Capital of Flowers.
Every household had long since prepared for the "Fire Festival Night." Objects resembling sky lanterns were released into the sky, dotting it with twinkling lights.
The streets were filled with vendors hawking their wares, delicious food, and all kinds of activities. Everyone's faces were brimming with happy, blissful smiles.
It was incredibly lively!
This was a festival celebrated throughout the entire country.
Inside a tavern.
Many samurai gathered in groups, whispering among themselves:
"Today is the day Ares and Sukiyaki are supposed to duel. I heard Sukiyaki demanded that Ares not participate. What a pity. Last time, Kozuki Oden was beaten terribly!"
"Tch—what's that compared to this? Let me tell you, I heard an even more explosive piece of news from someone in the shogun's residence. Supposedly, all the daimyos of the Land of Wano joined forces, yet still lost to Ares!"
"What?! Something like that happened... No wonder Sukiyaki won't let Ares participate... Who in the Land of Wano could possibly be his opponent?!"
"What do you think would happen if he became the shogun of the Land of Wano and really opened the country?"
"The samurai of the Land of Wano aren't famous for nothing. I heard that, for this duel, Shogun Sukiyaki even brought out the shrine's national treasure, the Black Blade Shusui!"
"That's not all... I also heard that, over the past month or two, the daimyos from every region, including Kozuki Oden, have been practicing swordsmanship every day."
"..."
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the shogun's residence was tense and oppressive. Shimotsuki Ushimaru kept wiping the Black Blade Shusui in his hands with a white cloth until its edge gleamed brightly.
Kozuki Oden sat cross-legged on the ground, resting with his eyes closed!
Sukiyaki's palms were sweating. After hearing his subordinate report that