Black Maria! Target Kuri!

Onigashima.

Top floor of the main building.

"Mwahahaha! Boss Kaido, news has come from Orochi!"

Queen pushed the door open. "That idiot Kozuki Oden has finally figured out the situation and is preparing to attack Onigashima!"

Kaido sat cross-legged on a cushion at the head of the room, drinking from an enormous sake gourd. Hearing this, he threw back his head and laughed. "Worororororo! It's finally starting, huh? I've been waiting far too long!"

King stood off to one side below Kaido, arms folded, and spoke calmly. "So, what is he planning to do? Contact the daimyos of each region? Or reveal the truth first and seek the help of Wano Country's civilians?"

"Mwahahaha! Isn't that just like Kozuki Oden?"

Queen burst into laughter, his voice dripping with contempt. "That guy kept saying it was all his fault that Wano Country had fallen into its current state, and that he had no right to seek anyone else's help. So he decided to—"

"Launch an all-out attack on us with those few retainers under his command."

King said nothing.

He did not know what to say.

"Worororororo!"

Kaido laughed loudly. "That really is Kozuki Oden's style! But he isn't wrong either! Other than him, what are the rest of this country worth?"

What difference would it make even if he summoned every samurai in the country?

"Mr. Kaido, how should we respond?"

King asked.

"The buildings on Onigashima were just expanded. It would be such a waste to turn the newly built houses into a battlefield,"

Kaido said teasingly. "Let's wait for him on the road. Their route has already been confirmed, right?"

"Of course."

Queen grinned as well. "That guy probably never dreamed that one of the retainers he trusted most was actually our spy!"

"Every move they make is under our surveillance!"

"Then let's begin this final battle!"

Kaido raised an arm and shouted. "Worororororo! Kozuki Oden, let's enjoy ourselves!!"

On the terrace outside the room, Ian leaned against the railing, listening to the laughter coming from behind the door.

"A war is about to begin."

Beside him, a girl spoke softly.

She was a cute little girl dressed in a short kimono, with golden hair. She looked about Yamato's age, and like Yamato, she had a pair of small horns growing from her forehead. A shamisen was slung across her back, and a spider doll hung from her waist.

She truly was a cute little girl—if one ignored the fact that she was twice as tall as Ian even while sitting down.

"I wonder if we'll get to go to the battlefield this time!"

Jack stood beside Ian with his arms folded, his face full of anticipation. He looked down at Ian. "I want to fight enemies like you and the others do too, Brother Ian!"

"Then let's go together this time!"

Yamato patted her chest and declared boldly, "I'll go talk to Dad!"

"Don't do anything stupid."

Ian hurriedly grabbed the hand she was using to pat her chest. "This isn't a war we should be taking part in."

Who would want to get dragged into a fight between Teacher Kai and Kozuki Oden?

With Kozuki Oden's strength, a casual slash of his sword could probably kill him instantly.

"But Ian!"

Yamato turned back and looked at Ian with such disbelief that he felt a little embarrassed, as though he had done something shameful. "That's Kozuki Oden!"

What was so special about Kozuki Oden?

Don't tell him she had been infected by the meme of Oden's journal without even meeting the man?

"That's the Kozuki Oden we've wanted to defeat ever since we were little!"

Yamato said seriously. "Now that we finally have a chance to fight him, how can we just let it pass us by?"

"That's right!"

Jack nodded in wholehearted agreement.

He had played Kozuki Oden so many times and gotten beaten up by Sister Yamato. It was time to take revenge on the real man!

Ian was instantly rendered speechless.

Now he understood what it meant to lift a stone only to drop it on one's own foot.

They had gotten way too into playing house.

"I'm going to find Dad right now!"

Yamato strode toward the door.

"Do I have to go too?"

Watching Yamato's imposing retreating figure, the tall blonde girl spoke timidly. "I'm not very good at fighting yet."

She had only joined the Beasts Pirates not long ago.

Although she had some talent and was being trained as an officer, she truly had not received much systematic combat training yet.

"So, let's go stop her together now, Maria."

Ian stepped forward.

Yamato's absurd idea had to be stopped.

By the way, the girl's name was Black Maria. She was nine years old, one of the future Tobi Roppo, and currently just a newcomer who had joined the Beasts Pirates not long ago.

Black Maria looked at Ian's back, then at Jack.

Jack shook his head, and Black Maria nodded.

Neither of them followed.

Marching straight into Lord Kaido's meeting room to voice our opinions and all that? We wouldn't dare do something like that.

"Dad! Ian and I want to join the campaign against Kozuki Oden too!"

Yamato shoved the door open and shouted at the top of her lungs before she had even stepped inside.

Ian hurried after her.

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Teacher Kai's rebuke immediately rang out. "That isn't a battle children should be involved in."

Ian instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

Teacher Kai understood. Teacher Kai really understood!

"I don't care!!"

Yamato was so angry that her already round face puffed up like a pufferfish. "I've waited for years! I just want to campaign against Kozuki Oden!!"

"Yamato, don't make things difficult for Teacher Kai."

Ian strolled in and spoke with a serious expression. "Kozuki Oden is an opponent even Teacher Kai has to take seriously. He isn't someone we should be facing right now."

Yamato wanted to argue further, but quick-eyed Ian promptly covered her mouth, using his advantage in strength to suppress the struggling girl.

At the same time, he looked at Kaido. "Don't worry, Teacher Kai. I'll persuade her."

Kaido narrowed his eyes. "You brat, you seem pretty pleased with yourself, huh?"

"How could I be?"

Ian's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately replied with a tactical smile. "I'm worried Yamato will disrupt the pirates' plans."

"Hmph. I think you brat just can't wait to stay away from the battlefield."

Kaido snorted.

He knew this brat far too well.

"Hahaha, how could that be?"

Ian gave a dry laugh. "I'm always ready to fight for the Beasts Pirates."

"Fine, then I have a task for you two." Kaido sneered.

Ian could no longer smile.

Yamato took the chance to break free. "Dad, are you sending us in as the vanguard?"

"I told you, that isn't a battlefield you should be involved in yet."

Kaido said, "Go to Kuri. Kozuki Oden has already set out with his retainers, so his base is undefended. Go to Oden Castle and bring his family back."

Huh?

Ian grimaced. You want me to bully women and children?

That didn't seem right, did it?

"Or you brat can simply come with me instead."

As though he had seen through Ian's thoughts, Kaido continued, "After all, you're much stronger than Yamato. You're qualified to join the battle."

"I'll go to Kuri."

Ian said solemnly, "Please leave it to me, Teacher Kai."

I'm a child too! I'm the same age as Momonosuke!