It was prepared for those who have made a meritorious performance. Although Kojiro hasn't achieved any battle merits, as the first local person in Wano Kuni to surrender and having helped Hundred Beasts achieve considerable accomplishments in Wano Kuni, he can also be considered a person of merit.
In theory, giving him some ability is not unreasonable. During this period, the Hundred Beasts Pirate Crew has collected quite a few ordinary Zoan-type Fruits.
Moreover, if Kojiro really encounters trouble, finding another suitable person wouldn't be easy. Enhancing his self-preservation ability is indeed necessary.
"No, that's not what I meant. Could you please modify Little Ka?"
With that, he lifted his Shiba Inu. The dog was already twelve years old, as he'd raised it since childhood, and now it's an old dog. Without some external intervention, it might leave him within a year or two.
As a local who joined the Hundred Beasts Pirate Crew, he knew where those Tauros and Miltank came from, and the second generation cattle termed "和牛" were already appearing on the tables of Wano Kuni's nobility.
Having encountered those species, he could perceive that the modified cattle were much stronger and healthier than the native breeds of Wano Kuni. The diseases that usually affect ordinary calves did not occur in these cattle with Tauros lineage.
"Little Ka is smart. This time, it was the first to notice those assassins. If Little Ka could become stronger, I'd be much safer."
"Your current actions can only earn you one reward. Do you really want to give it to this dog?"
"Can it live longer?"
"Of course."
Pokemon generally have a much longer lifespan compared to ordinary animals. Some special Pokemon have extraordinarily long lives, enough to be considered heirlooms passed down through generations.
"Then please help modify Little Ka."
Since Kojiro requested this, there was no refusal. A red energy hand lifted the Shiba Inu.
"Little Ka... then become a true Little Ka." Crimson energy infused into the Shiba Inu, turning its originally yellow fur to red, with patterns emerging.
The fur on its chest and head became more lush, and before long, as the energy dissipated, a Growlithe appeared, permanently modified like the Tauros.
Little Ka seemed not yet accustomed to its new body, but it could feel that its body had become stronger, and the weakness brought by aging had vanished. This Shiba Inu was now reborn as a Growlithe.
"Woof woof!"
"Hmm, get along well with your master. Remember to protect him in the future."
It had already been doing that. Originally, the elderly Shiba Inu seldom played with Kojiro, as his stamina couldn't support daily play with it.
However, now full of energy once more, it was frenziedly licking Kojiro.
"You'll be staying on Ghost Island for a while. Your businesses should run smoothly without you."
"No problem in the short term but not for too long."
"That's enough. By the way, I heard your family name used to be Sasaki and you come from a swordsmanship household?"
"This… I only heard it from my grandfather; I'm not sure if it's true." He didn't anticipate his boasting would travel here, underestimating their control over Ghost Island.
"There should be some foundation. Train with others during this time, and see how your skills measure up."
Saying this, he finalized Kojiro's next arrangements.
"Shaina, give him the information related to the Hundred Beasts Fruit."
Kojiro emerged from under Little Ka, receiving a thick pile of records. The Hundred Beasts Fruit business was expanding, but now it faced a shortage of commercial talent.
If Kojiro does have the capability, tasks can gradually be delegated to him.
"Work hard; as long as you have the ability, there won't be any shortage of what you deserve."
...
Kojiro was sent to a room on Ghost Island, which was still quite spacious. In designing Ghost Island, many things were considered, so even the Giant Race could roam here, not to mention allocating a room for one person and a dog.
"Master Beast, we obtained the news, but those two had no valuable information. They were just ordinary street thugs, not even under the same boss.
They uniformly claimed that a mysterious person in a straw hat offered 500 gold for Kojiro's head."
Though they knew Kojiro was backed by the Hundred Beasts Pirate Crew, the lure of profit tempted them. As long as they could kill him and destroy the body, their movements would remain undetected.
Oil was even found among them. Wano Kuni's wooden structures would be incinerated, leaving nothing.
Though lacking detailed information, their backer isn't complex; either a jealous merchant or Kurozumi Orochi since Kojiro's business ventures have been taking his money.
Kurozumi Orochi dared not openly confront Hundred Beasts but could still be making covert moves.
"Hand these two over to Kurozumi Orochi. Within days, I want public execution news from Flower Capital."
Attempted murder, though Kojiro remains unharmed, still warrants death. Hundred Beasts' leniency shouldn't be taken as softness—cooperation benefits all, but defiance or such actions can't be tolerated.
If incidents aren't severely dealt with, the Hundred Beasts Pirate Crew's dignity in Wano Kuni would diminish.
Turning it over to Orochi serves to test his reactions.
Even if he can endure it, if he's behind this, traces will eventually show.
"Understood. Master Beast, our investigation indicates that most thugs in Flower Capital are led by Hyogoro, who is seen as a hero and spiritual role model among Wano Kuni's underworld.
Even thugs from other villages respect him, seeing him as a hero. If he could be made to comply, then thugs might no longer wish to engage in such acts."
A special product blossomed from Wano Kuni's background—the yakuza, composed of complex elements like ordinary thugs surviving by exploiting communities.
But figures like Hyogoro's group formed a kind of civil organization. Despite having no official status, he conversed with several Daimyos, and his men swiftly handled village affairs.
During natural disasters, they even led relief efforts.
Hyogoro held a high position, garnering respect from many civilians.