Wano Country: Kozuki Oden

As the ship sailed into the waters near Wano Country, most of the fog on the sea had dissipated. The outline of the shore became clearer and clearer—gray reefs, black sand beaches, and the ruins of the Flower Capital in the distance, gleaming grayish-white in the morning light.

Kaido stood at the bow of the ship and pointed towards the shore. "Kuri territory. Ashura Doji's men are guarding it now."

Roger leaned against the ship's railing, his gaze fixed on the distance. "Oden's men are still guarding the area."

As the ship docked, several rows of samurai stood on the pier, led by a burly man with a large sword at his waist. His gaze lingered on Kaido, then shifted to Roger, and finally swept over Lin Yuan and Jin—his hand loosened from the hilt of his sword, but did not completely lower it.

Kaido jumped off the ship first. "Ashura Doji, it's been a long time."

"Kaido, you are now the acting shogun of Wano Country, but Kuri is not under your jurisdiction." Ashura Doji's voice wasn't loud, but the samurai standing behind him simultaneously took a step back, making room for him. "What are you doing in Kuri?"

"Oh ho ho, is this how you treat the shogun of Wano Country?"

Roger jumped off the ship, Ashura Doji, upon seeing Roger, completely released his grip on the hilt of his sword. "Captain Roger? Oden mentioned you. He said you were the most powerful and madman he had ever met."

Roger laughed, "Ha... is that his assessment of me? Where is he?"

Ashura Doji: "He set sail. A few months ago, Whitebeard sent someone to pick him up, and he boarded Whitebeard's ship. Before leaving, he left a message—if anyone comes looking for Pluton and the person who comes is Roger, tell him that the key is in the bloodline of the Kozuki Family. If it's not Roger, don't say anything more."

Roger paused for a moment, then said, "He guessed I would come."

Ashura Doji: "Oden knew everything. Oden also said that if anyone in this world could open that door, that person would definitely be named Kozuki."

The Kuri camp was located deep in the dense forest, with two rows of wooden cabins and a stone slab paving the open space in the middle. Lin Yuan, Roger, Kaido, King, Bullet, and Rayleigh sat around a low table. Ashura Doji stood at the door, his gaze sweeping over everyone in turn. "Are you going to open Pluton now?"

"Yes," Lin Yuan said.

"The seal is located beneath the Flower Capital, and the entrance is blocked by Seastone. Only those with the bloodline of the Kozuki Family can open it," Ashura Doji said. "But Oden isn't here. He's on Whitebeard's ship."

"Can we find him?"

Ashura Doji paused for a moment, then said, "Whitebeard's fleet travels in the New World; their location is not fixed. Finding him will take time."

Roger leaned back in his chair. "I know where Whitebeard frequents. But if we rush there now and come back, it'll take at least two months. The Five Elders won't give us two months. The Buster Call just failed; they're probably already preparing for the next wave—maybe CP0, or maybe the Holy Knights. By the time they arrive, it'll be too late to take Pluton."

Lin Yuan pulled out Den Den Mushi from his pocket and dialed Ginny's number. "Contact Whitebeard for me. Tell him—I need Kozuki Oden to return to Wano Country. It's related to Pluton."

Ginny's voice came through the Den Den Mushi: "Are you sure Whitebeard will release them?"

Lin Yuan: "Tell him it's related to the Pluton. He'll release them."

Two days later, at dawn, a massive whale-shaped ship appeared at the port of Wano Country. Its hull was larger than any other ship that had docked there. As Whitebeard's Moby Dick approached, the samurai on the shore automatically made way. Oden jumped off the ship, two swords at his waist, his long hair billowing in the sea breeze. Upon landing, he first saw Roger: "Yo! Roger! Finally, I see you?"

"Haha, we've been waiting for you to come back and open this sealed gate."

Oden laughed loudly, "Haha! You really know how to speak bluntly!"

Whitebeard stepped off the ship. He was taller than Kaido, wielding a massive Naginata, his white beard reaching his chest. He glanced at Lin Yuan, said nothing, and walked straight towards Lin Yuan: "Kid, we meet again. You really did come after all."

Did you know I would come?

"The day we left the Final Island, I knew you would come here sooner or later." Whitebeard stopped in front of Lin Yuan. "I've known for a long time that Pluton is locked underground in Wano Country. Oden told me—he said that only the Kozuki Family can open that door. I asked him then, 'If someone comes to open it, will you help them?' He said, 'Yes.'"

"Did he agree?" Lin Yuan asked.

Whitebeard nodded. "Gurara... He agreed. He said—'If that person can walk to Wano Country, walk to Kuri, and walk to me, then this lock is worth opening.'"

Lin Yuan paused for a moment, then said, "So you came to Wano Country to personally confirm who picked the lock?"

The Whitebeard's voice carried a hint of unhurried sullenness. "I've come to see what's inside after this door is opened."

Roger stood by and listened without interrupting, leaning against the ship's railing as he watched the conversation between Whitebeard and Lin Yuan.

Jin stood behind Lin Yuan and asked in a low voice, "He didn't come to stop us?"

Whitebeard heard his words, glanced down at Jin, and asked, "Lunarian brat, what's your name?"

"Ember."

"You were a test subject, escaped, and survived until now. That's quite impressive." Whitebeard withdrew his gaze. "Do you think I would stop you?"

Jin didn't speak.

Whitebeard switched his grip on the Naginata to his other hand. "Gurara... I'm not here to stop you. I'm here to make sure the things inside this door aren't being used in the wrong direction."

Lin Yuan: "What if I use it to fight Mary Geoise and the Celestial Dragons?"

Whitebeard glanced at him. "Gurara... that's the direction it should be going in."

Oden stood at the entrance of the passage, holding a piece of paper with a rough map of the Flower Capital's underground, marked with several locations and arrows. "The seal is located underground in the Flower Capital, not far from the original Castle ruins. The entrance is blocked by a piece of Seastone."

Lin Yuan: "Let's go now."

Oden: "Alright. After this trip, I still need to return to Whitebeard's ship."

Whitebeard leaned against the ship's railing. "You all go down. I'll wait up here. Tell me what's inside after you unlock it."

Lin Yuan raised his hand and opened a door, revealing the dimly lit underground space of the Flower Capital. The group passed through the door, their feet sinking into hard earth, the air thick with the smell of dust and rock. The walls were a mixture of natural rock strata and man-made stones, their surfaces showing signs of artificial cutting, the edges neatly trimmed as if shaving with some tool. The passage stretched straight ahead, ending at a massive stone door.

The facade was entirely grayish-white, covered with Ancient Script. The patterns stretched from top to bottom, so densely packed it looked like it had been repeatedly written on, with no gaps at the edges. Kaido stepped forward, raising his fist, but Oden stopped him with a raised hand.

"Don't smash it. You can't break it open. This door isn't opened by force."

Oden unfastened the two swords from his waist, placed them on the ground, and walked to the door. He pressed his right hand against the door, his palm against the stone surface, as if feeling its temperature. The patterns on the door first darkened, then slowly brightened, like a flame being rekindled from Huijin.

"When this door was sealed, the lives of the Kozuki Family were used," Oden said calmly, "So it only recognizes the blood of the Kozuki Family."

As the patterns shone brightest, a deep vibration emanated from within the stone door, as if something was awakening behind it. Then, the entire stone door shattered from the inside, scattering fragments to the ground and revealing a passage behind it. The passage was wider than the entrance, with denser Ancient Script on the walls, and at its end, a larger space where light filtered down from above, illuminating a massive silhouette.

Lin Yuan went inside.

The hull, keel, and metallic coating gleamed darkly in the dim light. The bow stretched into the deeper darkness, its end invisible. Part of the hull was visible, but even that portion was larger Moby Dick. At least thirty-two gun emplacements lined both sides of the hull, their calibers larger than those of a naval capital ship. The bottom had no keel seams; it was a single piece of cast metal with a smooth surface.

Roger stood at the entrance of the passage, not daring to proceed further. "The place below is where Pluton is kept."

Lin Yuan stood before the dragon bones of Pluton, looking up at the sleeping giant ship.

Oden stood outside the door. "It could be opened eight hundred years ago. Whether it can be opened now depends on your ability." He leaned against the doorframe, picked up the two swords from the ground, and hung them back on his waist. "The lock is open, the seal is broken. I've done what I had to do. The rest is up to you."

"Aren't you going to stay in Wano Country a few more days?"

Oden shook his head. "I can't stay any longer. I have things to do on Whitebeard's ship. I'll go back after I unlock the lock."

Roger stood at the entrance of the passage. "So when will you be back next time?"

Oden thought for a moment, "I don't know. I'll come back for a drink after I've seen this damn world."

Roger laughed, "Haha, okay. I'll treat you to drinks then."

Oden laughed too, "Haha... I'll remember that. Whitebeard invited me once, and you're making up for it this time, so we'll have a perfect pair."

He turned and left.

Whitebeard walked in from the entrance of the passage and stood behind the group, his gaze fixed on the outline of the massive ship. He planted his Naginata on the ground without uttering a sound. After a long while, he finally spoke, "This ship... when it was built eight hundred years ago, who was it intended to fight?"

"Let's fight the current World Government," Lin Yuan said.

Whitebeard didn't reply. He stood before Pluton in silence for a long while, then turned and walked towards the passageway. "It was created to fight whomever it was meant to fight, and now it will be used to fight whomever it was meant to fight."

He took a few steps, then stopped. "Lin Yuan."

"Um."

"You've collected all four Road Poneglyphs, reached the Final Island, obtained the truth, and now you've unlocked Pluton. You already have three items. If you intend to use them to fight Mary Geoise —let me know."

Are you going too?

Whitebeard didn't turn around. "I'm not helping you. I'm going to see how that battle from eight hundred years ago should have been fought."

He walked out of the passageway and disappeared around the corner.

Roger stood beside Lin Yuan, looking at the bow of Pluton's ship. "He said he wouldn't help you, but he came to Wano Country, looked at Pluton, and said, 'Tell me'—that means he agreed."

Lin Yuan turned around. "Let's go. Let's go back and prepare."

(End of Chapter 105)