At that moment, Kaido's icy voice rang across the entire port, startling all the underlings nearby.
They looked at each other, then nodded in quiet agreement.
After all, the story of Young Master Yamato was well known throughout the Beasts Pirates. Though she was Kaido-sama's daughter, she constantly tried to kill him and declared herself to be that fool Oden. The fact that Kaido-sama had tolerated her this long was already unbelievable.
And now, the very same Yamato, who had never once considered Kaido a father, who had harbored endless hatred for being imprisoned and denied her freedom for so many years, suddenly felt a wave of panic and unease flood her heart upon hearing Kaido himself declare that their father-daughter bond was over.
It was as if something had hollowed out inside her.
She trembled, clenched her teeth, and tried to say something, but her years of obsession had made it impossible to turn back.
Staring at her father, who now looked at her with cold, emotionless eyes, waiting for her decision, Yamato's hands shook as she picked up the key from the ground. Then, as if fleeing, she pushed through the crowd and ran onto the ship Kaido had prepared for her in advance.
Only when the ship had completely left Onigashima, as she sat on the deck, finally free from her cuffs and shackles, did Yamato look down at her liberated hands, then toward the ever-shrinking silhouette of Onigashima and Wano Country in the distance. Tears began to fall uncontrollably.
Back on the island, watching that tiny ship fade into the horizon, Kaido—who should have felt nothing—couldn't help but feel a ripple inside.
He could sense it. Deep down, Kaido still held expectations for that daughter of his. Even at the end, when he killed Orochi and planned to turn Wano into the New Onigashima, his chosen shogun had still been: Yamato.
But now...
She was completely broken.
"Why did you do this, big bro? What exactly happened?"
At some point, King had appeared nearby. Sensing Kaido's emotional shift, he asked in confusion.
Today, Kaido's behavior had changed too drastically. So drastically that it made King feel uneasy. Kaido didn't answer at first. Instead, he asked a question of his own.
"King, do you remember the story you once told me? About Joy Boy?"
King froze for a moment, then nodded blankly.
Kaido finally turned to him and said slowly,
"If I told you that I can't be Joy Boy, and even more, that I plan to kill Joy Boy—what would you choose?"
Kaido's sudden words stunned King. His pupils contracted.
After all, Joy Boy was the legendary figure among the Lunarian race, the one destined to save the world—the hero, the savior. And now Kaido big bro was talking about killing Joy Boy.
In that instant, King knew something must have happened. Something related to the legend of Joy Boy. He couldn't begin to understand it yet, but... Just like that day so long ago, he made his choice.
His eyes steady, he responded without hesitation.
"That legend doesn't matter to me anymore. Kaido big bro, ever since the day you saved me, my life has been yours. Whatever you choose to do is exactly what I will follow."
Kaido was momentarily stunned. Then he burst into wild laughter, his voice echoing across the port.
"Worororo... King, having you as my brother is the luckiest thing that's ever happened to me!"
King was surprised by the response, but soon after, his expression turned serious again as he looked at Kaido with concern.
"I feel the same, Kaido-big brother."
"Yeah."
Only then did Kaido pat King on the shoulder.
"Don't worry. There's no need to be concerned about me. The reason I drove Yamato away was simply to prevent her from interfering with my upcoming plan."
"Plan?"
"That's right. I've had enough of that fool Orochi. I'm done sharing power over Wano Country. From now on, the Beasts Pirates will fully occupy this country, crush all the samurai who resist us, and turn Wano Country into the new Onigashima."
===
Just how strong are the samurai forces of Wano Country?
Well, even the World Government fears them.
Orochi boldly challenged both the Celestial Dragons and the World Government due to them.
On the surface, it looks like the alliance between the Beasts Pirates and Kurozumi Orochi has complete control over the country, but under the surface, the resistance left behind by Oden still remains very powerful.
Even putting aside the Scabbards who haven't time-traveled yet, Ashura Dōji and Denjirō, who remained in this era, are forces not to be underestimated.
First off, in terms of strength, both of them have mastered Oden's dual sword style.
Ashura Dōji alone is strong enough to defeat Jack, while Denjirō is capable of clashing with Zoro. Among the Nine Red Scabbards, he's the undisputed number two.
On top of that, Ashura Dōji commands nearly a third of the country's wandering samurai and once led the Atamayama Pirates. Denjirō, not a whit weaker, operates from the shadows as both the underworld boss and Orochi's subordinate Kyoshiro. He possesses extensive intelligence on Orochi and even Onigashima. In secret, under the alias "Ushimitsu Kozo," he supports the samurai resistance.
In the events two years later, when Momonosuke and Kin'emon arrive via time travel and the group assaults Onigashima to reclaim the nation, these two play key roles in the success of that campaign.
Aside from them, Wano Country still has other significant figures:
— Tenguyama Hitetsu, who is actually the former Shogun Kozuki Sukiyaki
— Shimotsuki Yasuie, once Daimyō of Hakumai, now hiding as Tonoyasu
— Hyogoro the Flower, the former Yakuza boss of Wano with unmatched charisma
If all these individuals united, they could awaken the entire country and spark a rebellion against Orochi and Kaido.
And that's not even mentioning the hidden forces still waiting for Kozuki Toki's prophecy to be fulfilled. Add to that the Mink Tribe's Duke Inuarashi and Duke Nekomamushi, and even Izo, the 16th Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Each of these people has a formidable background and influential backing.
This is exactly why, despite knowing their identities, Kaido hasn't moved against them directly.
Because if a full conflict broke out, even if Kaido could crush them with overwhelming personal strength, his subordinates wouldn't be able to hold out, and Wano Country would descend into chaos.
Right now, the entire country is barely balanced on the edge, propped up by the alliance between the Beasts Pirates and Kurozumi Orochi. It would only take one spark to collapse everything.
And that spark is Momonosuke, who will arrive from the future two years later.
But Kaido won't just sit back and wait for that to happen.
As someone who has transmigrated into this world, he understands the old saying: before striking outward, one must first stabilize the home front. Rather than rushing to destroy the protagonist group, consolidating his own base of power is far more critical.
Especially when the ancient weapon Pluton is said to be buried beneath Wano Country.
To break this fragile balance himself and seize the initiative, Hiyori, currently living as Komurasaki, is a very interesting piece to start the game with.