In the streets and alleys, people also began to return to their former lives.
The lively cries of vendors rang out once more in the markets, and laughter drifted from the teahouses.
Every corner of Wano was filled with life and vitality again.
However, amid this peaceful scene, a subtle and complicated atmosphere filled the towering hall of Onigashima.
Sunlight poured through the tall windows, scattering golden patches across the floor.
Yamato widened her clear, curious eyes and stared without blinking at the overly young man before her.
Her gaze held disbelief and deep confusion, as though she saw an unsolvable mystery in him.
She clenched her fists tightly, and her voice trembled slightly from emotion.
"You… are you the 'Child of Prophecy' Oden wrote about in his journal?"
Hearing this, Ron gave a light smile.
It was gentle and warm, like a spring breeze.
Sunlight passed through the window lattice and fell across his handsome face, casting mottled shadows and adding a hint of mystery to him.
He slowly shook his head and said, "There is no such thing as a Child of Prophecy in this world. That is merely a hope people cling to when they face the unknown and hardship."
"Hmph!"
Kaido let out a disdainful snort from the side.
His voice was low and hoarse.
He had always sneered at things like the so-called "Child of Prophecy," and that contempt immediately caught Yamato's attention.
Even with Yamato's straightforward personality, she keenly sensed something unusual at this moment.
She frowned slightly, vigilance and doubt appearing in her eyes.
Kaido's attitude was far too abnormal.
Those dragon eyes, usually filled with violence, now showed a trace of restraint.
Countless hidden secrets seemed buried in their depths.
Although his body still radiated a powerful pressure, he no longer had the arrogance and dominance of the past. Instead, he gave off an inexplicably heavy feeling.
"Kaido…"
Yamato's brows furrowed as her gaze swept back and forth between Kaido and Ron, trying to find clues from their expressions and actions.
Her eyes were full of confusion, and countless questions flashed through her mind.
"What happened between you two?"
Her voice was not loud, but it was full of strength, as if she were determined to break this strange silence and uncover the truth.
Although her personality was simple, she was not foolish.
The situation before her was obvious.
Ron and his group had originally come with firm resolve to destroy the Beasts Pirates.
By all logic, they and Kaido should have been enemies who would not rest until one side was dead.
But now, the two of them were actually able to calmly stay in the same room?
What kind of secret was hidden behind this?
Yamato's gaze finally stopped on Kaido. She stared at him intently, wanting to see something from him.
Ron seemed to see through the doubts hidden deep in her heart.
His gaze accurately caught the faint confusion in Yamato's eyes.
However, he merely lifted the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
"Some changes do not need a reason."
Ron's voice was low and steady, slowly echoing through the spacious hall.
He turned around slowly, his steps calm and composed as he walked toward the massive window.
Outside the window, the distant Flower Capital was being rebuilt.
A bustling scene full of activity entered his eyes.
Craftsmen moved busily through the area, and the sounds of tools striking materials blended together.
Ron quietly gazed at that land filled with hope and vitality.
His eyes were deep and distant, as if through the scene before him, he could already see Wano's prosperous future.
"What matters is the result. Wano is free now. Isn't that what you always hoped for?"
Hearing this, Yamato suddenly straightened her back.
Her snow-white hair seemed moved by an invisible force, drifting gently in the air despite the lack of wind.
A stubborn light shone in her eyes, like the brightest stars in the night sky—firm and burning.
"That's right. This really is the result I always wanted. Wano has escaped Kaido's tyranny."
Yamato's voice gradually rose, carrying anger that had been suppressed for far too long.
That anger was like a long-dormant volcano now stirring, ready to erupt.
"But do you think I can't see it? This is nothing more than changing masters!"
At this point, Yamato's emotions had reached their peak.
She suddenly raised her hand. Her strong arm looked as if it had been forged from steel, full of power.
The kanabo in her hand smashed heavily into the floor, producing a deafening boom.
In an instant, a ring of dust surged into the air, swirling beneath the sunlight.
"Only the Child of Prophecy can bring true freedom to Wano! And you—"
Flames of anger burned in Yamato's eyes.
"You're nothing more than another tyrant who wants to enslave Wano! Just like… just like another Kaido!"
The final sentence was almost roared out. Her voice seemed ready to break through the hall itself, echoing for a long time in the empty space.
Yamato stared fixedly at Ron's face, her gaze urgent and desperate.
She wanted to find even the slightest flaw in that calm, lake-like expression—even a trace of anger, guilt, or panic after being exposed.
However, Ron merely stood there quietly, like a steady mountain unmoved by wind and rain.
His deep eyes were bottomless, hiding an endless abyss, making it impossible to see his emotions.
Sunlight poured through the window lattice and fell across his handsome face, casting shifting patches of light and shadow.
Those shadows flickered over his features, yet they could never enter the eyes that seemed capable of swallowing all emotion.
After a long while, a soft laugh broke the frozen silence.
"Ch…"
The corner of Ron's mouth rose slightly, forming a smile that looked calm yet carried deep meaning.
That smile was not mocking Yamato's innocence and ignorance. Rather, it carried something close to pity.
He had already seen through everything, while Yamato was still immersed in her own fantasy.
He slowly walked toward Yamato, carrying an invisible pressure that made the already heavy atmosphere even more suffocating.
"Freedom?"
Ron's voice was very soft, as light as a breeze.
"What do you think true freedom is?"
When he was only one step away from Yamato, Ron stopped.
He leaned forward slightly, meeting the stubborn young woman's eyes.
His gaze carried sincerity and concern, as though he wanted to deeply imprint his thoughts into Yamato's mind.
"Is it continuing to shut the country away and let nobles exploit the people? Or opening the borders and letting Wano become a plaything of the World Government?"
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