Chapter 113

Shimotsuki Yasuie's expression remained cold and solemn. "Who are you, and what is your purpose? Were you sent by Kurozumi Orochi to take my life?"

"Orochi?"

Adrian raised an eyebrow, sheathed his sword, and waved his hand with amusement.

"Such inferior goods aren't even worth my attention."

Shimotsuki Yasuie looked at Adrian with some doubt and waited for his next words.

"Your Shimotsuki Yasuie, have you ever heard of Mr. [Shimotsuki Kozaburo]?"

Upon suddenly hearing the name of an old friend, Shimotsuki Yasuie contracted slightly, and he quickly asked, "Kozaburo?! Where did you hear this name from?"

"Don't rush, Your Shimotsuki Yasuie," Adrian said with a slight smile, "Before we get to the point, please allow me to introduce myself."

"I am Ah..."

"Huh?" Shimotsuki Yasuie looked at the person opposite him with some confusion.

Adrian paused slightly, then suddenly remembered the fake identity he used at the Isshin Dojo, and changed the subject, using that long-unseen code name.

"My name is [Tao Ya]. I was entrusted by someone to come to Wano Country to investigate the current situation of the Shimotsuki Family."

Shimotsuki Yasuie pressed further, "Tao Ya, the person you mentioned, is it 'Kozaburo'?"

"No, Mr. Shimotsuki Kozaburo passed away several years ago." Adrian slowly shook his head and said, "The one who entrusted me with this task was Shimotsuki Kozaburo's only son—Mr. Shimotsuki Koshiro."

Shimotsuki Yasuie said, "How can I guarantee the truthfulness of what you say?"

"To prevent this from happening, Mr. Koshiro specifically gave me a token."

Adrian reached into his robes and retrieved a pristine white envelope from Lumi's castle. A red stamp of crossed swords marked the upper right corner of the envelope.

Please take a look.

"This is indeed the mark of the Shimotsuki Family."

Shimotsuki Yasuie nodded, took the envelope with both hands, opened it, and silently read the contents of the letter.

After a long while, he slowly raised his head, his eyes slightly red.

"Mr. Tao Ya, back in Shimotsuki Village in the East Blue—"

When Shimotsuki Yasuie uttered the name of the village, his voice sounded slightly choked with emotion, clearly overwhelmed with excitement.

How is Koshiro these days?

Adrian understood that Shimotsuki Yasuie must have gleaned some information from the letter and confirmed his identity to be so agitated.

He stated frankly, "Master Koshiro is doing quite well, teaching Swordplay to students at the Isshin Dojo on a regular basis. Judging by the time, Master Koshiro's daughter should have been born by now."

"Ha, cough cough!"

Shimotsuki Yasuie wanted to burst into laughter, but he choked and coughed violently.

After a long while, he exclaimed with relief and excitement, "Good! Good! East Blue!"

"My Shimotsuki Clan still has a lineage that survives!"

[Chapter 198 The Two Red Scabbards]

Upon unexpectedly receiving news of their clansmen overseas, the Shimotsuki Yasuie beamed with joy, and even the sorrow that had been weighing on their brows dissipated considerably.

After a moment, Shimotsuki Yasuie said seriously, "I admit I was a bit out of line, and I hope Mr. Tao Ya can understand."

Adrian nodded slightly, naturally unconcerned about the delighted attitude of the Shimotsuki Yasuie.

At this moment, Shimotsuki Yasuie's gaze towards Adrian had become much more respectful.

Because of Koshiro's kindness in teaching him Swordplay, he went to great lengths to escort the letter all the way from the East Blue, thousands of miles away, to Wano Country, deep in the New World.

I imagine that Mr. Tao Ya must have had a very difficult and arduous time at sea...

What a noble and righteous man!

Thinking of this, Shimotsuki Yasuie invited Adrian to another palace residence, intending to treat him to a lavish meal in gratitude for the righteous man's actions.

The two traveled together.

Along the way.

Shimotsuki Yasuie also told Adrian a lot about Shimotsuki Kozaburo's past, recounting that he came from the Shimotsuki Family in the Ringo region, and that his ancestors included legendary figures like Shimotsuki Ryuma, who was a "sword god".

Adrian would occasionally respond with a comment, but he was silently pondering in his heart.

"It seems Liu Zoro is indeed destined to be with Shusui..."

"Wait a minute!"

"With Moria gone, Shusui can't leave Wano Country. And I took the Yubashiri from Loguetown beforehand, so Liu Zoro will only have the Wado Ichimonji and the Sandai Kitetsu?"

"No, he also has the [Supreme Grade Sword - Nose Storm]!"

Just then, Shimotsuki Yasuie suddenly said, "If Ushimaru knew about this, he would be even happier!"

Adrian frowned slightly. "Ushimaru?"

"Didn't I just mention that?" Shimotsuki Yasuie slapped his forehead. "The current daimyo of the Ringo district is none other than Shimotsuki Ushimaru."

Ah, this...

Adrian blinked.

The name of this daimyo is somewhat similar to Liu Zoro's name-giving fruit; Liu Zoro also likes to use techniques that sound like food.

It's like the name of a very eye-catching move – "Glamorous Demon - Sleepless Night - Oni Giri".

It's a homophone for "shrimp and mayonnaise rice ball".

Suddenly it became tasteless...

It's like when you're halfway through taking off your black stockings and you realize that the leg underneath is also black, and it's covered in hair!

Ouch~

Adrian snapped out of his reverie and asked, "Should I still make a visit to the Ringo area?"

"No need, no need, Mr. Tao Ya."

Shimotsuki Yasuie waved his hand and laughed loudly.

"I'll send someone to tell Ushimaru about this later. He'll definitely be happy to hear it! He might even come straight to Hakumai's place!"

Not long after.

Adrian followed Shimotsuki Yasuie into a simple-looking traditional palace in Shimotsuki Yasuie Wano Country.

The Shimotsuki Yasuie summoned servants to prepare a feast.

After a satisfying meal, we drank and ate our fill.

Adrian then made a request.

"Mr. Tao Ya, you mean you want to replace your Famous Sword?"

Shimotsuki Yasuie stroked his chin and looked at the Skillful Grade, Yubashiri, hanging at Adrian's waist.

Is it the one at your waist?

"It's not [Yubashiri], but another Twenty-One Great Grade Swords."

Adrian shook his head, raised his arm, and reached for the empty space beside him.

With a faint ripple, the Famous Sword Sleeve Snow, whose scabbard, guard, and hilt were all pure white, was held in his hand, and the silk ribbon wrapped around the end of the hilt moved automatically without any wind.

A look of admiration flashed in Shimotsuki Yasuie's eyes as he exclaimed, "What a beautiful sword!"

Adrian casually waved his Sleeve Snow a few times and explained, "It's precisely because it's so beautiful that I wanted to change it."

As Shimotsuki Yasuie nodded slightly, a troubled expression appeared on his face.

If we're only talking about Skillful Grade like Yubashiri, there are quite a few within Wano Country as well.

Even in the daimyo treasury of the Shimotsuki Yasuie, there is Skillful Grade of the same caliber as Yubashiri.

But the Great Grade Sword is different.

Even in Wano Country, a land renowned for its Craftsman and famous swords, Great Grade Sword remain extremely rare treasures.

"It is so, Mr. Tao Ya." Shimotsuki Yasuie carefully chose his words and said slowly, "I do not have any Famous Sword of the same level as the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords, but I know a Swordsmith with extremely high skill."

"As far as I know, that Swordsmith still possesses at least one Twenty-One Great Grade Swords," Shimotsuki Yasuie. "However, I cannot guarantee whether he will be willing to make an exchange with you."

"That Swordsmith is a descendant of the legendary swordsmith 'Kotetsu,' named [Tenguyama Hitetsu], and lives in the Kuri Region."

Shimotsuki Yasuie left for a moment, then retrieved a map of Wano Country and spread it out on the table.

"If you want to get to Kuri, you need to pass through the Flower Capital and Kibi regions."

Adrian nodded silently, memorizing the extremely detailed map of Wano Country.

However, he had no intention of following the route marked by Shimotsuki Yasuie. Instead, he planned to fly directly to Tenguyama Hitetsu Amigasa Village was currently residing.

If I remember correctly, the [Nidai Kitetsu] that Adrian had previously envisioned was in the possession of Tenguyama Hitetsu, and should also be the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords that Shimotsuki Yasuie mentioned at this time.

The Shimotsuki Yasuie sent someone to fetch paper and pen, preparing to write a letter of introduction for Adrian.

After all, Mr. Tao Ya had only recently arrived in Wano Country, and Tenguyama Hitetsu would not and could not so easily make deals with outsiders; certain means of establishing trust were essential!

Just then, two burly men with unusual appearances walked into the palace entrance.

The person on the right has a face much larger than average, thick black eyebrows like Inazuma bolts, a crescent-shaped scar on her forehead, and a hairstyle that looks like spider legs. She is wearing a traditional blue kimono.

The one on the left is almost twice as tall as the one on the right. He is fat and wears a light purple kimono with a yellow flower pattern, exposing his chest. He has purple pattern tattoos on his arms and wears a wine gourd with the word "" engraved on his waist.

What made Adrian slightly uncomfortable was that the tall, fat man on his left had a head of fluffy pink curly hair, which was even styled into a bun on top of his head.

"Ashura Doji, Raizo, what brings you two here today?"

Shimotsuki Yasuie went to greet him with some surprise.

Adrian then recognized the two burly men as retainers of Kozuki Oden, Ashura Doji one of the Nine Red Scabbards), and Raizo.

There's not much to say about Ashura Doji with his pink afro.

However, the strangely shaped Raizo is a Devil Fruit user with the Paramecia Scroll- Scroll-Scroll Fruit, which allows him to manipulate the power of "scrolls" at will.

In response to Shimotsuki Yasuie's question, Ashura Doji answered loudly, his voice filled with displeasure and incomprehension.

"It's all because of our 'Fool Prince'!"

[212. Chapter 199 Kozuki Oden]

"Your Yasuie, couldn't you—"

Ashura Doji was about to complain loudly to Shimotsuki Yasuie when he suddenly noticed that, besides the familiar Shimotsuki Yasuie, there was another very unfamiliar face sitting in the palace.

Faced with unfamiliar guests, Ashura Doji immediately recalled the etiquette that Shimotsuki Yasuie had taught him, and quickly suppressed the displeasure on his face, turning his expression serious.

However, Ashura Doji's serious expression only added to his fierce appearance.

Adrian found it inexplicably amusing to see Ashura Doji striking this pose.

The Nine Red Scabbards, despite their diverse and eccentric appearances.

However, after being successively reformed by Kozuki Oden and Shimotsuki Yasuie, he can now be considered a well-educated and courteous minister. Even if his abilities are not high, he is at least usable.

They're at least stronger than the three full-fledged members of the Beasts Pirates and the six flying creatures!

However, due to their different personal experiences, each of the Nine Red Scabbards has a different attitude towards their "lord," Kozuki Oden.

Kin'emon, one of the "Four Yellows," volunteered to follow Kozuki Oden.

Denjiro "Sleeping Kyoshiro," followed along because he Worship Kozuki Oden.

Kikunojo (Kiku), known as a "cross-dressing master" and a "Mortal World wrench," was taken in by Kozuki Oden when he was homeless.

Raizo, the "Sea Shadow Ninja," was accepted by Kozuki Oden after leaving the Oniwabanshu (Shogun's Oniwabanshu).

Kawamatsu, the "Red-finned Eastern Pufferfish Fish-Man Race," Inuarashi, the "King of Day," Cat Viper, the "King of Night," were all rescued by Kozuki Oden when they were children who had fallen on hard times and Wano Country.

As for Kanjuro Sudden Shower," there's no need to say more. This guy is a complete "tragic actor," an undercover agent sent by Kurozumi Orochi to infiltrate the Kozuki Family.

Of the nine members of the Nine Red Scabbards, only Ashura Doji was defeated and subdued by Kozuki Oden entirely through his superior martial prowess.