"..."
Kin'emon and Momonosuke straightened, a flash of anticipation in their eyes.
"Fleet Admiral-dono, are you saying…?"
"Kin'emon-dono, thank you for your candor… What you've said just now is, for the most part, true—there was no exaggeration."
Wright leaned on the table with both elbows, his words slowly shocking both Kin'emon and Momonosuke.
"In fact, as early as eight years ago, the Marines had already begun making preparations—targeting Kaido and the Land of Wano."
"At the time, I was still a Vice Admiral. I personally infiltrated Wano on a classified operation."
"What?! Eight years ago?! Fleet Admiral-dono…"
Kin'emon shot to his feet, visibly shaken.
"But we saw no trace of Marines in Wano… Not a single villager showed signs of contact with the Navy!"
"Of course not. It was a covert operation—deliberately hidden from even you."
Seeing the disbelief written on Kin'emon's face, Wright shook his head.
"Kin'emon-dono… the true state of Wano is far better than what you've seen with your own eyes. But for now, those truths cannot yet be shown to you."
"The legend of the Akazaya Nine transcending time… The Navy became aware of it eight years ago. And though it was uncertain if that prophecy was real, we spared no effort in preparing for it."
"One of our priorities was gathering intelligence—analyzing the reasons behind your failure back then."
"To the Navy, with Kouzuki Oden's strength, he was more than a match for Kaido at the time! That he ended up executed in a pot of boiling oil was beyond comprehension—even the Navy was stunned. It was a waste of power second only to Whitebeard himself!"
"Whitebeard ruled the New World for two decades. Back then, Kaido was just an upstart with few subordinates—his power was nowhere near what it is now. Yet Oden still fell to him!"
"And before I went to Wano, I had just crossed blades with Kaido myself—as a Vice Admiral."
"..."
Kin'emon felt the blood drain from his face. The Fleet Admiral's words touched on memories so painful that he dared not revisit them.
He remembered it clearly—when Lord Oden had led them to confront Kaido's forces in full, Kaido had said something cryptic:
"Perhaps… there's a traitor among you."
That single sentence had not only sowed distrust, it had directly caused the rift between Inuarashi and Nekomamushi. After being sent twenty years into the future, Kin'emon had pushed that memory away—refusing to even think about it.
"A… traitor? For real?"
"And… among us? Among those of us who came from twenty years ago?!"
Kin'emon was no fool. From Wright's words, he was forced to draw a conclusion so dreadful, he could barely bring himself to believe it.
"The moment you appeared at Oden Castle's ruins, Orochi, far off in the Flower Capital, was informed almost instantly…"
"After twenty years, even the common folk don't recognize you anymore. The ruins of Oden Castle are deserted—so who had the ability to leak that intel the moment you arrived?"
Wright pulled out a thick file and handed it to Ace, who brought it to Kin'emon.
"Take a good look… These are the deductions and conclusions drawn by the Marines and our allies. Once you've read them, you'll understand why you've been kept in the dark until now…"
"And why I'm showing this to you now."
"..."
With trembling hands, Kinemōn accepted the file. The very first line struck him like lightning:
Analysis by: Wright, Rosinante, Shimotsuki Yasuie, Denjirō
He clenched his jaw, eyes glossing over. The last two names stopped his breath—but now was not the time for questions.
Under Momonosuke's concerned gaze, he forced himself to read every word of the thick report, line by line.
At the final page, Kin'emon's hands trembled again. Momonosuke peeked over his shoulder and gasped at the last line:
"Conclusion: A traitor exists among the Akazaya Nine. Based on evidence, the individual is believed to be an agent of Shogun Kurozumi Orochi—high likelihood of identity: 'Evening Shower' Kanjuro."
"Kanjuro?!"
Momonosuke's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Kin'emon! He—he was just with us a few days ago!"
"Fleet Admiral-dono!"
Kin'emon placed a calming hand on the panicked Momonosuke and raised his head, suppressing his turmoil as he looked at Wright.
"This document… it bears the names of Yasuie-sama and Denjirō. Are the Marines truly in alliance with them?!"
"What are your thoughts? Do you agree with the contents of that file?"
Wright didn't answer directly. Instead, he posed a question of his own.
"Most of the events cited came from the recollections of Yasuie and Denjirō—though others contributed as well. We've noted whose memory each is. Given that twenty years have passed, there may be discrepancies… As someone who lived through that time, what do you think?"
"..."
Kin'emon let out a heavy, reluctant sigh.
"These incidents… match my own memories precisely."
"Though it pains me deeply, I must admit—I never truly questioned the events behind them."
"According to this analysis… Kanjuro is the only one who fits the role of the traitor!"
Tears and snot flowed uncontrollably.
"Damn it! How could it be him…? Why him?!"
"These signs… these examples… they're damning!"
He clutched Momonosuke's hand tightly. The boy's eyes were wide with fear—could his father truly have been betrayed… by one of his most trusted retainers?
And that same traitor… had been with them just days ago.
"Flawless… his disguise was flawless…"
The recent memories hit Kin'emon like crashing waves: In Oden Castle. At sea. In Dressrosa…
"Momonosuke-sama was constantly surrounded by danger!"
"…And there's one more piece of bad news."
Wright waited for Kin'emon to calm before continuing.
"Not long after you learned the location of Zou, Kaido's forces were informed as well…"
"He's sending one of his All-Stars—'Plague' Queen. You may or may not have encountered him. In any case, he's Kaido's second-strongest enforcer."
"Kaido has ordered Queen to head to Zou to capture the ninja 'Raizo of the Mist.' You can figure out the rest."
"Kanjuro…"
Kin'emon clenched his fists until they bled. His lips were bitten raw.
The only one who knew where Raizo was… the only one who knew Zou's location… the only one who knew Raizo wasn't with them… was Kanjuro!
"Raizo and Zou are in danger!"
Kin'emon dropped to his knees, bowing deeply until his forehead hit the floor.
"Since the Navy is aware of this threat, I humbly implore you, Fleet Admiral-dono—please dispatch forces to Zou! It's critical to this war. If we capture Queen…"
"Kin'emon, you are not qualified to make that request."
Wright's cold interruption shattered Kin'emon's rising hope like ice.
"As I've said, the Navy has no obligation—nor political standing—to assist Wano. Our goal is simply to crush Kaido."
"As for the help we've already provided Wano over the past eight years… I'll show you those results later. That is the full extent of what justice permits us to do."
"Whether or not Wano can accept Marine assistance… I need an answer from the leader of the resistance."
"You aren't enough. Yasuie-sama isn't enough. Denjirō isn't enough. Not even Princess Hiyori…"
Wright turned to the trembling child beside him.
"Only you, Momonosuke. Though you're just an eight-year-old boy, I believe you now understand the weight you carry."
"If you—Wano's symbolic leader—do not make a formal commitment, the Navy cannot offer further help."
"Especially since… though it displeases me… the Navy ultimately answers to the World Government."
"You must think carefully about what it would mean for the Marines to intervene in Wano."
Wright signaled to Ace, who handed a second file to a cold-sweating Kin'emon.
"Zou can wait a little longer—we still have time. Review this, think it over carefully… and give me your answer at this time tomorrow."
"Ace, take them to their quarters. Answer their questions truthfully if they have any."
"Yes, Sensei!"
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