Ebisu Town, Underground Port.
A grand fleet composed of dozens of Beast Pirates Ships, carrying a full force of ten thousand soldiers, majestically crossed the waterfall and sailed into the open sea.
On the shore, the group bid farewell.
Page One stared at Gurd with undisguised frustration: "Brother-in-law, are you really not coming with us on this campaign?"
"Nope, not going."
Gurd crossed his arms, his gaze lofty.
Keh keh keh, your brother-in-law now has a house, savings, and is about to become a big boss. Why would he need to go out and work?
Little Page, your brother-in-law and you are no longer in the same class!
"I really don't get you!"
Page One sighed regretfully before turning to board the ship and reunite with his sister Ulti.
Both of them found it hard to understand. While this was a golden opportunity to make a name for themselves, and the entire Beasts Pirates were going wild over it, Gurd had chosen to stay behind voluntarily.
What's the point!
"Goodbye, Gurd!"
"See ya!"
Gurd waved as he bid farewell to the siblings.
Half an hour later, the Beast Pirates fleet had completely disappeared from view.
"Keh keh, hahahaha!"
Gurd couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh.
The day had finally come—all the people who had been holding him back were gone. From now on, he would call the shots within the Beasts Pirates' sphere of influence in Wano Country.
"Yamato, let's go."
"Ah, okay."
Yamato pouted reluctantly as she followed Gurd.
She now thought Gurd was a bad guy!
Wait, no—Gurd had always been a bad guy!
Just endure it a little longer!
The most important thing about being Oden is patience!
"Gurd, where are we going?"
"Ebisu Town!"
Gurd glanced at Yamato.
After two months of coaxing this girl, apart from making sure she ate well and slept soundly, he hadn't given her any other perks.
This girl wanted to become Oden for the sake of spiritual fulfillment. It was no wonder she was getting impatient with the lack of progress.
Time to give her a little taste of what she wanted.
The Underground Port was right next to Ebisu Town, so the distance was quite short. In less than half an hour, the Beast Vehicle arrived at Ebisu Town.
"Pirates are coming!"
The children sounded the alarm as usual.
At the Village Chief's house.
Old Kang wore a strained smile as he brought out a cup of clear water to serve the two—his last remaining possession.
"Honored guests, please have some water."
"..."
Gurd's eyes lowered.
How were two people supposed to share one cup of water?
For a Village Chief, how could he be this poor?
"Wow, perfect timing—I'm thirsty."
Yamato, oblivious to Old Kang's predicament, picked up the cup and drained it in one go. She smacked her lips, still feeling a bit thirsty.
"Got any more?"
"N-no, that's all."
Old Kang swallowed hard, his heart aching.
This was crystal-clear water, bought with money. Drinking it wouldn't give you a stomachache, and it left you feeling refreshed.
What a waste to gulp it all down like that.
"None left? Oh well."
Yamato regretfully put the cup down, suddenly sensing that the atmosphere was off—especially with the strange look Gurd was giving her, as if saying, "Yamato, do you not read the room when drinking water?"
The girl shrank back a little.
"Why are you looking at me like that? It's creepy."
"Nothing."
Gurd shook his head.
Sigh, how could a simple-minded fool understand social cues?
Gurd turned to Old Kang with a smile. "Mr. Old Kang, about the matter we discussed earlier—have you given it any thought?"
"Well..."
Old Kang's face twisted in discomfort.
He had discussed it with the villagers. Of course, they wanted that enormous sum of ten thousand gold, but they were even more afraid it might be a scam that would leave them homeless.
At least now, they could scrape by.
"Unwilling, huh."
Gurd wasn't surprised. After all, he was a pirate. No matter how eloquently he spoke, it would be hard to gain the villagers' trust.
Sheep that trust wolves will likely end up without even their bones left.
Good. To hell with social niceties.
Gurd curled his lips into a smirk. "Old Kang, I've been politely discussing this with you. Surely you haven't gotten the mistaken impression that you can refuse me?"
"M-my lord, n-no..."
Old Kang stammered.
Gurd pulled out a pre-prepared contract and shoved it before Old Kang, his voice icy with threat: "Within half an hour, I need every villager's thumbprint on this. One print missing, and this town will be razed to the ground!"
"..."
Old Kang trembled from head to toe.
Damn it, this man truly was a villain!
Gurd's gaze remained cold.
"What are you sitting around for? The clock's ticking even as you sit!"
"I-I'll go right away!"
Old Kang scrambled to his feet and hurried off.
Yamato grew agitated.
Earlier, when Gurd had been fighting the samurai, she'd restrained herself from interfering because both sides were enemies, and it was the samurai who'd tried to kill them.
But now they were dealing with civilians. She couldn't accept bullying ordinary people—Oden would never have allowed it either.
The girl glared furiously.
"Gurd, you're going too far!"
"Too far?"
Gurd snorted coldly.
Before the expedition, he'd had to be careful not to let his superiors notice his little schemes, as his actions might conflict with General Orochi.
At this stage, Kaido still highly valued Orochi as an ally. Both sides got what they needed from each other and generally didn't cross boundaries.
But now, he was the (acting) captain!
Gurd met the girl's gaze steadily and asked unhurriedly, "Yamato, what do you think of the terms I proposed?"
"They're... good."
Yamato blinked, answering truthfully.
Money, shelter, help rebuilding their homes—it was so good it seemed unbelievable.
Huh? Could Gurd actually be a good person?
Gurd pointed outside.
"Then why was Old Kang unwilling?"
"..."
Yamato's mind short-circuited.
Right!
Why would Old Kang refuse such generous terms?
If it were her, she'd agree in a heartbeat.
The girl's righteous anger deflated instantly, her voice shrinking to a mosquito's whisper.
"Why...?"
"The answer's simple: because they don't trust us!"
Gurd gave a mirthless laugh.
"Listen well, Yamato. The prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain—once formed, no amount of effort can move it."
"We're pirates. We're among the chief perpetrators who've oppressed this country. We're the criminals who caused these villagers to lose parents, spouses, children."
"Even if you and I didn't do it personally, we bear the Beast Pirates' mark. That can never be erased."
"How could they not fear us? How could they not hate us? How could they possibly trust us?"
Yamato's mouth opened slightly.
She'd never considered this.
She'd thought that by becoming Oden, she could protect Wano Country like he did, live freely as he had.
Yet she was hated by the very people she most wanted to help.
Truthfully, even without Gurd spelling it out, she'd sensed the ever-present hostility—despite never having harmed anyone.
She'd just avoided thinking about it.
"Gurd!"
Yamato bit her lip.
She knew Gurd spoke truth, but she didn't want to be disliked. She wanted to be friends with everyone.
After a long silence.
The girl raised her head, light shining in her eyes.
"Even if the people hate and despise me, I will still help them. What they think is their own business. I didn't choose to help them just to earn their gratitude—I only want to live according to my own heart!"
"Is that so."
Gurd looked at the girl with surprise, a smile gradually forming on his face.
"Hey, Yamato."
"Hmph! What is it?"
"I'm starting to like you."
"Eh? Huh?!?!"
(End of Chapter)