One Piece : Winged Dragons of the Beast Pirates

Kozuki Sukiyaki's body stiffened. He couldn't even focus on mourning his son's death. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Ian gently placed the doll back in its place.

"You don't know?"

"Then how did Kozuki Oden learn the ancient script? Was he born with that knowledge?"

"One hundred people."

Ian held up one finger.

"What?"

Kozuki Sukiyaki was confused.

Ian continued, "For every day you refuse to teach me the ancient script, I'll kill one hundred people from Wano."

"What!!"

Kozuki Sukiyaki jumped up in shock, but in the next second, Ian pressed down on his shoulder, forcing him back into his seat.

So weak.

Was this guy really Kozuki Oden's father? His strength was pitiful, barely honed, and nowhere near the level of a true samurai.

No wonder Kurozumi Orochi and his men could easily manipulate him.

Ian thought Sukiyaki's weakness was pathetic.

Sukiyaki, on the other hand, was terrified by Ian's overwhelming strength.

This power was beyond anything he could resist. It was even stronger than Oden at his age!

But now wasn't the time to dwell on that.

"No! You can't do this!" Kozuki Sukiyaki shouted in desperation.

"Your Majesty Ian," Fukurokuju, known for his loyalty, respectfully offered, "Shall I help you capture the people?"

Ian turned to Kozuki Sukiyaki. "So, what's your answer?"

Of course, Ian had no intention of actually capturing and killing anyone.

Even though he felt no allegiance to any nation in this world—whether they prospered or perished was of no concern to him—he wasn't a murderer.

Ian just believed that a threat of this nature would be enough.

After all, it's a pirate tradition to threaten good people; it's something that can't be missed.

"I understand!" Kozuki Sukiyaki gritted his teeth. "I'll teach you! Just don't harm the people of Wano!"

"Excellent."

Ian flashed a childlike, innocent smile. "See? A world where no one gets hurt, isn't that what we want?"

Kozuki Sukiyaki gritted his teeth, thinking how this child could be so cruel. It made sense—he was Kaido's disciple, after all.

"Keep an eye on him," Ian instructed Fukurokuju.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Fukurokuju accepted the task eagerly.

Now, it was time to find Kaido-sensei.

The knowledge of the ancient script wasn't something worth keeping secret, especially since Ian had no interest in the One Piece treasure at all. History, truth—it all meant nothing to him.

Let Kaido-sensei handle that mess.

Just as Ian exited the secret chamber, he saw Yamato excitedly running through the main gate.

The little girl's face was flushed, holding a candy apple in one hand, with Jack and Black Maria following behind her.

"Ian! Is your meeting over?" Yamato's eyes lit up when she saw Ian. She bounced over and eagerly held out the candy apple in her left hand. "This is for you."

"Yes, I'm just heading to see Kaido-sensei. There's something I need to discuss," Ian replied, taking the candy apple and licking it. "It's really sweet."

"Hehe, isn't it delicious?" Yamato stuck out her tongue to lightly lick her own candy. "The Flower Capital is so lively! You should've come with us."

While Ian had been meeting with his retainers, they had gone to enjoy the festivities in the Flower Capital.

"I was a little disappointed you didn't join us, Ian," Black Maria added with a light laugh. Ian noticed her hair was now pinned up with some new hairpins—likely fresh purchases from the trip.

"Ian and I always do things together!" Yamato said matter-of-factly, munching on her candy.

"We'll hang out together later," Ian said, reaching out to ruffle the clingy girl's hair. "Do you want to come with me to see Kaido-sensei?"

"No way!" Yamato shook her head, grinning widely, showing the gap where two of her front teeth were missing. "We're going to play hide-and-seek in the castle!"

Ian glanced at the towering Jack and Black Maria, both over three meters tall, then pressed his lips together.

"Make sure you're 'it' more often," Ian advised Yamato sincerely.

As he watched the three friends head off to play, Ian turned to find Kaido-sensei.

As usual, Kaido was day-drinking, and by the time Ian found him, he was already heavily intoxicated.

However, the moment Ian mentioned that Kozuki Sukiyaki knew the ancient script, the haze in Kaido's eyes vanished instantly.

"Kid! Are you serious?" Kaido abruptly sat up straight.

"Kozuki Sukiyaki admitted it himself," Ian replied. "It should be true."

"I knew that bastard Roger had some trick up his sleeve to find the One Piece! That's why he snatched Kozuki Oden from Whitebeard's crew!" Kaido burst into excitement. "Wororororo! Well done, Ian!"

Now, they were only three Red Poneglyphs away from the One Piece. Big Mom held one—just two more to go!

"Ah, it was nothing," Ian said modestly, scratching the back of his head. Then he added, "By the way, Kozuki Sukiyaki also seems to be Wano's top blacksmith."

Top blacksmith, indeed. He even forged the Nidai Kitetsu, one of the 21 Great Grade Swords. Setting aside his poor decision-making, his craftsmanship was top-notch.

Although Ian didn't use weapons himself, it wouldn't hurt to have Kozuki Sukiyaki forge a Great Grade Kanabō for Yamato.

"Is that so?" Kaido understood Ian's implication and nodded. "Then bring that guy to Onigashima and have him forge weapons!"

After all, Kaido's primary focus in Wano was its weapons industry.

"By the way, Kaido-sensei," Ian felt it necessary to report, "about this country—"

"Doesn't matter," Kaido interrupted, his interest fading. "What happens to this country is irrelevant. As long as the weapons factories run smoothly, the rest is up to you."

That's just like him.

"Oh, and before you leave, there's one more thing I need you to do." Kaido pulled out his sake gourd again.

"Before I leave?" Ian blinked, a bit puzzled. "Huh? Kaido-sensei, am I going back too? But what about the affairs of this country?"

Kaido took a swig of sake, his impatience showing. "Didn't I just say it? What happens to this country doesn't matter. Just make sure it operates as a weapons factory, and let your subordinates handle the rest. Are you really afraid anyone would dare defy you?"

He leaned down, staring Ian in the eye. "Kid, you need to understand something! More important than being some lousy king, you need to become a true strongman—a real powerhouse!"

Of course, I know that. But being king feels so disconnected. Is this really what you wanted me to prepare for?

Getting beaten up on Onigashima before becoming king, and now as king, still getting beaten up on Onigashima. What's the point of being a king if I'm just going to get smacked around?

"If it really doesn't work, why not use a Tanishi to communicate?" Kaido-sensei added, probably to avoid dampening the kids' enthusiasm.

Since Wano is isolated from the outside world, they don't have Den Den Mushi. However, they do have a relative of the Den Den Mushi called the Tanishi, which functions similarly but has weaker signals. Every few miles, a lead snail is needed to relay the signal.

Ian sighed.

Well, that could work.

Offline monarch mode—consider it a tribute to the African kings.

After all, Wano isn't that big. It wouldn't take more than two hours to fly from Onigashima to the Flower Capital.

"So, Kaido-sensei, what exactly do you want me to do?" Ian asked.

"Several daimyo have raised armies and are heading toward the Flower Capital. For details, ask King."

Kaido-sensei hiccuped, clearly from drinking, "Anyway, go deal with them."

Ian pointed at himself, "Just me?"

If he remembered correctly, the daimyo in the original story were quite formidable. One of them was even related to Zoro—a descendant of Ryuma.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Suppressing internal rebellions—isn't that the king's job?"

So now I'm a king again?

Kaido-sensei, I really can't figure you out.

But, since it's the king's job to quell rebellions, I suppose I can bring along some ninjas and samurai, right?

Ian pondered.

Oh, there's another important question.

"Kaido-sensei,"

Ian asked more seriously, "How did you manage that fire dragon the other day? Fire doesn't have a solid form, but you made it solid, even imbuing it with Conqueror's Haki?"

"Hmph, are you interested in that?"

Kaido-sensei seemed slightly pleased. He snorted, took another sip of his drink, and said, "Because of willpower."

"Huh?"

"As long as you want to do it, you can make it happen."

"Huh?"

**********

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