On the other side.
Issho silently put away the Den Den Mushi, unsure of how to even begin speaking.
His own captain had just agreed—just like that—to let Kaido of the Beasts' daughter stay with the Raijin Pirates?
To be honest,
Issho really couldn't understand the logic of either Sanders or Kaido.
One was pushing to use his daughter for a marriage alliance,
and when that failed, just handed her over to the Raijin Pirates?
Wasn't he worried he was sending a lamb into a lion's den?
From what Issho could sense, Yamato wasn't weak.
But this was the Raijin Pirates.
Sanders, who had just defeated Whitebeard, was right here.
If Sanders really wanted to do something, Yamato's strength wouldn't be enough to stop it.
And yet the other party—Sanders—agreed without a second thought.
He didn't even consider what Yamato's true purpose for staying might be.
They were pirates, for heaven's sake!
Villains!
Cunning, devious villains!
Wasn't he even the slightest bit suspicious that Kaido might have another agenda for placing his daughter in the Raijin Pirates?
After all, the Raijin Pirates had plenty of secrets.
The room was silent for a long time.
After a while, as if sensing what Issho was thinking, King finally spoke up:
"Issho-san, you don't have to worry.
Yamato's presence in the Raijin Pirates has no ulterior motives."
"Even if there is a motive, it has nothing to do with the Beasts Pirates."
Issho's brow twitched.
He turned to face King.
Though it was a bit awkward, King decided to be honest—for the sake of future cooperation between the Beasts Pirates and the Raijin Pirates, and to prevent Yamato from causing trouble that could drag them down later.
"Yamato idolizes Kozuki Oden.
Her greatest wish is to defeat Kaido-sama and drive the Beasts Pirates out of Wano."
"She's already challenged Kaido-sama several times on Onigashima… but has always failed."
Issho's face showed a hint of surprise, his pale eyes staring at Yamato, as if he couldn't quite believe it.
Kaido's daughter idolized her father's enemy?
She even wanted to drive his forces out of their territory?
The relationship between Kaido and Yamato was… complicated, to say the least.
"What an interesting dynamic," Issho said with a small laugh.
Since he'd already spilled the Beasts Pirates' dirty laundry, King simply gave up trying to keep appearances.
He didn't bother hiding anything about Yamato and Kaido anymore.
After all, knowing Yamato's personality…
As soon as he left, she'd definitely go around shouting again about being Kozuki Oden.
That much, he was absolutely sure of.
Sure, she was being quiet and obedient now—but that's just because he was still here.
Once he left, Yamato and her delusions of being Oden would return full force.
Ideologies and habits formed since childhood weren't so easy to erase.
Sooner or later, the Raijin Pirates would find out anyway.
So instead of letting them discover it later, it was better to just lay it out now.
"So, the Thunder God Pirates don't need to worry about any scheme from the Beasts Pirates,"
King continued speaking.
"In fact, Yamato might even want to borrow the strength of the Thunder God Pirates to liberate Wano Country."
As he spoke, King glanced at Yamato—clearly having seen through her completely.
Yamato's big eyes blinked twice behind her mask, then quickly looked away, not daring to meet his gaze.
Crap!
The flame-winged bird-man figured it out!
He's not gonna drag me back, right?!
Yamato grew worried.
She had finally made it out—she definitely didn't want to go back to the Eastern District!
If it weren't for Birdman and her father Kaido threatening her with Wano itself,
she would've already run away halfway through the journey.
King was strong, sure,
but if she was truly determined to flee, even he wouldn't have been able to stop her.
"Then why bother sending her here at all?"
Issho finally voiced the question that had been bothering him.
"Heh… rather than have Her Highness Yamato drag us down on Onigashima,
it's better to let her serve some final value,"
King replied with a cold smile.
He had no doubts:
If someone attacked Onigashima, Yamato would absolutely side with them to fight against the Beasts Pirates.
And with her level of strength?
If she really did that, it could flip the entire battle.
(Read explosive novels, only on Feilu!)
Issho didn't speak anymore.
Since the captain had agreed to keep her, he'd just leave it to the captain to handle.
As for him, it was time to meet up with Marco and handle the territory handover.
"This Den Den Mushi is for future contact.
Please pass it to Captain Sanders,"
King said, pulling a Den Den Mushi from inside his coat and handing it to Issho.
After Issho took it, King offered a final farewell.
"Princess Yamato, don't forget what you promised.
If you break it… you know the consequences."
Right before leaving, King turned to Yamato and warned her.
Yamato didn't say a word.
She just stood silently in the room, gripping her kanabō (spiked club).
King gave her one last deep look, then turned and left.
The moment King was gone—
Yamato took off her mask, revealing a delicate little face.
Her long, gradient-colored hair swayed behind her.
Her face lit up with pure joy.
"The birdman's finally gone!"
Yamato cheered, clearly in an excellent mood.
Issho stood there for a moment, unsure how to handle the daughter of Kaido of the Beasts.
"Just stay here for a while,"
he eventually said.
"I'm going to meet Marco and handle the territory matters."
"Marco? Can I come too?"
Yamato asked eagerly when she heard the name.
Issho thought for a second… then ultimately shook his head.
"It's better if you stay here."
Although Yamato idolized Kozuki Oden, and Oden had once sailed with Whitebeard, meaning there shouldn't be any bad blood between her and Marco...
She was still Kaido's daughter.
The two pirate crews had just finished a war.
And honestly, the Beasts Pirates' dirty laundry was best kept from spreading any further.
"Alright..."
Yamato visibly deflated, disappointment written all over her face.
Issho might have been blind, but with his excellent Observation Haki,
he could sense her emotions perfectly.
"Then… can I walk around and explore a bit?"
Yamato asked again.
"Of course. You're not a prisoner of the Thunder God Pirates,"
Issho said with a smile.
"Strictly speaking, you're a guest. No one will restrict your freedom—
even if you decide to leave, we won't stop you."
Since Kaido had dared to leave Yamato here,
he'd surely considered all the consequences.
They hadn't demanded that Yamato must remain either.
What she chose to do was up to her—as long as she didn't cause trouble for the Thunder God Pirates.
"That's great!"
Yamato's earlier gloom vanished instantly, replaced by a bright smile.
"Aside from Onigashima and Wano, I've never been anywhere else!"
"I already saw so many interesting people and things on the way here—I've been dying to look around."
"Kozuki Oden's journey begins now!"
Once King had left, Yamato habitually started referring to herself as Kozuki Oden again.
Issho just smiled and shook his head as he turned to leave.
Still just a kid...
He couldn't help but think.
To think I was actually wary of her before. Her head really doesn't seem screwed on right.
Once King was gone, Yamato began behaving completely like Kozuki Oden again,
even referring to herself as a man.
No one really knew what kind of upbringing Kaido had given her.
After Issho left, Yamato slung her kanabō over her shoulder and left the Thunder God Pirates' base
thus beginning her adventures in Dressrosa.
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T/N:
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