As darkness fell, Kin'emon and Raizo changed into dark cloaks.
The two stood before the half-broken wooden door of the Oden residence, moonlight filtering through the cracks in the collapsed eaves and illuminating Kin'emon's weathered face.
"Twenty years."
"I wonder how many people still remember Oden."
Raizo stood behind him, his wrinkled face expressionless.
But his fingers were trembling slightly, and his fists were clenched tightly under his cloak.
The two didn't say anything more, but simply nodded to the few people who remained inside, then pushed open the creaking wooden door and disappeared into the night.
The mansion fell silent for a moment.
Then Nami's voice exploded.
"What did you say?!"
Nami grabbed Luffy's ear with such force that she almost ripped his rubber head off his neck.
Luffy was pulled so hard he was completely tilted to one side, but he kept trying to explain himself:
"But—but I really will be good! I promise!"
"You said the same thing in Sabaody!"
Nami's forehead veins throbbed.
And the result?
You said, "I'll behave," and then you turned around and beat up Celestial Dragons! The whole archipelago was in chaos!
Usopp added insult to injury from the sidelines, his tone full of the vicissitudes of experience:
"More than just Sabaody."
When they were on Fish-Man Island, he said he was just going out for a stroll, but he ended up turning the entire Ryugu Palace upside down.
When they attacked Doflamingo, he said he was going for a stroll, but he disappeared for three hours. When he returned, half of Doflamingo's factory had collapsed.
Luffy became increasingly dejected after being talked to, collapsing to the ground as if all the air had been sucked out, his lips pouting so much they could hang an oil bottle on them.
But who is he? He is Monkey D. Luffy.
Less than three seconds later, the guy was back to life, jumping up and grabbing his clothes to put them on.
"This time is different! This time I really will--"
"No!!!"
Everyone present spoke in unison.
Zoro leaned against the wall, three swords resting on his knees, his eyes still closed.
"Just stay here and wait for news."
Robin smiled as she gently adjusted Nami's kimono sash, her movements tender, but her words were even more ruthless than Zoro's:
"Captain, the Flower Capital is teeming with members of the Beasts Pirates."
"If you take just three steps, everyone in the Flower Capital will know the Straw Hat Pirates have arrived."
Taking advantage of the situation, Nami broke free from Luffy's grasp and stood next to Robin.
The two women changed into gorgeous kimonos, their hair was styled in an updo, and their faces were lightly made up.
Robin was dressed in a deep purple geisha outfit with white plum blossoms embroidered on the collar. She looked dignified and elegant, yet with a touch of mysterious exoticism.
Nami wore an orange-red furisode kimono with a gold sash around her waist and two jade hairpins in her hair.
Nami complained as she adjusted her belt, "This belt is too tight, I can hardly breathe."
Robin chuckled softly and reached out to loosen the knot on her back:
"Just bear with it, that's how geishas dress."
Usopp pulled out a set of herbalist's attire from somewhere: a wide gray cotton robe, an abacus hanging from his waist, and two fake mustaches stuck to his mouth.
He carried a large bundle stuffed with bottles and jars on his back, riding on Chopper, who had transformed into his reindeer form.
"How about it?"
Usopp twirled his fake beard, feigning seriousness.
"I have practiced medicine for thirty years, specializing in treating sprains and bruises."
Chopper tilted his head back, his eyes sparkling with stars:
Usopp! You look like a real doctor!
"I am a naval warrior with eight thousand men under my command—"
"You two, keep your voices down!" Nami punched both of them on the head.
Franky and Brook stayed behind to guard the ship.
Franky's mechanical arm creaked and groaned as he gave everyone a thumbs-up.
"Leave the Thousand Sunny to me! Super, don't worry!"
Brook slung his Soul Solid over his shoulder, a gentlemanly smile spreading across his skeletal face.
I will prepare a beautiful musical performance for everyone.
But—Miss Nami, could I take a look at your—"
Thud! Nami a flying kick, sending Brook flying and crashing into the wall, his bones shattering on the ground, but he was still muttering:
"Pants..."
Sanji, a cigarette dangling from his lips, slowly walked out of the house.
I'm going to the shopping street to buy groceries.
He exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes suddenly turned into hearts, and he spun around like a top towards Nami and Robin.
"By the way, let's see if there are any pretty girls from Wano Country ~ Nami looks absolutely divine in her kimono today~ Robin-chan too--"
Nami kicked him back to normal:
"Go shopping! Stop daydreaming!"
Sanji got up from the ground, rubbed his swollen face, and turned to look at Luffy, who was still looking Luffy.
He sighed.
"Hey, Luffy."
Luffy looked up, his eyes still filled with grievance.
Sanji took the cigarette from his lips, flicked off the ash, and spoke with a rare gentleness, devoid of any complaints:
"When I get back from buying the ingredients, I'll cook you a special Wano Country feast."
Luffy's eyes instantly lit up like two light bulbs:
"Really!"
"Real."
"Do you have meat?"
"Have."
"A lot of meat?"
"A lot."
"It's a promise!"
Luffy nodded frantically, the innocent expression on his face arousing suspicion in everyone present.
There's definitely something fishy about this guy agreeing so readily.
But there's no better solution right now.
People from all sides left the mansion in batches.
Robin and Nami, holding oil-paper umbrellas, walked with small, quick steps toward the most bustling teahouse street in the Flower Capital.
Usopp rode Chopper, wobbling as he headed towards the factory district, muttering his line, "I've been practicing medicine for thirty years."
Sanji turned into the direction of the shopping street, his figure disappearing into the depths of the alley.
Zoro was the last to leave.
He hung three swords at his waist and put on a tattered coat often worn by wandering samurai. The coat had been washed until it was faded and the edges were frayed, but it only added to his air of a down-on-his-luck swordsman.
He cracked his neck, making a series of snapping sounds.
"Let's go see the swordsmanship of Wano Country."
The mansion fell completely silent.
The wind blew through the dilapidated courtyard, rustling the weeds.
Then a head poked out from under the door of the main house.
Luffy peered around cautiously, making sure everyone was far away, before a big smile slowly spread across his face.
Hehe~
"A feast can wait, but an adventure cannot!"
He tiptoed out of the door, his bare feet sinking into the gravel, and followed the direction Zoro had gone.
He slipped out of the mansion like a guilty monkey.