"Seriously… who carves something this terrifying onto a coffin…?"
One of the guards scratched his head, unsettled.
It looked like an ordinary coffin, but the ferocious demon face carved into it—blue-skinned, fanged—made his spine prickle.
The other guard tried tapping the wooden coffin with his katana.
Clang—!
The sound wasn't wood at all.
It was like steel striking steel—cold, metallic.
"A metal sound…? This thing…"
The guard frowned.
"Just got assigned to this cursed place in Kuri and we already pick up something like this. Bad luck."
His companion spat, annoyed.
"Tell me about it. This place is basically paradise for criminals. Even the shogun can't control it. If you ask me, no need to tighten patrols—let these scum run. They're poison anyway."
"You're not wrong. People like them should just rot in Kuri."
"Whatever. Let's haul it back first. Ow—damn, it's heavy. Help me."
"You sure you're not weak? It's just a coffin—why's it so heavy?"
"Quit whining. It's heavy and hard like iron—means it's valuable. If we carry it back to the boss, we'll definitely get a reward."
"True!"
Grumbling back and forth, the two guards struggled to lift the coffin and carried it toward their outpost.
But they didn't notice—
On the coffin's perfectly sealed backside, a faint emerald glimmer flashed for an instant.
Then a tiny sprout slipped out, dropped to the ground—
and immediately drilled into the soil, vanishing without a trace.
Kuri Region
Kuri was a harsh place—dangerous mountains, steep terrain, valleys embraced by dense forests.
The entrance road was treacherous, and this area was notorious:
a gathering point for criminals hiding from Wano's samurai.
Normally, the streets of this village were full of nonstop bloodshed.
But in the past few days, it had become… strangely quiet.
Even people with grudges, when they crossed paths, only clutched their weapons and glared—
but no one dared start a fight.
The reason was simple.
A few days ago, fewer than ten pirates arrived.
Every one of them was vicious.
And their leader…
A towering monster of a man—several meters tall.
Dragon-scale tattoos on his left arm.
Horns on his head.
A massive iron kanabo as his weapon.
A gourd of liquor always hanging at his waist, constantly drinking.
His mood swung wildly, unpredictable as a storm—
and he had a hobby.
When he first arrived, someone merely made too much noise near him.
He lifted his kanabo and smashed that man into a puddle of "fertilizer."
Then, crying while drinking, he ordered his men to pour the "fertilizer" at the base of a nearby tree.
This was a village of criminals.
No one was going to accept that kind of tyranny quietly.
A few bold idiots stepped up to provoke him.
Every last one of them—
became fertilizer.
Two or three days later, the soil beneath that tree turned brown-black, and the stench of blood could be smelled from far away.
From then on, anyone entering the village—no matter how vicious—
automatically lowered their voice.
Because no one wanted to disturb that lunatic who "liked to fertilize."
And the small tavern beside that tree?
It became the village's "Peace Hotel."
Outside the Tavern
Four pirates stood guard.
Each had the same tattoo on their scalp:
a crew emblem—a horned skull, and beneath it, a flower.
"You think… Captain Romu is really dead?"
One pirate whispered.
"Don't want to admit it, but it's been over ten days and there's no news… Captain… sigh."
Another pirate muttered, taking a deep breath.
"Damn it. The Marines and the Celestial Dragons all deserve to die!"
"And that disgrace of pirates—Roger too!"
He clenched his fists, staring at his own wounds with hatred.
"Don't rush it," a third pirate said grimly. "Listen to Captain Kaido. We develop here in Wano first. Once we've built enough strength… then we avenge Captain Romu."
Another nodded, patting him on the shoulder.
"Wonder if the boss can convince 'Red' to join. If he does, we're set."
The first pirate shook his head.
"Red isn't simple. He's always been alone. I doubt it."
The four fell quiet, frowning—thinking of how much blood they'd already paid.
Inside the Tavern
It was almost silent.
Only two guests sat inside:
Kaido and Redfield.
Kaido lifted his sake and drank several gulps in a row. After a loud burp, he stared at Redfield across the table.
"So?"
"After hearing my plan—interested in joining my Beasts Pirates and declaring war on the world?"
Redfield's eyes narrowed. He lifted his chin, cold as steel.
"If you try using Romu's name to trick me again…"
Boom—!
A small but sharp impact—dust rose.
He didn't answer directly, but his rejection was clear—almost a warning.
Redfield picked up his umbrella-sword and gently blew the dust off its surface.
"Romu's name isn't yours to borrow."
"Even Newgate and Shiki… aren't qualified."
With that, he gathered his wide blood-red cloak, slung the umbrella-sword over his shoulder, and walked out without looking back.
Kaido watched him leave and snorted out a mouthful of alcohol.
"Tch."
But he didn't look furious.
He put away his gourd, rested his chin in his hands, and stared into the distance—wearing a rare, thoughtful expression.
Kaido looked rough, but he wasn't stupid.
Especially after God Valley, he'd become sharper.
On the surface, he drank like a madman and acted moody—
but he didn't delay anything that mattered.
Once he accepted that Romu was probably dead, he moved immediately.
To prepare for revenge.
First, he gathered Romu's remaining men and formed a new crew—
the Beasts Pirates.
Because he himself had eaten the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan.
And to honor Romu, he added a flower beneath the horned skull emblem—symbolizing the red flower Romu always summoned.
Second, Kaido judged that his current power was still too weak.
If he tried to grow in open waters, the World Government and the Marines would hunt him nonstop.
So he chose Wano as his first base.
A strong nation.
Closed off.
Not part of the World Government.
Beyond Marine control.
And Kuri, a lawless haven with no government presence at all, was perfect.
Kaido brought eight elites and entered without hesitation.
Of course, he knew Wano was xenophobic and isolationist.
So before arriving, he used "Heavenly Tribute" treasure Romu had looted—
and made a deal with the Kurozumi clan in the Flower Capital, specifically Kurozumi Orochi—
securing passage for the nine of them to enter Wano as "civilians."
Kaido's eyes gleamed with ferocity as he stared at the distance.
"Just wait."
"You idiots who think you're rulers…"
"Get ready for the next full-scale war."
Redfield
After parting on bad terms, Redfield walked through the mountains, his expression dark and shifting.
He'd been born with powerful Observation Haki.
As he grew older, it became terrifying—enough to see through people's hearts.
But because of that, he saw too much ugliness.
Combined with his strength, he grew to hate people, to avoid them—
becoming the loneliest kind of man.
Only one pirate had ever earned his genuine admiration:
the one called "Humming Brook."
But he'd heard the Rumbar Pirates had already been wiped out.
So Redfield sailed alone.
Years of wandering…
until he met another person worth acknowledging.
Not because of ideals.
But because of strength.
Romu.
The man who, alone, shattered the Marines and the World Government—
and even fought those thirteen "Creators" to a standstill.
Even now, remembering it made Redfield's scalp tighten.
He'd come to Wano because Kaido claimed to have news about Romu.
Out of that rare admiration, he came immediately.
But it was a lie.
That left him in a foul mood.
"He doesn't even know his own weight, trying to challenge the World Government."
"Even Romu…"
Redfield lowered his eyes to the endless mountain range, wearing the loneliness of a man above everyone.
"Looks like I, Redfield, am destined to walk alone."
He closed his eyes, spread his arms as if embracing the mountains, and let out a long breath.
And then—
BANG—!
A black shadow shot through the air.
Redfield jolted.
"Who?!"
His Observation Haki was already near perfection—
yet he hadn't sensed that "attack" at all.
Which meant the newcomer's Observation was even stronger than his.
His waist lowered, face instantly serious.
Within tens of kilometers, every wind shift, every blade of grass trembling—
he could normally catch it all.
But still…
Nothing.
"Who the hell are you?!"
Cold sweat beaded on Redfield's forehead.
His grip tightened on the umbrella-sword, nerves stretched tight.
One wrong sensation—
and he would strike.
Then—
A relaxed voice sounded from behind him.
"Don't be so tense."
In that instant, Redfield's hair stood on end.
Behind me?
At this distance?
And I didn't sense it?
He didn't turn.
Didn't move.
He forced himself to keep a "master's" composure and spoke in a low voice:
"Friend."
"What do you want with me?"
The voice behind him came again.
"I'm going to stir up something big in this world."
"You're pretty strong. Interested in joining me?"
Redfield frowned sharply.
What's going on today? Another one recruiting me?
He tightened his grip and thought for a heartbeat.
"Sorry, friend."
"I don't like being pressured."
His aura exploded.
SHING—!
The umbrella-sword snapped out—two fingers' width of steel flashing.
Redfield wasn't only an Observation monster—
he was also a world-class swordsman.
He turned—
and froze.
His voice cracked in disbelief.
"Romu!!!!"
Clang—!
The umbrella-sword slipped from his fingers and hit the ground.
In front of him—
Gray short-sleeved shirt.
Loose wide-leg pants.
A toothpick in his mouth.
Hands in his pockets.
If that wasn't Romu, who was?!
"Not bad."
Romu nodded seriously, openly approving.
Redfield's eyes bulged, staring at Romu like he'd seen a ghost.
"You're… alive?!"
Romu shrugged.
With a thought, a vine burst from the ground, lifted Redfield into the air—
spun him through several full rotations—
then set him down again.
"It's really you!"
"Romu, you're really alive!!"
"Hahahaha—!"
"I knew it! If you didn't want to die, who could kill you?!"
"Those idiots! I told them you'd still be alive!"
Redfield suddenly turned into a nonstop talking cannon, circling Romu, staring him up and down like he couldn't stop confirming reality.
Excited. Shocked. Almost giddy.
Not a trace of "Lonely Red" left.
Finally—after a full minute of babbling—
Redfield snapped into a straight posture, solemnly standing before Romu.
"Captain Romu."
"Crewman Redfield—reporting for duty."
Romu looked at him, then laughed quietly.
"Honestly…"
"I still prefer the way you used to look down on everyone."
Redfield stiffened, not sure what to say.
"It's fine."
"Just a joke."
Romu patted his shoulder, then used a vine to pick up Redfield's umbrella-sword and slide it back into its sheath for him.
"But."
"I'm not forming a pirate crew."
Redfield blinked.
"Not forming a pirate crew?"
He'd assumed Romu would rebuild a crew. Hearing this, he couldn't hide his confusion.
"Then… what big move are you planning?"
Romu didn't hesitate.
"More accurately…"
"I'm going to build an alliance unlike anything this world has ever seen."
His lazy expression faded.
His voice turned sharp.
"Then we'll slay dragons."
Alliance?
Slay dragons?
Dragons… Celestial Dragons?!
Redfield didn't fully understand what "alliance" meant yet.
But he didn't care.
If it was Romu—
that was enough.
He hurried to follow behind Romu.
Above them, the moon hung high, stars scattered across the sky.
Romu and Redfield's silhouettes gradually disappeared into the mountain ridges.
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