The Eve of the Storm

Hachinosu, Intelligence Room. Night.

Ginny put the last document into the folder, the cover of which was written in red pen, "Wano Country Battle Plan - Final Version". She stared at the cover for a few seconds, then leaned back in her chair and let out a long sigh.

The Den Den Mushi rang.

"Ginny, double-check." Lin Yuan's voice came through the Den Den Mushi.

Ginny opened the folder. "The Flower Capital a permanent garrison of 4,000 troops, with a 15-meter-wide outer moat containing 20 Sea Kings. There are four city gates, each with 500 men. The Oniwabanshu 400. The top floor of the Orochi Castle is guarded by Iron Wall and Viper. Shadow Blade's whereabouts are uncertain—but Shadow Blade is already on our island; Jin captured him yesterday."

Is he willing to cooperate?

"He refused, but he didn't make a scene. He was locked in the guest room, Hyakumen watched him intently."

"That's enough. Let him stay there, release him after you're done."

Ginny closed the folder. "One more thing. Caesar's Armor-Piercing Bullets, fifty rounds, are all loaded onto the Void. He said one shot can penetrate an Iron Wall shield."

"Have him check it again. If it still doesn't penetrate tomorrow, I'll shove it into the gun barrel and fire it."

"I've already relayed that message. He's currently squatting in the Ammunition Depot cleaning shells, cleaning them cleaner than he'd clean his own face."

On the Training Ground, Kaido wasn't training. He sat on a piece of Seastone that had been broken in two, holding a piece of meat in his hand and slowly gnawing on it. The moonlight shone on him, casting a long shadow.

Bullet walked over and leaned against the rock next to him.

The game starts tomorrow.

"Um."

"Aren't you going to warm up?"

Kaido meat. "We've been warming up for three months. One more night won't make a difference."

Bullet was silent for a moment. "Do you think Orochi can fight?"

"Oh ho ho, the Yamata no Orochi Snake Fruit, Mythical Zoan. He can fight." Kaido threw the bone away. "But he can't fight. He'll just hide behind Iron Walls and Viper, letting others die for him."

"Then how will you hit him?"

Kaido grinned. "Smash his shield, drain all his poison, and then twist off his eight heads one by one."

Bullet didn't reply. He looked at the moonlight and remained silent for a long time.

"What do you plan to do after you conquer Wano Country?"

"Eat meat, drink alcohol, sleep."

"Then what?"

Kaido. "Then, rule Wano Country."

Bullet's lips curled into a slight smile.

Jin stood atop the mast, the flames behind him extinguished—his eyes were closed in the moonlight, his Observation Haki covering the entire island, so clear that even the sound of Ginny flipping through ledgers in the Intelligence Room could be heard.

Inazuma called to him from below, "Jhin! Come down and eat!"

"I'm not hungry."

Ginny's curry!

Jin opened his eyes, floated down from the mast, and landed steadily on the ground.

"Then have some."

The Castle hall. Everyone has arrived.

Kaido, Bullet, King, Kuma, Moria, Inazuma, Fukurokuju Zephyr at the end of the table, holding a cup of tea but not drinking it. Hyakumen was not there—he had returned to Wano Country, disguised as Orochi, and was Fire Demon to the dungeon.

Ginny stood next to Lin Yuan, holding an account book in her hand.

"I'll say it one last time," Lin Yuan's voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard it clearly, "Tomorrow, we'll fight the Flower Capital."

"Kaido, the main gate."

"Bullet, left wing."

"Kuma, right wing."

"Jin, in the air. Chase after anyone who runs, and attack anyone who blocks your way."

"Moria, Inazuma, follow the main force and clear out the remaining enemies. Zephyr, guard the ship."

"Ginny, remote command."

"I'm mobile. I'll drive wherever I'm needed."

Kaido raised his Iron Club. "Orochi's Castle, can I burn it down?"

"It can be burned. Just don't burn civilians."

"Oh ho ho... let it burn!"

Late at night. Castle rooftop.

Lin Yuan sat on the rooftop, holding a glass of water in his hand.

Ginny came up, sat next to him, and handed him a piece of paper.

"What's this?"

"The secret message sent back by Hyakumen. He succeeded."

Lin Yuan unfolded the paper. It contained only one line of text, the handwriting crooked and illegible, as if written in the dark, "The Fire Demons have been released. Ximen, tomorrow evening."

Lin Yuan folded the paper and put it in his pocket.

What about Shadow Blade?

"He's still sitting in the guest room. Hyakumen locked the door from the outside before he left, so he can't get out." Ginny paused. "But he didn't seem to have any idea how to get out. I watched him all afternoon; he just sat by the window looking at the sea, doing nothing."

He's thinking about something.

What are you thinking about?

"Think about what I've been doing for the past twenty years."

Ginny was silent for a moment. "Do you think he'll help us?"

"No. But he won't help the Orochi either. That's enough."

In the distance, Kaido's snoring drifted from the Castle, deep and resonant, like the breath of a dragon. Ginny sighed, "There's a battle tomorrow, and this guy can still sleep so soundly."

Being able to sleep well is a blessing.

Aren't you going to sleep?

"I can't sleep."

Ginny stood up and dusted off her pants. "I'm going to sleep. I have to command four thousand men tomorrow."

"Go."

Ginny took two steps, then stopped.

Lin Yuan.

"Um?"

"What do you plan to do after conquering Wano Country?"

Lin Yuan gazed at the moonlight and remained silent for a few seconds.

"First, stabilize Wano Country. Then, go find the remaining two Road Poneglyphs."

"Then what?"

"Then, go to Laugh Tale."

Ginny was stunned for a moment. "You want to be the Pirate King?"

"I'm not going to become the Pirate King. I'm going to see what Joy Boy left behind."

(End of Chapter 79)