Sukiyaki came alone to the sealed underground chamber. Inside stood a massive square stone slab, engraved with special characters—the Poneglyph.
Wooden shelves lined the room, holding wooden dolls of all sizes. They were incredibly delicate.
It was clear that Sukiyaki had devoted a great deal of thought to these wooden dolls.
He sat cross-legged on a cushion.
Facing the Poneglyph, Sukiyaki wore a look of self-reproach as he muttered, "The Kōzuki Family has been passed down to my generation, yet we've repeatedly plunged the Land of Wano into turmoil. Now..."
"We've placed the Kōzuki Family's rule over the Land of Wano in the greatest crisis it has ever faced. I hope... we can receive the protection and blessings of our ancestors!"
"If we win this wager, everything in the Land of Wano will remain as it was."
"But if we lose..."
"I also hope that all of you ancestors will protect the Land of Wano from becoming engulfed in war..."
"·······"
······
After applying medicine to his wounds and wrapping them in bandages, Kozuki Oden returned to his courtyard. Kin'emon, who had been practicing his swordsmanship there, and Raizo, who had been training in ninjutsu, both looked alarmed.
Kin'emon sheathed his sword and hurried to Oden's side, asking with concern, "Lord Oden, how did you get hurt again?!"
"Lord Oden, your previous injuries haven't even healed yet. How... could it be that you challenged Ares again?!" Raizo asked, looking confused.
Only a few days had passed since Oden's failed challenge against Ares, yet now they were seeing Oden injured once more.
Kozuki Oden looked dejected. "I challenged Ares again, but this time, I wasn't the only one. Several other daimyō joined me, including the ninjas under my father..."
Seeing Oden like this, how could Kin'emon and Raizo fail to guess