In the end, only Rowan and Oden remained in the reception room.
"It seems..."
"The way you handle problems has fundamentally changed, Teacher."
Rowan replied,
"Wano is currently the only nation involved in the Revolutionary Army's ideological awakening plan that hasn't experienced overwhelming suffering."
"Wano isn't affiliated with the World Government, so its people aren't burdened by the Heavenly Tribute."
"And because the country is rich in resources, after satisfying the interests of the nobles, ordinary people can still barely survive."
"During the years Kaido and Orochi ruled, many people died, but because of you, weapon factories and mines never spread across the country like they originally would have."
Taking a sip of tea, Rowan continued,
"Under those circumstances, ideological education is extremely difficult for adults."
"That's why I left Shimotsuki Yasuie and the others for you to judge."
"It keeps the Revolutionary Army out of the matter and prevents an even greater conflict."
Only when people are crushed by suffering...
Only when they can no longer survive...
Only then will those who have long since become numb begin to accept new ideas.
That was the conclusion Rowan had reached after several months of ideological work in Wano.
For eight hundred years, the World Government had loomed over the world like an insurmountable giant.
As long as ordinary people could still survive, they would never go mad and join the Revolutionary Army to rebel against the World Government.
At present, nearly all of the Revolutionary Army's hidden development had shifted toward the younger generation and toward countries already drowning in war and despair.
After Rowan finished speaking, Oden silently drank his tea.
The room fell into complete silence.
Only after a long while did Oden finally speak.
"I truly don't know how to handle this."
"My father is among them."
"And the secrets Wano has guarded for eight hundred years... aren't something that can simply be revealed to everyone."
"Lord Yasuie once showed me great kindness."
"And those samurai... they only made this choice because of their loyalty to the Kozuki Clan."
Rowan chuckled softly.
"It isn't only loyalty to the Kozuki Clan."
"The abolition of hereditary privilege means that their descendants will no longer inherit noble titles."
"Faced with interests that enormous of course they'll fight back."
"Wano still needs time."
"No matter what choice you make regarding them, that's your decision."
"But once the World Government confirms Wano's connection to the Revolutionary Army..."
"...you know what the outcome will be."
The outcome?
Naturally...wano would be erased.
The will that the Kozuki Clan had protected for eight hundred years would vanish with it.
Did he know the consequences?
Of course he did.
He wasn't a fool.
The answer had already been laid before him.
Oden picked up the flask of sake on the table and emptied it in one gulp before gripping it tightly.
By now, the Teacher had already left.
But no matter what he did he simply couldn't calm himself.
Shimotsuki Yasuie was the Daimyo of Hakumai, a man who had once shown him great kindness.
Many of the things Yasuie insisted on protecting came from his unwavering loyalty to the Kozuki Clan.
Kozuki Sukiyaki was his father.
The former Shogun of Wano.
And finally there was his own son.
Human beings possess emotions.
No matter how carefree and reckless he had once been, Oden now understood that the decision before him was a decision over whether they would live or die.
Raise the blade high only to lower it gently?
The Teacher had already told him what that choice would bring.
There had been no threats.
Yet through those repeated reminders, Rowan had already made the Revolutionary Army's position perfectly clear.
And at the same time he had shown Oden exactly where Wano would stand when the coming storm engulfed the world.
The veins on Oden's forehead bulged.
Crack!
The sake flask in his hand shattered into pieces.
If his father, through one mistake after another, had allowed Orochi to become Shogun leading to the Beast Pirates invading Wano and causing countless deaths over the years then he was not a qualified ruler.
If this time, blinded by greed, he joined forces with Shimotsuki Yasuie and the others to cooperate with the World Government, pushing the entire nation of Wano to the brink of destruction then it was no longer a question of whether he was qualified or not.
For this country he would be a sinner.
During these past few months, Oden had never once missed the Revolutionary Army's lectures and speeches in the Flower Capital.
Because of that, he understood exactly what the Teacher meant.
And he also knew exactly what he himself had to do.
In the future, the Kozuki Clan would simply become one among the countless ordinary people of Wano.
There would be no nobles.
There would be no Shogun.
"...Haa..."
Oden stood up and glanced at the shattered wooden door before walking over to the window, looking out at the now peaceful land of Wano.
Maybe...he had never been suited for the position of Shogun.
From beginning to end, the happiest years of his life had been those spent sailing the seas.
Every day brought the anticipation of a new island and new adventures.
He had companions.
He had Toki.
And he had Oden boiling over a fire.
So was living inside this enormous castle, with everyone respectfully calling him "Lord," really such a wonderful thing?
Nine years ago, when Momonosuke was born upon the sea, scene after scene flashed through Oden's mind.
Back then, he had been overjoyed.
For the first time, as a father, he had begun to think seriously about how he should raise his child.
But now...that very child believed that Wano belonged to the Kozuki Clan.
Belonged to him.
And that kind of thinking was something the Revolutionary Army would never permit.
It was also one of the remnants of the old feudal ideals that the future recorded in those ancient truths was destined to crush.
So...he had to make the decision himself.
Mary Geoise The Room of Authority
It was already deep into the night.
Yet the place that represented the highest authority upon the seas remained brilliantly illuminated.
The Godhead of Law, Saint Warcury, spoke first.
"The investigation in Wano indicates that the Revolutionary Army did not remain there. The country is still ruled by the man they call Shogun Kozuki Oden."
"Kozuki Oden..."
The Godhead of Finance, Saint Nusjuro, rested his long sword upon his shoulder.
"This man was once a member of the Roger Pirates and even carried a bounty."
"So..."
"...is it possible that he reached that island alongside Roger?"
Saint Saturn replied,
"Not everyone in Roger's crew reached that island."
"But as a native of Wano, the possibility that he did is extremely high."
Saint Mars asked,
"Then... should we report this to Lord Imu?"
Saint Peter looked toward him.
"Acting against Wano carries too many unknowns."
"Destroying a single country means nothing to us."
"But Wano is too special."
"If that balance is completely shattered, cleansing everything afterward would become troublesome."
After saying that, Saint Peter looked toward Saturn, who oversaw scientific defense.
"Has there been any progress regarding weapons designed to counter the Hooded Man?"
Saturn answered,
"After MADS was dissolved, Vinsmoke Judge continued focusing on cloning technology based on the Lineage Factor."
"The exoskeleton armor and various specialized pieces of equipment had already reached a certain level of development in the North Blue."
"We have now successfully produced materials capable of resisting temperatures exceeding six thousand degrees."
"The CP organization has already been supplied with eight pairs of protective arm guards."
"As for a device capable of isolating space itself... we still have no leads."
"That insect is extremely cautious."
"Even after killing three Celestial Dragons, he still hasn't dared to come to Mary Geoise."
Saint Peter sneered.
"Although we still don't know how that insect managed to overcome the weakness of the P-substance, the abilities of the Teleportation Fruit have existed before."
"If he ever comes here that will be the day he dies."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Saint Nusjuro tapped the floor lightly with the tip of his sword.
"Since those insects from the Revolutionary Army refuse to show themselves..."
"...the matter before us now is Wano."
The discussion returned to its original topic.
The Five Elders fell silent for a long time.
The World Conference had only recently concluded.
Since the Revolutionary Army had already withdrawn from Wano, they were equally unwilling to trouble Lord Imu over such a matter.
Especially if it meant resorting to that weapon.
Finally, one of them spoke.
"Maintain the current situation in Wano."
"What we require is stability."
Saint Saturn was the first to reach a conclusion.
"Research at the Punk Hazard laboratory will continue with a specific focus on this matter. According to the intelligence brought back by Borsalino, the Hooded Man's fundamental physical strength has not yet reached the highest level."
Saint Nusjuro looked toward him.
"So, as long as we develop a device capable of isolating space during combat, the next time he appears he will simply be waiting to die."
Saint Peter nodded.
"Agreed."
"As long as the Revolutionary Army is not in Wano, that country is not enough to stir up any significant trouble."
Flower Capital The residence prepared for the World Government agents
Since no new orders had arrived from above, everyone, including Rob Kashi, remained awake, waiting for the Den Den Mushi to ring.
Roven's Shadow Clone let out a yawn.
"So why don't we just take direct control? Trading with them seems far less convenient than forcing them into submission."
Kashii shot him a glance.
"Those are matters for the higher-ups to consider."
"Our job is simply to obey orders."
"That goes for both the CPO and the Navy."
"Got it, got it."
Roven waved his hand dismissively before scratching his head.
"I've just been on edge these past few days."
"Now it looks like the Revolutionary Army really isn't in this country. In that case, whether we deal with Kaido or this new Shogun makes no difference."
As the conversation between the two team leaders continued, the others naturally had no place to interrupt.
At that moment, the Den Den Mushi everyone had been waiting for finally rang.
A short while later, the call ended.
Kashii let out a long breath.
"We're withdrawing from Wano tomorrow."
"From now on, this country's hidden port will reopen its trading routes to the CPO."
"The surrounding seas will also be monitored at irregular intervals to ensure that the Revolutionary Army doesn't return."
Hearing that, Roven smiled and stretched lazily.
"Time to sleep."
"We've been tense for days."
"You guys should get some rest too."
Leaving the hall, Roven headed straight for his room.
After confirming with his Observation Haki that nobody was watching, the Shadow Clone dispersed, and his real body instantly teleported back.
Inside the bathroom, he took out the anti-surveillance Den Den Mushi linked directly to Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office.
"The operation went smoothly."
"We'll return tomorrow."
After speaking that single sentence, he hung up.
But that one sentence alone made Sengoku breathe a sigh of relief.
Destroying an island was not as simple as erasing a spot from a map.
An attack of that magnitude would affect the entire world.
And those lofty rulers of Mary Geoise had never once cared how many "insects" would die in such a catastrophe.
Just like God Valley nineteen years ago.
Those Celestial Dragons had launched that attack merely for the sake of a hunting competition.
Vice Admiral Tsuru had also stayed awake the entire night, waiting alongside Sengoku for Roven's report.
As for Garp, another member of the older generation...
...he had long since fallen asleep, snoring loudly with bubbles inflating from his nose.
"This is the best possible outcome."
Tsuru rubbed her forehead.
"The Revolutionary Army isn't in Wano, so Mary Geoise has abandoned its plan to destroy the country..."
"It seems the weight the Revolutionary Army carries in their eyes is far greater than we imagined."
Sengoku looked equally exhausted.
"No matter how powerful a pirate may be, they would never fear them to this extent."
"Even someone as monstrous as Rocks if not for the God Valley Incident, they probably would have continued to let him run free."
"What truly frightens them about the Revolutionary Army is its ideology."
"Three years ago, Ohara was destroyed."
"Compared to Rocks or the great pirates of the seas, those scholars possessed almost no military strength."
"And yet the World Government still ordered the Navy to erase the entire island with a Buster Call."
"The reason was simple."
"Those scholars were researching the Void Century."
"The conversation between Professor Clover and the Five Elders made one thing abundantly clear."
"What they truly feared was the spread of ideas."
Ideas...
Tsuru quietly pondered the meaning of that word.
As Marines, whether herself, Sengoku, Garp, or Zephyr…
As for the Celestial Dragons of Mary Geoise, they had never truly approved of the things those people did.
But the world needed the Navy.
It needed a certain degree of stability so that more ordinary people could survive.
Whenever Marines traveled to Mary Geoise, they almost never stepped onto the human-powered moving walkways. That small act of refusal was the final line they insisted on maintaining.
Because they knew too much, they could no longer view the world as simply right or wrong like the lower-ranking Marines did.
"They're too dangerous."
"But the Hooded Man never went to Mary Geoise."
"So at least he's smart."
Vice Admiral Tsuru interlocked her fingers.
"The powers of the Teleportation Fruit are not without weaknesses. Besides, his ability also has the limitation of requiring coordinates."
"After the Sabaody Archipelago incident, the World Government already learned that Seastone has no effect on him. Naturally, they've made other preparations."
"We sent Roven into Wano and managed to prevent the world from stepping toward destruction."
"But now they've attracted the attention of those people."
"The moment they reveal themselves they'll be destroyed."
Sengoku remained silent for a moment.
"The Navy's duty is to preserve stability across the seas."
"And for now, that remains unchanged."
"If they're smart, they'll continue to stay hidden."
Tsuru sighed and looked at Garp, whose snot bubble had just popped.
"It's still too early..."
"Only someone like you can find peace in this world."
Garp suddenly raised his head.
"What? Is there a result already?"
As he spoke, he dug a finger into his nose and looked at Sengoku.
"If there's an answer, hurry up and say it."
"I still need to get back to sleep."
"Zephyr's the smart one. He semi-retired ages ago."
"Looking at it now, even being a Vice Admiral is getting troublesome."
The words made the veins on Sengoku's forehead bulge once again. He took a deep breath before suppressing the urge to punch him.
"We have the result."
"Everything went smoothly."
Hearing that, Garp immediately stood up, stretched with a yawn, turned around, and slipped out of the office without even saying goodbye.
Bang.
The office door closed.
Sengoku rubbed his temples.
"Let's leave it at that for now."
Tsuru also rose to her feet.
"Get some rest."
"There are things that we shouldn't be worrying about right now."
"There are more and more pirates on these seas, and the Navy's burden is only getting heavier."
Sengoku nodded.
"I know."
The next day, since Wano was a closed nation, the World Government agents could only leave through the hidden port.
Soon after, the Navy forces blockading Wano's waters also began withdrawing, leaving behind only a handful of CP agents to monitor the surrounding seas.
Then, one month later, the Shogunate of Wano announced an official decree.
Shogun Kozuki Oden declared that Shimotsuki Yasuie would be stripped of his title as Daimyo of Hakumai and sentenced to execution.
Not only Yasuie, but the Daimyo of three different regions throughout Wano were all stripped of their authority, imprisoned, and condemned.
Charge: Attempting to collaborate with foreign enemies and betray the nation.
But that was not all.
The Flower Capital's Shogunate soon issued another public announcement.
Kozuki Sukiyaki, the former Shogun of Wano, had appointed Orochi as acting Shogun, leading to years of oppression and turmoil throughout the country. While the people suffered, he chose to hide and preserve his own life. Therefore, he was stripped of the Kozuki name and imprisoned.
Furthermore, Kozuki Momonosuke, out of selfish personal desires, had nearly brought about the destruction of Wano itself. As punishment, he would be stripped of the Kozuki surname. However, since he was not the principal instigator, he would not be imprisoned.
The entire nation of Wano was stunned.
After all, figures like Shimotsuki Yasuie possessed tremendous prestige throughout the country.
With abundant resources and the ability to remain self-sufficient, the Daimyo of regions such as Hakumai were deeply respected by the people.
And then there was the revelation that Kozuki Sukiyaki was still alive.
For the first time, many citizens of Wano began to feel dissatisfaction toward the Kozuki family.
Those who had lost family members in the mines and weapons factories, as well as those whose loved ones had died during the battle against the Beast Pirates, found it the hardest to accept.
During those years, they had waited every single day for the Kozuki Clan to appear and save them from their suffering.
But the former Shogun, whose wrong decision had allowed all of it to happen, had chosen to hide in order to save his own life instead of taking responsibility for his mistakes.
Now their loved ones are dead.
Because Orochi had been appointed acting Shogun.
Because he had chosen to trust Kurozumi Orochi.
For a time, the emotions within the people became incredibly complicated.
Their long-standing loyalty toward the Kozuki Clan...
Their newfound resentment...
And the ideals spread through months of Revolutionary Army lectures...
All of those feelings mixed together, causing them to begin thinking from their own perspective rather than blindly following tradition.
At the same time, the public notice spoke of treason and of actions that had nearly brought about the destruction of Wano.
What exactly had happened behind the scenes?
That question quickly became the subject of endless speculation among the people.
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