Kozuki Momonosuke

Although he learned that Gecko Moria was hiding somewhere in Wano Country, the two zombies in front of him, who were not yokai from Wano Country, made Buggy lose interest in continuing his exploration.

Ahong asked Buggy if the villagers' illnesses were related to these monsters, and begged Buggy to slay the demons and help those in the village who had contracted the strange disease recover.

Now that the villagers' shadows are in Gecko Moria's hands, it would be fine if it were just a small favor, but Buggy doesn't even know where Moria is, so why would he bother with all that trouble? He simply refused.

Pirates are not to be trifled with!

Seeing that Weevil and Mikuru were not sleepy and that the mystery of the monster had been solved, he decided there was no need to linger and left, traveling through the night.

Although Ahong was disappointed by Buggy's rejection, in his eyes Buggy was still a hero who had eliminated the three demons, so he enthusiastically pointed out the direction of Harmony Spring, the metropolis in the center of Kuri.

So, Buggy and his group left the place as directed.

On the morning of the third day, Buggy and his group arrived at Harmony Spring, a city nestled against Falling Blossom Mountain. The architecture here resembled that of the Edo period, like something out of a ukiyo-e print.

Looking around, the streets were bustling with people, a lively and prosperous scene.

Having found out where Kozuki Oden, Buggy arrived at the Kozuki Mansion and announced his name. The guards standing at the entrance of the Kozuki Mansion seemed to know he was coming and immediately invited him to wait in the main hall before rushing off to inform Kozuki Oden.

"How did Kozuki Oden know I was coming?" Buggy sat in the hall, somewhat puzzled.

A moment later, a man in a kimono emerged from behind the screen. It was Kozuki Oden. His face looked much older than it had been twenty years ago, with wrinkles etched around his eyes. He probably looked particularly old because he was busy with government affairs.

Kozuki Oden sized up Buggy, who was hiding under his raincoat, and SMILE. "It is indeed you, Buggy."

Buggy smiled and said, "You seem to have known I was coming?"

"I did receive this news before, but I wasn't sure. I just asked the guards in the manor to keep an eye out. I didn't expect you to actually show up."

"What's going on? Why is my message appearing at your residence?" Buggy hadn't been high-profile along the way, so he was simply curious about Kozuki Oden's special attention to his whereabouts.

"It wasn't me..."

Kozuki shook his head, looked at the burly Weevil and Mikuru behind Buggy, and said, "Don't rush to speak. You are guests, and after your long journey, you must be quite hungry. I have already ordered a welcome feast for you. Please come with me!"

Buggy and the others followed Kozuki to the banquet hall and took their seats.

The maids brought out platters of delicious food and placed them on the table. Mikuru and Weevil ate heartily without any restraint, while Buggy looked at Kozuki Oden and asked with interest, "Can we talk now?"

"Actually, this news was revealed by a stranger from out of town whom I didn't know. It was just that he saved my son in a moment of crisis, so we happened to meet, and he even gave me a card."

Kozuki Oden spoke, he ordered someone to bring out an exquisite box, which was then placed on Buggy's table. "I don't know what this card is for either, and I'm afraid it might get damaged if I don't store it properly, so I've kept it very carefully. Take a look."

Buggy took out the cards from the box, flipped them over, glanced at them, and then seemed to remember, "Oh... it's him..."

Looking at Kozuki Oden, he asked again, "What is this stranger's name?"

"His name is Basil Hawkins ... If my deduction is correct, he should be a pirate, right?" Kozuki Oden asked.

"Yes, your intuition is as sharp as ever." Buggy raised his glass, clinked it against Kozuki Oden's across the room, and downed it in one gulp before asking, "Did he leave any other words?"

Kozuki Oden replied, "This stranger said he would stay here and wait for you, but he didn't say anything else."

"Basil Hawkins... what does he mean? How did he know I would come to Wano Country, and why is he waiting for me here..." Buggy listened to Kozuki Oden's words, his heart filled with doubts, but he didn't show it on his face. He suppressed the matter for the time being and started chatting with Kozuki Oden. Meeting an old friend he hadn't seen for twenty years, he couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion. Who could have known that twenty years would pass in the blink of an eye?

Kozuki Oden possessed patience far exceeding that of ordinary people. Halfway through the banquet, he finally asked, "Buggy, although I don't know how much you've changed over the years, I don't think you're here just to reminisce about the old days, are you?"

"I'm here on someone's behalf."

Buggy took out Den Den Mushi, placed it on the table, and instructed his servant to give it to Kozuki Oden. "An old cat and an old dog asked me to come to Wano Country and lend you a hand when you're in trouble."

Kozuki Oden gazed at the strangely shaped Den Den Mushi that the servant had brought him, lost in thought. He slowly raised his head to look at Buggy, "Inuarashi and Nekomamushi trust you enough to entrust you with this Den Den Mushi. Based on that alone, I think you're quite different now."

"Inuarashi and Nekomamushi!" came a cry of surprise from outside the door.

Kozuki Oden frowned immediately and shouted, "Momonosuke, what kind of behavior is this, eavesdropping outside the door!"

The door opened, and a boy with a samurai-style topknot, who looked to be only ten years old, immediately knelt on the ground. "I only heard that Father was entertaining an old acquaintance, so I had the desire to spy on him. I know I was wrong!"

After saying that, Kanjuro and Kin'emon and hurriedly pleaded, "Lord Kozuki, Momonosuke did not mean to eavesdrop. We can testify to that."

"Then what were you doing hiding behind the door?!" Kozuki Oden's face darkened, and Kanjuro and Kin'emon stammered.

Buggy put down his glass and glanced at Momonosuke. This complaining boy wasn't handsome or cute; in Wano Country, boys his age were a dime a dozen, no different from ordinary people.

"Please come in."

Despite his preaching, Kozuki Oden still loved his son very much.

"Yes."

Momonosuke responded and nodded to Buggy, "Excuse me."

He entered and sat cross-legged at one of the seats. "You've come from Zou, sir. May I ask how Nekomamushi and Inuarashi are doing?"

Although they were just kids, Buggy didn't seem to mind, saying in a casual tone, "They're doing very well now."

"That's good." Momonosuke crossed his arms and nodded, feigning seriousness.

"Your Highness, please enjoy your meal."

However, when the maid placed the food on the table, revealing a patch of white skin beneath his open-fronted blouse, Momonosuke revealed his true nature, his eyes turning lecherous. "Thank you for your hard work, Misaeko!"