Influenced by Kin’emon, O-Tsuru had initially refused to accept the existence of the Beasts Pirates. However, as the lives of those around her improved and more people started small businesses, her own teahouse gradually declined amid the growing competition.
Originally, O-Tsuru also worked part-time as a village doctor. But with the rise of the Beasts Pirates’ Pokémon Centers, informal doctors like her gradually lost their place in the market. Of course, she had always treated patients voluntarily and never charged any fees.
At first, she could still persevere. She was no stranger to hardship. But over time, the people around her gradually became supporters of the Beasts Pirates. Under the influence of the changing environment, she too began to waver.
“O-Tsuru, that man is probably long dead. You’ve waited for him for fifteen years already. If he were still alive, shouldn’t he have at least found some way to send you a message?
“Under Shogun Hiyori’s leadership, Wano Country has developed quite well. Lord Wise King protects Wano’s safety, and Lord God has completely transformed this land. Stop dwelling on those things all the time.”
“Fifteen years is more than enough. You’ve already done all anyone could ask of you. You don’t even have children. Are you really planning to spend the rest of your life alone?”
It was a fact that Wano Country was developing for the better, which was why the people living here tried to persuade O-Tsuru from a “for your own good” perspective.
As she became surrounded by those voices, her resolve gradually began to waver. After all, in this timeline, the Beasts Pirates were helping Wano Country prosper. Eventually, O-Tsuru decided to give it a try, and five years later she had a new family.
Poker was also the type of person who sincerely wanted to build a life with someone. In the end, with the matchmaking efforts of local residents who had long since married the members of the Beasts Pirates, the two got together.
Just as former crewmates would help direct customers toward Poker’s family business, this support allowed the newly established izakaya to flourish quickly and become a well-known establishment.
Poker was also completely different from the old Kin’emon. All he wanted was a place where he could rest peacefully when he returned home, and someone who could help take care of life’s small daily matters.
Not only did Poker’s career never bring trouble to O-Tsuru, it actively supported the household financially.
Going back more than a decade, Poker had worked under Mandrell and could be considered heavily influenced by that older brother figure.
“Another war?”
“What kind of question is that? I’m a pirate. It’s still far too early for me to settle down. Boss Mandrell works so hard, and he hasn’t retired yet.
“Don’t worry. Even if I die out there, the compensation money will be enough for you to live comfortably afterward.”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean you need to be careful. You have to come back alive…”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry. We’re invincible. The Beasts Pirates don’t lose. Get some rest. I’ll be heading out now.”
Picking up the package O-Tsuru had prepared, Poker left the izakaya and headed alone toward Onigashima.
Bang…
A strange sound caught Poker’s attention. But this was Wano Country, so he didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just a stray cat.
Only after a long while, when Poker’s figure had already disappeared into the distance, did movement once again come from the nearby bushes.
“Let me go! The three of you, let me go! I’m going to kill that b*stard! Stop holding me back…mmph!”
Before, he had merely suspected it. But Kin’emon had just witnessed Poker receiving a kiss before leaving. That was more than Kin’emon could endure. However, before he could act, Brook and Kanjuro pinned him down.
Because of the limitations of the disguise, Chopper did not change form, but simply covered Kin’emon’s mouth to keep him from attracting the attention of passersby in the middle of the night.
“Sir Kin’emon, I don’t think you can defeat him. Doing this serves no purpose other than exposing yourself. I think you should calm down.”
Brook had never been to Wano Country, but during his time working for the Beasts Fruits, he had seen the Numbers in action. Judging by Kin’emon’s current strength, he was no match for someone of that number.
“Kin’emon, think about Lord Oden. What has all this effort over so long been for? Have you forgotten it all?
“Raizo was captured while covering our escape. Lord Momonosuke is still suffering hardships. Are you really going to expose yourself over something like this?”
When the names Oden and Momonosuke reached Kin’emon’s ears, his fingers dug deeply into the ground. His mind was flooded with memories.
The days he had spent with O-Tsuru, and the scenes of Poker and O-Tsuru together, alternated endlessly in his mind. Although he stopped struggling physically, the soil beneath his hands was thoroughly compressed.
“For Lord Oden… it’s all for Lord Oden…”
Kin’emon continuously hypnotized himself, trying to suppress his anger.
“O-Tsuru must have been forced into this. It’s all the fault of those Beasts Pirates… O-Tsuru definitely still loves me…”
After repeatedly brainwashing himself, Kin’emon seemed to genuinely believe his own words. He calmly stood back up. However, he also changed their original plan. They did not continue toward O-Tsuru’s shop.
Kin’emon’s stated reason was that he didn’t want to put O-Tsuru in a difficult position. But everyone else could tell that Kin’emon was simply afraid of facing reality. They just chose not to expose it.
In the forests of Kuri, Kanjuro used flames he had drawn to light a campfire as he considered their next move.
Originally, he had intended to continue manipulating the Straw Hats and use them to attract the attention of the Beasts Pirates, but then an unexpected problem arose with Kin’emon first.
Although Chopper had eaten the Human-Human Fruit, his true nature was still that of a reindeer. In extreme circumstances, he could survive on nothing but grass and leaves. As for Brook, food wasn’t a necessity at all, while Kanjuro was eating cabbages he had drawn himself.
Kin’emon, however, had disappeared.
“Um, hasn’t Kin’emon been gone to the toilet for too long? Is it really okay that he hasn’t come back yet? I found some herbs nearby that can treat diarrhea.”
Chopper’s words interrupted Kanjuro’s thoughts. Looking at the empty spot beside them, Kanjuro suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.
“Don’t tell me that Kin’emon…”
Running in the direction Kin’emon had left, Kanjuro found no trace of him.
“This is bad! Kin’emon went after that Beasts Pirates’ pirate!”
In an instant, Kanjuro understood exactly what Kin’emon was trying to do. It seemed he ultimately hadn’t been able to endure it. When the matter landed on his own head, Kin’emon had finally snapped.
He had even used a disguise to prevent them from stopping him.
“What?!”
“Does that mean… we’re going to be exposed?”
The wild fruit Chopper had just gathered fell to the ground. As long as Kin’emon carried out an attack, whether he defeated Poker or was killed by Poker instead, the Beasts Pirates would inevitably respond.
Kanjuro felt even worse than Chopper did, because Kin’emon’s impulsiveness could destroy their last remaining hope.
“Let’s go. We have to catch up to him. We can’t let anything happen to Kin’emon.”
After some thought, Kanjuro decided to pursue him, heading roughly in the direction Poker had gone earlier.
Chopper and Brook exchanged glances and could only follow helplessly. After all, they were all tied to the same rope. There was no way they could stay uninvolved.
Meanwhile, Kin’emon was sprinting along a mountain path. He knew Kanjuro would definitely try to stop him to avoid exposing themselves, which was why he had used the excuse of going to relieve himself before acting on his own.
“I can ambush him. He’ll never expect someone to do this…
“Kanjuro can draw disguises. After I kill him and disguise myself as him, maybe I can infiltrate Udon and rescue Lord Momonosuke.
“And once he’s dead, O-Tsuru can return to my side…”
As he ran, Kin’emon pondered over the plan, gradually arriving at what he believed was a flawless strategy.
“The road to Onigashima is this way. I can definitely intercept him here…”
Under the influence of the green halo, Kin’emon seemed to have unleashed his hidden potential, managing to overtake Poker, who was carrying luggage, and reach a point along his route first.
Though most of his brainpower had seemingly evaporated, it hadn’t completely vanished. Kin’emon used his ability to fashion a hood for himself before hiding in a nearby tree. Before long, Poker’s figure appeared right on schedule.
“Closer… a little closer… Now! Die!”
Kin’emon leaped down from the tree. Foxfire ignited along his twin swords as he slashed toward Poker’s head.
Clang!
Kin’emon’s supposedly guaranteed strike failed. The blade stopped only a fist’s breadth away from Poker’s head, yet could advance no further. A tail had blocked his weapon.
Poker hadn’t even turned around, but his lower body had already transformed into a serpent’s tail, its tip equipped with a razor-sharp bone blade.
It was this tail that had intercepted Kin’emon’s attack.
“Tell me, who taught you to shout at the top of your lungs while launching a sneak attack?”
Two crimson fangs extended from the corners of Poker’s mouth, and golden markings appeared on his body, while a cloud of poisonous mist brewed within his mouth.
The moment he spoke those words, he turned his head and spat the poisonous mist towards Kin’emon.
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