Chapter 134 The New Wano

New World – Crimson Empire

The Capital of Flowers, Amigasa Village

Three figures stepped off the merchant ship, their eyes widening in disbelief as they took in the sight before them.

"Oh my god... is this really Wano?!"

"So many merchant ships... did Wano open its borders to the sea?"

"It must be the work of this so-called new ruler! Hah! He dares to trample on Wano's traditions, even changing the very name of our country!"

The speaker, a tall man in a tattered kimono, turned sharply to his companions. "Kin'emon! We must hurry! The warriors of the Kozuki Clan must know about this!"

Kin'emon, ever the loyal retainer of Kozuki Oden and one of the Nine Red Scabbards, furrowed his brows. "Calm yourself, Momonosuke-sama! No matter how much the land changes, the retainers of the Kozuki Clan will never betray their oath!"

Swish!

Nearby workers unloading cargo stiffened, their gazes snapping toward the trio. Conversations died down, replaced by wary glances and hushed whispers.

Had Buggy been present, he would have recognized these three immediately—retainers and son of Kozuki Oden who had traveled in time from twenty years ago. Kin'emon, momonosuke, and the despised traitor, Kurozumi Kanjuro was originally a samurai of Wano and a member of the Nine Red Scabbards, but secretly he was a traitor working for Orochi.

Despite only just stepping foot on shore, their presence had already drawn attention. It was unavoidable. Their clothes, their mannerisms, the very way they spoke—it all screamed of an era they tried to long forget. The villagers of Amigasa took note, their expressions shifting from curiosity to caution.

Kin'emon, sharp as ever, caught the change in atmosphere. Without hesitation, he urged his companions forward, guiding Momonosuke and Kanjuro away from the bustling docks and onto solid ground.

But what awaited them left them utterly speechless.

"W-Wha...?"

"Is this really Wano?"

"Impossible..."

Gone were the crumbling villages they had feared to find. There were no starving civilians, no shackled prisoners suffering under oppressive rule.

Instead, Amigasa Village thrived. Villagers moved about, engaged in their daily routines. Elderly men and women lounged beneath the shade of large trees, chatting in groups with smiles on their faces. Nearby, children shrieked with laughter, chasing each other through a sandpit. A playground—complete with slides and swings—stood not far from where the elders rested, filled with the carefree joy of youth.

This was not the Wano they had left behind. Nor was it the war-torn land they had expected to return to. And that realization sent a chill down their spines.

Throughout the village, men moved in small groups, each engaged in their daily tasks. Some carried axes and ventured into the forest, cutting trees to craft furniture. Others patrolled the fields, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. In the distance, a few climbed the hillside toward a flourishing orchard, tending to the fruits and vegetables that thrived under careful cultivation.

Looking around, the changes were undeniable.

The once-leaky cabins and thatched huts had vanished, replaced by well-constructed, neatly arranged two-story buildings. Broad, well-paved roads stretched in every direction, a stark contrast to the narrow, uneven paths of the past.

Standing at the village entrance, Kin'emon, Momonosuke, and Kanjuro were rooted to the spot, their expressions frozen in shock.

While the people of the so-called Crimson Empire still wore traditional Wano kimonos, another striking detail caught their eyes. A growing number of locals had abandoned old customs, instead adopting the fashion styles of the Buggy Pirates—suits, vests, and even modern boots blending seamlessly with traditional attire.

It was an unfamiliar Wano. And yet, in some strange way, it still felt like home.

Momonosuke turned to Kin'emon, eyes filled with uncertainty. "Kin'emon, what do we do now?"

His gaze flickered to the children playing in the distance. A nostalgic warmth stirred in his chest, an urge to join them rising before he quickly suppressed it. This was not the time.

Kin'emon, still reeling from the sight before him, took a deep breath and steadied himself. "Momonosuke-sama, our priority should be reaching the Capital of Flowers. We must establish contact with any remaining Kozuki loyalists and assess the state of the country. If our clan's allies still exist, we will find them there."

Momonosuke straightened his back and nodded his voice firm. "Alright. We do as you say."

Kanjuro, meanwhile, scanned the surroundings, his brow furrowed in thought. With a sigh, he muttered, "This place… it's no worse than the old Flower Capital. But how can a single village flourish to this extent?"

His eyes darkened as he continued, "And yet, the intelligence we gathered outside Wano claimed the people here were suffering even worse than during Orochi's reign. If that were true, this—" he gestured at the thriving village before them "—should be impossible. Isn't it the complete opposite of what we were told?"

His words did not go unnoticed. A young man passing by overheard and let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head as he glanced at the trio.

"You lot... Samurai, right? You must be from outside."

Kin'emon seized the opportunity, stepping forward with a friendly smile. "Yes! We never expected Wano—er, the Crimson Empire—to have changed so drastically."

The young man, dressed sharply in a tailored suit and polished leather shoes, raised an eyebrow. His most striking feature, however, was his long, square-shaped nose.

With a scoff, he corrected them. "It's not Wano. Wano was thrown into the trash heap by the tyrants and idiots."

The sharply dressed young man adjusted his suit, scoffing as he corrected them.

Momonosuke's face twisted with outrage, his small fists clenched. "What?! You disrespectful commoners! How dare you—Wano Kuni—this land— Daimyo Kozuki Oden suffered so much to—huh?!"

Before he could finish, Kin'emon swiftly clamped a hand over his mouth, forcing the boy into silence.

With an apologetic smile, the samurai let out an awkward chuckle. "Apologies. Children… they don't always think before they speak."

The young man in the suit remained quiet, scrutinizing them with a thoughtful expression.

Nearby, another villager, who had been listening in on their conversation, let out a sharp sneer. "The citizens of the Crimson Empire are free. Why shouldn't we do as we please?"

His eyes narrowed as he folded his arms. "Wano Kuni was nothing more than a relic of the past—rotting under a feudal system that dragged us all into the abyss! Fools like Kozuki Oden only made it worse!"

His voice carried across the village, drawing the attention of passing men. A few woodcutters, their axes resting against their shoulders, stopped to listen.

"For twenty years, we lived as slaves—less than human, some even less than beggars! And all because of that 'great samurai' you worship!"

"Tch!"

Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and even the normally timid Momonosuke tensed at the words. Their blood boiled with anger.

Kanjuro's grip on his brush tightened, his voice rising in disbelief. "Are you even Wano people?! How dare you insult Lord Oden?!"

Laughter erupted around them.

A middle-aged villager in a straw hat snickered, glancing at his companions. The other men—all strong, roughened by labor—grinned as they leaned against their axes, shaking their heads.

"Kozuki Oden? That idiot?!" Goro spat, his face twisted in disgust.

"Why shouldn't we insult him?" Daizo scoffed. "If not for his stupidity, Kaido never would've destroyed our country in the first place!"

"Exactly!" Rikuto sneered, crossing his arms. "If Kozuki Oden hadn't been so weak-minded, Wano wouldn't have suffered under the Beast Pirates! He had a chance to stop it all, but what did he do? Dance like a fool and die a dog's death!"

A burly man, Hibiki, cracked his knuckles, his smirk widening. "The Emperor was right. Someone like Oden deserves to be nailed to the pillar of shame—to serve as a warning for future rulers!"

"Tch." Shingo clicked his tongue. "Can't believe it's been over a year, and there are still idiots out there who respect that fool."

"Forget it," Tetsuya muttered. "No point wasting breath on them. Talk too much to these guys, and their stupidity might rub off on you."

"Look at them—clinging to their outdated pride!" Masaru mocked, shaking his head. "'Wano Kuni this, Wano Kuni that'—Wano is gone! What's left is nothing but the shame of being crushed under Kaido's heel!"

Laughter erupted from the group, loud and derisive, echoing through the streets like the final nails in the coffin of a once-proud land.

Kin'emon and Kanjuro's hands instinctively moved to their sword hilts, their knuckles white with suppressed fury.

But the villagers didn't flinch. Instead, they met the samurais' glares with knowing smirks, eyes filled with something worse than hatred—contempt.

They weren't afraid. They didn't see Kozuki Oden's retainers as warriors. They saw them as fools.

Whoosh!

Crack! Crack!

In a blur of motion, a young man in a black suit materialized between them, his hands clamping down on the wrists of Kin'emon and Kanjuro before they could draw their swords.

A calm, almost amused smile played on his lips.

"Gentlemen, I'd advise against drawing your blades." His voice was smooth, but there was an unmistakable steel behind it. "It's simply not worth it—especially over a rotten man like Kozuki Oden. And more importantly…"

His grip tightened slightly, sending a subtle warning through their limbs.

"This is the Crimson Empire. If you kill here, you'll pay the price."

He studied them for a moment, his gaze sharp. "You seem like old samurais—clinging to the past. If that's the case, my advice? Listen more. Learn. Don't act recklessly. The consequences…" His smirk widened. "…are severe."

Kin'emon and Kanjuro stiffened.

They hadn't even seen him move. How was he so fast?! This young man—who was he?!

Before they could react further, an enraged voice shattered the tense silence.

"How dare you insult Lord Kozuki Oden?! You wretches have no right to speak his name with such filth on your tongues!"

"You dare listen to that fool Buggy over the rightful ruler of Wano?! Who is he to claim dominion over this land?! Mark my words, your disgrace will not be forgotten!"

SMACK!

Momonosuke's rant was abruptly cut short.

The man in the suit had vanished from between Kin'emon and Kanjuro—only to reappear beside Momonosuke in an instant. Before the boy could react, an open palm struck his cheek with a sharp crack, spinning him in place before he collapsed onto the ground.

The previously easygoing smirk on the suited man's face was gone, replaced by a frigid expression. He cast a dispassionate glance at the three samurai and sneered.

"You two," he said, eyeing Kin'emon and Kanjuro, "I can tell you're strong. But let me make something clear—drawing your swords here means making an enemy of the Crimson Empire. And trust me…"

A shadow loomed behind his smirk.

"…if that happens, it won't be just a guard like me that comes for you."

His gaze flicked downward to Momonosuke, who was clutching his now-swollen cheek, stunned into silence.

"As for your little lordling—consider that slap a minor punishment. He insulted Master Buggy, and I'm feeling generous." His expression darkened further. "If the guards had heard him? You'd all be expelled on the spot. Maybe worse."

Kin'emon swallowed hard, forcing down his anger. He clenched his fists before taking a deep breath, then bowed his head.

"Forgive us." His voice was steady, but there was an edge of controlled fury beneath the words. "We… failed to understand the customs of your nation."

The man in the suit studied him for a moment before turning away with an indifferent wave.

"See that you don't make the same mistake twice." With that, he walked off, his figure soon disappearing into the crowd.

All around them, villagers who had overheard Momonosuke's outburst whispered amongst themselves, some sneering, others chuckling at the humiliation of the so-called "noble" samurai.

Kin'emon clenched his teeth.

This place…

This Crimson Empire…

What had Wano become?

The once lively village fell into an eerie silence. Conversations died, and laughter ceased. Every villager turned to stare at Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and Momonosuke—not with curiosity, but with cold, indifferent eyes. The weight of those gazes settled heavily on the trio, and a creeping discomfort gnawed at them. The atmosphere had shifted, and they knew this was not the time to argue or posture. They needed information.

Without another word, the three samurai turned and fled, retreating under the silent but unmistakably hostile stares of the Wano villagers standing before the gates of Amigasa Village.

Breathless, they stopped only when they reached the cover of a dense forest. Momonosuke, still fuming, broke the silence first. "What the hell was that?! When did the villagers of Wano become so rude?!"

Kanjuro nodded, his brow furrowed. "Something isn't right. Those people… they can't be from Wano! The Wano we know would never insult Lord Oden like this!"

Kin'emon's expression darkened. "Agreed. No true citizen of Wano would dare speak ill of Oden-sama! Which means…"

A realization struck them all at once. "They must be followers of the Buggy Pirates!"

Momonosuke clenched his fists. "Tch! That filthy clown must have spread lies and brainwashed them! We need to try another village!"

Kanjuro nodded. "That sounds like a plan."

And so, they hurried to another settlement. The moment they arrived, they were greeted not with words, but with rotten eggs flying through the air.

"Ahh! Kin'emon! My head! They're throwing eggs at me!" Momonosuke wailed as a fresh egg exploded against his face, yolk dripping down his cheek.

Kin'emon barely dodged another incoming projectile, his face twisted in a mix of rage and disbelief. "Eggs?! How are commoners this rich?!"

Kanjuro scowled, wiping the mess from his shoulder. "There's no way these are Wano's peasants! No commoner here should have the luxury of wasting food like this!"

Momonosuke, furious, stomped his foot. "This has to be another one of Buggy's puppet villages! Damn, these lowly peasants! How dare they insult the samurai?! I ought to—"

Another egg smacked into his forehead, cutting off his rant.

And so, the cycle continued. No matter which village they entered, the reaction was the same. They were mocked, rejected, and chased out. Again and again. It wasn't just one village. It wasn't just a few people. It was everywhere.

And finally, after being humiliated in yet another settlement, the truth became undeniable. This was real. The villagers were not impostors. The wealth was not an illusion. And most shocking of all, Kozuki Oden's name was revealed throughout Wano.

At the center of each village stood a pillar, nailed with public declarations condemning the man they had worshipped as a hero. Each message was the same: "Oden—the fool who doomed us all."

Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and Momonosuke stood in stunned silence. Their world—the very foundation of their beliefs—had been shattered.

Momonosuke's body trembled. He clutched his swollen face with one hand while his other clenched into a fist so tight his nails dug into his palm. Tears streamed down his face as he choked out a furious sob. "These peasants… Why do they hate my father?!"

His voice cracked, raw with anger and disbelief. "Father sacrificed everything for them! He fought Kaido for them! And this is how they repay him?! Traitors! Kin'emon, we need to find the Kozuki clan retainers—NOW! I'll make these ungrateful traitors suffer for their betrayal!"

Kin'emon exhaled deeply, forcing down his emotions. He placed a firm hand on Momonosuke's shoulder, steadying him. "Worry not, my lord. Tonight, we ride for the Flower Capital. There, we will find the remaining Kozuki loyalists."

His grip tightened. "And once we gather our forces… we will restore the honor of the Kozuki Clan."

Momonosuke's breath hitched. Yes. That's right. Once they reclaimed their power—once the Kozuki Clan was reborn—no one would ever dare insult Kozuki Oden again.

"That's right!"

A flicker of excitement flashed in Kanjuro's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by indignation. Clenching his fists, he declared with exaggerated sorrow, "We must go to the Flower Capital! The loyal retainers of the Kozuki Clan will surely be waiting for us there!"

Without another word, he drew a massive ink bird, and the three of them leaped onto its back. Soaring through the night sky, they raced toward the capital with renewed determination.

However, as they approached—just one or two kilometers from their destination—something unexpected made them freeze in shock.

Before them, in the darkness of night, the Flower Capital shone like a beacon of opulence. The city sprawled out in the distance, illuminated by thousands of lights that stretched beyond its walls, extending into the surrounding land for hundreds of meters. Even at this late hour, the streets were alive with a steady flow of pedestrians.

Momonosuke's eyes widened in disbelief. "This... this is the Flower Capital?"

"Impossible! Impossible!" Kanjuro sputtered, gripping the bird's feathers. "How could the Flower Capital be this prosperous? Not even Dressrosa was this extravagant!"

"Illusion!" Kin'emon snarled, his face contorted with fury. "It must be some wicked sorcery! Buggy and his wretched crew must have conjured this illusion to deceive the people!"

Their outrage did nothing to change the overwhelming spectacle before them. Still seething, they guided the bird to a secluded spot and dismounted, choosing to approach the city on foot.

At first, they convinced themselves that this was all an elaborate trick—some grand deception masking the true state of the capital. But as they drew closer, their doubts began to crumble.

The streets were wider than they remembered, lined with bright, glowing lights that shone like miniature suns. Every corner was bustling with merchants, travelers, and entertainers. Vendors peddled goods they had never seen before, and despite the sheer volume of people, everything remained orderly.

They stood dumbfounded, eyes darting from one marvel to the next.

Passersby chuckled at their bewildered expressions.

"You three must be from outside the empire," a man nearby said with a knowing smile.

Kin'emon tensed, immediately on guard. "Oh? And what makes you say that?"

The man laughed. "Only outsiders react this way to the sight of streetlights. Every city in the Crimson Empire has them now. There are six major counties under its rule, and we've all grown used to such advancements."

He gestured around proudly. "All of this is thanks to Buggy-sama! If not for him, we'd still be struggling in the darkness."

"That's right!" someone else chimed in. "Long live Lord Buggy!"

"Long live Lord Buggy!"

A chorus of voices echoed the sentiment, as more and more people joined in. Their words were filled with genuine admiration, their eyes brimming with gratitude.

Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and Momonosuke stood frozen, unable to process what they were hearing.

Buggy.

Again.

It was him. Always him.

How?

How could they praise a mere pirate? A fraud! A tyrant is no different from Kaido himself!

Their blood boiled, but they bit their tongues and pressed forward, stepping into the heart of the city. But what awaited them there shattered their final illusions.

Towering neon signs bathed the streets in a kaleidoscope of colors. Vendors sold exotic wares from lands they didn't recognize. The air buzzed with the sound of music, conversation, and laughter. Yet despite the overwhelming activity, there was no chaos—no fear.

Even at its most glorious, the Flower Capital had never been this lively. For the first time, an uncomfortable thought crept into their minds. Was this really an illusion? Or had Wano truly changed?

The most shocking part wasn't just the prosperity—it was the order.

No gangsters lurking in the shadows to extort protection fees. No ruffians causing trouble in broad daylight. No signs of oppression or fear. The streets were alive, but everything functioned with an eerie sense of harmony.

Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and Momonosuke could only stand frozen, their minds struggling to comprehend the impossible sight before them.

Momonosuke's face twisted with disbelief, his voice cracking as he finally erupted. "This... this has to be some kind of dark magic! There's no way Wano—our Wano—could be this prosperous! It's those damn Buggy Pirates! This is their doing!"

SWISH!

The moment those words left his mouth, the lively, bustling street fell into a deafening silence.

All at once, countless pairs of eyes turned toward them. Shocked. Offended. Some were filled with quiet anger, others radiating open hostility.

Momonosuke felt the weight of their glares settle on him like a crushing force. His bravado evaporated in an instant, and with a terrified squeak, he bolted behind Kin'emon, clutching at his robes.

SWISH!

Kin'emon and Kanjuro, too, felt the air grow heavy with unkind stares. Their instincts screamed at them—run. Without hesitation, Kin'emon scooped up Momonosuke, and the three darted into a nearby alleyway, disappearing into the shadows before anyone could react.

The moment they were gone, the street erupted.

"Who the hell dares to insult Lord Buggy?!"

"Must be more Kozuki loyalists—those worthless relics!"

"Hmph! I'm reporting this to the guards! Anyone who slanders Lord Buggy or his officers needs to be dealt with!"

"Flower capital is finally thriving now—why would anyone want to drag us back to the past? The Kozuki Clan is gone, and good riddance! All they ever did was hold us back!"

"Damn right! Wano doesn't need them anymore!"

Meanwhile, in the shadows of a narrow alley, Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and Momonosuke huddled together, their faces pale and drenched in cold sweat.

None of them spoke. None of them could speak. They simply stared at one another, shaken to their core.

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