"Even after marriage, you can still find other women? Is that how all men are?"
"To be honest, Caesar, I like traditional women like you!"
Hearing Yamato's words, Caesar's heart skipped a beat, and he almost called Kaidou "father-in-law" on the spot.
Of course, it was just a fleeting thought.
In the struggle of positions, it's often a matter of life and death, and such things shouldn't be joked about.
"Never mind, let's not talk about this anymore…"
Caesar shook his head: "What did Kaidou-sama call me here for? Just to ask about my training progress?"
"Hmph… arrogant brat."
Kaidou glared, clearly displeased with Caesar's refusal: "No matter what you're thinking, at least for now, you're still my subordinate. It's about time you showed your face out there."
Caesar's interest was immediately piqued: "Going to sea? For a fight or a raid?"
Kaidou sneered: "What's the difference? You're a pirate."
"There's a big difference. After all, I used to be a big boss. Going out to sea just to steal a few scraps? I can't afford to lose face like that…"
When it came to money, Caesar's demeanor instantly became more haughty. He elegantly and dismissively spread his hands: "I remember there's a branch of the World Bank in Dressrosa. How about I personally fund the crew with another ten or twenty billion? That's much faster than robbing."
Kaidou was stunned: "Isn't your business supposed to be transferred to me? Where did this money come from?"
"Business is business, savings are savings."
Caesar shook his head slightly: "I've said it before, money is a means, not an end. Its greatest use is in exchanging resources and investing in cycles. That's why the rich stay rich, and the poor stay poor."
"Say it simpler. I don't understand."
Kaidou snorted coldly. Though he was shrewd, asking a brute like him to understand economics was a bit too much.
"Let me give you an example. With the same one hundred million Berries, you'd throw a feast, while I'd use it to do business. The money earned from business would then be reinvested, and slowly, like a snowball, it would grow bigger and bigger. Even if I did nothing, a steady stream of wealth would flow into my pocket."
"You might say, 'If there's no money, just rob it.' But manpower is ultimately limited. And as you keep robbing, more and more merchants will avoid this unstable sea. Naturally, the money you can steal will become less and less."
"Do you know why the World Government never worries about threats from pirates?"
Caesar chuckled, raising his index finger and pointing at Kaidou: "Because pirates pose no threat to them. Even if they let you rule the New World, within a few decades, you'd collapse on your own, without them lifting a finger. In fact, the existence of the Four Emperors helps the government maintain the stability of their rule."
"Is that so…"
Surprisingly, Kaidou remained calm after hearing Caesar's words: "So, economics is important?"
Caesar smiled: "Of course! The simplest logic: the richer the people, the higher the taxes. The higher the taxes, the richer the country. And the richer the country, the richer the people. It's a virtuous cycle."
"If the captain were to eliminate Kurozumi Orochi now, declare that you were previously bewitched by his sorcery, shut down that pointless Sea Prism Stone processing factory, and announce that this country will henceforth be under the protection of the Beasts Pirate Crew, ensuring peace and prosperity for all, encouraging the people to engage in overseas trade, and vigorously developing agricultural resources..."
"With the support of the nation's finances, wealth could multiply several times over in less than two years. By then, even if Kozuki Oden were to come back to life, the people of Wano Country would only ask him to die again."
"Oh?"
Kaidou's eyes gleamed with a hint of interest upon hearing this.
Was the Beasts Pirate Crew poor?
To be honest, with Kurozumi Orochi's support, their living conditions were quite comfortable, but it was only enough to maintain operations.
Big money?
None!
If they were truly wealthy, Kaidou wouldn't have to go to such lengths to search for Devil Fruits. He could just throw out ten billion berries and easily acquire at least a few ordinary ones, if not Ancient Zoan or Mythical Zoan types.
Caesar's words had struck a chord with him.
"Wait, wait, Caesar, that doesn't seem right, does it?"
Yamato, who had been listening nearby, grew increasingly uneasy. "The Kozuki family is the rightful heir to Wano Country!"
"Whoever brings prosperity to the people is the rightful ruler," Caesar scoffed. "Which regime on the seas wasn't established through violence? Who decided that only the Kozuki family could sit on that throne?"
"Orohohoho! Well said, Caesar, my boy!"
Kaidou burst into laughter. "According to my original plan, I wanted Yamato to become the shogun. Unfortunately, this fool is obsessed with becoming Kozuki Oden..."
"Hey—Caesar!"
Yamato pulled Caesar aside. "What about the former retainers of the Kozuki family? What will happen to them?"
"What about them?" Caesar feigned confusion. "Isn't their goal to bring prosperity to the people? Once everyone has enough to eat and lives a comfortable life, what could they possibly be dissatisfied with?"
"History has already given the Kozuki family a chance. Oden himself didn't cherish it. Should the people be forced to repeat the same mistakes? Or is it that they don't actually care about the people's well-being and are simply fighting for power? Isn't that behavior no different from Kurozumi Orochi's?"
"This..."
Yamato felt something was off. "Wait, but Kaidou didn't do those things because he was bewitched by Kurozumi Orochi!"
"Who cares if he was or wasn't!" Caesar looked at Yamato with exasperation. "Right now, Wano Country is ruled by Kurozumi Orochi, and the people can't even get enough to eat. Neither of us has the ability to change the situation in the short term. Are we just going to let them starve? If it were your beloved Oden, do you think he would stand by and watch the people starve?"
Yamato froze, unsure of how to respond.
Would Oden watch the people starve?
No!
Although she had come to realize that Kozuki Oden wasn't a competent ruler—naive to the point of foolishness—he at least had a sense of righteousness!
Yamato tried to convince herself.
But when she thought about what Caesar had said earlier—how Oden had abandoned the country, recklessly set sail, and the hardships the people of Wano had endured over the years—she suddenly felt uncertain.
Yamato pursed her lips and ultimately didn't argue further.
Noticing the other party's reaction, Caesar's lips curled slightly, and he chuckled inwardly.
He had absolutely no respect for the Kozuki clan.
Kozuki Oden—the user of the "Moved Moved Fruit" ability—was surrounded by a bunch of useless subordinates who could do nothing but weep in gratitude for Oden's kindness. They would cry eight hundred times just at the mention of Oden!
As for his son, Momonosuke…
Momonosuke must die, no question about it.
Weak, perverted…
If it weren't for the fear that someone might use his status as the legitimate heir of the Kozuki clan to stir up trouble, this waste wouldn't even be worth killing…
The Kozuki clan must be eradicated!
Of course, this couldn't be done by him, as it would only create a rift between Yamato and him.
That stubborn girl's mindset couldn't be changed overnight; it had to be gradually influenced over time.
It would be perfect if Kaidou handled it!
When Kaidou had Wano Country under control, he would then defeat Kaidou and pluck the ripe fruit that was Wano…
"You two brats! Do you think my Observation Haki is just for show?!"
On the couch, Kaidou, seeing the two whispering to each other, shouted in annoyance.
No matter how domineering he was, he was still human, and it was impossible for him to feel nothing for his daughter, Yamato.
But now, out of nowhere, this blond brat Caesar had appeared, and seeing his daughter being swayed by him so easily, he couldn't help but feel a bit sour.
Of course, sour as he was, Kaidou would never let such useless emotions show on his face.
"Kid Caesar, you haven't finished speaking!"
"Wano Country is completely barren now, impossible to farm. Are you suggesting I pour money into it to help those people?"
"Pour money? Why pour money? Doesn't Kurozumi Orochi have money? Just kill him and distribute the money to the people."
Caesar sneered, "Isn't Queen a scientist? Let him handle the land pollution issue. If he can't solve it, let Vegapunk figure it out. If he can't come up with a solution, restrict the export of Sea Prism Stone. Trust me, the World Government will be more anxious than you when that happens."
Hearing this, Kaidou's eyes lit up, "Pass the problem to others to solve, huh? You're quite cunning, kid!"
"So, what do you think of this plan, Mr. Kaidou?"
"Orohohoho… Not bad! I called you here to let you show your face, but I didn't expect such a big surprise…"
Kaidou laughed heartily. Although he wasn't well-versed in economics, he wasn't a fool.
The plan Caesar proposed was highly feasible!
Agriculture, trade, Sea Prism Stone processing, and the overall taxation of Wano Country—it was easy to imagine the vast resources that could be harnessed.
Thinking back to his original plan of completely enslaving Wano, he had to admit that the ambition he had been plotting for so long paled in comparison to the details Caesar had casually mentioned. No wonder this kid could make a fortune…
After a pause, Kaidou's gaze swept over the two of them.
As if thinking of something, he gently waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of subtle gentleness, "Let's not talk about this for now. You two, sit down and have a drink with me?"
"Who wants to drink with you!"
Before Caesar could react, Yamato suddenly grabbed him and dragged him out of the room.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Caesar was dragged behind Yamato, tossed around like a ragged sack.
Yamato didn't say a word, charging all the way to the coast before gradually coming to a stop. She grabbed the horns on her head, letting out a frustrated scream.
"Ahhh! So annoying, damn it!!!"
"What exactly is bothering you?"
Caesar sat cross-legged, pulling out two unopened bottles of wine with a flip of his hand. He casually tossed one to Yamato: "Still hung up on the Kozuki family?"
"I just don't understand…"
Yamato caught the bottle, muttering, "If Kaidou can really make sure everyone in Wano Country has enough to eat, then what was Oden's sacrifice for?"
"It was just stupidity…"
Caesar chuckled: "And… sacrifice? Dancing naked for five years, causing the deaths of so many citizens—who exactly was sacrificing here? Don't get it wrong, Yamato. Oden himself was part of the ruling class, no different from Kurozumi Orochi."
"Strictly speaking, including Kaidou and the samurai under Oden's command, they all belong to this class. If there's any difference, it's only in their attitudes toward the people."
"But for the common folk, it doesn't matter who the ruler is, as long as they can fill their stomachs. If Kaidou can really do that, then the Kozuki clan would immediately become traitors and rebels. And in their struggle to reclaim power, their methods might not be any nobler than Kurozumi Orochi's in the past."
Yamato shook her head: "No, I believe they're not like that!"
Caesar let out a light laugh: "Then they should be supporting Kaidou's rule even more."
Yamato was left speechless.
After a long while, she downed the bottle of wine in one go, tossing it aside. Her eyes burned as she looked at Caesar.
"Hey, Caesar, how about a fight with me?"
"What? No more confusion?"
Yamato grinned, baring her teeth: "Being confused just means I'm not strong enough, right?"
"Then let's go!"
Caesar laughed heartily, tossing aside his bottle. A pair of dark wings unfurled from his back.
Boom—
At the coast, two overwhelming waves of Conqueror's Haki erupted!
Yamato grabbed the Spiked Club, Ken, from her back, spinning around and slamming it toward Caesar.
"Thunder—Bagua!"
"Starting with your ultimate move already?"
Seeing the Spiked Club hurtling toward him with unstoppable force, Caesar's eye twitched slightly as he leaped back to create distance.
"Don't run, you bastard! Take my Thunder Bagua!"
"Your stance makes it look like you're trying to kill me…"
"Ah, I don't know why, but even though what you said makes sense, I'm just really pissed off and want to beat you up!"
Yamato laughed heartily: "Here I come!"
"Why are you being so unreasonable now that you've turned back into a woman? Isn't this change a bit too drastic?"
Caesar darted left and right, dodging Yamato's Spiked Club, but he didn't seem particularly flustered.
Boom!
The Spiked Club, wrapped in Armament Haki, clashed with a fist enveloped in Conqueror's Haki.
Amidst the explosion of thunder, Caesar was sent flying, tumbling twice in mid-air to dissipate the force. His bat wings fluttered as he landed gracefully on the ground.
Yamato took two steps back, her gaze toward Caesar growing even more intense, burning with fierce fighting spirit.
Soon, the battle horn sounded once more.
From day to night, and from moonlight to sunrise.
By the time the night had passed, the coast looked as if it had been ravaged by war, with broken trees and deep craters scattered everywhere.
Caesar lay quietly on the ground, while Yamato sat cross-legged beside him, gulping down a bottle of alcohol.
"Ah—that feels much better!"
After finishing the bottle, Yamato wiped her mouth, looking thoroughly refreshed.
Caesar gazed up at the sky, unable to get up: "As expected of Kaidou's daughter, your stamina is just as unfathomable as that monster's…"
"Hehe, you're not bad either, Caesar. You haven't even learned Flowing Sakura yet, but you managed to hold on for so long."
Yamato grinned: "Once you master Armament Haki, the two of us working together will definitely be able to stand up to Kaidou!"
Caesar raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Not feeling frustrated anymore?"
"Well… actually… upon careful consideration, you're right, Caesar. I just feel a bit unwilling."
Yamato nodded heavily, her tone filled with an indescribable frustration: "Not being able to set sail is one thing, but I haven't even truly understood the things right in front of me. Doesn't that make me seem like a fool?"
Caesar nodded in deep agreement: "Hmm, it seems you've gained quite a bit of self-awareness!"
"Jerk, don't say it like that!"
Yamato's cheeks flushed slightly, a mix of embarrassment and anger: "I'm just not good at thinking, that's all. And back then, I witnessed Oden being killed by Kaidou with my own eyes. That scene has stayed with me to this day, but… I've figured it out!"
"Caesar! I don't want to be Kozuki Oden anymore!"
"I am Yamato! A woman stronger and more exceptional than any man!"
"Whether it's Kaidou or Kozuki Oden, I will—surpass them both!"
(End of Chapter)