"Under the threat of Orochi, Kozuki Oden performed naked dances for five years. Just like that, he lost the hearts of the Wano Country people. Of course, this was also related to the fact that he did nothing else besides dancing naked during that time..."
In a classroom in the Flower Capital, a teacher was lecturing on the third revised version of Wano Country's history.
"Why did Oden believe Orochi? Weren't they enemies?" a student asked, raising their hand.
"Uh... perhaps he was very 'innocent'!" The teacher could only manage a strained explanation.
"Teacher, you just said Oden was squandering money in the red-light district at age six. Is that still 'innocent'?" another student questioned.
"Well... Leader Buggy said that in his hometown, there's a creature called an 'Innocent Prosthetic Eye,' and Oden is very similar to it."
"Even though almost everyone knows it's ignorant, a small minority still thinks it's 'innocent' and then forces others to agree with that view..."
"Just like how you were previously made to agree that Kozuki Oden was a hero. In fact, you can tell what kind of person Oden was by learning about his life..."
"Isn't he just a powerful fool!" a cheerful voice called out from the classroom.
"Dammit..." Kiku, who was passing nearby, heard the students' laughter, and her eyes turned red with anger.
Upon returning home, she complained to Denjiro, "How can the Buggy Pirates insult Lord Oden like that!"
"How did they insult him?" Denjiro asked.
"They told everyone exactly what Lord Oden did," Kiku said, "and then let everyone judge for themselves..."
Denjiro felt a bit weary. "They didn't falsify history as Orochi did; they just told the truth."
"Let's not talk about that. How's your job search going? We can't keep relying on Kawamatsu's fishing to support us all," Denjiro asked.
In fact, there were many jobs available, but they didn't want to work for the Buggy Pirates, so their options were limited.
"I haven't found one," Kiku said dejectedly. "Why is it that even powerful samurai like us can't find work anymore?"
"No one needs samurai for protection anymore. Ever since the crackdown began, those who commit crimes are hanging in 'Lamppost Square'."
Denjiro still felt a chill when speaking of the recent disturbances.
At the beginning, Buggy aimed his blade at the Daimyo and corrupt merchants. After confiscating their property, his next targets were the samurai and the underworld.
"You strong fellows, don't just idle around every day. Go to work." A single sentence from Buggy decided their fate.
But the samurai and the underworld had never engaged in manual labor, believing it was something only lowly people did.
Thus, in their rage, they launched a riot, taking to the streets with weapons and smashing everything in sight.
Then, all those who rioted were hanged in 'Lamppost Square'.
The survivors immediately cooled down. Between their lives and work, they chose work.
"Why don't we go to the Forging Workshop? Use Armament Haki to refine weapons. We can't eat fish every day," Denjiro said. "Kawamatsu works hard fishing every day, too."
Without work, they wouldn't get 'Food Purchase Vouchers,' and they wouldn't be able to buy anything.
Actually, there was another place they could go: joining the Buggy Pirates as combatants.
Denjiro knew Buggy only treated Wano Country as a logistics base and would eventually embark on a path of expansion.
But Kiku would definitely not agree, so they had to compromise.
"How about I go perform..." Kozuki Hiyori, who had finished practicing her swordsmanship, walked over.
"The red-light district has been closed, Princess Hiyori." Kiku thought for a moment and finally agreed with Denjiro's suggestion. "Never mind, let's go to the Forging Workshop."
"Princess Hiyori should stay here. Public safety in Wano Country is very good now, so you won't encounter any danger," Denjiro said.
"Don't call me Princess anymore; the Kozuki Clan has vanished. I'll go with you, alright? I also want to see what the current Wano Country has become," Kozuki Hiyori said.
Since leaving Hyogoro's place, Kozuki Hiyori hadn't been out for a stroll, only learning about the outside world from Denjiro and the others' conversations.
From their talks, Hiyori knew Wano Country had been in a state of bloody conflict, with the new ruler Buggy constantly killing people.
Later, he forced the civilians to work for him; otherwise, they wouldn't even get food.
Even if they had been living on fish, let alone others. Wano Country must be in a worse state than when Orochi ruled.
But when Kawamatsu returned, and the group went out, Hiyori discovered the outside was very peaceful and harmonious.
The samurai and underworld thugs who used to loiter in the streets had disappeared. The civilians' faces were filled with smiles, and there were even many people doing business.
"Didn't Buggy kill all the merchants?" Hiyori asked in a low voice.
"He only killed the big merchants, the ones you used to swindle, Miss Hiyori..." Denjiro said. "The remaining small merchants only need to register, and their other activities are unaffected."
"Were all the men in their prime seized for labor?" Hiyori noticed that most people on the street were elderly, and there were no signs of children.
"They weren't seized; labor is voluntary. The children have all gone to school. As for these elderly people, as long as they reach the age standard, they can receive free food," Denjiro said.
"Ah!" Hiyori exclaimed. "Why would Buggy do this?"
In her opinion, Buggy had always been an evil guy, yet this evil guy was doing good deeds.
"I don't know. Maybe there are all kinds of people among pirates," Denjiro realized he couldn't understand Buggy at all.
In Wano Country, there was an old tradition where the elderly from poor families were abandoned on mountains to fend for themselves once they reached seventy.
This was the case even during the reign of Kozuki Sukiyaki.
No one cast their gaze upon these elderly people; they were just insignificant dust.
As it turned out, a pirate had achieved what the successive Shoguns of Wano Country could not. It was truly ironic.
"Where did Buggy get the food?" In Hiyori's impression, Wano Country had always been impoverished.
"Uh... It was seized from the Daimyos' homes. It's enough to feed Wano Country for several years."
Denjiro felt a bit embarrassed. Previously, people in Wano Country often starved to death, yet the food in the Daimyos' houses was piled up like mountains.
"The Buggy Pirates have reclaimed a large amount of land for people to cultivate and even built canals for irrigation. There won't be a shortage of food in the future."
Kawamatsu often went out fishing and watched the canals being built in just a few days. "That Scarred-face man is truly impressive!"
"If this continues, we won't be able to take back the rule of Wano Country at all, will we?" Hiyori gave a sorrowful smile. "Compared to the Kozuki Clan, they would be more willing to accept Buggy's rule."
"This..." Denjiro was momentarily speechless.
If things continued like this, only a fool would miss the rule of the Kozuki Clan.
Fortunately, they arrived at the Forging Workshop, which eased the awkwardness.
"We're here to refine weapons," Denjiro quickly stepped forward and said.
"Hmm... How's your mastery of Armament Haki? Can you use Ryuo?" the pirate in charge of reception asked.
"Yes." Denjiro drew his katana and wrapped Armament Haki around it, turning it into a black blade.
"Very impressive. Are you famous in Wano Country?" The pirate was surprised. "Wait..."
He took out a notebook and flipped through it for a bit. "You're the Nine Red Scabbards, aren't you?"
"There are no Nine Red Scabbards anymore," Denjiro said with some sadness.
"The three of you don't need to be tested. You're all SR rank and can go straight to work," the pirate said.
"What is SR?" Denjiro didn't understand what it meant.
"The weapons refined with Armament Haki are meant to be sold. Captain Buggy has divided them into three ranks: SSR, SR, and R. The weapons you refine will be SR rank, just like the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords," the pirate explained patiently to Denjiro.
"Then is there an SSR rank?" Denjiro suddenly thought of that black-clad swordsman.
"Yes, that's Captain Hawkeye. He's currently the only SSR rank in the Forging Workshop."
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A/N: 40+ Advance Chapter Has Been Uploaded.
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