Shopping, Oil Pot Punishment

Sirius and Yamato listened to Kozuki Oden tell stories until midnight.

It had to be said that Oden was indeed a man who knew how to tell a story. He made his adventures come alive with vivid detail and emotion. No wonder Yamato in the original story had become utterly fascinated by his journal.

Just hearing about his adventures after leaving Wano Country filled Sirius with yearning.

Racing across the boundless sea with close companions, fighting the mightiest enemies, encountering the most magnificent scenery, and meeting the most captivating beauties—how could that not set one's heart racing?

"Whitebeard really was an incredible man."

After Oden finished another tale of adventure, Yamato, sitting obediently on the ground with her little legs tucked up and her knees hugged to her chest, said longingly, "Who was stronger, him or Father?"

"Whitey was super strong."

Kozuki Oden said matter-of-factly, "He was as strong as Roger—the strongest man in the world!"

"Who's Roger?"

Yamato blinked and asked curiously.

"Roger..."

A trace of sadness and nostalgia appeared on Oden's face. "He was an incredible man. He was the king of all pirates! The Pirate King who accomplished an unprecedented feat and conquered the Grand Line!"

"The king of pirates? The Pirate King!" Yamato's eyes widened as she sprang to her feet. "There was really someone like that?"

"That's a story for later."

Kozuki Oden smiled. "All right, time to go back and sleep, brats. Staying up late will keep you from growing taller."

"Ehh!"

Yamato looked deeply disappointed. "How could you do this? Tell us a little more, Plate Head Uncle."

"I told you not to call me that, you little brat!"

Sirius, who had been sitting beside Yamato, stood up with a smile, dusted off his backside, and tugged on Yamato's sleeve. "All right, Yamato. It's already late. Don't disturb Uncle Oden's rest."

"Okay."

Yamato nodded dejectedly.

"Then we'll head back first, Uncle Oden."

Sirius smiled and bid Oden farewell.

Oden did not reply. His eyes were already closed, and he had even started snoring.

He fell asleep? That fast?

Sirius's mouth twitched.

He left the Dungeon with Yamato. Along the way, Yamato excitedly told Sirius about everything she was feeling, and Sirius smiled along with her.

Then the two of them returned to the rooms Orochi had prepared for them.

After bathing, Sirius went to bed.

The experiences of the past few days had been quite interesting too.

He had witnessed one of the greatest clashes on the sea and watched Kozuki Oden's defeat.

And now, he had heard Kozuki Oden personally recount his adventures with the Whitebeard Pirates.

It really had been interesting.

Sirius smiled as he drifted off to sleep.

The next day.

"Sirius! Get up!"

Sirius opened his eyes to find Yamato staring at him impatiently. "It's time to go see Oden!"

Was she really that eager to hear the rest of Oden's story?

Well, actually, so was I.

Sirius quickly got up and dressed. Yamato immediately said, "Then let's hurry and find Oden."

"Wait."

Sirius waved a hand. "How about we get something to eat first? I'm starving, Yamato."

They had not eaten dinner last night.

"How about we go eat in the city? We can take a look around," Sirius said. "We can't set sail for now, but we can still have a little adventure."

Yamato's eyes immediately lit up. "Mm-hm, mm-hm, mm-hm! I want to go!"

Exploring the unknown was an adventure in itself, and the Flower Capital was certainly unknown territory to Sirius and Yamato.

Of course, if they were going out to eat, they needed money.

Sirius was naturally penniless, while Yamato did not even understand the concept of money.

But getting some money was easy enough for them. They simply found a Beasts Pirates pirate, explained what they wanted, and immediately received a stack of Wano Country currency under the pirate's respectful gaze.

With money in hand, their adventure could begin. The two happily ran out of the Tenshukaku and truly set foot in the Flower Capital.

However, Sirius noticed that after they left Orochi's Tenshukaku, several pirates followed them.

That was not surprising. It was for safety, after all.

Sirius did not care about that. All of his attention was drawn to the Flower Capital.

Everywhere he looked was bustling and prosperous. Most of the buildings were plain wooden houses, but shops lined the streets in neat rows. The bracketed eaves and soaring roofs of the various buildings were dazzling, while the crowds on the streets proved just how thriving the city's commerce was.

It was a remarkably beautiful and prosperous ancient city. There was not a single piece of trash or beggar to be seen on the streets.

Sirius had almost truly believed Kurozumi Orochi was a wise and capable ruler.

The reason none could be seen was not because they did not exist, but because they had simply been thrown out.

Yamato did not think as much as Sirius did. Having barely left Onigashima since she was born, she found everything she saw endlessly fascinating. One moment she dragged Sirius over to look at something, the next she ran off to inspect something else, her cheerful laughter never stopping.

As they strolled through the streets, the two bought food from shops and vendors along the way.

They bought and ate all kinds of snacks and breakfast treats, and Sirius experienced the feeling of wandering through a snack street in another world.

"Mmm, mmm, it's so good!"

Yamato held a box of oden, her cheeks stuffed full. Then she suddenly thought of something and grinned foolishly. "Sirius, we're eating Oden!"

Sirius rolled his eyes at her. She was even making a pun. Oden was oden, and oden was Oden.

"Sirius, try this! It's super tasty!"

Yamato stuffed a fish ball into Sirius's mouth.

Chew, chew.

Sirius nodded. "Mm, not bad."

"Try this." Sirius speared a takoyaki ball. Yamato opened her mouth, and Sirius fed it to her.

"Oh! This is delicious too!"

They ate as they walked, nearly throwing Kozuki Oden completely out of their minds.

Then the two suddenly noticed a crowd gathered at the street corner ahead.

They did not even need to get closer to see a man standing atop a high platform in the middle of the crowd, shouting, "The Shogun has decided that in three days, the criminal Kozuki Oden and the samurai under his command will be subjected to the Boiling Punishment!"

The surrounding crowd instantly erupted into discussion.

"That idiot lord is finally going to die?"

"He should have died long ago. He's disgraced the Kozuki Family!"

"Well done, Shogun Orochi!"

So it was finally happening?

Sirius swallowed the food in his mouth. Breakfast was over.

"The Boiling Punishment?"

Yamato blinked. "What's that?"

"Probably being thrown into a pot of oil," Sirius said. "Come on, let's go find Oden."

The two raced back to the Tenshukaku, but Oden was no longer in its Dungeon. He had been moved to a cell beside the street outside the Magistrate Office.

Passersby could all see him, though they could not get close because of the guards around the area.

When Sirius saw him again, the thick chains were gone from the man's body, but shackles still tightly bound his hands, legs, and neck.

Ignoring the guards outside the prison, the two approached the cell.

The moment she saw Oden, Yamato panic-strickenly grabbed the bars and shouted, "This is bad, Oden! They're going to boil you and eat you!"

"Eh?"