Kikunojo has a character that Drake could easily understand, kind-hearted and overwhelmingly so, always considering others most of the time. As long as Oden's toxin could be cleared, there's no major issue.
However, Drake realized after pretending to be oblivious that the reaction was so bland that they felt a bit guilty, thinking this wasn't very good.
Yet this guilty feeling lasted only a short time before Drake quickly tossed it aside and dragged Kikunojo to hold a banquet.
"Miss Drake, this isn't conducive to living..."
"There's not that much to worry about. Although I really want to see the world Lord Arceus and Miss Yamato envision, no one can guarantee if we can truly reach that day.
If I really die halfway, I wouldn't want to leave regrets. But if I die, those people probably won't forget me, since their money won't be repaid."
"Come on, come on, let's have the banquet!"
Under Drake's tugging, Kikunojo was pulled out by her, which was part of his attitude change; Drake couldn't have done this before.
All of this was seen by Denjiro in the palace.
Although he always supported Kikunojo in using his charm, he felt that things have gone a bit overboard recently, especially after that incident; Kikunojo's attitude has drastically changed.
Shortly after Kikunojo left, Kawamatsu returned here.
"Is there something wrong with me?"
"White fur... Kawamatsu, were you playing with those two again?"
Kikunojo's routine included being annoyed by Drake, whereas Kawamatsu's involved exchanging "Kappa insights" with Ludicolo, and sometimes Miaona and Wolf would take an interest in him, naturally becoming familiar.
After Kozuki Hiyori grew up and her mentality changed drastically, they didn't rely on them as severely as before, prompting Kawamatsu to seek a feeling of presence, so when not assigned tasks, he'd take up the role of the playful.
"Yes, their gazes at me... are quite normal."
Nowadays, the Hundred Beasts has a vast number of Fishman Race and Fur Race, so they don't have the native Wano Kuni residents' special gaze towards Kawamatsu, an "alien."
Especially since the higher-ups of the Hundred Beasts have Fishman Race and Fur Race, their acceptance is naturally stronger than that of Wano Kuni's natives. There, Kawamatsu feels relaxed.
"Kawamatsu, you've fallen too..."
"Fallen?"
"Don't forget back then..."
"Although I don't want to admit it, Denjiro, you were always smart, so you should understand the current situation in Wano Kuni.
If Lord Oden were still alive...
He'd probably laugh and hand Wano Kuni to Kaidou, then take us to the sea."
"..."
Kawamatsu's words were right, Denjiro understood the current situation in Wano Kuni; aside from not completely opening the country, everything is countless times better than 18 years ago.
The current generation of youth in Wano Kuni would likely fight anyone trying to make them return to the past way of living.
Though there were still some diehards, they actually attempted to assassinate Kozuki Hiyori — a move incomprehensible to Denjiro — and this ultimately led to the "dark path" of Kozuki Hiyori.
"Difficult indeed..."
"Yeah, if there's truly anyone to blame, Orochi's the real culprit."
...
Ending the feigned illness days, Drake resumed her banquet activities, King was still rushing back, the World Government continued discussing the issue, while over in Bermuda Triangle, Luffy's group encountered their strongest enemy thus far.
They were delayed on Sky Island for quite a while, and upon leaving, they attended a pirate-hosted adventure activity, gaining a treasure in the process.
When they arrived at Water Seven, they bumped right into Franky, who was planning to build a ship to look for Tom.
Building a dream ship had always been Franky's aspiration, but he lacked funds, preventing him from purchasing high-quality materials.
Then he met the Straw Hat Gang — wealthy but unable to repair the Merry — and, touched by their feelings for the ship, collaborated to construct the current Thousand Sunny.
His goal was to find Tom, as for other members of the Franky Family, aided by Tom's given business card, they started new careers at a dismantling plant under the Hundred Beasts Fruit.
Having lost their shadows, they began battling Moriah, and with Bon Kurei's appearance, they even successfully formed the -Pirates No. 6 Transformation·Giant-Emperor, though it wasn't of much use.
They already witnessed the world's strength back in East Sea; crushed by the Bat Clan, the Straw Hat Pirates began reflecting on life, developing new techniques, albeit somewhat unpracticed; numerically superior, they couldn't yield significant results against Moriah.
A camel thin from hunger beats a horse; Moriah was a fierce character once, though regrettably met someone fiercer.
Years of a sedentary existence dulled his body techniques; a closed heart lost its original Haki, and Moriah, largely at a disadvantage already, plunged into fury due to something Luffy said.
"Defeat Kaidou? How dare you... how dare you say such things! What gives you the right to do that!! Weaklings like you, how dare you have such courage!!"
Moriah exited the Oars-crafted zombie, grasping large scissors, entering an almost delirious state due to hearing a name.
Kaidou's name is akin to a lifelong nightmare for him — his comrades, dreams, everything was shattered in that battle. Since then, he hid in this fog, plotting his zombie army.
Witnessing these weaklings proclaiming they would defeat that monster felt like a brutal blow to Moriah's heart, plainly telling him he's a failure.
"Eighty million Belly — a mere eighty million Belly pirate — what makes you think you can challenge Kaidou!!"
Luffy's achievements were far from glorious as before, even hitting this figure was considered quite remarkable. Now, although he wielded strength, he barely counted as a Super Rookie. On the side note, Hecarl's bounty was ten thousand Belly.
With Arceus' special existence appearing, the Navy started enhancing bounties on some non-human entities; Hecarl avoided the fate of being less valuable than newspaper.
Kaidou's name seemed to unlock a hidden switch within Moriah, causing him to unleash combat power far surpassing the norm.
"What's wrong with this guy!"
Luffy couldn't understand why Moriah's strength underwent such a drastic change.
"I remember now, I heard he once challenged one of the Four Emperors, Kaidou, but failed, resulting in all his comrades being killed!"
Lola seemed to remember some intel, explaining to those present the mystery, though it held no practical significance...