Time quietly approached the latter part of Year 1496, and Arceus had yet to find another plate.
World Government also failed to establish stable trade with the Beasts Pirates and was still purchasing Seastone products from the black market.
CP0 had engaged in two negotiations with the Beasts Pirates, but each time Beasts Pirates led them by the nose, to the point where they suspected someone within Mariejois was intentionally leaking information to disrupt their plans.
Ultimately, this sparked a factional struggle as the officials of the World Government had their own alliances, and it was common for them to hinder others in matters of trade.
In the “unintentional” information leaked by the Beasts Pirates, they also believed this, and an invisible political struggle unfolded on the Red Line.
Through the World Economy News Paper, the Beasts Pirates in Wano Country had some understanding of the major events going on in the outside world. The most arrogant newcomer of the year was a person named Crocodile.
His battle with Bullet and Whitebeard was featured on the front page headlines by Morgans. However, after his disastrous defeat against Whitebeard, he disappeared from the scene, and his whereabouts were unknown in the New World for the moment.
On Fishman Island, Neptune ascended the throne to become the king of the Ryugu Kingdom. In Dressrosa, Kyros achieved an unprecedented 1000 consecutive victories and became the captain of the royal army upon the invitation of King Riku.
Meanwhile, in the outside sea of Wano Country, the Oro Jackson was approaching Wano.
Some time ago, the Whitebeard Pirates and the Roger Pirates crossed paths, and Gol D. Roger learned that Kozuki Oden could translate the Poneglyph. In order to find the final destination, Roger requested Kozuki Oden to join him.
While he boarded the ship, his retainers Inuarashi and Nekomamushi also secretly snuck onto Roger’s vessel, sailing together aboard the Oro Jackson.
Earlier, his daughter Kozuki Hiyori was also born on the ship.
The reason why they were going back to Wano Country was for a Poneglyph. Hidden within Wano Country was a Road Poneglyph, an essential item for reaching Laugh Tale.
Furthermore, his wife Amatsuki Toki fell ill with a high fever for unknown reasons, so he decided to leave her in Wano Country.
Instead of using Mogura Port, the Roger Pirates, led by Kozuki Oden, entered Wano Country through the waterfall. Present-day Wano Country, under the control of Arceus, was not transformed into a landscape filled with factories and billowing black smoke everywhere.
Kozuki Oden only sensed some changes but it didn’t raise any suspicions. It was normal for things to change after being away for so many years.
Moreover, Roger didn’t have much time left. He couldn’t afford to linger here for too long. As a descendant of the Kozuki family, he naturally knew that the Road Poneglyph was located beneath the inland sea of Wano Country.
He didn’t even choose to use the secret passage to get there. Instead, relying on his monstrous physique, he dove directly underwater to complete the stone rubbing. Afterwards, he came ashore with the intention of leaving his wife and child behind.
All of this was observed by Setsuna, starting from the moment Roger’s ship flew over the waterfall. The news had already reached Arceus and Kaido.
If Kaido was alone, he would have planned to lay low because he knew very well of Roger’s strength. He was no match for Roger now, and there were also many powerful individuals among his crew.
But now he had Arceus on his side. Even Gol D. Roger couldn’t drive them away. At most, it would lead to a large-scale battle with Wano Country as the battlefield.
However, Beasts Pirates’ foundation was still unstable, and they did not have any direct conflict with the Roger Pirates. Engaging in a hasty battle would jeopardize the years of work and potentially undo all their efforts.
So the Beasts Pirates only observed while being on the alert.
On the coast of Kuri, Kozuki Oden saw his retainers who came to meet him. However, it was strange that only Raizo, Kanjuro, and Kiku had come, and their clothes were tattered.
“Where are Kin’emon and the others? Why is it only the three of you?”
“Oden-sama, after you left, Ashura Doji returned to Mt. Atama to supervise the people there. Denjiro is doing business in the Flower Capital. As for Kin’emon…”
Although they wanted to explain what had happened in Wano Country during this time, in order not to delay Oden’s plans, Amatsuki Toki stopped them, urging Oden to leave without worry.
And so, this incredibly courageous man left Wano Country just like that. Although Wano Country was drastically different under the rule of the Beasts Pirates, he missed the best opportunity as a result.
Besides Amatsuki Toki, or rather, Kozuki Toki, according to Wano Country’s customs, she should now bear the Kozuki surname. Apart from her, Kozuki Momonosuke and Kozuki Hiyori were also left behind.
Inuarashi and Nekomamushi were also left by Oden as although they were all his retainers, the other members of the Kozuki family were still unfamiliar to Kozuki Toki. So, leaving behind two acquaintances would help her better adapt to the environment here.
They continued to watch as the Oro Jackson departed from Wano Country before finally deciding to leave themselves.
Just as they were introducing and getting to know each other, Setsuna made a phone call.
“Lord Sacred Beast, the ship has already left Wano Country. Can Setsuna now move freely?”
“What’s the matter?”
“I’ve seen two acquaintances, and I might have found a way back to Zou Island.” Vivre Cards leading to Zou Island were difficult to find, at least the Beasts Pirates hadn’t come across them in recent years.
But upon seeing Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, Setsuna believed that they most likely carried Vivre Cards that could lead back to Zou Island.
“Do as you wish, just stay safe.”
“Understood.”
Inuarashi and Nekomamushi were conversing with Raizo and the others about the events of these past years while planning to bring back Kozuki Toki and the others to Oden Castle in Kuri.
However, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi suddenly perked up their ears as they heard a very familiar voice.
“Inuarashi! Nekomamushi! It’s been a while! What are you doing here?”
“Setsuna?!”
“Why are you here?”
The population of Zou Island is relatively small, with approximately twenty thousand people comprising the entire race. Not only among individuals of the same age, but it can be said that everyone has had some form of interaction in their daily lives, even if they may not know each other’s names.
Especially among children of similar ages, they are quite familiar with each other. However, from the perspective of Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, Setsuna should be on Zou Island and not supposed to be here.
“Of course, I also set sail! You two actually left Zou Island without saying a word, and you didn’t even inform me!”
“You were too young.” It had been several years since they last saw each other, but after just a couple of words, Inuarashi noticed that something was off. Both Raizo and Kikunojo had a strange look in their eyes when they looked at Setsuna.
“What is it, guys?”
“Do you know this person? She’s a member of the Beasts Pirates.”
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