Kozuki Oden, panting heavily, stared intently at Roy.
After a long while, he slowly sheathed his sword and sat down cross-legged as well.
Face to face with Roy.
Kozuki Toki continued to protect the child, but her gaze couldn't help but linger on the young, legendary pirate.
She had met Roy a few times when she was in Roger Pirates.
Back then, he was just that young pirate with decent strength, but still quite inexperienced, as Captain Roger described him.
Who could have imagined that he would grow to this level in just a few years?
A bounty of 2.5 billion is offered for a rampage in Mary Geoise...
Now sitting face to face, she could feel a faint yet unsettling sense of oppression emanating from Roy.
That was the aura of a top-tier expert.
Roy noticed Kozuki Toki's gaze, turned his head, and smiled slightly at her.
" Lady Toki, you're getting more and more beautiful."
Kozuki Toki was taken aback, then her cheeks flushed slightly, and she bowed slightly.
" Captain Roy is too kind."
Kozuki Oden's face darkened.
"Hey, hey, hey, flirting with my wife right in front of me is incredibly rude! And you call that harmless?"
Roy withdrew his gaze, looked at Oden, and smiled.
"Just telling the truth."
Kozuki Oden snorted, but did not continue the argument.
He took a deep breath, suppressed his vigilance, and said in a deep voice,
"Speak, what brings you here?"
"They're not here to persuade me to give up Wano Country, are they? That's such a boring topic, isn't it?"
Roy did not answer immediately.
He raised his hand and waved, and a small square table in the corner of the room floated up and landed between the two of them.
Kozuki Toki paused for a moment, then understood and got up to pour tea.
A moment later, two cups of hot tea were placed on the table, their aroma wafting through the air.
Roy picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
"Good tea."
Kozuki Oden stared at him.
"You've had your tea, can you tell me now?"
Roy put down his teacup and looked at Oden.
"You should know that the Roy Pirates and the Beasts Pirates are allies."
Kozuki Oden nodded. "I understand."
"Then you should also know how important the Seastone resources of Wano Country are to me and Kaido."
Kozuki Oden remained silent.
Roy continued,
" Seastone is the only weapon that can counter Devil Fruit users, and it's also a crucial resource for consolidating our territory in the New World."
"Losing the supply of Seastone from Wano Country is an unacceptable loss for both Kaido and me."
"So--"
Roy looked directly into Kozuki Oden's eyes.
"We cannot abandon Wano Country."
Kozuki Oden's face darkened.
"So you mean you want me to give up?"
Roy shook his head.
"I'm not here to make you give up."
I just want you to face a fact.
"With your current strength, can you withstand the combined forces of Kaido, me, and the World Government at the same time?"
Kozuki Oden fell silent.
He knew Roy was telling the truth.
On the Beasts Pirates,
Kaido, Beasts Pirates, King of One-on-One Combat.
Roy, with a bounty of 2.5 billion, is also incredibly powerful.
At Kurozumi Orochi's location, the World Government, the CP0 Director General leading the team, and the Navy lurking in the shadows...
The combined power of both sides is enough to give him a headache.
Even in a one-on-one match, he wasn't entirely confident of victory.
but--
So what?
Kozuki Oden raised his head, his eyes burning with a resolute flame.
"I've already let my men down once!"
"This time, no matter what, I will reclaim Wano Country in my own way!"
"Even if it means dying in battle, I'm willing to do it!"
Roy looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
This stubborn, reckless man is exactly the same as in the original work.
For the sake of one's beliefs, one can disregard everything.
But he is not alone.
Roy's gaze swept over Kozuki Toki, then over the two children in the bed.
You can disregard yourself.
Roy's voice was calm, yet every word was like a knife.
But what about your wife? What about your children?
"What fate will they face if you lose the war?"
Kozuki Oden's body trembled violently.
Roy continued,
Will Kurozumi Orochi let them go? Will the World Government let them go?
"The bloodline of the Kozuki Family is something that must be eradicated completely for those people."
"At that time, Lady Toki will become a slave, and your child will be executed—"
Is this the 'founding of the nation' you wanted?
Kozuki Oden's face turned pale.
He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, but he couldn't utter a single word.
Kozuki Toki stood up, walked over to him, and sat down beside him.
She reached out and gently grasped Oden's tightly clenched fist.
They silently conveyed their support.
Kozuki Oden looked at his wife, his eyes filled with pain and struggle.
He knew Roy was telling the truth.
If I were to lose the war, what would happen to Shi and the children...?
He dared not think any further.
but--
"I still won't give up."
Kozuki Oden's voice was hoarse, yet still resolute.
"At that time, Momonosuke, Hiyori..."
They are all people I want to protect.
"That's precisely why I must reclaim Wano Country!"
"Only by reclaiming Wano Country from Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido can they live a truly peaceful life!"
"Only by opening Wano Country to the outside world can they see the real future!"
His gaze hardened once more.
Kozuki Toki looked at him, her eyes filled with tenderness and pride.
This is her husband.
A man who would disregard everything for his beliefs.
Roy watched this scene and sighed inwardly.
He knew that it was absolutely impossible to get Oden to abandon Wano Country.
This stubborn samurai will never turn back, even if he hits a brick wall.
Roy picked up his teacup and drank the tea in one gulp.
Then, he stood up and straightened his black cloak.
"Since that's the case--"
Roy's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"Then let's meet on the battlefield."
Kozuki Oden also stood up and stood opposite Roy.
Their eyes met in the air.
There was no murderous intent, no hostility, only unwavering commitment to their respective beliefs.
"The opening of Wano Country will definitely happen."
Kozuki Oden said in a deep voice,
"All of this was predetermined by fate."
destiny?
Roy's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't ask any further questions.
He turned around and walked towards the door.
He stopped at the door and looked back.
Kozuki Toki protected the child, her gaze calm yet resolute.
Kozuki Oden remained standing in the same spot, his twin swords at his waist, like an unshakeable mountain.
Roy withdrew his gaze and pushed open the door to leave.
The figure blended into the night.
The Ark Maxim pierced the night, traveling through the clouds.
Inside the cabin, Tesoro was idly polishing the gold jewelry in his hands when he saw Roy walk in, and immediately stood up.
"Boss, how did the talks go?"
Roy walked to the window, gazing at the distant lights of Kuri below, and remained silent for a few seconds.
The talks broke down.
Tesoro was taken aback.
"That guy... is he really planning to fight us to the death?"
"Um."