As Kaidou and his group officially settled in the Kuri region, news of Kouzuki Oden setting sail and abdicating the position of Kuri Daimyo to the pirate Kaidou spread like wildfire among the populace. This astonishing news quickly became the hottest topic of conversation among the citizens of Wano Country during their leisure time. Discussions about it could be heard everywhere—in the streets, alleys, teahouses, and taverns.
In the busiest market of Kuri, a vendor selling miscellaneous goods mysteriously lowered his voice and said to a customer browsing his wares, "Hey, have you heard about that matter?" His rough fingers continuously rubbed the pottery on the counter, his eyes gleaming with gossipy excitement.
"What matter?" the customer asked blankly, his coin pouch still not yet put away.
"Is he perhaps talking about Lord Oden going to sea?" another customer who had been selecting goods suddenly interjected, snapping his folding fan shut with a sharp "snap," revealing his keen interest in the topic.
"What? Lord Oden went to sea? How is that possible? Going to sea is explicitly forbidden in Wano Country!" The customer's eyes widened in shock, and his coin pouch fell onto the counter with a dull thud.
"Hah, since when has Lord Oden ever cared about such prohibitions!" someone in the crowd immediately chimed in, his tone carrying a mix of teasing and resignation.
"That's right. Although Lord Oden has become much more composed these days, given his behavior in his youth, nothing he does should come as a surprise," another person added, shaking his head as if reminiscing about Oden's youthful exploits.
These remarks immediately resonated with those around them, and everyone nodded in agreement. For a moment, the market buzzed with murmurs of discussion.
"Heh heh, what I was going to say isn't about Lord Oden going to sea," the vendor who had spoken earlier chuckled mysteriously, deliberately building suspense. "It's another major piece of news about Kuri."
"What could be more significant in Kuri than Lord Oden going to sea?" someone asked, puzzled, his teacup frozen mid-air.
The vendor cautiously glanced around, making sure there were no suspicious figures nearby, then lowered his voice and said, "According to reliable sources, before setting sail, Lord Oden left a Letter of Command, abdicating the position of Daimyo of the Kuri region to a pirate named Kaidou."
"What?!"
"No way?!"
"This... this can't be true, can it?"
"That's too absurd!"
Exclamations of disbelief erupted all around. People looked at each other, their faces filled with incredulity. An old man who had been drinking tea even choked and coughed violently, spilling tea all over himself.
"I've heard about this too," another customer chimed in, gesturing as he spoke. "They say Lord Oden stole the other party's ship, so he gave up the Daimyo position as compensation."
"Nonsense!" the vendor immediately retorted, his face flushing red with agitation. "My cousin who works in Oden Castle said Lord Oden had long intended to abdicate, but his retainers stopped him, which is why he angrily set sail in frustration."
"It was clearly because he stole the ship that he abdicated!" the other person argued back just as vehemently, his voice unconsciously rising an octave.
"Enough!" An elderly merchant interrupted the argument between the two, his pipe striking the counter heavily. "This isn't the time to debate the reasons. What matters is this pirate called Kaidou!"
"That's right," a young woman said anxiously, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes. "Are we really supposed to accept a pirate as the Daimyo of Kuri?"
"Of course not!" A burly man slammed the table and stood up, causing the dishes on it to clatter. "Kuri is what it is today because of Lord Oden. I only recognize Lord Oden as our Daimyo!"
"But it was Lord Oden's command after all. Are we going to defy Lord Oden's decree?" A seemingly frail middle-aged man offered a different opinion, pushing his glasses up his nose.
"I'm only worried whether this Kaidou can govern Kuri properly. We mustn't let this place return to the lawless land it once was," an old man sighed, his eyes filled with worry, new wrinkles seeming to form between the existing ones.
Discussions rose and fell throughout the marketplace as everyone voiced their opinions. Some waved their fists angrily, some scratched their heads in confusion, while others secretly calculated their future plans. Several vendors even began packing up their stalls, as if sensing the impending turmoil.
Meanwhile, in a teahouse on the other side of the marketplace, several merchants were whispering among themselves.
"I heard that Kaidou has an entire pirate crew," a plump merchant said in a hushed voice. "They say every one of them is fierce and menacing."
"This is terrible," a tall, thin merchant wiped sweat from his forehead. "How are we supposed to do business now?"
"Maybe... we should leave Kuri early?" a third merchant suggested.
"Go where?" the plump merchant smiled bitterly. "The news has already spread. Soon the entire Land of Wano will know about this. Let's wait and see the situation then?"
Back in the center of the marketplace, the debate continued. A farmer in worn-out clothes pushed through the crowd and said loudly, "I don't care about pirates or not! I just want to know if this year's harvest will be protected! With Lord Oden gone, who will protect our fields?"
"That's right," a woman chimed in. "My children are still young. If we return to the chaotic days of the past..."
A sense of unease gradually permeated the crowd. Some began packing their belongings to leave, while others continued to argue vehemently. Several children, not understanding what was happening, watched the adults and hid behind their parents, frightened by the sudden tension.
Just then, a noble-looking man in lavish clothing rode past the marketplace on horseback. The people immediately fell silent, looking at him with hopeful eyes. But the man merely scanned the crowd coldly before spurring his horse away, leaving the citizens even more bewildered.
"It seems even those in power don't know what to do," an old man shook his head and sighed. "Kuri is truly about to change."
As the sun set in the west, the marketplace's clamor gradually subsided, but the doubts and unease in people's hearts only grew deeper. This news was like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples throughout the Kuri region that were spreading at an alarming rate across the entire Land of Wano. Everyone was pondering the same question: What would become of Kuri's future?
In a farmhouse on the outskirts of Kuri, several farmers gathered around a fireplace, discussing the news with grave expressions.
"Old Li, what should we do?" asked a wrinkled old farmer, his rough fingers nervously rubbing tobacco leaves.
"What can we do?" sighed the middle-aged man called Old Li. "We farmers fear unrest the most. Lord Oden finally brought stability to Kuri, and now..."
"I heard that Kaidou is a ruthless demon who kills without blinking," a young man interjected, his eyes flashing with fear. "They say he can destroy an entire city single-handedly."
"Don't talk nonsense!" Old Li snapped sharply. "Don't spread such baseless rumors."
"But..." the young man tried to continue, only to be cut off by Old Li's wave.
"The most important thing now is to remain calm," Old Li said solemnly. "No matter who becomes the Daimyo, we common folks still have to live our lives."
Elsewhere in Kuri, several samurai were drinking in a tavern. Their expressions were more complex than those of ordinary civilians, mixing both anger and confusion.
"This is utterly disgraceful!" a young samurai slammed the table and stood up. "Letting a Pirate become the Daimyo - is there no law left in Wano Country?"
"Keep your voice down," an older samurai pulled him back to his seat. "The situation is unclear right now, don't act rashly."
"But Master, should we just stand by and watch?" the young samurai asked unwillingly.
The older samurai remained silent for a moment before whispering, "Lord Oden must have his reasons for doing this. As samurai, our first duty is to follow orders."
"But..."
"No buts," the older samurai said sternly. "Don't jump to conclusions before we understand the truth of the matter."
Late at night, many households in the Kuri region still had their lights on. People tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The impact of this news was too great, leaving many unable to accept this reality.
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