The Cat and Dog's Request

Duke Inuarashi nodded. "The problem is solved."

In contrast to Duke Inuarashi's composure, Nekomamushi was incredibly hospitable, his eyes crinkling into slits with laughter. He filled a glass with his special monkey wine and pushed it towards Buggy's corner of the table. "Buggy, this old cat is treating you to a drink!"

Buggy sat down on the wooden chair, raised his glass and poured it into his mouth. The spicy yet sweet monkey wine went down his throat, and the aroma spread throughout his mouth, mellow and fragrant, with the fragrance of various fruits.

"Okay... uh!"

Buggy had barely uttered a word when the stench of alcohol that had been building up in his stomach surged up, causing him to let out a loud burp.

"..."

All eyes immediately turned to them, and the atmosphere became inexplicably awkward.

"Ha ha--"

The surrounding Mink Tribe clapping and laughing heartily, gesturing wildly.

"Hmm... this wine tastes really good..." Buggy said without changing his expression.

"The effects of this wine are twice as strong after it goes down your throat, even for us regular drinkers. Don't be embarrassed, Buggy!" Nekomamushi burst into laughter.

Buggy's lips twitched slightly. "You're clearly mocking me..."

"Buggy, don't mind him, this crazy cat is never serious." Duke Inuarashi was also trying hard to suppress his laughter.

Buggy's face darkened. "You have no right to say that to him!"

After exchanging drinks and joking around for a while, Mikuru waved from afar. Nekomamushi responded, and then Mikuru chatted happily with his Mink Tribe friend.

Nekomamushi chuckled, "Buggy, there's one more thing. Now that Mikuru is on your ship, I'll have to trouble you to keep an eye on him."

After saying that, he took a sip of his drink.

Buggy popped the broken pieces of fruit into his mouth. "Is she your daughter?"

With a "pfft," the Nekomamushi spat out the wine in its mouth.

He quickly wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth, looking both troubled and annoyed, and said, "Don't talk nonsense. She and I both belong to the Mink Tribe Clan, but if we're talking about seniority, she's a generation above me."

So you're going to call her "Auntie"?

The Nekomamushi seemed a little uncomfortable. "You can call me that in private."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of her."

"As long as she stays on my ship," Buggy added.

Nekomamushi smiled with satisfaction. Buggy's current strength was undeniable; few in the world could defeat him. With Mikuru on his ship, he could finally rest assured.

Duke Inuarashi then said, "There's actually one more thing we'd like to ask you."

"What's up?"

"About Kozuki."

Tell me about it.

"Wano Country is closed off from the world, and those who are not of their kind are not allowed to enter. Our Mink Tribe is no exception, so even if we want to help Kozuki, we are afraid we are not strong enough."

Duke Inuarashi said, exchanging a knowing glance with Nekomamushi, and continued, "Although you are not a subject of Wano Country, you are an ordinary human. With some disguise, you can find an opportunity to sneak in. Moreover, you and Kozuki are familiar with each other, making it convenient for you to report to him. With you here, we can also know about Kozuki's current situation, and if things go wrong, we can immediately go to Wano Country to support Kozuki."

Before Buggy could answer, Duke Inuarashi continued, "Although you are an outsider, you are currently the most trustworthy and suitable person for us..."

Buggy spoke slowly and deliberately, "But why would I do that?"

The Nekomamushi said, "We've already discussed this. If you're willing to help us, we'll owe you a huge favor. In the future, as long as you give the order, we'll travel thousands of miles to come to you!"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing Nekomamushi's words, Buggy was immediately tempted. Nekomamushi and Inuarashi were both top-tier fighters in the world, and even in a one-on-one fight, they were in no way inferior to Jack Drought, one of the Three Calamities. Moreover, in their peak Sulong form, their fighting power could increase by a significant margin.

They've made a promise, agreeing to give them the power to command others once the deed is done. Such a "reward" is worth risking their lives for, especially since things haven't gotten that bad yet. The Wano Country Shogun hasn't joined forces with Kaido, and even if Kozuki Oden is weak, he won't face too much trouble for now. Even if Kaido comes, would they be so cowardly as to be defeated?

Moreover, the Kozuki Clan is a stonemason clan, responsible for carving Ancient Script on stone slabs. Kozuki Oden, through his lineage, must also know about that lost history of a hundred years and various secrets. If there is an opportunity to talk to him, one can gain a broad understanding of the past and present and unravel the mysteries of history.

Buggy pondered for a moment, then asked, "You need me to find Kozuki Oden and tell you about his current situation, right?"

Duke Inuarashi said, "That's right. And if Lord Kozuki is in trouble, we hope that you, who are nearby, can lend a helping hand to help Kozuki through the crisis for the time being. After that, we will immediately send troops to support him."

"This matter sounds simple, but it will require some effort and time..." Nekomamushi said, "At least until we can confirm that Lord Kozuki and sound."

"If I agree, how long will I need to stay in Wano Country, as you request?"

"I don't know..." Nekomamushi was speechless. It seemed absurd to expect a pirate to leave the vast ocean and stay in one place.

Duke Inuarashi thought for a moment and said, "Three months... at the latest, as long as we can ensure Kozuki is alright..."

He took out a Den Den Mushi), "We'll find a way to contact him later, and that will complete your task. We'll do our best to go wherever you need us in the future."

Buggy took the Den Den Mushi from Duke Inuarashi's hand, stuffed it into his clothes, and chuckled, "I grant your request... It's a perfectly fair deal."

Duke Inuarashi smiled. "Of course."

Nekomamushi grinned. "Pedro, quickly bring over all the mint liqueur from my cellar. We're going to treat our guests properly today!"

"Yes." Pedro accepted the order and left.

Before long, Pedro and several Mink Tribe brought back several jars of wine that seemed to have been dug out of the mud. They placed them on the ground, and the Nekomamushi opened the lids, releasing a unique fragrance. He then filled Buggy's cups and they drank and chatted happily.

Monkeys in grass skirts danced and sang, cats sang languid and sexy songs, cows wrestled and played sumo wrestling, a sport brought from Wano Country, rabbits raced and played, and goats leisurely munched on grass-flavored cakes. The town was filled with a lively and joyful atmosphere, and the nationwide celebration spread joy to every corner of the island.