At this moment, far away on Onigashima, Kaido was watching the conversation between Gusion and Yamato through the screen.
Hearing Gusion say that Kaido was too brutal and didn't understand management, which led to Wano becoming what it is now, Kaido was quite dissatisfied. "And what's wrong with things now? Our income keeps increasing every year, and the pirate crew keeps growing stronger."
Simple-minded Kaido's proudest achievement over the years was occupying Wano. He felt that, without this decision, he and King might still be drifting at sea together.
It was precisely because he had Wano as a base that he gradually got money, recruited troops, and built up the massive Beasts Pirates.
So when Gusion said he didn't understand management, Kaido felt insulted.
"Hahaha, young men love to talk big. In reality, he probably hasn't managed a country before, so he says things like that," Black Maria laughed at the side. She didn't care about Gusion calling Kaido brutal—among pirates, that was practically a compliment.
As for management, she didn't agree with Gusion either. Over the years, the people actually managing Wano weren't brute Kaido, but the brains under him, who discussed and decided on management plans.
As for the rebels who followed Oden back then—that's not even worth mentioning. They were all sent to Udon Prison for life, laboring and mining every day.
But those working in the SMILE factory, the seastone factory, and the weapons factories in Wano? They actually got paid.
From the perspective of these pirates, not killing you and even paying you wages is a huge kindness. How could that be called poor management?
Kaido and Maria watched as, on the screen, Yamato in Udon Prison spoke angrily, "What kind of achievement is that? The rivers are polluted, people on the outskirts don't have clean water, and many have died from sickness."
Gusion smirked, "Oh, looks like you actually pay attention to the people's living conditions in this country."
Yamato puffed her cheeks, "Don't underestimate me, okay?"
Gusion nodded with a smile, "So you're also aware that the country's environment has been ruined by the factories. But environmental pollution can be solved with proper waste management. Kaido didn't consider these problems, so I say he only knows how to fish for quick gains, not sustainable development."
"So what contribution has he made? I only feel like the people of Wano are living worse and worse every day."
Yamato said, "At this rate, in ten years the rivers will be completely polluted, and people won't even be able to drink the water."
"Well, putting aside the environmental issues, haven't all these factories solved a lot of employment problems? These basic industries will be the foundation for Wano's future prosperity," Gusion explained.
He gave an example: "Remember the story I told you before, about a country called Japan? They once closed themselves off, but were forced open by cannons and bullied. But that also pushed them into industrialization early, and they developed rapidly to become a world power. Everything has two sides, and fortune and misfortune are interdependent."
He picked up Oden's diary that Yamato had dropped. "But what did Oden do? He didn't cause much damage to the country, but he also didn't bring any progress or improve people's lives. He was truly hands-off but had the power to do something. That's why I don't like him."
It's easy to imagine: without Oden's strength, if Wano was just guarded by an ordinary shogun, in a resource-rich place like the New World, even without Kaido, another pirate group would have come to seize it.
If it was a dumber, less visionary pirate crew, Wano might be worse off than now. With Kaido sitting in Wano, at least no small fry dare cause trouble—there's at least surface peace.
Of course, Kaido really does bad things too. That's due to his upbringing and worldview; he never cared about ruling a country, just about gaining enough profits to make himself stronger.
Kaido does have a grand ambition: to overthrow the world's rulers and create a new, more reasonable world. But his means are wrong.
A person who achieves things by any means can never truly earn the people's heartfelt support.
"I… so should I start doing something now?" Yamato looked at Gusion in confusion. She felt that, as someone who wants to liberate Wano and be its hero, she should do something for the people, so they would love her and she could open Wano to the world.
But in the diary, the real Kozuki Oden didn't seem to do such things… so she felt she should follow her idol's will.
"When you ask me this question, haven't you already found your own answer?" Gusion said with a smile.
Like a ray of light in the darkness, Yamato suddenly understood. She realized that, by asking Gusion, she was already doubting Oden's actions and wanted to help the suffering people.
"But if I do this… am I really still Kozuki Oden?"
Yamato had a new doubt.
Gusion looked at her seriously. "In my eyes, you've always been Yamato. My friend isn't Kozuki Oden, it's Yamato."
Yamato hesitated, then acted instead of continuing the conversation.
She got up, exchanged her remaining food coupons for a pile of pancakes, and wandered around the quarry, distributing them to the old and weak prisoners who couldn't get enough to eat.
The prisoners who got the pancakes were grateful to Yamato, though a few, knowing her identity as Kaido's daughter, refused her charity.
Openly distributing food in Udon Prison was unheard of. But no guards stopped her; one reason was that there was no explicit rule against sharing your own food, and the other was that Yamato was the Beasts Pirates' young master—no ordinary guard would dare provoke her over something like this.
After her rounds, Yamato came back beaming with happiness. Clearly, the feeling of being thanked and respected made her feel elated.
"How does it feel?" Gusion asked with a smile, taking a bite of his own pancake.
"It feels amazing! I've never experienced this before. When I used to call myself Oden, no one cared. But now, without saying anything, I just gave them pancakes and they thanked me—it's so strange," Yamato said, her excitement fading as she became confused again.
"This is normal. People don't thank others for no reason; only when they genuinely receive kindness do they thank you from the heart," Gusion explained. "And just now, they weren't thanking Kozuki Oden—they were thanking you, Yamato."
Yamato was stunned. "They were… thanking me?"
"Of course. Even though many of those who accepted your pancakes know you're Kaido's daughter, they still thanked you," Gusion said, looking into her eyes. "Do you know why?"
"Why?"
Yamato was puzzled. If she's Kaido's daughter in their eyes, shouldn't they hate her?
"While some proud samurai refused you, those who accepted your food aren't cowards. They thank you because they felt your sincerity," Gusion explained. "You really understood their hardships. When someone genuinely wants to help, that kindness shows in their eyes."
At least, Yamato had basic empathy, Gusion thought—that was good. At heart, Yamato was a straightforward and simple girl; if she could live as herself, she could become a normal person.
"I see… but I wanted to help them because I want to become Kozuki Oden and liberate Wano, not just because I pity them. Is that okay?" Yamato asked in confusion.
Gusion shrugged, "Why not? You'll come to understand, you're not Kozuki Oden. If you accomplish great things, the people will thank Yamato, not Kozuki Oden."
Yamato fell into deep thought. Meanwhile, back on Onigashima, Kaido burst out laughing, thoroughly pleased.
"Maria, that kid really knows how to talk! Yamato is starting to question her own identity!"
Kaido laughed heartily, staring at the monitor. Gusion didn't disappoint him; the lunchtime discipline session made him very happy. This time, Yamato stopped calling herself Oden and started saying "I want to become" instead.
He could feel that the idol aura of Oden in Yamato's heart was fading. Maybe after a few more days with Gusion, she really wouldn't want to be Oden anymore.
"Even if Young Master Yamato is changing for the better, don't you think Gusion is guiding her in a dangerous direction? She still wants to rebel," Maria reminded him. Meaning: don't be too happy—your daughter might stop being Oden, but she'll still rebel against you.
Gusion was guiding Yamato toward true revolution, which Maria found worrying.
Before, Yamato just called herself Oden and did nothing; she was just playing house. But if she started actually helping people and gathering loyal followers, she might really become a threat to Kaido.
"Hahaha, what's there to worry about?" Kaido waved his hand, laughing boldly. "Let her come! I'll be waiting for her on the throne!"
In his eyes, his daughter was still too weak. Every time she challenged him, he had to hold back.
Would Kaido be afraid of rebellion? He never feared a challenge.
If he couldn't fulfill his dream in this life, his pirate empire would eventually be handed down to Yamato anyway.
If Yamato had the strength to win it herself, Kaido wouldn't be angry—instead, he'd be proud of her strength and courage.