The Courtesan of Kabukicho
During the banquet, Buggy stated frankly that he would do his part to help if needed.
However, Kozuki Oden seemed unwilling to let outsiders interfere in Wano Country affairs, and also did not want to cause trouble for Buggy or Nekomamushi and Inuarashi who were far away in Zou. He shook his head and refused to talk about the matter, only talking about the local customs and culture, or asking Buggy about the changes on the sea over the years.
Seeing Kozuki Oden's attitude, Buggy said no more and changed the subject.
The conversation lasted about an hour, and both host and guests enjoyed themselves. As the banquet drew to a close, Kozuki Oden, instructed his attendants to lead the weary Buggy and his party to the back rooms to rest.
Buggy and the others followed the servants through the courtyard and arrived at a room full of Japanese style. Opening the back door, they could see a row of bamboo groves. Next to the bamboo groves was a rockery, and next to the rockery was a pond about twenty meters in diameter. Schools of small fish of different colors swam in the pond, creating ripples in the clear water. With the gentle breeze on their faces, a warm and comfortable feeling as warm as spring welled up in their hearts.
Looking at the scene, Buggy couldn't help but sigh, "This is indeed a peaceful and pleasant place."
As soon as the group sat down on the ground, a servant brought them several cups of light tea to aid digestion. Weevil and Mikuru couldn't stand the weak tea and kept sticking out their tongues.
However, Buggy quite missed the bitter taste that lingered on his tongue. He picked up the teacup, which was no more than ten centimeters in diameter, held it in his palm, and stared at it absentmindedly, as if his past memories were being stirred up.
He sat there for more than half an hour before slowly coming to his senses. He took out the Tarot card "The World" and examined it closely. He found it somewhat novel; even after so much time, the card was still as good as new. He wondered if Hawkins had specially printed several sets, and when one set got dirty, he would take out a new set and continue playing his trick, over and over again.
"Basil Hawkins, one of the Eleven Supernovas..."
Buggy casually toyed with "The World" in his hand, glanced at Weevil and Mikuru who were already resting, slowly stood up, walked out of the room, informed the servant waiting at the door, and then left the courtyard.
Harmony Spring is the commercial, economic, and political center of Kuri. Its prosperity is incomparable to that of ordinary small villages. The sheer number of shops lining the streets and the bustling traffic are enough to show the difference from ordinary markets.
"They only asked Kozuki Oden to tell me... but didn't reveal their specific whereabouts or location. Since they came specifically to find me, they wouldn't be so stupid as to forget such basic things..."
As Buggy pondered, he looked around. Although he could ask Kozuki Oden for help in finding Hawkins, Buggy didn't think it was a small matter that needed to trouble others, nor did he want to owe anyone a favor.
He stopped in front of a large shop, and followed the bustling crowd inside. Someone quickly came out to greet him.
This is Kabukicho in Harmony Spring. Judging from its size, it should be the largest in Harmony Spring. Buggy already knew about Kabukicho, a unique feature of Wano Country, when he talked with Kozuki before.
Although Kabukicho is known for its romantic atmosphere, the flow of people in and out is often much more frequent than in other places, resulting in greater information exchange and making it easier to encounter Hawkins or receive news from him.
Greeted at the door, Buggy entered the hall, found a corner seat, took out the Wano Country currency given to him by Kozuki Oden, ordered drinks, and while his gaze was fixed on the Kabuki performance on stage, he was actually using his Observation Haki to listen to the conversations of the guests around him. With his current level of Observation Haki, he could clearly hear the whispers of everyone in the hall if he wanted to.
In Kuri, the wealthy and powerful usually booked private rooms for their own enjoyment, while the people left in the main hall were mostly ordinary folks chatting freely. However, today the hall was full of guests, including quite a few wealthy and powerful men dressed in fine clothes, who seemed to be anticipating something.
The place is teeming with all sorts of people, and the information is even more mixed. Buggy uses his Observation Haki to listen carefully, filtering out the information he needs.
Just as he was beginning to make progress, the commoners sitting around him began to whisper amongst themselves, each knowing the other was right.
"It's said that the most beautiful courtesan from the North is here today, with unparalleled dancing skills and stunning looks!"
"Yes, we received the news a few days ago, so everyone wants to see it. Those local gentry are even more eager than we are!"
"They're out! They're out!"
The kabuki actors, their faces painted white, retreated backstage, and amidst the hushed gasps of the crowd, a woman slowly emerged.
The woman was very beautiful, with a charming allure that she had cultivated over many years in every smile and frown. Her jet-black hair was styled into a bun and adorned with a spider-shaped hairpin. She wore a dark-colored kimono, which smelled like a ripe peach and exuded an enticing fragrance.
The guests in the hall were stunned into silence, staring intently at the woman.
"This doesn't seem to be an ordinary character..."
Buggy sat upright at the table, looking at the woman with a scrutinizing gaze. Having spent years navigating the high seas, accompanied by death and slaughter, his intuition had become as sharp as a blade, capable of piercing through outer disguises and reaching the heart of the matter.
However, whoever the woman was was none of his business. He had already received Hawkins' message and there was no need for him to stay. He got up and walked outside.
As soon as I left my seat, someone impatiently seized it like conquering territory. Staring at the stage for a moment, a look of delight crossed his face as he murmured to himself, "Is the courtesan looking at me?"
The weather suddenly changed, Harmony Spring. Pedestrians on the street hurried along and gradually became fewer and fewer.
This was a light rain blowing from the direction of Falling Blossom Mountain. It came quickly and disappeared just as quickly; it seemed like only a blink of an eye before the rain stopped and the sky cleared.
On the hillside of Falling Blossom Mountain, a man with golden hair sat on the thin grass, calmly brushing the water droplets off his clothes and looking down at the city below with a serene expression. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he quickly reached out and caught a playing card that was flying towards the back of his head, holding it in front of him.
"It took me ages to find it..."
Buggy emerged from the woods. "Basil Hawkins..."
Hawkins gazed at the "World" tarot card and said, "If fate is on our side, we will meet no matter what. But if we are incompatible, even if I tell you where I am, we will never meet."
"And then... what's your intention?" Buggy cracked his knuckles boredly, narrowing his eyes. "Playing coy will make me angry..."
"I won't do something so pointless."
Hawkins slowly rose, turned to Buggy, and pulled out a dagger. "Although less than a year has passed since we parted ways on Sabaody Archipelago, no one stands still, so..."
Before he finished speaking, his figure shot forward like an arrow, and suddenly his body swelled and mutated, turning into a tall and bizarre scarecrow. The dagger, which originally required one hand to hold, was now held between his outstretched fingers, mixed with nails, and he thrust it all at Buggy!
Buggy simply stared at the scarecrow, shifted his feet to the left, tilted his head, and let the other's hand pass over his shoulder. In an instant, he lowered his head slightly, arched his body, and quickly closed in on Hawkins, delivering a swift and powerful punch to the latter's abdomen!