In Wano Country, the lively and boisterous banquet finally came to an end.
"Momonosuke, we're leaving here tomorrow and heading back out to sea," Monkey D. Luffy said contentedly, swallowing the last piece of meat.
"Eh...? Monkey D. Luffy, isn't it good to stay in Wano Country?" Momonosuke asked, puzzled. "We can have banquets every day, isn't that your favorite thing?"
"Although I love banquets, the sea is my true home. I'm the man who's going to become the Pirate King!" Monkey D. Luffy patted his stomach. "Nico Robin said she's found the Poneglyph, so we can set sail."
"But if you leave, what about Wano Country?" Momonosuke suddenly panicked. "What if enemies attack again...?"
"General, we Nine Red Scabbards will help you protect this country," Kin'emon quickly said. "And our Wano Country is a country like a wall of bronze and iron; ordinary enemies won't be able to break through."
"But what if an enemy like Kaido comes again?" Momonosuke was still worried.
"Hahahaha, General, you're overthinking," Kin'emon burst out laughing. "Kaido is one of the strongest Four Emperors, and even he was defeated by us. Who else would dare come to Wano Country to die!"
"Arrogant fellow," Eustass Kid said disdainfully from a distance. "It sounds as if Kaido and Big Mom were defeated by them..."
"Kid-ya, talking about these things now is a bit of a mood killer," Trafalgar Law said from the side. "After all, this is their country."
"I don't like it here!"
Eustass Kid only had bad memories in Wano Country.
"Hmm? Where are you going, Kid-ya?" Trafalgar Law saw Eustass Kid stand up, preparing to leave.
"Back to the ship, then out to sea to find that Clown Buggy. Why can a guy like that become a Four Emperor...?" Eustass Kid said angrily.
"Are you going to challenge a Four Emperor again? You're really persistent," Trafalgar Law shook his head. "But be careful, that guy, like Red-Haired Shanks, was a crewmate of Pirate King Gol D. Roger. From the live broadcast just now, he's not a simple guy either."
Trafalgar Law knew he couldn't dissuade Eustass Kid. Two years ago, he dared to challenge Red-Haired Shanks, let alone now that he had awakened his Devil Fruit ability and greatly increased his strength.
"Hmph, I'll only know if he's strong after fighting him. Once I defeat that guy and become a Four Emperor, Red Hair will be next," Eustass Kid touched his mechanical arm.
He still remembered Red Hair's casual attitude when he was defeated by him.
"Arrogant brat, the New World isn't a place for you to mess around. You can't bear the title of Four Emperors. This time, I'll just give you a small lesson."
Then he lost his left arm.
Eustass Kid still remembered the laughter of the Red Hair Pirates' executives.
"Captain, you can't just cut off his arm because you lost your left arm..."
"The Captain wants him to experience the 'pain of losing a spouse' too."
"The Captain is left-handed, but this guy isn't. Maybe he's used to using his right hand."
"Should we cut off both?"
Those damn bastards, and that hateful Shanks, I've already defeated Charlotte Linlin. Once I defeat Clown Buggy and become a Four Emperor, I will challenge you again... I'm going to humiliate you properly!!!
"What an energetic guy, similar to Monkey D. Luffy," Marco stood up. "It's time for me to leave, too."
"Mr. Marco is leaving,g too?" Trafalgar Law still respected his senior, who was also a doctor.
"I only made time to come here, and next I have to go protect Whitebeard's hometown. With such a big incident, the Marine probably won't have time to capture Edward Weevil, and there's danger there at any time," Marco said.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to Monkey D. Luffy?" Trafalgar Law didn't expect Marco to just leave like that.
"No, I'm going to Ringo to say goodbye to Izo."
With that, Marco transformed into a blue phoenix and flew away from here.
The continuous revelry had ended, and people outside were already thinking about the future.
"Hurry and register! Kaido's reign of terror is over, and your former masters have returned!" a samurai with a sword shouted in the street.
"Under the wise leadership of General Kozuki Momonosuke, you only need to pay half of the original taxes. Cheer for the benevolence of Wano Country's master!"
"But we are very poor now, and the revelry of the past two days consumed our only food..."
A discordant voice rose from the crowd.
"We've already considered this. Lord Inuarashi, the hero who defeated Kaido and Orochi, will lend you money, only requiring a small 'interest'..."
The samurai shouted, "This is the proper order of Wano Country! The General, Daimyo, and Yakuza collectively maintain the stability of this country. Everyone, a new era has arrived!"
A new era? Marco looked at the crowd below; most of the sword-wielding samurai were very excited.
But after the wave of revelry, the common people who had sobered up remained skeptical about the future.
Is this the country you fought to protect with your life, Izo...? It doesn't seem as beautiful as I imagined.
Marco flew to the cemetery in Ringo. In the very center, Oden's memorial tablet was prominently enshrined, with 'Sword God' Ryuma moved to the side.
Oden, what were you thinking back then? If you had notified either the Roger Pirates or the Whitebeard Pirates, things wouldn't have come to this.
Marco still couldn't understand Oden's thoughts.
Next to Oden's memorial tablet was a pile of Daimyo memorial tablets for those who 'bravely fought' for Wano Country. Marco didn't recognize any of them except Shimotsuki Yasuie.
Were there so many Daimyo when Kaido was being subjugated?
Finally, Marco found Izo and Ashura Doji's memorial tablets in a corner.
"This is a country good at forgetting..." Marco looked at the memorial tablets in the corner. "Izo, how about I take you back to be with Whitebeard?"
The wind chimes on the eaves made a crisp sound.
"Then I'll take that as your agreement. Izo, Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' 16th Division, return to your post."
Marco picked up the two flintlock pistols beneath the memorial tablet. "Although we're not blood-related, we're more like family."
The blue phoenix flew away from Wano Country.
"Marco left? I didn't get to thank him properly. Monkey D. Luffy received the news of Marco's departure.
"He wants to return to Whitebeard's hometown quickly, and besides, I think he's a bit tired," Trafalgar Law said.
"Then let's get ready too. Call Nico Robin, and prepare to set off," Monkey D. Luffy became energetic.
"Monkey D. Luffy, I also want to see the final island, Laugh Tale. The records about it in Oden's diary were torn out." Yamato looked at Monkey D. Luffy expectantly.
"Okay, you're also a 'nakama' I acknowledge," Monkey D. Luffy smiled.
But soon, Monkey D. Luffy couldn't smile anymore.
Nico Robin was missing...
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