One Piece: Starting as a Celestial Dragon, Building Amazon Lily

However, no matter how he tortured them, these people uttered nothing of value, only groans of pain.

Before long, a pirate ship bearing the Beasts Pirates' emblem slowly approached and docked beside the lone vessel.

Iron hooks caught the railing, planks were laid across the sides, and a group of Beasts Pirates crew members boarded. Seeing the tall, black-clad figure standing on deck, they hurriedly called out, "Lord King!"

King flicked the blood from his katana and sheathed it, saying with displeasure, "You're too slow."

"We deserve death!" The leader hastily lowered his head and admitted his fault. His gaze then swept across the deck, taking in a scene of devastation. Several mutilated bodies lay scattered about, blood pooling into winding streams across the planks. A heavy stench of blood filled the air.

Clearly, a brutal interrogation had just taken place here.

King glanced at the dying pirates and said coldly, "Lock them up. Don't let them die."

He paused, a trace of gravity flashing through his eyes. "These people would rather die than talk. They won't reveal so much as a word. It seems whoever is behind them has earned that much loyalty."

King's expression darkened further.

For a group of small-fry pirates to remain tight-lipped under such torture meant the person behind them was no ordinary figure. That person possessed a quality that made subordinates choose death over surrender, an aura he had only seen in a handful of people.

The Beasts Pirates were at a crucial stage in their takeover of Wano Country, and any unforeseen development could affect the progress of the entire plan.

If this mysterious person had come for Kozuki Oden, things would become even more troublesome.

So he had to take this situation seriously.

"Lock them up. I'm going to see the captain immediately." With those words, King's body abruptly swelled and twisted. Amid the sounds of shifting bones, he transformed into a gigantic Pteranodon. A beat of his wings raised a fierce gale, and he shot into the sky, flying toward Wano Country.

The Beasts Pirates left on deck watched King disappear into the clouds, then looked down at the mangled pirates on the deck and could not help clicking their tongues.

The leader waved a hand and ordered his men, "Carry them all below and lock them in the cells. Be gentle. Lord King said not to let them die."

Chapter 68: Infiltration

Having successfully set foot on Wano Country's soil, Saint Dio naturally had no idea that King of the Beasts Pirates had already noticed the disturbance caused by their landing.

Even if he had known, he would not have taken it to heart.

His more immediate concern was how to settle down in this unfamiliar land.

According to his plan, they first needed to find a local to teach them the advanced applications of Armament Haki.

But before that, they had a practical problem to solve.

Their group's clothing made it obvious at a glance that they were not locals of Wano Country. They would stand out far too much on the streets.

To move around without drawing the Beasts Pirates' attention, they had to follow local customs and change into Wano Country's traditional clothing.

So Stussy, who specialized in infiltration and intelligence work, acted first.

She controlled a bat and sent it flying into a nearby town. After circling overhead and observing for a while, she picked out several kimonos hanging out to dry in a household's courtyard.

The bat swooped down silently, hooked its claws into the collars, gathered up several kimonos, and flapped back to the woods where the group was hiding.

Stussy took the kimonos the bat had brought back and shook them open for a look. Their designs were fairly plain and would not attract too much attention.

She quickly stripped off her Cipher Pol Aigis Zero uniform and held a kimono up against herself, only to discover that she had no idea how to put it on.

The garment had layer upon layer, with a dizzying assortment of sashes, ties, and knots.

"How... are you supposed to wear this?" Stussy held up the kimono, looking uncharacteristically troubled.

"Let me help you." Mumei walked over.

She had worn similar clothing in the world of Kotetsujō. Although some of the details differed, she still knew the basics of putting it on.

She then deftly straightened Stussy's collar, fastened the ties, wrapped the sash around her waist, adjusted the folds, and finally tied a neat drum knot at her back.

Once dressed in the kimono, Stussy stood there and looked down at herself.

Pale floral patterns dotted the dark blue fabric, and a dark brown sash encircled her waist. The sleeves were wide, and the hem just covered her ankles.

Her long golden hair and blue eyes, paired with the kimono, instead gave her a distinctive exotic charm that did not look out of place.

"Your hair, too," Mumei reminded her.

She walked around Stussy. Most women in town wore their hair in elaborate buns. Although Stussy's loose golden hair was beautiful, it stood out too much.

Mumei rummaged through her Pocket-Pocket Fruit space and took out several treasured kimonos and accessories. She had brought plenty of luggage from that world, and after obtaining the Pocket-Pocket Fruit, she had kept it in her pockets. Her kimonos were much smaller, however, and Stussy could not fit into them. Otherwise, there would have been no need to steal any.

Mumei then selected a white jade hairpin, quickly twisted Stussy's golden hair into a simple bun, and secured it with the pin.

Stussy examined herself in the small bronze mirror Mumei handed her. Her reflection already had something of the air of a local Wano Country woman.

"All right, I'm heading out." Stussy adjusted her cuffs, then shifted her shoulders uncomfortably. "But this outfit... really makes it hard to move."

"You'll get used to it," Mumei replied with a smile.

She, too, changed into a pale pink kimono with a light yellow sash, tying her hair into a ponytail with a red cord. She looked just like a lively girl from a small Wano Country town.

According to the plan, Stussy and Mumei would infiltrate the town first and find a suitable place to stay.

The others would remain in the surrounding mountain woods for the time being and wait for news.

Although Hancock also wanted to help, her appearance was simply too striking.

The beauty the Love-Love Fruit had bestowed on her would cause a stir anywhere, let alone in a relatively isolated nation like Wano Country.

Sandersonia and Marigold were tall and powerfully built, making it difficult to find kimonos that fit. Their fierce looks also made it clear at a glance that they were not to be trifled with.

As for Shyarly, that went without saying. The people of Wano Country had probably never even heard of merfolk. If she appeared in town, she would certainly cause an even greater sensation than Hancock.

Thus, the task of infiltrating the town ultimately fell to Stussy and Mumei.

While waiting for Stussy and Mumei to return, Hancock and her two sisters settled down in the shade of the trees, closing their eyes to rest.

Sandersonia and Marigold leaned against tree trunks with their arms crossed, maintaining their vigilance; Hancock sat on a flat bluestone, her legs together and her hands folded over her knees, her posture elegant and dignified.

Saint Dio, however, had no intention of making himself uncomfortable.

He drew Jörmungandr from his waist and casually thrust it into the ground.

The blade twisted into a long, silvery-white snake. Its body coiled into the shape of a comfortable chair, its head resting on an armrest, its golden slit pupils half closed.

Saint Dio sat down unhurriedly and crossed his legs, looking perfectly relaxed.

Of everyone present, Shyarly was the most excited.

From the moment she had set foot on Wano Country's soil, the light in her eyes had never dimmed.

To her, this waiting period was the perfect time to play.

She controlled the bubble surrounding her tail, keeping it suspended a few inches above the ground. With gentle swishes of her tail, she could drift freely over the grass.

She floated over to a cluster of blooming wildflowers, bent down curiously, and plucked a vivid little red flower. Holding it up before Hancock, she asked in her childish voice, "Big Sister Hancock, what flower is this?"

Hancock opened her eyes and looked at the little flower, her tone unusually gentle. "It's a camellia."

"A camellia..." Shyarly repeated the name, as though trying to commit the word firmly to memory.

Then she drifted away again, continuing to search the grass for little flowers of other colors.

Before long, she had gathered a large bunch of colorful wildflowers. Sitting on the grass, she clumsily wove them into a brightly colored wreath.

Holding the wreath, she floated back to Hancock, rose onto tiptoe, and carefully placed it on Hancock's head.

Hancock froze for a moment, then raised a hand to touch the wreath gently. Looking down at Shyarly's smiling face with its missing teeth, she could not help letting a rare, tender smile rise to her lips.

At this point, Hancock had not yet endured the dark years of enslavement by the Celestial Dragons from the original story. Although proud, she was not as cold and unapproachable as she would later become.

Faced with such an innocent little girl, even her hardened heart could not help softening somewhat.

Seeing that Hancock had not refused, Shyarly grew a little bolder.

She floated back to the grass and wove two more wreaths, giving one each to Sandersonia and Marigold.

The two sisters accepted the wreaths and exchanged a glance. Although they said nothing, they still silently put them on their heads.

Finally, holding the last wreath in her hands, Shyarly floated over to Saint Dio.

She stood there, timidly looking at the White Hair boy sitting on the snake chair. Her little hands tightly gripped the edges of the wreath, and she looked hesitant and nervous.

She had always felt somewhat afraid of Saint Dio.

She knew this big brother held the highest position among them all. Even Big Sister Stussy had to obey his orders.

She did not know whether he would accept the wreath she offered.

Saint Dio looked down at the anxious little mermaid before him and could not help chuckling inwardly.

The way she wants to get close but keeps shrinking back is rather cute, like a little pet wanting to approach its owner for affection but afraid of being rejected.

He reached out and took the wreath from Shyarly, casually slipped it around his neck, then rubbed her little head. "Not bad. It looks quite nice."

Shyarly's eyes instantly lit up, and a brilliant smile blossomed across her face.

Chapter 69: Can You Call Cipher Pol Aigis Zero's Work Stealing?

Stussy and Mumei passed through the woods and stepped onto a broad dirt road.

People came and went along the road: woodcutters carrying firewood, peddlers with shoulder poles, farm women dressed in coarse hemp clothing, and samurai striding proudly past with katanas at their waists. Wano Country looked entirely different from the outside world, everything carrying an air of old-fashioned isolation.

Walking along this road, Mumei actually seemed more at ease than Stussy.

She had once lived in a similar world and was no stranger to this environment and atmosphere. Her steps were light.

Stussy, meanwhile, discreetly observed everything around her as she walked.

The passersby's clothing, the architectural styles, the numbers and equipment of patrolling samurai-all this information was rapidly filed away in her mind.

After following the main road for a while, they spotted a crude roadside tea stall. Several low tables stood beneath an awning, with a few travelers seated there, drinking tea and resting their feet.

Stussy and Mumei went over and ordered two bowls of tea, taking the opportunity to chat with the stall owner as they rested.

"Sir, what place is this?" Stussy lifted her tea bowl and asked casually.

"This is Ringo," the stall owner answered as he wiped a bowl. "Another half day's walk ahead will take you to Habu Port."

"And the nearest town?"

"Keep following this main road and cross that hill up ahead." The stall owner pointed out the direction. "It's the biggest town around here. The daimyo's residence is there, too."

Stussy noted the direction, finished her tea, and set down a few copper coins she had casually lifted from a passerby earlier. Then she continued on with Mumei.

Toward evening, the two arrived at the town.

It was considerably more prosperous than they had imagined, with shops lining both sides of the streets and an endless stream of pedestrians.

Stussy walked around the streets and caught a key piece of information from the passersby's conversations: the daimyo of this territory was named Shimotsuki Ushimaru.

Her gaze settled on the imposing residence in the center of town.

Its walls were high and its gates tightly shut. Two samurai stood outside with katanas at their waists and sharp eyes. At a glance, they were clearly no ordinary foot soldiers.

That was the daimyo's residence.

Stussy considered her options. The best way to settle down here would be to rent out an entire inn, but I don't have any Wano Country currency.

Although I could exchange gold and silver jewelry for it, that would inevitably leave traces. It isn't secure enough.

The simplest solution, naturally, was to "borrow" some.

And without question, the wealthiest place in this town was the daimyo's residence.

After nightfall, Stussy had Mumei wait in the concealed spot where they had temporarily settled. She herself transformed into an unremarkable bat and flew silently over the walls of the daimyo's residence.

The interior was much more spacious than she had imagined.

Deep courtyards, winding corridors, and carefully arranged pavilions and buildings all exuded the solemn dignity of a warrior household.

Lanterns hung every few steps beneath the covered walkways. Their dim yellow light shone on paper doors and wooden pillars, casting mottled shadows.

Patrolling samurai were visible throughout the grounds. Every one of them was alert and vigorous, with a sword at his waist and steady steps. Clearly, they were all capable fighters with some training.

Stussy, however, was not worried.

At the moment, she was merely an ordinary bat. As long as she did not attack or reveal any killing intent, these samurai's Observation Haki would never detect anything unusual about her.

To their senses, she was nothing more than a little bat that had wandered in by mistake.

Just like that, she flew openly beneath the covered walkways, through the courtyards, and around the ponds, committing the entire layout of the daimyo's residence to memory.

The location of the main hall, the study, the storehouse, the pattern of the guards' shift changes... everything formed a clear, three-dimensional map in her mind.

Finally, she silently slipped into the storehouse.