At the banquet, Shimotsuki Toramaru noticed Oden had already blended in with Brook's crew, getting along like old pals!
Oden seemed dead set on sailing this time, beaming with excitement. In his mind, Shimotsuki Toramaru pondered whether to convince Sukiyaki to let Oden venture out for some real-world experience.
After all, clashing head-on with Brook would spell doom for the mansion!
If Oden thrived in Brook's group, he'd likely inherit Wano someday. Shimotsuki Toramaru hoped Sukiyaki wouldn't make a fatal mistake.
Suddenly, commotion erupted from the Heart Forge below the Golden Ark. The Oden's Court Bannin had arrived!
"Lord Oden, you've crossed the line this time. The shogun orders us to bring you back. Don't make this worse!"
Captain Shizo didn't dare storm the legendary Golden Ark, so he shouted from below. Thankfully, the ship hovered low over Kozaburo's home, letting his voice carry to everyone aboard.
"Forget it! Go home! I'm sailing out—don't bug me!"
Oden leaned over the Ark's railing, barking back at the persistent Bannin. Returning was out of the question; he wouldn't rest until he'd explored the seas!
Seeing this, Captain Shizo grew anxious. Should they force an assault?
But that terrifying scar in the clouds from afar—they'd seen it on their way and pieced together it was Brook's handiwork.
It dwarfed Newgate's mountain-splitting slash last time. How could he fight the Hell Pirates?
As Shizo wrestled with the decision, Shimotsuki Toramaru leaped down, whispering in his ear before grabbing his Den Den Mushi and stepping aside to contact Sukiyaki in the Flower Capital!
This eased Shizo's tension—no more bearing the blame!
What would the great Shimotsuki Toramaru say to the Shogun?
"What? The Nidai Kitetsu and Sandai Kitetsu were melted down to forge Brook a near-divine weapon??"
Sukiyaki nearly spat blood at the news. The Nidai Kitetsu, a relic from his ancestors—gone. And his own creation, the Sandai Kitetsu—vanished too!
"Sukiyaki, now that it's done, there's no undoing it. Blame the Tenguyama clan's bad luck. But how did you end up with both Kitetsu blades? And how did Oden steal them?"
Shimotsuki Toramaru didn't realize Sukiyaki was Tenguyama Hitetsu himself, assuming he'd collected the demon swords at a high price from the Tenguyama family!
"Bring that ungrateful brat back! I swear I'll kill him!"
Sukiyaki roared into the Den Den Mushi. Losing the Sandai Kitetsu was bad enough, but destroying the ancestral Nidai? Unforgivable!
"Sukiyaki, calm down. It might not be possible. Brook's likely agreed to take Oden sailing. We couldn't stop him if we tried. Why not let Oden experience the world? Seeing the harsh realities out there might make him grow up."
Shimotsuki Toramaru braced himself. Truth be told, he yearned to sail too, but Wano's isolation policy forbade it.
Would Sukiyaki bend the rules for his son?
...
Hearing this, Sukiyaki fell silent on the other end, sending a chill through Shimotsuki Toramaru.
"Toramaru, I declare it now: I'm severing ties with Oden! From here on, whether he sails or not is none of the Shogun's concern!"
Sukiyaki's voice turned ice-cold. It was his only option—he couldn't abandon Wano's isolation policy. The secret of Pluton must stay buried!
Opening the borders would invite exposure—the more people, the greater the risk!
And Toramaru was right: bottling Oden up might backfire. Better to let him face the world's cruelty and hope he returned wiser, appreciating Sukiyaki's sacrifices!
"Sukiyaki, you can't! Oden's your only son—Wano's future depends on him!"
Shimotsuki Toramaru was stunned. Sukiyaki would forsake his heir to uphold isolation? That dashed Toramaru's own dreams of sailing.
"My mind's made up! Tell Oden that. I'll announce to the nation: I have no such son! Call back the samurai!"
Sukiyaki hung up the Den Den Mushi, pondered briefly, then drafted the decree severing ties with Oden.
He clung to hope that Oden would mature and return to safeguard the legacy, protecting Pluton.
Meanwhile, he needed an heir—time to try for a backup, in case Oden met his end at sea!
...
Back at the Ark, Shimotsuki Toramaru reluctantly relayed Sukiyaki's command, dismissing the Bannin to the Flower Capital, and broke the news to Oden!
But Oden, the fool, didn't care about being disowned. If anything, it freed him from his chains!
At last, he could roam the seas unbound!
Even Shimotsuki Toramaru couldn't stand it—he pummeled Oden before storming off in a huff!
"Yohoho! Oden, as they say, 'Once a teacher, always a father.' From now on, I'm your dad. Go on, call me Papa!"
Brook eyed Oden's bruised face from Toramaru's beating. Instead of sympathy, he chuckled and tossed him a Blood Crystal Dandelion.
"Eat up—it'll heal you right away! See? Your old man's good to you. Stick with me, and we'll conquer the vast seas!"
Brook watched Oden snatch the dandelion mid-air, admiring his potential and resilience—on par with Kaido's!
From here on, Oden would be Brook's reliable enforcer!
He might even carve out a legend alongside Kaido!
As for your future wife, Toki... well, I'll handle that for you!
And Oden, maybe skip marriage and kids altogether—that way, no chance of Momonosuke ever existing!
...
Once Oden's wounds healed, the Golden Ark soared toward Kuri's Hailou Town. Time to reward the loyal crew!
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+400 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg