The Corviknight taxis are still in operation, and even the one that had gone missing before has rejoined the fleet after being restored, which did not cause much of a stir.
Although some rumors spread, they didn't attract much attention.
The rumors came from the passengers on the missing Corviknight taxi; they were the only ones taken away from the island, and after receiving compensation, they selectively forgot the incident.
The incident with the Corviknight taxi was a highly unlikely event; without the encounter with the Golden Lion, it wouldn't have happened at all.
However, the Golden Lion has faded from people's sight for too long, and without substantial evidence, it hasn't been taken seriously by the public.
But within the Hundred Beasts, this incident holds significant meaning. Even a dying camel is bigger than a horse, and even in that state, the Golden Lion's power surpassed that of most people. Unless brought into a theatrical version, he would never exit mysteriously.
Even though she relied on Zekrom's power, that power was meant for her, and it can only be said that she temporarily borrowed power from the future.
Upon returning to Ghost Island, she was surprised to discover that Arceus was preparing to set sail.
"Godfather, you're setting sail?"
"Is it that strange? Yamato, you've grown up, capable of taking on the responsibility of protecting the home country."
This is the change brought by Yamato's growth. In the past, either Kaidou or Arceus would leave Wano Kuni, while the other would stay to guard against unforeseeable circumstances.
Any unexpected event on the main island developed over many years would cause too much loss.
But this time is different; with Kaidou still missing, Arceus decided to set sail early.
This result stems from Yamato's growth. She is no longer a child and can now handle more responsibilities.
"Godfather, you mean..."
"Literally. From now on, you can decide the direction of your voyage, but you'll have to wait for one of us to return first."
Starting today, the Hundred Beasts began transitioning to a Trident model. Those stationed on the main island are no longer limited to two people but three, with Yamato successfully entering the rotation.
Being able to hold this position naturally means she has the autonomy to choose to sail out, so Queen no longer needs to worry about daily challenges.
Even though Zekrom's power is temporary, there are few among the enemies on The Sea who can match the Golden Lion at his weakest. Yamato, as she usually is now, can handle most situations.
Under such circumstances, she naturally has no reason to stay on Ghost Island indefinitely.
...
"Lady Ghost Princess? Lady Ghost Princess!"
"Ah, oh, I'm fine, just a bit at a loss for what to do. Hey, Speed, how did Godfather and they handle things before?"
Until the Origin disappeared from sight, she hadn't reacted, remaining in a daze; the achievement she'd been striving for had suddenly been completed.
This made her feel a bit at a loss.
The countdown to the sailing day has begun. Kaidou might not show up any time soon, but Arceus doesn't stay away for long. Currently, she's pondering how to manage Wano Kuni.
"Lord Arceus usually... just stays on Ghost Island, not specifically doing anything..."
They haven't been in Wano Kuni for just a day or two; there's already a whole management process in place.
This is, after all, the heartland of the Hundred Beasts; it's extremely difficult for enemies to come here, and staying here is just a precaution. Most of the time, nothing unexpected happens.
Whether it is Kaidou or Arceus, they mostly just secure the area. When they're present, the subordinate pirates feel particularly at ease.
But Yamato is in the state of a new official trying to make a strong start, excited about the sudden 'responsibility' she took over, and thus she began her inspection of Wano Kuni.
The size of Wano Kuni is not small, but over the years, she's explored every part of it; even the peak of the Fuji Mountain bears her footprints. However, this inspection brought her a completely different feeling.
By this time, Shaina had already left Wano Kuni with Arceus, and Olga was conducting her activities on The Sea. Even Queen was not in Wano Kuni but was engaged in fruit cultivation on other islands.
A large number of high-level officials were also spread across different islands in the territory. New pirates are like leeks; once a batch is dealt with, it won't be long before another batch comes along. No Sea Emperor can avoid this hassle of reckless newcomers.
Plus, with ongoing struggles within the New World, the outlying territories often need military support. Currently, only a few high-level officials remain in Wano Kuni, like King, who spends most of his time in the Flower Capital.
Zeraora, who is the most mobile, also stayed in Wano Kuni due to his child, and his and Setsuna's field missions have lessened. Since dealing with Enel, they hadn't left for quite some time, and his bounty has become the lowest among high-level officials.
The few times his bounty increased were due to the buff of the Hundred Beasts. In stark contrast to him is Queen, whose bounty inexplicably rises even though he does nothing.
Anything new within the Hundred Beasts always seems to have some connection to Queen.
...
"Good evening, Lady Ghost Princess."
"Lady Ghost Princess."
On the road, some local residents greeted her. In Wano Kuni, "ghost" is not a derogatory term but a compliment for someone brave, and not everyone can earn this title.
Yamato's inspection work progressed smoothly. Besides catching a thief, she encountered no unexpected situations.
She even helped unclog a river and drilled a well along the way, which was a breeze for her.
At least in terms of "being close to the people," she performed much better than Kaidou or Arceus, or rather, she was overly approachable.
"It really was a fulfilling day. Where would be a good place to visit when setting sail..."
Sitting by the river, Yamato casually skipped stones on the water, beginning to ponder her upcoming journey.
"Yamato sis, when you're thinking about your journey, could you not throw stones so carelessly? You're scaring away all the fish."
From the bushes nearby, Page One emerged. It was one of his fishing spots in Wano Kuni, but Yamato's presence scared away the fish he had attracted earlier.
However, judging by his empty bucket, he probably wouldn't have caught any even without Yamato.
"Little Pei? I'm sorry, I didn't notice you here. Why are you hiding so well to fish?"
With Kaidou not in Wano Kuni, she naturally wouldn't keep using Observation Haki, so she hadn't noticed someone hiding not far in the bushes.
"Because this way, my sister won't find me. It took me quite a bit of effort to shake her off..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Page One was suddenly grabbed by the neck, and Ulti had unknowingly appeared behind him...