Kurozumi Higurashi led Kaido toward Wano Country.
They did not choose the harbor, instead opting for Wano Country's waterfall. According to the intelligence Kurozumi Higurashi had shared with Kaido, Wano Country was still in its period of national isolation.
"This is rather inconvenient."
Kaido looked at the massive carp pulling the ships and could not help but remark.
He himself was fine, of course. He could simply transform into a dragon and fly up. But he could not be expected to carry ships over the waterfall every single time they went out to sea.
He was the captain of the Beasts Pirates, not the Beasts Pirates' personal elevator.
"There is no need to worry about that. Lord Orochi is already having the harbor repaired. But before that, we must first deal with the daimyo of the Hakumai region, Shimotsuki Yasuie."
Kurozumi Higurashi said.
They had not directly ceded control of Hakumai and the harbor, and this was to limit the Beasts Pirates' movements. Kurozumi Orochi did not want the Beasts Pirates' influence to grow beyond a certain limit, which would not be a good thing for Lord Ren.
Even if Kaido was nothing to worry about, Kurozumi Orochi was unwilling to create further trouble for Ren.
The best outcome would be for Kaido and Kozuki Oden to destroy each other.
"Hey hey, are we seriously going to charge straight up this waterfall?"
The members of the Beasts Pirates all turned pale. Before them loomed an enormous waterfall, towering and wide.
The waterfall was incredibly turbulent, the cascading water carrying tremendous force. They worried that if they failed to make it over the top and fell, their ships would be smashed to pieces!
"Don't worry, the giant carp will carry us up."
Kurozumi Higurashi remained quite calm.
She had used the same method before. The carp that patrolled the waters outside Wano Country possessed incredible leaping ability. And the most absurd part was that they could swim even in the rushing waters of a vertical waterfall.
Kaido was not particularly worried. He could fly, after all. If anything went wrong, he would simply create flame clouds and carry the ships up himself.
Still, he said:
"If your acting Shogun truly wants to cooperate with us, he'd better secure that harbor that leads to the open sea quickly."
As the saying goes, you need roads before you can prosper. Kaido might not have known the phrase, but he at least understood the principle. If simply leaving Wano Country was a problem, there was no point talking about development.
"Please rest assured, you will be satisfied."
Kurozumi Higurashi laughed sinisterly.
"The samurai found throughout this country possess considerable strength. Of course, they cannot compare to a great pirate like yourself, but gathered together, they represent a formidable fighting force."
She spoke of the country's military might, which greatly interested Kaido. What he lacked were subordinates worth using. At the same time, Kaido thought of Kozuki Oden.
He had crossed blades with that man before. The two of them had fought to a draw. If all the samurai of Wano Country were monsters like him, that would be perfect.
Of course, Kaido also knew that not every single one could be that strong, but at the very least he could find some capable ones.
BOOM!
The two carp pulling the ship finally surged to the top of the waterfall, and Kaido's ship was launched into the sky by their powerful momentum!
It was not until the ship reached its highest point that an indescribable sensation of weightlessness washed over them.
The fodder pirates on board screamed in terror as the ship came crashing down onto the previously calm sea. The men aboard were rattled to their core, feeling as though their internal organs had nearly been shaken to pieces, each one looking green around the gills.
But this level of commotion was nothing to Kaido.
He simply stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at the scene before him with astonishment.
"Hey, we just went through a waterfall, right..."
His tone was uncertain, as if he were still in a dream.
"Y-Yeah, that's right, Boss Kaido!"
"Then why is there still an ocean above the waterfall!"
Kaido's shock and amazement were written plainly across his face. From the volume of water flowing down the falls, he could have guessed there might be a wide river or a massive lake up above.
But what stretched before his eyes was an endless sea!
"This is Wano Country's inland sea."
Kurozumi Higurashi seemed quite satisfied by their shocked expressions as she slowly made her way to the bow. By now, the two carp that had pulled the ship had disappeared, likely diving to the bottom of the inland sea.
Kurozumi Higurashi looked down and spotted a faint, pale-blue shadow appearing in the deep blue waters. The enormous creature seemed to sense their presence and drifted upward, but quickly vanished back into the depths.
She recognized this creature as one of the beings created by Ren, Dvalin!
In fact, many of the creatures Ren had later created, as long as they were capable of surviving underwater, had taken residence in Wano Country's inland sea. There was ample food here to sustain them.
"An inland sea... just how big is this country?!"
One pirate could not contain himself and shouted aloud.
Wano Country's territory was indeed vast. And due to the changing of the eras, the land currently visible above sea level was only a small fraction of the whole.
"Lord Orochi has prepared an island for you."
Kurozumi Higurashi said while directing the helmsman to change course.
"This country is extremely hostile to outsiders. If it were not for the need to seize power, Lord Orochi would never have sought you out."
Kurozumi Higurashi said.
"If the plan succeeds, we are willing to give you half of this country."
"Half? That's not what was agreed upon."
Kaido glared sideways at Kurozumi Higurashi.
"Don't be angry, Mr. Kaido."
Kurozumi Higurashi showed no fear and continued.
"Wano Country consists of seven regions in total: the Flower Capital, Kuri, Udon, Hakumai, Ringo, Shimotsuki, and Onigashima. Aside from Onigashima, which we are giving you right now, Lord Orochi is willing to give you three of the remaining six regions after we succeed. That is already a significant concession."
"Lord Orochi cannot give you the entire country. If he did, what would be the point of him taking Wano Country in the first place?"
Hearing this, Kaido did not respond further, as if he had silently accepted the terms. But in truth, his heart was filled with cold derision. The way he looked at Kurozumi Higurashi was like looking at a dead woman walking.
He was a pirate!
Pirates are greedy. Asking him to give up this country and settle for only half, how could that ever be enough?
Such a meager portion could never fill his belly.
However, until the right moment arrived, Kaido had no intention of falling out with the country's current rulers. That would be most unwise.
[
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