In that instant, the air seemed to freeze into solid ice.
Everyone appeared immobilized by a binding spell, unable to move.
Momonosuke's pupils sharply contracted, like a calm lake surface struck by a massive stone, rippling with layers of terror. His lips trembled uncontrollably.
"Huh?"
This sudden question made everyone hold their breath.
Yamato's club slipped from her grasp again.
"What?! Child of Prophecy?!"
Her voice brimmed with shock and confusion, her already wide eyes now rounder than ever, as if witnessing the most unbelievable thing in the world.
Amid the deathly silence, Kin'emon's eyes suddenly came alive. He quickly calculated in his heart - this was a perfect excuse!
With such a narrative, it'd be much easier to make people accept the difficult decision to submit to the Eternal Divine Kingdom!
He then began frantically signaling to Momonosuke, his eyebrows nearly flying off his forehead, his lips silently mouthing with urgent desperation.
"Say yes! Say yes!"
Momonosuke's Adam's apple bobbed up and down as if pulled by invisible strings, each movement reflecting the struggle and tension deep within him.
Fine beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead, slowly trickling down his face, dampening the hair across his brow.
In the midst of that silence, Momonosuke's eyes revealed a desperate attempt to comprehend.
After what seemed like an eternity, as if suddenly enlightened, he straightened his previously somewhat hunched back.
At this moment, his voice was surprisingly steady:
"Indeed... I also believe that Lord Ron, the ruler of the Eternal Divine Kingdom, is the prophesied person we've long awaited."
These words were like a massive boulder suddenly cast into a mirror-still water surface, instantly stirring ripples that spread in concentric circles.
Komurasaki's cypress fan clattered to the floor as her hands flew to cover her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes, swirling for a moment before streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks.
Her voice trembled with emotion:
"Really... it's truly..."
"Twenty years later, someone would come to save the Land of Wano." Momonosuke's voice grew increasingly fluent, each word imbued with a special magic, even carrying a hint of sacredness.
He slowly raised his hand, pointing toward the window where the Beasts Pirates were collapsing in defeat.
"Look outside—isn't this exactly what the prophecy foretold?"
Upon hearing this, Denjiro jolted as if struck by lightning, his voice shaking with excitement.
"So that's it! No wonder Lord Ron suddenly descended upon the Land of Wano and annihilated the Beasts Pirates with such thunderous force!"
His eyes widened, gleaming with fanatical light as he envisioned the future hope for the Land of Wano.
Komurasaki was now weeping uncontrollably, her originally exquisite makeup now smeared and ruined by tears.
Her body trembled slightly as she kept murmuring. "Mother's prophecy... has finally come true..."
Yamato stood there dumbfounded—the legendary child of prophecy had finally appeared!
This news struck like a bolt from the blue, shaking her to the core.
Her eyes revealed an expression of disbelief, her mouth slightly agape but unable to form words.
When her gaze turned to Izo, she found that even this usually composed gunman was equally shocked, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Izo's eyes were filled with confusion and astonishment—clearly he hadn't expected Ron to be the child of prophecy either!
At this moment, Kin'emon keenly sensed the shift in atmosphere and promptly declared in a loud voice.
"This is the formal recognition of the Kozuki family! Lord Ron is the child of prophecy we've been waiting for!"
He deliberately emphasized the words "formal recognition," leaving no room for doubt.
The entire room suddenly erupted in excitement. Amid this frenzied atmosphere, only a few noticed that Momonosuke's hands beneath his wide sleeves were trembling uncontrollably.
Komurasaki rushed to Momonosuke's side, crying like a child.
"How wonderful... truly wonderful... The child of prophecy has come to save the Land of Wano!"
Immersed in joy, she failed to see that her brother's expression was more pained than tearful.
Momonosuke forced a smile, but it appeared stiff and strained.
Kin'emon quietly retreated to a corner, his figure shrouded in shadow as he silently watched these ecstatic people, countless thoughts swirling in his heart.
Suddenly, he understood—sometimes, a beautiful lie can indeed provide more strength than a cruel truth.
In this moment filled with suffering and hope, perhaps this lie could become a guiding light in the hearts of the Land of Wano's people, illuminating their path forward.
"Hahaha! So that's it!" Yamato suddenly burst into laughter that echoed through the room.
Her eyes sparkled with amazing brilliance as she heavily slapped Momonosuke's shoulder with enough force to make him stagger.
Yet this slap also relaxed Momonosuke's previously stiff body.
"Momonosuke, how could you wait until now to mention something so important!" Yamato exclaimed excitedly, brandishing her kanabo.
The metal wolf's head glinted with fervent light under the candlelight.
While swinging the kanabo, she perfectly imitated Oden's tone and even his exaggerated gestures.
"Lord Oden's diary mentioned it countless times—'Twenty years hence, nine shadows shall arrive, heralding the dawn!'"
Momonosuke was caught off guard by this sudden enthusiasm, standing frozen in place with a hint of panic and confusion in his eyes.
Then Yamato suddenly dropped to one knee, the impact with the floor producing a soft thud.
Her upturned gaze toward Momonosuke burned so intensely it seemed to ignite the air around them, filled with unwavering loyalty.
"I swear by the name of Kozuki Oden! From this day forward, I, Yamato, pledge to assist Lord Momonosuke with all my might, braving any danger to welcome the prophesied child, Ron! Even if thorns bar the path or mountains of blades and seas of fire await, I'll never retreat!"