Sitting on the highest skull throne, the newly appointed "Light Calamity" Who's-Who sat next to the three other Calamities.
Queen was eating meat and gulping down alcohol, though he made sure to drink a bowl of red bean soup every now and then.
Even though his wounds were still healing, he still lifted a barrel of liquor and stumbled over to clink glasses.
"Kid... next time, you will not be so lucky!" Queen's eyes showed a hint of a challenge, his lips curling up slightly.
"I will return those exact words to you." Who's-Who's golden eyes shined in the firelight, showing deep determination and confidence.
"Once I have fully mastered this Devil Fruit, the first thing I will do is tear apart that scrap metal of yours."
"It seems enemies are always meant to meet. This is getting more and more interesting."
A quiet chuckle came from under King's mask, no one could guess what he was thinking.
Jack silently poured alcohol into his mouth with a look of worry in his eyes.
With Who's-Who becoming the fourth Calamity, who knew if this would bring good luck or disaster.
Kaido watched the scene, a happy smirk lifting the corners of his mouth.
This kind of fierce rivalry was the true source of the Beasts Pirates' strength.
To him, only through fighting each other could these men keep growing stronger, making sure the Beasts Pirates became even more powerful in this cruel pirate world!
...
The loud noise of the party echoed through the great hall of Onigashima.
The clinking of bronze cups and the pirates' loud laughter were annoying to hear.
Yet Yamato stood alone on the balcony, her fingers gently touching the cold rust on the railing.
Behind her mask, her eyes looked down at the bright party below.
The shaking torches stretched and twisted the shadows, making them look like a swarm of centipedes crawling across the stone floor.
She gripped the handle of the Ama no Habakiri tightly.
Her knuckles turned white, and cold sweat leaked from her palm, dripping down the grooves of the sword guard.
Moonlight shined through the clouds, lighting up the faint flower patterns stitched onto her kimono sleeves, making them shine every now and then.
"Such pointless fighting..." she whispered, her voice full of clear disgust.
If she did not have to keep her role as Shogun to protect the people of Wano, she would never step foot in this bloody hellhole.
The bloodstains from cutting down rebels here three months ago were still stuck in the cracks of the stone.
They had dried into dark brown crusts that gave off a rusty, metallic smell whenever the wind blew.
Yamato suddenly remembered the fish soup brought from the kitchen at noon.
That idiot Queen had actually put chili peppers in it—that thick-skulled fool probably had his taste buds ruined by alcohol.
The night breeze blew against her kimono sleeve, showing the scars on her wrist from her handcuffs that had not fully healed yet.
Those crisscrossing marks wrapped around her pale skin like snakes—proof of the years she spent locked up by Kaido.
Even though she was free now, she had just moved to a bigger cage.
It was like jumping from a wolf's den into a snake's pit, only this time, the chains were made of fancy silk.
"Kawamatsu..."
Thinking of the Red Scabbard samurai still locked up deep in the prison mine, Yamato's heart felt like it was being squeezed by an unseen hand.
The rice balls she had secretly sent last week were brought back with the wrapping paper still neatly folded at the corners—it was clear the guards had never even given him the food.
She remembered how Kawamatsu always liked to wrap an extra layer of seaweed around his pickled plum rice balls, saying it was a better taste for a warrior.
Now, that rough laugh seemed to echo in her ears again. It mixed with the dripping sounds from the mine tunnels, looping endlessly in her mind.
Suddenly, a burst of loud, wild laughter exploded from below, like boiling water poured onto an anthill.
A drunk Queen, stepping on a barrel, jumped onto the main party table.
Speaking into the microphone in his mouth, he spit out terrible rap lyrics while shaking his head, throwing sweat drops everywhere.
His silly dance moves made the drinks in the cups shake, sending the pirates into fits of crazy laughter.
"Come on, come on! Let's get this party started! I am Queen, the singing, dancing, rapping Queen—the best performer!"
But Yamato's eyes focused on Who's-Who, who was drinking by himself.
Even though the new "Light Calamity" wore a smile, she did not miss the cold look in his eyes—it was the same hungry look a poisonous snake had when staring at a frog.
"Maybe..." She touched the secret letter hidden in her clothes.
Its rough edges left red marks on her fingertips.
It was a sad letter written in blood by the people of the Flower Capital.
It explained how taxes had gotten so high that people had to eat tree bark just to stay alive, and workers in the factories almost never lived past three years.
She thought about the old woman she had met in a dark alley near the city gate last week.
Her skinny, branch-like fingers held onto the blood-stained letter covered in names, and her fingernails were still stained blue from the factory dye.
Taking a deep breath, Yamato made her choice.
She fixed her clothes and walked confidently toward the party hall.
The sound of her wooden sandals hitting the stone floor was sharp and clear, like a sword being pulled from its case.
Wherever she walked, the pirates quickly moved out of the way.
They did this not only to respect her as the "Shogun," but also because they were terrified of her history of fighting Kaido one-on-one.
A young pirate wearing a skull bandana could not move out of the way in time.
He was brushed by the edge of her clothes and instantly fell to his knees in pure fear.
His wine jug tipped over, leaving a dark stain on the fancy rug.
"Light Calamity." Yamato stopped in front of Who's-Who, her voice sounding neither overly polite nor bossy.
The shaking candlelight threw dancing shadows across her mask, making the lines around her nose look deeper.
"May I speak with you in private?"
Who's-Who's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
He looked over at the drunk Queen nearby, and a playful smile appeared on his lips.
His long fingers traced circles around the top of his glass, the ice cubes making soft clinking sounds against the sides.
"How could I say no to an order from the Shogun?"
As he spoke, he suddenly leaned forward, and the two of them moved to a side room.
The torches on the stone walls shook in the cross-breeze, their flames bouncing between light and dark.
Yamato got right to the point. "I know you and Queen do not get along."
She took off her mask, showing a serious and determined face.
The moonlight created sharp shadows falling from her brow bone.
"I can help you gather secrets about his laboratory. In return... I want you to help me rescue Kawamatsu. He is currently locked up in Udon."
"Oh? You want me to help you save Kawamatsu?" Who's-Who suddenly let out a soft laugh.
His fingertips let off tiny sparks as they rubbed the edge of his glass, making the glowing, gold-like liquid slowly drip down the side.
"Do not be foolish, Shogun." As he leaned closer, the skull necklace hanging from his neck began to glow with a creepy light.
"Kawamatsu is a leftover member of the Nine Red Scabbards. Why would I ever save an enemy?"
He said no with his words, but the sword at his waist let out a quiet humming sound.
Then, as if he just had an idea, Who's-Who hid half of his face behind his cup.
"The Shogun has been quite busy lately, dealing with things like lowering taxes for the people in the Flower Capital..."
He purposely dragged out the last word, watching as Yamato's shoulders instantly tightened up.
Yamato's whole body went stiff, but then Who's-Who suddenly slipped a piece of paper into her hand.
The note still held the warmth of his hand.
Its burned edges still showed the marks from a light-blade's heat.
"Midnight tonight, the abandoned mine on the east side."
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