A few days ago, Tsuru had called Hiroto to inform him about Moria coming for revenge.
Since then, he had been waiting for this opportunity.
Slaughtering Moria offered simply too many benefits: Distortion energy gains, and the profit from using [Gluttony] on Moria himself.
Most importantly, this achievement would allow him to secure a key victory in his goal of becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, turning the tables on the Marines.
Hiroto had seen through all of Tsuru's little maneuvers and calculations along the way. However, because the initiative was in the other party's hands, he chose to postpone dealing with it. That didn't mean he would always let them hold the reins.
And now, he already had a plan to turn the tables.
The merchants on the island that faced Krieg's attack played a major role in this. Through den den mushi and these connections, Hiroto had control over intelligence for almost half of the East Blue.
This included Loguetown, where the newly arrived Marine Vice Admiral Dalmatian was stationed, and exactly where Moria was currently rampaging.
And Issho was an indispensable part of this plan.
Hiroto said, "I'm going to kill Moria now. When can you arrive?"
"You're going to make a move on Moria?" Surprise flashed in Issho's eyes.
After all, Moria was a long-renowned pirate with a fearsome reputation. While it was nothing to him, for Hiroto, judging from their previous clash, there was still a certain gap between him and Moria.
However, Issho could hear the absolute certainty in Hiroto's voice.
He didn't pour cold water on the idea, but instead said, "Right now."
The call ended.
Koushirou, who had been watching from the side without a word, widened his eyes. "You just agreed like that?"
Seven Warlords of the Sea...
He had once met another Warlord who held that same title.
Back then, that person wasn't the World's Strongest Swordsman, nor a Warlord. But he was now.
Using that as a reference, Koushirou had an estimate of the level of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Even if Moria's strength couldn't possibly be as great as Mihawk's, he likely wouldn't be weak. Based on his impression of Hiroto's strength, he should be far from capable of dealing with Moria.
Thinking of this, Koushirou became a bit anxious. Even if it was a case of 'one willing to strike and the other willing to suffer,' he still felt some master-disciple affection for Hiroto. Moreover, Zoro was with Hiroto, so he would inevitably face Moria as well.
"I trust my own eyes."
Issho didn't answer directly, but said with a serious expression, "I also trust him. Old friend, what about you?"
"..."
The originally anxious Koushirou frowned slightly, looking at his serious and earnest friend.
He pondered for a moment and then said, "Take me with you. I won't interfere. How about it?"
This was actually a roundabout way of saying no.
"Hahaha, didn't I hear you say earlier that you have a jar of authentic shochu at home, made with the old techniques of Wano Country?" Issho laughed.
A gambler at heart, he seemed to have found some interest.
"Then let's make a bet. A bet on our eyes, and a bet on your shochu."
"You trust Hiroto that much?" Koushirou was truly surprised this time.
What exactly did his friend 'see' during his first contact with Hiroto to make him so convinced?
"Are you betting or not?" Issho was straightforward.
"Fine."
Koushirou knew there must be information he wasn't aware of. Maybe Moria wasn't as strong as he estimated, maybe he had been broken by his old friend, or maybe Hiroto was even more incredible than he had previously anticipated.
There were many 'maybes'.
But if he could see what made Issho so certain, if he could see the incredible side of Hiroto that he hadn't noticed before...
He felt it was worth it—it was just a jar of shochu, after all.
Moreover...
Koushirou's gaze shifted, falling on Shusui enshrined on the indoor altar.
He could feel the dissatisfaction emanating from that blade after being enshrined.
As a swordsman from a long-standing swordsmanship family, Koushirou knew very well that this was the dissatisfaction of Shusui's sword spirit.
This shouldn't be happening.
A master chooses the sword, and the sword chooses the master. When the master dies, the sword is buried—that is the natural order.
Furthermore, Shusui had been enshrined in Wano Country's national shrine for centuries, honored as a national treasure. Its duty had shifted from killing to being a ceremonial vessel symbolizing protection.
But why was there such a huge change?
Unless...
What exactly happened in Wano Country?
Koushirou had a faint, ominous suspicion, but he shook his head to suppress the unpleasant thought.
He considered other possibilities. Perhaps the blade itself couldn't stand the loneliness?
But to have such a strong reaction... it definitely wasn't because of Issho.
To cause Shusui's sword spirit to react so intensely, it must have encountered an extremely compatible master.
Looking at it now, the only possibility was Hiroto.
Coincidentally, Issho's evaluation of Hiroto was incredibly high.
All these factors combined became the reason Koushirou decided to take the bet.
'Let me see, Hiroto, what exactly is your 'incredible' quality and Shusui... what are you thirsting for?'