Hearing Yamato's words, Kurosaki Rei felt a sense of relief.
Yamato had recognized her own mistakes and her "filial unworthiness," yet she hadn't swung to the other extreme and blindly sided with Kaido. That meant she truly was thinking for herself this time.
Deep down, Yamato would probably feel genuine guilt over how excessively she had resisted her father. Setting aside how Kaido treated others, he had indeed shown her a great deal of care. Her actions had hurt someone who loved her.
Yamato possessed empathy. Now she could understand just how hurtful her behavior must have been to Kaido. Putting herself in his shoes, she even felt that her father had been more than tolerant with her.
Yet at the same time, she retained independent, rational judgment. She believed that Kaido's brutal rule over Wano was wrong and that the current state of the country needed to change.
However, a new problem followed.
Yamato suddenly realized that for the past eight years, she had lived in a dazed, reckless state, never once rationally examining Wano as a whole.
Aside from eating, drinking, and hiding, she had done nothing but challenge her father. She had gained strength—but no culture, no knowledge, and no idea what to do next to actually improve the country.
In short, the only thing she could be sure of now was this: Wano's problems clearly couldn't be solved just by defeating Kaido. And even if that were the solution, she didn't have the strength to beat her powerful father—nor would she, even together with Brother Rei.
"Brother Rei…"
Yamato spoke with anticipation.
"Tell me—what should I do next to improve Wano's situation?"
In her eyes, her friend was the embodiment of wisdom.
Brother Rei had not only guided her to understand her true self, freeing her from the shackles of that journal and opening her eyes to the world, but had also shown her how vast and colorful the outside world was.
She was convinced that Brother Rei was someone knowledgeable, experienced, and insightful.
Kurosaki Rei froze the moment she asked.
Why are you asking me?
I can talk heart-to-heart with you and help straighten things out, sure—but you're really expecting me to teach you how to rebel, how to govern, how to run a country?
Do I look like some mastermind strategist to you?
Kurosaki Rei didn't consider himself uneducated. Under his master's guidance, he hadn't neglected academics. He had studied history—ancient and modern, East and West—and understood very well how his original world eventually came to be ruled by "corporations."
But he simply wasn't interested in those things.
He studied ancient history because his master didn't want him to be a historical illiterate. He learned about the evolution of corporate rule to better understand his enemies and prepare for revenge.
In truth, he hated studying that stuff. It was dry and tedious. How could it compare to throwing punches or swinging blades?
His personal principle was simple: if brute force could solve a problem, then think as little as possible.
Back then, just to lure out his enemies and set a trap, he'd burned through countless brain cells—and in the end, he still resorted to using himself as bait and getting captured to draw out the mastermind.
So when Yamato asked him something like this, his head immediately started to hurt.
Originally, his plan had been to straighten Yamato out, point her in the right direction, then use her connections to find a way out of Wano.
But now…
"…Yamato,"
Kurosaki Rei said seriously,
"do you really think I would know something like that?"
Yamato looked at him with pure innocence and admiration.
"I think Brother Rei is very learned. You know so many stories and have traveled through so many countries. You must understand how to govern a nation, right?"
Kurosaki Rei nearly broke under that gaze.
What the hell, 'very learned'? I just read a lot of comics and storybooks!
But after calming down and thinking it through, he realized that if he offered Yamato no guidance at all, there was a real chance Kaido would just lead her astray again—straight into becoming a second tyrant.
After some deliberation, Kurosaki Rei decided he might as well push things a little further in Wano.
He'd already come this far. He'd practically "won over" the Beasts Pirates' princess. If he didn't do something, it would feel like a waste.
"Yamato,"
Kurosaki Rei said solemnly,
"it's already late."
"So?"
Yamato asked eagerly.
"What should I do next?"
"So…"
Kurosaki Rei said,
"I'm going to sleep."
With that, he rolled over and lay down on the ground, ending the conversation on the spot.
He wasn't actually that smart—so he planned to think carefully through the night before giving her any kind of plan.
If it had been someone like Aizen Sōsuke, a true genius, Yamato probably would've been reprogrammed on day one. And if she asked about future plans, Aizen would've rattled them off without hesitation.
But Kurosaki Rei wasn't that kind of person. He needed time to mentally simulate and plan things out.
"…You're sleeping already?"
Yamato muttered.
"Didn't you say we'd train Haki together tonight?"
Though confused, seeing Kurosaki Rei already lying down, she didn't disturb him. She found a corner herself, leaned against the wall, and went to sleep.
Meanwhile, on Onigashima.
Kaido lifted a wine gourd with one hand and gulped it down noisily. After setting it aside, he burst into hearty laughter.
"HAHAHAHA! That kid is really something! Yamato finally woke up! She probably won't call herself Oden anymore, huh?"
Black Maria attended Kaido, feeling both relieved and uneasy.
"It's good that Young Master Yamato has awakened… but she still seems determined to carry out some kind of liberation movement."
Kaido either didn't hear her or was simply too drunk and too happy to care. He wobbled slightly and pointed at the screen.
"HAHAHA! Maria, did you hear that? She just called me old man!"
Maria sighed inwardly. The Governor was clearly drunk—overjoyed that his daughter had finally reached enlightenment.
On top of that, Yamato had openly admitted feeling she'd wronged her father. Kaido was riding that wave of joy so hard that Maria knew nothing she said would get through.
After a long while, when Kaido finally calmed down a bit, Maria cautiously spoke again.
"Now that Young Master Yamato has awakened and understands who she is… shouldn't we deal with Kurosaki Rei?"
"Huh? Deal with Kurosaki Rei? Why?"
Kaido grinned.
"I quite like that kid."
He looked at Kurosaki Rei sleeping on the screen and found him more likable the longer he stared. After all, it had taken Kurosaki Rei less than a week to resolve a headache that had plagued Kaido for years.
Kaido had already decided—if Kurosaki Rei was willing to join the Beasts Pirates, he'd directly give him a Headliner position.
Kurosaki Rei was young, got along well with Yamato, and was perfect material to groom as her future right-hand man.
"Governor…"
Maria said worriedly.
"Young Master Yamato wants to rebel with Kurosaki Rei. He might even help her plan it. Is that really okay?"
Kaido laughed loudly.
"What's there to worry about? You think I'm afraid of rebellion?"
"I'm actually very curious what kind of plan Kurosaki Rei will come up with together with Yamato."
Maria was utterly speechless.
But she also understood Kaido well. He feared nothing under heaven and was extremely indulgent toward people he liked.
Thinking it over, Yamato was still young, and Kurosaki Rei's current strength was nothing special. With just the two of them, they probably couldn't cause much trouble anyway—Kaido could suppress them with one hand.
That thought somewhat reassured her.
She yawned.
Unlike Kaido, she wasn't an oni with endless stamina. After watching livestreams with him for days on end, she was exhausted and ready to get some sleep and do some beauty care.
Clang—clang—clang—
The sound of pickaxes striking stone echoed throughout the quarry.
Another wonderful morning had arrived—time for healthy mining workouts.
"Brother Rei, have you figured it out yet?"
Yamato asked as soon as breakfast was over, sticking close to him.
"What should I do next?"
Kurosaki Rei frowned deeply.
"Yamato, didn't you decide to be yourself?"
he said seriously.
"How can you ask others about everything?"
In truth, he just hadn't figured it out yet.
Yamato puffed her cheeks.
"That's not what you said last night! You said you'd help me plan things out. Besides, I'm not blindly following you—I just don't have any good ideas and want to hear your opinion."
Kurosaki Rei rubbed his temples in distress.
At this point, he could only bite the bullet and share his limited knowledge as reference.
He steadied himself and said,
"Yamato, if you really want to do something practical for this country, then the first step is to apologize to your father and reclaim your status as the Oni Princess."
"…Huh?"
Yamato froze.
"Brother Rei, are you feeling okay? We're revolutionaries trying to overthrow my dad! Did you switch sides or something?"
Kurosaki Rei's head started to ache.
Anyone with less patience would've been driven mad by her already.
"Didn't you say you wanted my opinion?"
he snapped.
"I'm not even finished talking yet. How did I defect already?"
Yamato scratched her head sheepishly.
"Sorry, sorry—go on, I'm listening."
"Didn't we talk about this before?"
Kurosaki Rei explained.
"Kozuki Oden's biggest problem was that he never did anything practical. What I dislike about him is that he had both the status and the strength to get things done—but in the end, he did nothing."
"In other words, if you want to truly accomplish something in this country, you need both strength and status. And status itself is a form of strength."
"What do you mean?"
Yamato asked, completely confused.
She stopped working, sat on a large rock facing Kurosaki Rei, and listened obediently like a good student.
"Simply put, the two of us are far too weak right now,"
Kurosaki Rei said.
"Any random Headliner could clean us up. If we try to rebel head-on against your father, you'll be fine—but I'll be floating face-down in the sea by tomorrow. Believe it or not?"
This was entirely predictable. Kaido would indulge Yamato and might give promising youngsters a chance—but he'd never give Kurosaki Rei a second one.
If Kurosaki Rei dared to lead Yamato into open rebellion, Kaido would smash him into meat paste with one swing.
"…Mm, that makes sense,"
Yamato nodded.
"So the function of my status is… keeping myself alive?"
Kurosaki Rei shook his head.
"Not that simple. What I mean is—since brute force won't work, you should make good use of your status. Reclaim the position and authority that should be yours, and use that power to actually do things. Isn't that far better than glaring helplessly from the sidelines?"
Yamato's eyes lit up.
"That… actually makes sense!"
"Exactly,"
Kurosaki Rei continued.
"Think about it. Every time you challenge Kaido, you just get knocked out and sent to prison. That helps none of Wano's people. But if you're the Oni Princess, it's different. Using your authority to distribute food aid to poor regions—that's something you can do, right?"
This was the simplest strategy Kurosaki Rei could come up with. In truth, he felt that once Yamato had status, there would be plenty she could do in Wano.
And as long as she didn't interfere with the Beasts Pirates' core income, Kaido definitely wouldn't bother stopping her.
"Brother Rei, you really are smart!"
Yamato clapped excitedly.
"When you put it that way, I get it instantly. I was basically wasting my time before. If I'd done this earlier, who knows how many people in Wano I could've saved."
She looked at Kurosaki Rei with excitement.
"So what's the next step?"
Kurosaki Rei's expression stiffened for a split second.
"…Let's finish step one first,"
he said.
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