"The founding of the nation..."
Oden muttered to himself,
"No matter the cost, I will reopen the doors of Wano Country."
Oden remembered Roger's words on the Laugh Tale, and the world-shaking truth.
Wano Country must find its place in this impending cataclysmic change.
"Father... I will definitely fulfill your last wishes."
Oden gripped his twin swords tightly.
"Let the Wano Country be great again."
However, Oden was unaware that an invisible net had already been quietly cast.
After gaining Kaido's support, Kurozumi Orochi acted swiftly.
Within three days, more than 500 people associated with the Kozuki Family were secretly arrested and imprisoned in various secret locations in the Flower Capital.
Among these people were farmers who had once received favors from Oden, and merchants who secretly supported the Kozuki Family.
There were even some of Oden's childhood playmates who grew up with him.
By the time Oden learned the news, it was too late.
" Oden- sama! Latest news!"
" Kurozumi Orochi is sending his men everywhere to capture citizens of Wano Country, many of whom are acquaintances of Oden, and moreover..."
Kin'emon rushed into the base.
"News has come from the Flower Capital. Kurozumi Orochi's subordinates have sent word that they want you to... want you to..."
"What did they say?" Kozuki Oden's heart sank.
" Kurozumi Orochi wants you to come to his residence alone tomorrow, saying he has important matters to discuss!"
" Oden! This must be a conspiracy by Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido! We must not believe it!"
The news brought by Kin'emon.
"Yes, Oden!"
Inuarashi and Cat Viper both tried to stop them.
Oden glanced at his concerned subordinates, then gave a nonchalant smile.
"Hahaha..."
"What's there to be afraid of! It's just Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido!"
Kozuki Oden gripped his twin swords tightly.
"Whatever their schemes, I'm going to check it out..."
" Your Oden..."
"No need to persuade me!"
Kozuki Oden stopped his subordinates who were still trying to persuade him.
"With my strength, I believe even Kaido himself couldn't stop me."
Seeing the determination in Oden's eyes, the nine retainers knew that persuasion was futile.
They could only kneel on one knee and respond in unison.
"Yes, Oden!"
The Flower Capital, the General's Mansion.
Kurozumi Orochi sat upright on the magnificent throne, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrests, his eyes filled with a mixture of tension and excitement.
At that moment, Kozuki Oden was on his way to the Shogun's residence.
" Semimaru,"
Kurozumi Orochi's voice trembled slightly as he turned his head to look at the silent Barrier-Barrier Devil Fruit User beside him.
" Kaido... will he really appear in time?"
Kurozumi Semimaru wore a Hannya mask, and his voice came through the mask.
" Kaido has made a promise and will surely keep it. General, you only need to proceed according to plan."
Kurozumi Higurashi, leaning on his cane, stood in the shadows on the other side and added hoarsely,
" Orochi, calm down."
"From this day forward, Kozuki Oden will no longer be a threat. Remember this—at this moment, you are the Shogun of Wano Country."
Kurozumi Orochi took a deep breath and forced himself to straighten his back, but his knuckles, gripping the armrests tightly, were still white.
Before long, an announcement came from outside the hall: " Kozuki Oden has arrived—"
The palace doors slowly opened.
Kozuki Oden entered the main hall alone.
She wore a simple dark kimono, with her twin swords, " Ame no Habakiri " and " Enma," hanging quietly at her waist.
His steps were steady, his face calm, but a suppressed flame burned in his sharp eyes.
The air inside the hall seemed to freeze.
The guards instinctively took a half step back, and even Kurozumi Higurashi narrowed her eyes slightly.
" The Orochi,"
Oden stopped in the hall, his voice not loud, but it rang clearly in everyone's ears.
"I am coming!"
What do you want to say?
Kurozumi Orochi, forcing a show of force, let out two dry laughs.
" Oden truly cares about Wano Country; he arrived so quickly..."
Oden's eyes instantly turned dangerous as he looked at the Kurozumi Orochi before him.
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Kozuki Oden's imposing aura caused Orochi to pause, and the aura he had been forcing instantly dissipated.
Kurozumi Orochi wiped the cold sweat from his brow, fearing that Kozuki Oden might recklessly stab him.
He quickly pulled a scroll from his robes and gestured for the attendant to hand it to Oden.
"Take a look at this first! Didn't you want to establish a nation?"
Oden took the document and quickly skimmed through it.
The further he read, the more gloomy his face became, and his fingers gripping the scroll almost crushed the paper.
The conditions in the document were outrageously harsh:
Firstly, Kozuki Oden must, at noon tomorrow, publicly remove his armor and clothes in the most bustling street of the Flower Capital, and perform a comical dance naked for an entire hour.
Secondly, during this period, they must not leave the Flower Capital, contact any former subordinates, or disclose the terms of the transaction to anyone.
Thirdly, after the three-year term expires, Kurozumi Orochi will release all the hostages and allow Oden to succeed as shogun and lead Wano Country to open its borders.
"Absurd!"
Oden slammed the document to the ground, glaring angrily at Kurozumi Orochi.
"How dare you make such an insulting demand of a samurai!"
"Humiliation?"
Kurozumi Orochi seemed to have found some confidence, and his voice rose.
" Kozuki Oden, do you still think you're the high and mighty daimyo of Kuri?"
"Let's face reality! I'm the one in this position now!"
The lives of those hostages are in your hands!
Kurozumi Orochi stood up, his obese body leaning slightly forward, a cruel and gleeful smile on his face.
"Agree, and they will live."
"I won't agree... Starting tomorrow, ten heads will be hung on the city gates of the Flower Capital every day."
Until those five hundred-plus people... were all dead.
"How dare you threaten me with hostages!"
Oden unleashed a terrifying killing intent, and his twin swords hummed as they were drawn half an inch from their sheaths.
"You'll see if I dare!"
The Kurozumi Orochi screamed and retreated, shouting at the same time.
" Semimaru!"
Kurozumi Semimaru instantly stood in front of Kurozumi Orochi, and a transparent barrier silently unfolded, separating Oden.
Oden's sword stopped half a foot in front of the barrier. He stared intently at the Hannya mask behind the barrier, then slowly looked at the face of the Kurozumi Orochi, which was contorted with fear.
He knew that the Barrier-Barrier Fruit's power was almost absolute defense.
If they were to force their way in here, they would not only fail to kill the Orochi, but might also enrage it and cause it to immediately harm the hostages.
" Kozuki Oden,"
The Kurozumi Higurashi spoke softly.
"I advise you to accept the conditions."
More than 500 lives were saved or lost because of your single thought.
You chose to save their lives, temporarily sacrificing your own dignity;
Or are you going to watch them die because of you, just to save face for the samurai?
She paused, her voice like the flicking of a viper's tongue.
"Three years is just three years; it'll be over in the blink of an eye."
"Three years later, these hostages will be alive, and you can legitimately take over as the Shogun of Wano Country. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
Or is it that... in your heart, your own face is more important than the lives of more than five hundred people?
The words were like sharp awls, piercing the softest part of Oden's heart.
He recalled that among those arrested were farmers he had helped during the Kuri famine.
Among them were businessmen who strongly supported him in implementing his new policies, and even childhood friends he played with in the streets...
Oden closed his eyes.
The image of Roger pointing at the Poneglyph in Laugh Tale flashed through my mind, laughing as he uttered those world-shaking words.
"The world needs a massive transformation; it needs someone to uncover the buried truth."
Wano Country is one of the keys to uncovering the truth.
This closed-off country has preserved important history, but it has also shielded itself from the storms of time.
Opening up the country is not just about opening its doors, but also about bringing Wano Country back to the world stage to fulfill its mission.
If he allows hundreds of supporters to die tragically today in order to preserve his own dignity, who will trust the Kozuki Family in the future?
Who else would follow him to accomplish the great task of founding the nation?
Personal honor and disgrace are nothing compared to the lives of hundreds, and the future of Wano Country...
Oden took a deep breath, and when he opened his eyes again, the struggle in them had transformed into a profound resolve.
"I promise you." His voice was eerily calm.