely comical movements.
"Hey! Ha! Hey! Ha!"
With every wiggle of his buttocks, he accompanied it with an out-of-tune shout.
"..."
Tatsuki's expression, which had been somewhat playful, gradually turned cold.
Although he had known about this plot point for a long time, witnessing it with his own eyes still made him feel a faint sense of nausea from the absurdity.
For the sake of a few hundred civilians held hostage?
For a verbal promise from an enemy without even a written note?
To give up force just like that, to give up the chance to call upon the Daimyo of the whole country to rise in arms, and to use this clownish self-indulgence to beg for a tyrant's mercy?
Tatsuki flipped a coin in his hand and caught it, a look of extreme contempt flashing in his eyes. 'Kozuki Oden, you aren't naive. You are hopelessly stupid.'
The stupidest thing in this world is trying to talk about credit with a beast that doesn't follow rules.
With that insidious villain Orochi and that violence-worshipping maniac Kaido, if such a combination could keep a promise to "leave in five years," then pigs could fly and dance ballet.
Tatsuki knew the subsequent script perfectly well.
Oden would dance naked here for five whole years like a clown. In those five years, not only would he fail to save a single person, but he would also personally destroy the prestige and popular support the Kozuki Family had accumulated in Wano Country over centuries.
By the time he came to his senses and realized he'd been tricked, Kaido's influence would already be deeply rooted, and the samurai and people who were once willing to die for him would have long since been utterly disappointed in him.
'A great hand played terribly.' Tatsuki shook his head.
He had originally thought that if Oden had even a bit of a brain, they might be able to cooperate, using him as a blade to stab Kaido a few times.
Looking at it now, the utility value of such an idiot was not even as good as a stray dog by the roadside.
If a dog is kicked, it at least knows to turn back and bite.
This guy, when hit on the left cheek, would offer his right cheek as well.
However...
Tatsuki looked at the figure twisting his body vigorously in the mud, and a brilliant, yet extremely wicked idea emerged in his mind.
Since you love playing the clown so much and are so addicted to this self-indulgent sacrifice, I will fulfill your wish.
I'll make your "sacrifice" more valuable.
For example...
By becoming the first stepping stone for me to take over this country.
—
Night, Kuri.
The bustling market of the day had fallen into silence. Only deep within the courtyard of the Daimyo's Estate did a dim, yellow oil lamp still flicker.
Splash.
Hot water from a wooden bucket was splashed onto the stone slabs, sending up a plume of white mist.
Kozuki Oden stood bare-chested, his robust muscular lines faintly visible through the steam. He casually grabbed a large kimono and draped it over himself, tying the belt loosely.
The clownish, ridiculous appearance he wore during the day was gone. At this moment, his brow was furrowed, and his eyes held an unshakeable worry.
He walked out onto the veranda, looked at the withered old tree in the courtyard, and let out a long sigh.
"Five years... four more to go..."
He muttered to himself, as if trying to cheer himself up, or perhaps as a form of self-hypnosis.
"No, you won't even be able to wait three days." A cold voice rang out from the shadows behind him without any warning.
Oden's muscles tensed instantly—an instinctive reaction forged through countless life-and-death battles. Without even turning around, the twin blades at his waist were already unsheathed.
Ame no Habakiri!
Enma!
Oden Two-Sword Style: Tougen Totsuka!
The two famous blades, capable of wounding Kaido, tore through the air with a sharp whistle, slashing toward the source of the voice from both sides.
Before the blades even arrived, his materialized Haki was already crushing the floorboards into splinters.
However, this thunderous combined strike stopped less than three inches away from the newcomer's nose.
A hand.
To be precise, a single finger.
A finger as black as ink, shimmering with a dark red metallic luster, was nonchalantly pressed against the intersection of the two legendary blades.
The violent Haki was like a wave crashing against an invisible wall. It could not advance an inch before this man and could only dissipate helplessly into the surroundings, making the tatami mats rustle loudly.
"Hey now, drawing blades the moment we meet? Is this the hospitality of Wano Country?"
Tatsuki sat cross-legged in the darkness, still holding an empty sake cup in his hand. He didn't even look at the two swords that could have split him in half, he only shook the empty sake flask with regret.
"What..."
Oden's eyes widened, his pupils shrinking violently.
A single finger... blocked it?
How is this possible!
Even Whitebeard, even Roger, would never be so arrogant.
"Who exactly are you?!"
Oden did not withdraw his blades. Instead, he increased the strength in his hands, his arm muscles bulging and veins popping.
Tatsuki sighed and gave the blades a flick of his finger.
Clang!
A strange oscillating force traveled down the blades. Oden felt his palms go numb, and he uncontrollably slid back three steps, plowing two deep furrows into the floorboards.
Only then did Tatsuki slowly stand up.
"Impressive."
"As expected of a man who could call Roger and Whitebeard brothers. This level of power is notable even in the New World."
There wasn't a hint of warmth in Tatsuki's voice as he stopped in front of Oden, his gaze falling on the two famous swords.
"A pity for these two fine blades. Following a spineless dog who begs for mercy and has had his backbone ripped out—it's like casting pearls before swine."
"What did you say?!" Oden flew into a rage.
These words hurt more than a blade, stabbing directly into his pride as a samurai.
He gripped his twin blades tightly, and the aura of Conqueror's Haki rose uncontrollably.
Tatsuki was completely indifferent to this. "Am I wrong?"
He walked to the edge of the veranda, leaned against a pillar, and leisurely pulled a cigar from his coat to light it.
"Kozuki Oden, do you really think scum like Orochi and Kaido would keep a verbal promise?"
"Do you really think that if you dance naked here like an idiot for five years, they will obediently return Wano Country to you?"
"What do you know!"
Oden's breathing became heavy, and the veins on his hands holding the swords bulged.
"Orochi promised me! As long as I can calm the people's anger and pacify the samurai, they will leave after five years!"
"This is the only way to save Wano Country! There can be no more bloodshed!"