The small courtyard deep in the mountains of Wano was eerily quiet.
Kozuki Hiyori gripped the small Den Den Mushi tightly. Her fingers were white from the force.
The shell still carried the warmth left by her father — or at least, the warmth she imagined. This specially made Den Den Mushi could connect across half the Grand Line to Roger's ship. It was the last life-saving talisman Oden had left for his daughter.
"Dial it, young miss!" The old retainer's voice trembled. His eyes were fixed on the courtyard gate — two guards had been standing there moments ago, now only two pools of blood remained. "Hurry!"
Hiyori's finger hovered above the dial. Her mind was in chaos: the image of her mother being beheaded, her father's back as he left, Kaizer's cold black eyes, and Kaido's blood-stained kanabo…
"I…" Her lips trembled.
At that moment, the air suddenly distorted.
A "hand" made of black particles and bandages appeared out of nowhere — no warning, no sound, like a ghostly claw reaching from another dimension. Its five fingers spread open, then snapped shut—
Crack.
The Den Den Mushi was crushed.
Sticky fluid and shell fragments splashed across Hiyori's face. She stood there in a daze, still holding the pose of gripping the Den Den Mushi. Her face was wet; it was impossible to tell whether it was the snail's blood or her own tears.
"Well, isn't this Miss Kozuki?"
Kaizer's voice came from the courtyard gate.
He and Kaido walked in side by side. Kaido's Hassaikai was still dripping with blood, while Kaizer had both hands in his pockets, looking like someone out for a casual stroll. Behind the two of them lay the bodies of the retainers scattered across the ground — some with crushed skulls, some with large holes in their chests, and one cut clean in half at the waist, intestines spilling everywhere.
"Preparing to call Daddy for help?" Kaizer walked up to Hiyori, bending down to look at the little girl who barely reached his waist. "Too bad, Daddy has gone far away."
Hiyori took a step back and fell to the ground. The hem of her kimono was stained with mud and blood, but she didn't notice. She simply looked up at Kaizer's black eyes.
Those eyes held nothing. No killing intent, no anger, not even contempt. It was like looking at a rock, a piece of wood… an object.
"You…" She wanted to say something, but her throat felt blocked.
The old retainer beside her roared and charged forward with his sword drawn — he was the last sword instructor Oden had left behind. Though old, his blade was still sharp.
Kaido didn't even look at him.
Hassaikai swung casually.
Clang—!
The sword broke. The old retainer flew backward like a broken sack, slamming into the courtyard wall. The crisp sound of his spine snapping was clearly audible. He collapsed at the base of the wall, blood foaming from his mouth. His eyes were still wide open, but they had lost focus.
"Teacher…" Hiyori murmured.
"He's dead." Kaizer said calmly. "You're next. Unless…"
He squatted down, eye level with Hiyori. The posture should have looked gentle, but against the backdrop of blood and corpses, it only made one's skin crawl.
"You don't want to go down and accompany your mother, right?" Kaizer's voice was soft, like whispering a secret. "Your father abandoned you — he followed Roger to chase some great treasure and left you here alone to wait for death. All your retainers are dead. Your family is gone. What do you have left?"
With every sentence, Hiyori's face grew paler.
The Ghost-Ghost Fruit's hypnotic ability activated silently. It wasn't forceful control, but guidance — amplifying fear, amplifying loneliness, amplifying despair. It let those negative emotions flood the little girl's mental defenses like a tidal wave.
Hiyori's pupils began to lose focus. Tears flowed silently, but she didn't cry out loud. She simply opened her mouth, like a fish out of water.
"I…" she murmured, "I have nothing left…"
"No, that's not right." Kaizer reached out and wiped the blood and tears from her face — the motion was gentle, as if cleaning a precious piece of porcelain. "You still have me. As long as you behave, I'll let you live."
His hand stopped on Hiyori's cheek. The cold touch made the little girl shiver.
"Behave…" Hiyori repeated the word, as if chewing something bitter. "If I behave… I can live?"
"Yes." Kaizer smiled — it was his first genuine smile of the day. "It's a very simple deal. You be a good girl, and I'll let you live. Maybe… you'll even get to see your father again."
The last sentence was a lie. But Hiyori didn't know that.
She looked into Kaizer's eyes, into those bottomless black pupils. Something deep in her soul snapped with a soft "click."
Then she nodded. The motion was slow and stiff, like a puppet.
"I understand." Her voice was flat, without any rise or fall. "From now on… I will behave."
Kaizer stood up, satisfied. He turned to Kaido, who was using Hassaikai to poke at the old retainer's corpse, as if checking whether he was truly dead.
"Seen enough?" Kaido didn't look up. "What do you plan to do with this little girl? Killing her would be cleaner."
"Keeping her alive is more useful." Kaizer said. "She is Kozuki Oden's daughter, the legitimate heir. With her in our hands, the samurai class in Wano won't be able to harden their stance."
Kaido scoffed: "A bunch of useless samurai. What does it matter if they harden or not?"
"Open spears are easy to dodge, hidden arrows are hard to guard against." Kaizer walked toward the courtyard gate. "Let's go. Kurozumi Orochi should have heard the commotion by now."
They didn't have to wait long.
Half an hour later, a group of people hurried to the small courtyard. Leading them was a tall, thin man in ornate kimono with an exaggerated topknot, his face painted white and lips bright red — Kurozumi Orochi. Dozens of retainers followed behind him, all armed with swords, but their eyes darted nervously and their steps were unsteady.
"Ka-Kaido-sama!" Orochi's face turned even whiter when he saw the gruesome scene in the courtyard — though it was already corpse-pale to begin with. "Y-You're back! Why didn't you notify me in advance? I could have prepared…"
"Prepared for what?" Kaido interrupted, slamming Hassaikai into the ground and cracking it open. "Prepared to kneel again? This time, who are you kneeling to? Roger left, so you kneel to me. Next time someone stronger comes, will you sell me out again?"
Orochi's legs went soft and he nearly knelt. "N-No! That was just… a temporary measure! I have always been loyal to you!"
"Loyal?" Kaido grinned, showing his snow-white teeth. "How much is your loyalty worth?"
The retainers behind Orochi stirred uneasily. A few reached for their swords, but were pulled back by the others — are you kidding? Facing Kaido and that undying Kaizer, drawing weapons meant suicide.
Kaizer ignored the standoff. He was examining the two old men behind Orochi.
One was hunched over, wearing a plain gray kimono, leaning on a cane with half-closed eyes, looking like he might fall asleep at any moment. The other was slightly younger, standing straight with sharp eyes, his hand resting on his sword hilt — though the blade looked like it hadn't been drawn in a long time.
Kurozumi Semimaru. Kurozumi Yoru.
Kaizer remembered these two names. In the original story, Semimaru was the Barrier Fruit user, and Yoru was the Imitation Fruit user. They were the Kurozumi clan's trump cards and the key to Orochi staying in power as shogun.
"Kaido." Kaizer suddenly spoke. "I want two people."
Kaido turned his head: "Who?"
Kaizer pointed at the two old men: "Them. Kurozumi Semimaru and Kurozumi Yoru."
Orochi's face changed drastically: "My lord! You can't! These two are elders of my clan, they are—"
"I don't care if they're your mother." Kaido waved his hand impatiently. "I want them. Got a problem?"
Orochi opened his mouth, but the words stuck in his throat. He looked at Kaido's crimson eyes, then at Kaizer's calm face, and finally at Semimaru and Yoru — the two old men remained expressionless, as if it wasn't them being discussed.
"I…" Orochi finally lowered his head. "I wouldn't dare object."
Semimaru opened his eyes — they were cloudy, but a sharp light flashed deep within. He glanced at Kaizer, then closed them again without saying a word.
Yoru spoke coldly: "We can go with you. But I want to know — what for?"
"To work." Kaizer said concisely. "Do it well, and you'll be rewarded. Do it poorly, and you die."
Yoru stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled — a cold smile, like the edge of a blade. "Fine. Straightforward."
The deal was done.
Kaido couldn't be bothered to waste more words. He gave the order directly: "From today onward, you, Kurozumi Orochi, will still be the shogun of Wano. But every policy must have my approval. All Seastone mines will be handed over to my people for management. Weapon factory output must double. Also…"
He paused and looked at Kaizer.
"Kozuki Hiyori." Kaizer continued. "Announce publicly that Kozuki Oden's daughter has voluntarily given up her right of succession. Kurozumi Orochi will temporarily act as shogun until a suitable successor is chosen. Miss Hiyori will remain in Flower Capital as an 'honored guest' for 'recuperation'."
Orochi was stunned: "This… the samurai of the Kozuki clan won't agree…"
"They don't need to agree." Kaizer said. "They only need to accept. Food, work, safety — we will give these things to the common people. As for the samurai… if they don't obey, just kill them."
He said it casually, as if discussing what to have for dinner.
Orochi shivered. He finally realized that the seemingly gentle young man in front of him was even more terrifying than Kaido.
Kaido used violence to suppress and fear to rule.
Kaizer used benefits to divide and hope to paralyze.
And when the two combined…
"Go prepare." Kaido waved his hand like shooing flies. "I want to see the new policies issued tomorrow. Also, clean up the shogun's residence. I'm moving in."
Orochi nodded repeatedly and retreated in panic with his retainers. Semimaru and Yoru stayed behind, standing silently behind Kaizer like two statues.
Kaizer watched them leave, then suddenly smiled.
"Kaido, did you notice?"
"What?"
"People like Kurozumi Orochi are actually the easiest to control." Kaizer said. "He fears death, loves power, and craves pleasure. Just give him a little sweetness and dangle a knife over his head, and he'll be more obedient than a dog."
Kaido scoffed: "A piece of trash is still trash."
"But trash has its uses." Kaizer turned and looked at Kozuki Hiyori, who was still sitting dazed in the courtyard. "Like that little girl. She is the symbol of the Kozuki clan. With her in our hands, many things we do will become 'justified'."
Hiyori heard her name and slowly raised her head. Her eyes had lost all light, containing only hollow numbness.
"I will behave." she murmured, repeating the words. "If I behave… I can live…"
Kaizer walked over and gently stroked her head.
"Yes. Behave, and you can live."
His voice was very gentle, but his eyes were cold.
"From today onward, you are Wano's 'mascot.' What you eat, what you wear, what you say — someone will teach you. You must study well and perform well. Perform well, and you can keep living. Perform poorly…"
He didn't finish, but Hiyori understood.
The little girl nodded hard. Tears flowed again, but she didn't cry out loud.
Kaido watched from the side and suddenly said: "You really know how to play, kid."
"Ruling is an art." Kaizer straightened up. "Violence can conquer land, but it can't conquer hearts. What we need to do is make the people of Wano convince themselves — that having Kurozumi Orochi as shogun isn't bad, that the Kozuki clan has declined, that following us means they can eat their fill… Over time, even lies become truth."
Semimaru suddenly spoke: "You want to subtly change the common people's thinking."
"Correct." Kaizer nodded. "That's why we need the two of you. The Barrier Fruit can protect important people. The Imitation Fruit can turn you into anyone — for example, some respected old samurai who says things like 'the times have changed.'"
Yoru narrowed his eyes: "You even know our abilities?"
"I know many things." Kaizer didn't explain. "So, happy cooperation?"
The two old men exchanged a glance and finally nodded together.
The deal was sealed.
In the following month, Wano underwent earth-shaking changes.
Kurozumi Orochi issued new policies: Seastone mines were placed under unified "shogunate" management — in reality, taken over by Kaido's people. Weapon factory output doubled, and workers' wages increased by thirty percent — where did the money come from? From raised taxes, but Kaizer had Orochi simultaneously announce reduced agricultural taxes, so the common people actually felt life had improved.
Kozuki Hiyori was moved into a villa in Flower Capital, attended by dedicated servants. She occasionally appeared in public, wearing luxurious clothes and reciting rehearsed lines: "Father has gone to pursue his dream. I believe General Kurozumi can lead Wano toward prosperity."
Every time she said those words, her eyes were empty.
The samurai class began to split. Some hardliners secretly plotted resistance, but they were quickly purged by "mysterious forces" — sometimes Kaido took action personally, sometimes IBMs slipped into residences at night. The next day, another "suicide" corpse would appear. Others began to waver: Kozuki Oden had run away, even his daughter said this, so why were they still risking their lives?
The common people were simpler. Whoever gave them food was the good guy. Kaido-controlled merchant ships brought large amounts of grain from Totto Land and sold it below market price. Rice prices in Flower Capital dropped. Job opportunities increased. The patrolling soldiers on the streets were fierce, but as long as you didn't cause trouble, nothing would happen.
Subtle influence.
Like water dripping through stone, like boiling a frog in warm water.
By the time someone realized what was happening, Wano was no longer the Wano of before.
One evening a month later, Kaizer stood on the top floor of the shogun's castle tower, overlooking all of Flower Capital.
Lights gradually lit up. People came and went on the streets. Craftsmen finishing work drank in taverns. Mothers led children home. Vendors called out — selling sugar and fabrics shipped from Totto Land.
"How is it?" Kaido walked onto the terrace, holding a wine jug. "Satisfied?"
"Not bad." Kaizer took the jug and drank — it burned his throat. "But it's not enough yet. There are still signs of resistance among the samurai class. We need to purge another batch. The ideological transformation of the common people needs to speed up. I had Yoru turn into several famous storytellers to spread newly written 'loyalty tales' in teahouses — with protagonists who are pragmatic heroes rather than foolishly loyal fools."
Kaido grinned: "Kid, when you play these games, you're even more like a pirate than I am."
"Pirates rob and leave. We want long-term rule." Kaizer handed the jug back. "By the way, what do you think about the Beasts Pirates?"
"I've already started recruiting." Kaido leaned on the railing. "There are a few promising ones. A Lunarian kid named King who fights like he doesn't care about his life. And a fat guy named Queen — a bit weak, but smart and good at inventions."
Kaizer nodded. King and Queen — two of the future All-Stars.
"Train them well." he said. "Once your people are ready, we'll support each other. The New World will be ours."
Kaido stared at him for a long time, then suddenly asked: "Kaizer, what exactly do you want?"
Kaizer didn't answer immediately.
He looked into the distance, toward Totto Land. There was Linlin, Perospero, the second child just conceived, and the nation he was slowly building.
"I want a family." he finally said. "A family that no one can touch. For that, I need strength, territory, and allies."
"Including me?"
"Especially you." Kaizer turned to look at Kaido. "We are the same kind. Neither of us is willing to be stepped on. Both of us want to stand at the top of this world."
Kaido laughed loudly, shaking the railing.
"Good! Well said!" He slapped Kaizer's shoulder hard — this time controlling his strength so he didn't slam him into the ground. "Then let's stand at the top together! And see the view from up there!"
The two clinked their cups.
The wine glowed amber in the moonlight.
Meanwhile, in the villa below the castle tower, Kozuki Hiyori sat by the window, looking at the moon in the sky.
A maid asked carefully: "Miss, it's time to rest."
Hiyori didn't move.
She looked at the moon and remembered what her mother had said: the moon is Wano's guardian god. No matter what happens, moonlight will always light the way.
But now, the moonlight felt cold.
Cold like that man's eyes.
"Miss?" the maid called again.
Hiyori slowly turned her head. Her face had no expression, like a perfect mask.
"I know." she said. "I'll sleep now."
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