"Who are you people?"
Just as everyone was about to leave, a questioning voice came from outside. A strange figure slowly walked into the house, making the already small space feel even more cramped.
Everyone looked carefully and saw that the man was wearing a long vermillion mask with a sharp nose. His gaze swept across the messy table before finally stopping on Ace's face.
"You are… Ace?"
There was clear shock in his voice.
At that moment, O Tama quickly ran to his side. "Master, you are back."
Hearing that, everyone immediately understood that this person was the master O Tama had mentioned before.
Ace smiled and greeted him warmly. "So it is you, Master Sanren. You are finally back."
Sanren nodded. "Ace, I did not expect you to really return."
He still remembered the last time Ace came to Kuri. At that time, Ace had said that he wanted to help Wano open its borders and make sure the people of Wano could eat their fill. Unfortunately, the difference in strength had been too great, and Ace could only leave for the time being.
Now that he had come back, it was obvious that he wanted to fulfill that promise.
Ace scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. "I really came back this time to liberate Wano."
Then he pointed at Rolan. "But this time, the main character is not me. It is him."
Sanren turned to look at Rolan and the others, confusion appearing in his eyes. "Who are they?"
O Tama immediately answered before anyone else. "This is Big Brother Ace's master, Big Brother Rolan."
Sanren froze for a moment, clearly shocked.
He never expected someone as strong as Ace to actually have a master. Because Wano was completely isolated from the outside world, they knew almost nothing about the pirates on the sea. He only knew that Ace was extremely powerful, so if Rolan was Ace's master, then his strength must be terrifying.
Perhaps this time, Wano could really be saved.
...
"Report. Lord Kaido, Rolan has appeared in Kuri."
On Onigashima, everyone who had been discussing how to deal with Rolan suddenly stopped moving when they heard this report.
The guard rushed in, breathing heavily.
"Rolan? Perfect. I will chop him into pieces right now."
Jack had long held a grudge against the Ion Tempest. It was Rolan's crew that had humiliated the Beasts Pirates more than once.
The first time he encountered them, he was sunk straight to the bottom of the sea. If it were not for his Fishman bloodline, he would have already drowned.
Now that Rolan had come to Wano on his own, Jack could not wait to kill him.
Queen was also wiping his weapon nearby, looking eager to fight.
However, not everyone shared their confidence. Most of the Beasts Pirates still feared the Ion Tempest.
The previous two times, the Beasts Pirates had taken the initiative to attack, and Rolan's crew had only fought back. This time was different. This time, Rolan had come directly to their territory.
Kaido finally spoke.
"Worororo. There is no need to rush. Just wait here quietly. He will come to us himself."
...
At that moment, Rolan and the others were walking along the road in Kuri, heading toward the Flower Capital.
Instead of going directly from Kasa Village to Onigashima, Rolan deliberately chose to head toward the most prosperous place in Wano first.
From the poorest slums to the heart of the country, the difference in status could be clearly seen. The suffering of the people under Kaido and Orochi's rule was even more obvious.
Luffy's fists slowly tightened as he walked.
The polluted river gave off a disgusting smell, and green mist rose from the surface of the water. In the distance, huge chimneys reached into the sky, constantly releasing thick black smoke. Even the sky had turned gray.
Sanren pointed at the factories. "Those are the weapons factories Kaido built after coming to Wano more than twenty years ago. Back then, we tried to stop him, but in the end we were driven out of our homes and forced to live in places like Kuri."
Hearing this, everyone's expression turned cold.
Luffy spoke directly. "I will definitely defeat Orochi and Kaido."
Even Hancock looked extremely displeased.
...
Their speed was not slow, and it did not take long for them to arrive at the Flower Capital.
Compared to the suffering in Kuri, the life here was completely different. There was no polluted river, no gray sky, and no starving people fighting over food.
The sky here was bright blue, white clouds floated peacefully, and cherry blossoms drifted through the air. The people wore clean and beautiful clothes, music could occasionally be heard in the streets, and even the wind carried a faint fragrance of flowers.
Two completely different worlds existed within the same country.
"Why do the people here live so well?" Robin asked calmly.
The others also looked toward Sanren.
Sanren sighed and lowered his voice. "There is a reason for this."
His expression became somewhat angry.
"The people living here are those who support Orochi and Kaido. Those who opposed them were either killed or driven away to places like Kuri."
Just as he finished speaking, a loud shout suddenly came from nearby.
"When the Kozuki Family returns, you will all pay for this."
Everyone immediately turned to look.
Two soldiers were pointing their guns at an old man who was smiling fearlessly.
Bang. Bang.
Flames burst from the gun barrels, and two bullets shot straight toward the old man's forehead.
But just before the bullets could hit him, they seemed to collide with something invisible and completely stopped.
Then, under everyone's shocked gaze, the old man's body slowly rose into the air.
In the blink of an eye, he disappeared into the sky.
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