"Rise—"
With Roman activating both his Float-Float ability and Gravity ability at the same time, the massive Moby Dick, as large as a white whale, slowly lifted into the air. The Whitebeard Pirates watched in amazement.
"This is the Golden Lion's ability, isn't it?"
The Seventh Division Commander, Rakuyo—who carried a giant flail, had messy brown hair, a handlebar mustache, and looked like Captain Jack Sparrow from *Pirates of the Caribbean*—sighed. As a veteran of the Whitebeard Pirates, he had witnessed the battles between the Golden Lion and Pops before... or rather, their fights. He still vividly remembered that golden figure who could make the earth roll, islands float, and even the ocean lose its gravity with just a wave of his hand.
"That's right, but it's not just his. The version of the ability I 'copied' is far weaker than the original."
The original Golden Lion could keep several islands floating at an altitude of ten thousand meters for years, creating an artificial sky island—a secret base that even the Marines envied. But Roman? He was struggling just to move the Moby Dick.
After all, a person's energy is limited. Even if Roman had access to multiple Devil Fruit abilities, he couldn't master them all at once.
"This is Wano Country's inner sea."
As the massive Moby Dick soared over the cliff ahead, a vast freshwater sea appeared before them. With its coating already complete, the Moby Dick slowly descended into the water.
The small and nimble Sunny can dock anywhere along the shore, and with Roman setting up a camouflage around it, it'll be perfectly safe. But the Moby Dick is a massive ship, almost the size of an aircraft carrier. If it could go unnoticed, that would mean the entire Beasts Pirates crew was blind!
"Alright, wait for my signal."
As the white paper transformed into a dove and landed on the deck, Roman's consciousness withdrew from the scene.
——————
"Mom, we've just entered Beasts Pirates' territory. Lick lick~~"
Charlotte Perospero hesitated, unsure whether to speak, but the towering and heavyset Big Mom shot him a glance.
"If you've got something to say, then say it!"
"Yes, Mom."
Perospero, wearing a top hat decorated with lollipops, stepped forward. He had a slim build, an unusually long nose and tongue, and carried a candy cane staff in his hand.
"Those reckless brats from the Straw Hat Crew have barged into Wano Country. We don't need to concern ourselves with them. Once Kaido hears about this from us, he'll take care of them all! But if we insist on entering Wano Country now, we might end up clashing with the Beasts Pirates first, which could give the Straw Hat Crew an advantage…"
"Peros, looks like you've been too comfortable for too long."
?
When she's not in one of her rages, Big Mom is undoubtedly a capable pirate captain and a strong ruler.
— By the standards of a villain, that is.
"Out on the sea, what matters most are strength, reputation, and manpower…"
"Because of that damn bird, Morgans, the reports about us made the Big Mom Pirates look pathetic, as if we were nothing more than stepping stones for the Straw Hats! Our strength has been questioned—this is the first issue!"
"On top of that, the Straw Hat Crew crashed our wedding, stole the bride, and left without killing a single person! What will the other powers on the sea think of us? That's the second issue!"
"And in that incident, we lost the Sun Pirates and Jinbe, the Fire Tank Pirates, and the Vinsmokes. Even some of my precious children were badly injured! How could I possibly let this slide? That's the third issue!"
"So taking down the Straw Hat Crew is something that only we can do—only we have the right to do it!!"
If Big Mom didn't settle this score soon, the forces loyal to her might start to waver. And if that happened, she'd have to spend a huge amount of effort fixing the damage. Otherwise, the reputation and dominance she had built over decades as one of the Four Emperors could be completely ruined.
"Mom, I understand."
Perospero wasn't unaware of these reasons, but: "I have a bad feeling about this… Like we're missing something—"
"Enough!"
Big Mom impatiently waved her hand. "We're pirates, not fortune tellers! Since when do we trust 'gut feelings' more than our own swords? Or are you saying you can see the future like Katakuri?"
Perospero had no answer for his mother's words. He could only push aside his unease and focus on the battle ahead.
——————
The ruins of Amigasa Village. Behind the village stood a massive pine tree. From the outside, it looked normal, but inside, it was a different story. Roman had built an entire structure out of paper within it. After all, the house that originally belonged to Tama and her master was far too…
"Ace is dead."
"That's impossible! You're lying! Cough, cough…"
?
Roman, who had just helped the Whitebeard Pirates fly over Wano's inland sea, snapped back to reality. In front of him, Tama was crying her heart out, while Luffy stood there with a serious expression.
"It's true. Ace died two years ago. The whole world knows."
Uh… Ace: Damn, I've become a substitute! "Cough, cough, what's going on?"
Roman, pulling himself out of his trance, glanced at the little girl glaring at Luffy. He already had a good guess about what had happened, but that would be too 'convenient,' so:
"…So that's how it is. They got into a fight over it."
As Nami whispered an explanation, Roman nodded. Just as he expected, there was no need to interfere for now. After all, Ace was about to step into the spotlight properly this time—
That is, once they took over Wano Country!
"Alright, you two."
"The past is the past. What really matters is what we do next."
Roman clapped his hands. Even though Oden had left things in a mess, the remaining warriors of this country were still quite strong. At the very least, the Nine Red Scabbards were all solid fighters. Since they were already helping their shogun get revenge, there was no reason for them to just sit back and watch, right?
Well, three of them were missing: Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and Raizo. But their strength… was debatable. Kin'emon was weak enough to be chased around by Dressrosa's foot soldiers but strong enough to withstand Kaido's attacks. Kanjuro was actually a spy working for Orochi, and Raizo... called himself a ninja but only knew one clone technique—he'd probably need luck just to pass a basic ninja exam.
All in all, the real powerhouses among the Nine Scabbards were still in Wano: Ashura Doji and Kawamatsu. These two could battle Kaido's top commanders for days without going down. As for Kikunojo and Izo, those two pretty boys… well, their actual strength was hard to say. The same went for Denjiro, who had spent twenty years undercover to protect Princess Hiyori.
Still, at the very least, they were strong enough to be top officers in a Yonko crew. After all, Izo had been the commander of the 16th division in Whitebeard's crew.
Then there was Shinobu, the former twin-tailed beauty who had now turned into a short, chubby old lady… yeah, let's just move on. It's not like the Straw Hats need someone to "speed up their aging."
"Alright, Tama."
Roman turned to the Tengu-like swordsmith, Hitetsu. "Can you show us around? I've heard that Wano's samurai are strong and full of spirit. There must be some who aren't happy with Kaido's rule."
Even though he was addressing Tama, the real question was aimed at Hitetsu. As one of Wano's legendary swordsmiths, there was no way he didn't know who was still resisting Kaido and Orochi.
Of course...
"..."
As Hitetsu remained silent, Roman casually took the glass of orange juice Sanji handed him.
This hideout, disguised as the "Paper Dance: Straw Hat Mansion," not only had a spacious hall but also came with a kitchen, a bathroom, and even a dozen rooms! Only someone like Roman, who could push Devil Fruit powers to their limits, could live this comfortably.
"I know what you're worried about."
Roman took a sip of juice and glanced at Tama, who looked confused, and Hitetsu, who, despite his mask, was clearly hesitant.
"You're afraid we're actually working for Kaido. That we're putting on an act to lure rebels out and wipe them out."
"I…"
"It's understandable," Roman interrupted with a wave of his hand. "Trust is built through understanding. If Wano hadn't shut itself off from the world, you'd know that the grudge between the Straw Hats and Kaido's Beast Pirates is way beyond something that can be explained in a few words."
"But once some 'old friends' arrive, I think you'll feel more at ease."
Inuarashi and Nekomamushi had already left Zou, bringing Raizo with them. Meanwhile, Whitebeard's crew had landed in Wano's waters, including Ace and Izo. With their ties to Wano, it wouldn't take long to gather a strong army. Then, with the Straw Hats leading the charge, Kaido's Beast Pirates would fall…
And with that, the title of the "Fifth Emperor" would truly be earned!
"Since you've put it that way, refusing to speak any further would just make me seem petty. Besides, this information isn't exactly a secret."
Hitetsu finally spoke, sitting up straight.
"When people think of Wano, they think of powerful samurai—men of loyalty and unbreakable will."
"There are still many samurai who refuse to submit to Kaido. But with Orochi's forces, Kaido's elite fighters, and his top commanders hunting them down, they're either hiding or being captured and sent to the labor camps in Udon, where they're worked to death. Even the legendary warrior 'Hyogoro of the Flowers' is locked up there."
Hmm… looks like a trip to the labor camp is in order. It's filled with warriors who oppose Kaido, including a master of Haki like Hyogoro.
"Take our own village, for example. We used to have three samurai protecting us. They hunted wild animals to feed us, even though the meat was poisonous. But after carefully removing the toxins, we could still eat it.
Then, a year ago, a man named 'Drake'—a newcomer to Kaido's crew—defeated them and took them away. Now, that guy has even climbed up to become one of the 'Tobi Roppo'…"
"Huh? Drake? That name sounds familiar."
Luffy frowned, confused.
Robin, who had been reading a book on Wano's history, answered casually.
"Red Flag X Drake. Just like you, Roman, and Zoro, he was one of the 'Worst Generation' two years ago. We saw him back in Sabaody."
"Ohhh~~"
Luffy seemed to be recalling something. Though who knew what exactly he was thinking about...
"Joining Kaido's crew? I'll knock him out too!—Wait a second,"
For once, Luffy rubbed his chin, actually thinking things through.
"Back at Sanji's wedding, there was that Supernova from our generation who later betrayed Big Mom's crew... Oh, right, Bege! Could it be that this Drake guy is doing the same thing?"
"What are you talking about?"
Usopp, who was adjusting his slingshot, rolled his eyes. "Every time we run into someone, their crew just happens to have a traitor helping us? You think we're the main characters in some story or what?"
Uh... Roman glanced at Usopp. Just as he was thinking that the guy might actually be onto something—
"Speaking of people daring to stand up against Kaido and Orochi, there is a certain group in Wano..."
Oh? The Mountain Bandits led by Ashura Doji? Or maybe the former followers of Hyogoro the Flower?
"They're called the 'Unruly Ones.'"
*Pfft!!!*
"Roman, what the heck?!"
Ignoring Luffy, who was now covered in orange juice thanks to his spit-take, Roman rubbed his temples.
"Sorry, I must be too tired. I think I misheard..."
Yeah, that must be it. Maybe they're actually called 'Buliang Rebels' or 'Buliang Warriors' or something...
"Right now, the Unruly Ones have—"
"Wait!!"
Roman pressed one hand to his forehead while raising the other in a *stop right there* gesture, cutting off the masked swordsmith before he could continue. He had no idea how to react anymore.
"Are you absolutely sure they're called 'Unruly Ones'? Not some other name... No, let me put it this way—do they happen to use titles like 'The 36 Heavenly Spirits and the 72 Earthly Fiends'?"
"Hmm? So you've heard of them already?"
Heard of them my ass!!
How did the secret agents from the Tang Dynasty end up in Wano Country?! This whole thing feels more like something out of Flower Country!
No, wait—if it were Flower Country, they'd be more like the Jin Yi Wei...
"This is ridiculous. Might as well call me the Buliang Commander while we're at it!"
"...The Unruly Ones have never had a Commander, only a Vice Commander."
The masked swordsmith—who, thanks to the mask, only had his confused eyes visible—stared at him. So did the rest of the Straw Hat crew, all giving him weird looks.
Roman took several deep breaths.
Stay calm. Panicking won't help!
If Joy Boy could carve 'Golden Dreams' into a Poneglyph, then Wano randomly having a group called the 'Unruly Ones' isn't *that* crazy. This is reality now—there's no point in dwelling on it.
"Can you introduce me to this 'Unruly Ones' group?"
As Roman spoke, white doves silently detached from their disguised perches, scattering in all directions to intensify surveillance.
Even though an unexpected ally had appeared in Wano, Roman wasn't happy at all.
Because what's the one thing a strategist hates the most?
Unexpected variables.
And this mysterious 'Unruly Ones' group...
If the masked swordsmith refused to cooperate, Roman wasn't against using *other* methods to get what he needed.
"Of course."
Surprisingly, the legendary swordsmith, Tenguyama Hitetsu, agreed without hesitation. Not because he fully trusted the Straw Hats, but because—
"The Unruly Ones are in Chunhua Town, east of Kibi. It's the only prosperous place in this country besides the capital."
"So, this 'Unruly Ones' group... they must be pretty strong?"
Roman pushed aside his frustration at his plans getting disrupted and focused on gathering information about this unexpected factor.
"Of course. The Unruly Ones are powerful and ruthless.
They stood by and watched as Kurozumi Orochi took the throne 20 years ago, and they remained silent as the Beasts Pirates ravaged Wano all these years.
But the moment someone steps into Chunhua Town with ill intentions, they never leave alive. Even the Beasts Pirates aren't an exception.
Kaido once tried to wipe out Chunhua Town like he did the other villages, but no matter how many Unruly Ones he killed, the next day, several times that number of his own men would be dead!
That even included two of the former 'Tobi Roppo.'
They say the Unruly Ones are masters of stealth, appearing and disappearing like ghosts. The underground tunnels beneath Chunhua Town connect to the entire Kibi region, so even the Beasts Pirates eventually had to back off. That's why so many samurai who suffered under Kaido and Orochi have gathered there."
Wait a second...
A group of warriors skilled in 'guerilla warfare' and 'tunnel combat'...
What kind of ridiculous combination is this?!
But—
Putting aside the things that don't make sense, this "Unruly Ones" group seems to be a small but elite force—fast, powerful, and highly mobile. Otherwise, there's no way they could have held onto their territory under Kaido's rule and even taken down two of the Tobi Roppo.
Which means...
Their leader is probably on the level of an Emperor's right-hand man. I'll need to plan carefully.
(End of Chapter)
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