As Rhett approached the Flower Capital, his emotions grew increasingly complex.
The river appeared clear, but one glance told Rhett it was undoubtedly poisoned—no longer meeting even the minimum standards for drinking water.
Factory chimneys stood like a forest, belching black smoke into the sky. The land had already taken on the shape of Wano from the original story.
When Rhett and his group arrived in the Flower Capital, they immediately spotted Oden at the center of the city, standing atop a high platform. Bare-chested, with only a tattered cloth tied around his waist, he swayed his body to bizarre music.
A crowd had gathered around, some laughing mockingly, others pointing fingers. Yet Oden seemed utterly absorbed, wearing an exaggerated grin on his face.
Rhett's pupils constricted sharply. Blood mist surged uncontrollably from his body, and the surrounding temperature plummeted to freezing in an instant.
Whitebeard's expression darkened as well, veins bulging on the hand gripping Murakumogiri.
"This is Kozuki Oden?" Tesoro frowned, disbelief lacing his voice. "The legendary samurai?"
"Hah, samurai?" Rhett let out a cold laugh, his voice terrifyingly low. "Right now, he looks more like a clown."
Rhett had seen Oden's fate in the original story and had mentally prepared himself for this humiliation.
But psychological preparation was one thing—witnessing it firsthand was another.
Perona, floating in the air, covered her eyes. "Eek! This is so embarrassing!"
"Moriah, take Perona and Laboon somewhere else for now," Rhett ordered expressionlessly.
Moriah glanced at Rhett's current state, then shot a sympathetic look at Oden, who was just finishing his dance and putting his clothes back on.
Silently, he led the two away.
Without another word, Rhett stepped forward. The blood mist surged like a tide, instantly engulfing the entire platform.
The crowd was pushed back by the mist, scattering in terror.
"What's happening?! There's a monster!"
"Run!"
"Quick, inform Shogun Kurozumi Orochi!"
Oden sensed the disturbance and stopped moving, turning his gaze toward the depths of the mist.
Squinting, he seemed to realize who had arrived.
"Oden—" Rhett's voice emerged from the mist, icy and restrained. "You've truly opened my eyes."
Oden blinked, a sheepish expression crossing his face. "Ahahaha, Rhett? What brings you here? Want to come to my place for a drink?"
"What brings me here?" Rhett's figure slowly materialized from the mist, his eyes burning with fury. "I came to see how the 'legendary samurai' of the Roger Pirates grovels before his enemies! Letting himself be gawked at like a damn worm."
And here's the thing—no amount of reasoning could change this.
Before Oden could respond, Rhett's fist slammed into his face with enough force to send him flying, crashing through the platform.
Oden scrambled up, blood trickling from his lips, still forcing a smile. "Rhett, let me explain—"
"Explain?" Rhett flashed in front of him and kicked him back down. "Explain why you're dumb enough to believe Kaido's lies? Explain why you're dragging the Roger Pirates' name through the mud?!"
Oden struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth. "I'm doing this for Wano's people! If I just hold out a little longer, Kaido will leave—"
"Bullshit! Were my words just noise to you?!" Rhett roared. The blood mist condensed into countless blades, encircling Oden. "Who the hell is Kaido? You think he keeps promises? You're deluding yourself!"
Rhett cracked his knuckles. "Oden, if you crawl out of here alive today, consider it mercy."
The blood mist exploded, forming crimson chains that yanked Oden back to the ground. Before he could steady himself, Rhett's knee drove into his stomach—
"Guh—!" Oden vomited bile.
But the mist solidified into two massive hands, lifting him by the throat into the air.
"For the people?" Rhett's voice dripped venom. With a flick of his fingers, blood-mist samurai surged from all directions, their swords stabbing into Oden—only to dissolve into mist upon contact. "You call this protection?!"
Every word was punctuated by another mist-blade piercing Oden's body:
"Dancing naked—how noble of you to save your people—"
(Squelch)
"Trusting Kurozumi Orochi—"
(Squelch)
"Letting Kaido build his factories—"
(Squelch)
"And most of all—you've shamed the Roger Pirates, you bastard."
(Squelch) x6
Oden was pinned to a mist-formed execution rack, a dozen Rhetts each holding a mist-blade.
With every accusation, another Rhett stabbed him, each strike meticulously avoiding vital points.
The Whitebeard Pirates collectively sucked in a breath.
Whitebeard knew Rhett's methods. As a father figure, he was furious too—but not as ruthless as this.
"The funniest part—" Rhett suddenly appeared in front of Oden, jabbing a finger into his chest, "—is that you had so many loyal samurai, two legendary pirate crews backing you. Don't dare tell me they outnumbered you."
Black Tide materialized in Rhett's grip, and with all his pent-up rage, he drove it through Oden's shoulder, nailing him to the execution stand!
Blood gushed from the wound, and Oden finally screamed.
Rhett tilted his head. "Hurts now, does it?"
Suddenly, Yasuie lunged at Rhett. "Let Oden go!"
Rhett didn't even turn.
In the original story, Yasuie wasn't just the thief Ushimitsu Kozo—he was also the former daimyo of Wano, known as the guardian deity Shimotsuki Yasuie.
Whitebeard leaped, Murakumogiri coated in Conqueror's Haki smashing into Yasuie's blade. "Back off! This is family business!"
Yasuie was no match for Whitebeard, but the latter held back, recognizing his intent to protect Oden, and merely sent him flying.
"Now, back to our game~" Rhett yanked Black Tide free, then casually sliced off a lock of Oden's hair. "Heard you like dancing?"
Rhett's anger was never just physical—beating someone up wasn't enough.
The blood mist condensed into nine Oden clones, all dancing naked in ridiculous fashion around the real one.
"Stop..." Oden's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.
"Can't take it?" Rhett stepped on Oden's sword. "Look at yourself—" The mist suddenly projected images of Wano's polluted rivers and emaciated children. "Worthy of being Wano's daimyo?!"
His final punch struck Oden's stomach, the shockwave obliterating ten buildings behind him. When the dust cleared, Rhett held the barely-conscious Oden by the collar, pressing Black Tide against his throat:
"Three seconds—"
"Either get up now and kill Kaido,"
"Or I'll clean house for Captain Roger."
"Stop! Don't hurt father!"
Just as Rhett's blade was about to descend,
Two small figures rushed forward—Hiyori and Nichizumi spread their arms, shielding Oden with their bodies.
Tears welled in Hiyori's eyes while Nichizumi bit her lip, glaring defiantly at Rhett.