Kozuki Momonosuke's small face turned deathly pale, as white as paper. His lips trembled uncontrollably, yet not a single word came out.
Nearby, Kin'emon slowly reopened his eyes and looked at his young lord in that pitiful state.
A deep sorrow welled up inside him.
But the situation had already reached this point. Kin'emon understood clearly that in front of a man like Gern Reginald Sigmar, stubborn resistance or clumsy lies would likely lead to even worse consequences.
More importantly—
The power and authority Gern had displayed were, at this moment, the only external force capable of truly challenging Kaido head-on.
Yes, Monkey D. Luffy had promised to continue helping.
But deep down, even Kin'emon himself had no certainty that the Straw Hat Pirates could really reach that final step.
So although his young lord's behavior moments ago had been disgraceful…
Although Gern's true intentions remained unclear…
This might still be…
Wano's final hope.
With that thought, Kin'emon took a deep breath.
He forcibly suppressed both his disappointment in Momonosuke and his wariness toward Gern.
Then he stepped forward, bracing himself, and spoke as a retainer of the Kozuki Clan, asking the most crucial—and most realistic—question.
"Lord Heaven-Shaker… forgive my boldness in asking."
"No matter what the young lord's identity may be… will you—and the Marines behind you—truly help Wano Country?"
"Will you help the people of Wano who are enslaved and tormented under the rule of Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi?"
He needed a clear promise.
Even if that promise might come with a terrible price.
Facing Kin'emon's question, Gern no longer pressed Momonosuke. He turned around and met Kin'emon's gaze openly.
His answer came without the slightest hesitation.
"Yes."
One word.
Clear.
Firm.
Unquestionable.
That single word caused Kin'emon's spirit to surge with relief.
Even Momonosuke—who had been nearly collapsing—felt a flicker of hope rekindle in his eyes.
Yet neither of them realized—
Or perhaps they simply chose to ignore—
The deeper meaning behind Gern's words.
Of course Gern would "help" Wano.
From the very beginning, his goal had never been limited to strengthening the Marines alone.
His true objective was far greater.
He intended to break the Marines free from the shackles of the World Government, transforming them into a completely independent force—one that could carry out his will.
To achieve that, he needed resources.
He needed power.
He needed strategic strongholds.
And Wano Country…
Was practically a feast laid out on a silver platter.
First—
Wano was the only known nation in the entire world capable of consistently producing and refining Seastone.
Seastone was no ordinary resource.
It was a strategic material capable of suppressing Devil Fruit users.
It was the foundation of Marine shackles, prisons, and even certain warships.
Its value was immeasurable.
For years, Kaido had occupied Wano. A major reason the Beasts Pirates had grown so powerful was their monopoly over Seastone through underground trade, which generated enormous wealth and resources.
How could Gern possibly ignore such a core asset?
Second—
Wano's geographical position was extraordinary.
It sat deep within the latter half of the New World, surrounded by colossal waterfalls and violent currents.
Those natural defenses made it nearly impossible for outside forces—even the World Government's naval fleets—to invade.
That was precisely why Wano had been able to maintain its isolationist policy for centuries.
To Gern, who aimed to build an independent power base, such a natural fortress held immense strategic value.
Yes, the world's sea level might rise someday.
But when that future would come… no one could say.
For now, Wano remained a priceless stronghold.
And finally—
The most important reason of all.
One of the Three Ancient Weapons, the legendary super-weapon capable of destroying the world.
The divine warship known as Pluton.
Its sleeping place lay beneath Wano itself.
A weapon powerful enough to reshape the balance of the entire world.
How could Gern possibly ignore it?
If Poseidon belonged to Fish-Man Island, and Pluton slept beneath Wano…
Then only Uranus remained—currently in the hands of the World Government.
And the core energy source known as the Mother Flame…
Was already in Gern's possession.
With that, even activating Pluton in the future might become possible.
Kaido had occupied Wano for its Seastone resources and its value as a weapons factory and military fortress.
But what Gern desired…
Was all of it.
The monopoly over Seastone extraction.
Potential control of Pluton.
The strategic inclusion of Wano's natural fortress into his own sphere of power.
And most importantly—
To sever one of the World Government's vital economic arteries while laying yet another cornerstone for his future ambitions.
...
After hearing Gern's decisive "yes," Kin'emon felt a massive weight lift from his heart.
Yet a complicated emotion also rose within him.
There was shame for relying on outside power.
There was anxiety about the future.
But above all else—
There was the fierce determination that came from finally seeing a glimmer of hope.
For that hope…
For Wano…
He would wager everything.
Including the truth.
"I… understand!"
Kin'emon nodded heavily.
Then, under Momonosuke's startled gaze, he stepped back.
He straightened his clothes and faced Gern.
Then he performed Wano's highest gesture of humility.
A full dogeza.
His forehead pressed deeply against the ground.
"Lord Heaven-Shaker! To show my sincerity—and to prevent future misunderstandings—I will now reveal everything!"
Maintaining his kneeling posture, Kin'emon spoke clearly and firmly.
He revealed the greatest secret of the Kozuki clan.
The young lord Momonosuke's true identity—son of Kozuki Oden and Toki.
The catastrophic defeat twenty years ago.
How Lady Toki had used the power of the Toki Toki no Mi to send them forward through time at the cost of her life.
And the prophecy she had left behind—
"Twenty years into the future… nine shadows will appear, and the dawn shall rise in the east."
Gern listened quietly.
His expression revealed nothing.
Much of this information already matched what he knew.
But it filled in several missing details.
Just as Kin'emon finished speaking—
Momonosuke suddenly rushed forward impatiently.
In his mind, Kin'emon's confession had already "bought their ticket."
But the real key, he believed, was his own declaration as the future shogun.
So he puffed out his chest and tried to assume a dignified posture.
"Lord Heaven-Shaker!"
"As long as you help me restore my country and ascend to the position of shogun—"
"In the future, cooperation between Wano and the Marines… whatever you want—"
"What I want?"
Gern's tone suddenly changed.
The playful calm vanished, replaced by a chilling note of confusion.
He cut Momonosuke off instantly.
Tilting his head slightly, Gern looked down at the child who was still dreaming of negotiations.
His brows furrowed faintly.
"Why," Gern asked slowly,
"would I need to want anything?"
Momonosuke froze.
His mouth hung open.
He couldn't understand where he had gone wrong.
Gern stepped forward.
His shadow completely swallowed the small boy.
Looking down at this so-called "future shogun," Gern tore apart the pitiful illusion of bargaining power Momonosuke believed he possessed.
"Anything I conquer…"
"Shouldn't it already belong to me?"
"If I defeat the enemy with my own strength…"
"If I occupy the land and claim its resources…"
"Why would I need to go through you for that?"
"!!!"
Momonosuke's body shook violently as if struck by lightning.
His pupils dilated in overwhelming terror.
He finally understood.
Gern wasn't seeking a partner.
He wasn't looking for someone to support.
He was declaring ownership.
In Gern's eyes, Wano wasn't a country waiting to be "legitimately inherited" by the Kozuki bloodline.
It was simply a spoiled prize of war waiting to be claimed.
At that moment—
Every unrealistic fantasy and fragile sense of superiority Momonosuke held shattered completely.
Fear spread through his body from his toes to the crown of his head.
His face turned deathly pale.
Even the color drained from his lips.
Before he could react—
Before the terror could fully consume him—
Gern moved.
His right hand shot forward.
It seized Momonosuke by the throat.
Then lifted him effortlessly into the air.
"Ghk—!!"
Momonosuke's tiny body dangled helplessly, his feet kicking wildly.
His throat was crushed in Gern's grip.
A strangled cry escaped him as suffocating pressure flooded his lungs.
His face rapidly shifted from pale to bluish.
"Young Lord!!"
Kin'emon's eyes split with rage.
He roared and lunged forward instinctively, driven by loyalty and desperation, trying to rescue Momonosuke from Gern's grasp.
But before he could reach them—
A blinding streak of lightning suddenly cut across his path.
It was Enel.
Standing calmly before him.
His expression was completely indifferent.
One finger extended—
Pressing directly against the center of Kin'emon's forehead.
The distance between them was barely an inch.
"Who gave you permission to interrupt a god's game… mortal?"
Enel's eyes held no emotion.
Only the cold irritation of a god annoyed by an insect's interference.
He didn't even allow Kin'emon a moment to respond.
Lightning exploded from his fingertip.
"BZZZT!!"
A precisely controlled surge of high-voltage electricity blasted straight into Kin'emon's skull.
"AAAAAHHH!!"
Kin'emon screamed in agony.
His body went limp, convulsing violently.
His eyes rolled back.
Foam spilled from his mouth.
The strength he had gathered vanished instantly.
His body collapsed backward.
Thud.
He hit the ground heavily, his muscles still twitching uncontrollably as consciousness began to fade.
And in that fading awareness—
Kin'emon finally understood.
Momonosuke…
The so-called future shogun…
Wasn't a key in Gern's eyes.
Not even a bargaining chip.
Perhaps…
Not even a decent door-knocker.
This time—
Gern had never intended to play the role of the Kozuki clan's savior.
Because what he wanted was not their loyalty.
Not their legitimacy.
He wanted—
Wano Country itself.