Wano Country, Heavenly Abode Club.
"Gurd, you're finally back!"
"Waaahhh~~"
Yamato clung to Gurd, wailing like a banshee.
The noise gave Gurd a headache, his brows furrowing involuntarily.
"Stop crying!"
"Okay!"
Yamato immediately bit her lip, sniffed back her snot, with big teardrops hanging at the corners of her eyes, pouting in pitiful silence.
Gurd's expression softened slightly as he comforted her: "I was just away for a while, it's not like I wasn't coming back. What's with the tears?"
"I was lonely."
Yamato wiped her eyes.
This godforsaken Wano Country—she didn't want to stay another second!
She wanted freedom!
She wanted to sail out and adventure!
Gurd sighed helplessly.
Look how cooped up this kid was, like a husky trapped in a cage, bursting with energy but nowhere to let it out.
"Did you finish visiting Kintouka Shrine?"
"Yeah!"
At the mention of Kintouka Shrine, Yamato immediately perked up.
"Gurd, I saw so many shrine maidens!"
"And the head priestess—she had pointy ears and a fluffy fox tail! They say she's a messenger of the Inari God!"
"Oh, and the path up to the shrine was lined with endless Torii Gates, with cherry blossom trees planted on both sides. It was so beautiful!"
Yamato chattered excitedly about her visit to Kintouka Shrine.
Kintouka Shrine was the most important shrine in Wano Country, worshipping the Inari God, who symbolized grain and food deities, presiding over bountiful harvests. Thus, it was deeply revered by Wano's people.
Lately, the living standards of Wano's citizens had improved somewhat—at least they could fill their bellies—so the shrine was bustling with worshippers.
There were so many people!
"They must be raking in a lot of offerings, huh?"
Gurd stroked his chin.
What nonsense about a harvest god—now he was Wano's true harvest god. It was he who had filled the people's stomachs.
This was his empire—how dare divine authority overstep its bounds?
All those offerings should be his.
Later, he'd have craftsmen forge a statue of Groudon to send to Kintouka Shrine—it had to be placed in the main hall's central position!
Hmph, trying to steal his money.
And that fox priestess, pretending to be some divine messenger—she was probably a fox Mink. Given Wano's ancient ties with the Minks, it wasn't surprising to see one here.
This country still held many secrets.
When he had time, he'd settle them one by one.
But for now, he was too busy—even the executives had to queue up to drink with him. Even Queen was trying to squeeze some research funds out of him.
Yamato gazed at Gurd with hopeful eyes.
"Gurd, when are you leaving?"
"In a couple of days."
Gurd answered casually.
The fleet to suppress the rebellion was still being prepared—it would take some time. This expedition required massive supplies, especially food.
Several months had passed, and now the fields across the regions were ready for harvest again. Large quantities of grain were being transported to the warehouses.
In this war-torn world, food was the ultimate currency—more valuable than Berries when dealing with the common folk.
Yamato's eyes sparkled, her fluffy tail popping out from behind her, wagging furiously.
"Gurd, can you take me with you?"
"Take you?"
Gurd looked at the girl and nodded.
"Sure."
"Eh?!"
Yamato's brain short-circuited.
He agreed?
He was really going to let her sail out?
She thought Gurd would definitely refuse!
"Wahahaha!"
Once it sank in, the girl leaped onto Gurd in excitement, showering his face with kisses.
"Gurd! I love you so much!"
"Alright, alright."
Gurd pushed Yamato away, wiping the saliva off his face with disdain. She was already grown up—when would she ever learn to act more ladylike?
With Wano Country now stable, it didn't matter whether Yamato stayed or not. After all, she was just a figurehead who knew nothing about governing a nation.
Shimotsuki Yasuie could handle the administration. As long as the Kozuki Clan didn't return, Yasuie wouldn't dare entertain any rebellious thoughts.
Gurd's main concern was that Yamato might lose her mind from boredom. Back on Oni Island, she had either been getting beaten up or was on her way to getting beaten up—none of these current worries had existed then.
Truly, having too much leisure was a problem.
"Come take a walk with me."
"Okay!"
Ebisu Town, the harbor.
The river was packed with ships transporting grain from various regions to Ebisu Town's granaries. After being tallied, the supplies would be loaded onto the Beasts' vessels and shipped to the Submerged Port.
"The Shogun is here!"
"And Lord Gurd!"
The moment Gurd and Yamato appeared, the dockworkers immediately set aside their tasks, bowing excitedly in greeting.
In less than a year, their lives had undergone a dramatic transformation. Though their work was still hard, it was infinitely better than the suffering they had endured before.
Now, they had hope!
"Carry on with your work—don't mind us."
Gurd nodded with a smile.
Hmm, everyone's spirits seemed high.
That must mean taxes were too low—time to raise them!
When life became too comfortable, people would start developing endless worries, just like Yamato. This unhealthy trend had to be nipped in the bud.
Besides, even the Celestial Tribute had seen tax hikes these days!
The two strolled through Ebisu City.
"La la la~~"
Yamato clasped her hands behind her back, skipping cheerfully like a little girl. The thought of setting sail filled her with joy.
Then, the sound of weeping reached them from afar.
Gurd glanced over, raising an eyebrow.
"Yamato, look over there!"
"Huh?"
Yamato turned in confusion.
It was a funeral procession. At the entrance of the crematorium, the deceased's family was bidding farewell as their loved one was consigned to the flames. Both adults and children wept.
Yamato didn't understand.
"Gurd, what's wrong?"
"I heard that Kozuki Oden once used the flames from a funeral pyre to cook oden with the deceased's bones."
Gurd gave Yamato a sidelong glance, his tone casual.
"Care to follow his example?"
"Gurd, don't underestimate me!"
Yamato planted her hands on her hips, indignant.
"I'm not the same as before! I've been reading a lot—I've gotten smarter! You can't make fun of me anymore!"
"Oh~~?"
Gurd's eyes brimmed with skepticism.
Yamato snorted and turned her head away.
"I would never disrespect the dead!"
"Oden was definitely in the wrong. I won't defend him. And I know now—the Oden in my imagination isn't the same as the real Oden."
"Now, I won't obsess over becoming Kozuki Oden. I'll be myself—I'll walk my own path!"
"I've grown up!"
The girl puffed out her chest, radiating confidence.
After just eight days apart, one ought to look at her with fresh eyes!
She wasn't the same foolish idiot from her childhood anymore. She'd read so many books and learned so many important truths!
Gurd had once told her:
To become someone, you must first understand them!
Since becoming Shogun, she had gathered every account of Kozuki Oden's deeds. There were many things she admired about him—but just as many that she disliked, even despised.
She disliked gambling and fighting, disliked acting willfully and causing trouble for others, disliked eating oden atop piles of bones, and most of all disliked abandoning the people who trusted her.
She knew the difference between reckless self-indulgence and the pursuit of freedom!
She was already a mature adult!
Wahahaha!