The entire square fell into an absolute, deathly silence.
Watching Hiyori's every majestic word and action, each member of the Akazaya Nine was deeply moved. This was especially true for Kin'emon, who had always stubbornly championed Momonosuke to become Wano's Shogun. Even though the boy was still young, Kin'emon had prepared everything necessary to push him onto the throne.
That lifelong preparation was the only reason he had harbored a lingering sliver of resistance toward Hiyori inheriting the Shogunate. But it was nothing more than a passing reservation in his heart. Lady Hiyori, like Lord Momonosuke, was a true heir of the Kozuki bloodline. Now that Momonosuke was gone, it was only fitting that Lady Hiyori should inherit the Shogunate of Wano.
At this moment, the exact same thought resonated within every single member of the Akazaya. No matter the hardships ahead, they could not bear to leave Hiyori to anchor this treacherous political landscape entirely on her own. Even though they felt ten thousand deaths could not redeem their guilt, they silently swore an oath in their hearts: they would do whatever it took to ensure Lady Hiyori truly solidified her seat as the Shogun of Wano.
Uproar!
Suddenly, a massive commotion rippled through the crowd below. The Akazaya instinctively shifted their gazes down.
Before them, the citizens who had assembled from every blighted corner of Wano bore expressions of unbridled, incandescent ecstasy. Some were even screaming and cheering, entirely unable to contain their overwhelming excitement.
Hiyori's words had cut directly to the core of the suffering endured by Wano's lowest classes. Her newly minted decrees were engineered specifically for their survival and reconstruction. The common folk knew full well that the emergency food rations distributed by the Akazaya a few days prior could not sustain them for long. Food scarcity was the absolute number-one crisis strangling the Land of Wano.
Countless ordinary citizens had traveled to this grand inauguration with nothing more than a faint glimmer of hope. They had been plagued by uncertainty, having no way of knowing what kind of stance this newly instated Shogun would take toward the country. Would she prove to be just another tyrant like Orochi?
Reality had delivered a definitive answer. Hiyori truly, deeply cared for the future of Wano; she would undoubtedly reign as a wise and benevolent sovereign.
The massive crowd erupted into wild celebration. In stark contrast, the elite nobles who harbored deep dissatisfaction regarding the decree didn't dare utter a single syllable of protest. Even if they disregarded the immense sea of citizens supporting Lady Hiyori, the mere presence of the Akazaya samurai meant they wouldn't dare voice a single shred of opposition.
At this stage, Lady Hiyori's ascension to the Shogunate was completely unstoppable. The nobles could only resign themselves to their fate; if they behaved obediently, they might still retain their current social standing. But if they dared to incur Lady Hiyori's wrath...
Staring up at the young woman who faced the enormous gathering with absolute, unyielding composure, a cold shiver ran down the spines of the old aristocracy. Lady Hiyori, who had vanished twenty years ago, had suddenly materialized to claim her birthright. Her every movement radiated the natural majesty of a born sovereign, commanding their absolute submission.
"Twenty years ago, Kurozumi Orochi conspired with an overseas pirate, Kaido of the Beasts, to launch a treacherous assault against the Kozuki clan. My father died a brutal death by boiling."
"From that day forward, the Land of Wano was plunged into an exceptionally dark age—an era that broke the spirits of our entire population."
"But from this moment on, that blighted era is gone, never to return!"
"We shall usher in a reborn Land of Wano. Furthermore, I have one final decree to broadcast to the world."
"The Land of Wano shall open its borders!"
The monumental declaration left the entire assembly thoroughly shell-shocked.
Onigashima.
Following the definitive conclusion of the war, the island fortress had transformed into a staging ground for the pirate alliance. Ace, Drake, Luffy, Kid, and Law were all gathered here.
Roughly six days had passed since the final lines of battle were drawn. When Ace had descended from the sky at the climax of the conflict, Big Mom was already gone; she had fled the island. The broken forces of the Beast Pirates had been thoroughly dismantled and exiled from the borders of Wano. Those subordinates who actively desired to remain behind were systematically integrated into Wano's newly organizing defense forces. After all, the nation was currently in a state of total reconstruction, so the alliance was more than happy to absorb whatever military strength they could salvage.
As for Kaido, he had been bound securely alongside two of his All-Stars. The three powerhouses were currently incarcerated deep within the subterranean dungeons of Onigashima. The rest of their crew had been cleanly expelled from the country, with a single, unique exception: X Drake of the Tobi Roppo.
Holding onto him would serve a strategic purpose later on. Drake knew full well that this man was a covert operative for the Marines. Under the current global climate, maintaining custody of him was the wisest course of action. The World Government was irrevocably positioned as their ultimate adversary, but the Marines didn't necessarily share a unified heart with the Gorosei. Furthermore, Sabo and the Revolutionary Army had likely already initiated their own operations...
At this very moment, an unprecedented, colossal celebration was unfolding across the expanse of Onigashima. The entire island blazed with the light of countless bonfires, filled with a massive gathering of pirates and Wano's samurai.
Immense quantities of roasted meat, food, and alcohol were continuously brought out as the crowd cheered with absolute abandon. Yet, amidst the roaring festivities, one particular corner of the clearing remained locked in a somber, heavy silence.
It was the Straw Hat Pirates.
Momonosuke's sudden assassination had delivered a profound psychological shock to the crew. Nami and Robin, in particular, had wept continuously over the last few days. The rest of the crew sat in a state of quiet, brooding reflection.
A child like Momonosuke, swept away in the gears of a war like this...
BANG!
Luffy suddenly slammed both hands onto the table, his face twisted into a mask of pure, incandescent fury.
"That damn pigeon guy actually killed Momo! It's unforgivable!"
"The next time our paths cross, I'm going to take him down with my own two hands!"
"MOMOOO!!" Luffy suddenly bellowed at the top of his lungs.
Zoro and the others remained silent. They shared his exact sentiment; Momonosuke had journeyed alongside them for a substantial period of time. None of them had ever anticipated that Rob Lucci would execute such a ruthless, sudden strike against a child.
"Luffy..."
Drake walked over quietly, placing a steady, reassuring hand on Luffy's shoulder. Simultaneously, he handed him a massive piece of meat on the bone.
"Here. Eat up. You'll need your strength to fight. Rob Lucci's physical prowess is indeed exceptionally high. You must push yourself to become much stronger, otherwise overcoming him in the future will prove to be an uphill battle."
"Drake..." Luffy's expression flickered with a volatile mix of grief and resolve. He understood the raw power the pigeon guy wielded; clearly, the assassin had undergone a major evolution since their duel two years ago.
Chomp!
Luffy snatched the meat and began tearing into it with frantic, massive bites.
Crunch... chew...
In a matter of moments, the massive portion—including the bone itself—was completely devoured.
"Everyone! It's time for a banquet! The greatest banquet in history!" Luffy suddenly turned and screamed at the Straw Hat crew.
"Today, we celebrate our absolute victory in this war and Jinbe formally joining our crew! Bottoms up!"
"Luffy..." Nami clamped a hand over her lips, a fresh wave of moisture welling at the corners of her eyes.
The rest of the crew stared blankly at their captain.
"What's with the long faces? If you won't start, I'll go first!" With those words, Luffy raised his tankard and poured the alcohol straight down his throat.
Gulp... gulp... gulp...
"Jinbe! Drink up! This toast is specifically to celebrate you joining us!" Setting his empty mug down, Luffy immediately turned to face the helmsman.
"Luffy..." Jinbe opened his mouth to speak, but in the end, the words faltered.
"He's right, Jinbe. Drink up," Zoro suddenly cut in.
Without a second's hesitation, Zoro hoisted a massive barrel of booze, draining it in a single, continuous draft.
The rest of the crew locked eyes with their comrades for a lingering beat, before casting their gazes down toward their own tankards. Closing their eyes in unison, they threw their heads back and drank it all down.
Standing nearby, Drake remained silent, slowly raising his own cup to drink it clean. Though Luffy and the Straw Hats hadn't spoken the words aloud, Drake understood perfectly: this collective toast was dedicated entirely to the memory of Momonosuke.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the clearing, Ace gently wrapped his arms around Yamato. At this moment, Yamato appeared entirely hollowed out, looking as though her very soul had deserted her physical vessel.
Because in her mind... her own son had been murdered.
Ace offered no empty words of comfort. Adopting the identity of Kozuki Oden had been Yamato's absolute, driving dream for as long as she could remember. Momonosuke's sudden death had undoubtedly dealt a catastrophic blow to her psychological stability.