"He's here!"
While Roy was tallying up the losses on one side, the battle on Whitebeard's side had already begun.
In the ani, it looked like they exchanged a few blows, but in reality, Whitebeard finished him off with a single punch.
Just like with Roger, Whitebeard defeated Oden instantly.
At first, Whitebeard had been cautious of Oden because he sensed Oden's strong Haki.
Strong and unbridled Conqueror's Haki was radiating from him.
But with Roy's warning, Whitebeard didn't underestimate him. He went all out from the start and knocked Oden flat with one strike.
When Oden made his request, Whitebeard naturally refused. The guy had just tried to kill him—what kind of first impression was that?
Was Oden so kind of good person?
All he wanted was for Whitebeard to take him out to sea. Of course, if Whitebeard had been weaker, Oden would've taken him down. Did you really think the people of Wano were all kind-hearted?
In the following days, they didn't enter Wano, but Kozuki Oden kept coming back.
"Roy… that guy…"
Whitebeard found Roy and sat beside him.
Roy was sitting down on a wooden crate recording the losses, what needed to be replenished, and so on.
"You want to let him on the ship?" Roy asked.
"No, I don't," Whitebeard replied.
"I know what you're thinking, Newgate. He' a daimyo of Wano, and you're worried about history repeating itself just like the Rocks Pirates. Soone who won't submit to others will be a destabilizing factor in the crew," Roy said, putting down his pen and looking up at Whitebeard.
"I do like the guy, but..."
"You want to know the future from ?"
"Never mind. I'd rather leave it to fate." Whitebeard shook his head and walked away.
The ship was being repaired at a rapid pace, and Oden showed up again.
The Whitebeard Pirates shared their finest sake with him. According to Blanco's estimate, the repairs would take two weeks.
"Ugh, that long?" Roy sighed.
During this ti, Oden visited several tis. Nekomamushi and Inuarashi even beca good friends with Marco.
"Lord Oden is persistent, but your captain keeps turning him down," Nekomamushi chuckled.
"Hahaha! Pops would never agree to let Oden join. None of us can change his mind, except for Big Bro. He's the only person on the whole crew who can change Pops' opinion," Marco said.
"Big Bro? Who's that?" Inuarashi asked curiously.
"Big Bro is our big brother. He's our most important companion and the only one who can sway Pops. We all respect him. Unless he gives the green light, Pops won't let Oden on board. And once he says no, no one can get on our ship," Marco said.
"There's soone like that? He must be really strong," Nekomamushi said excitedly.
"Is he as strong as Whitebeard?" Inuarashi asked seriously.
"No. Big Bro... he's really weak," Marco said a little sadly.
"Weak?" Inuarashi and Nekomamushi were both stunned.
"Yeah. He's just… an ordinary guy," Marco forced a smile.
"What kind of person is he?!"
Still curious, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi dragged Oden back again along with Kin'emon and the others.
"Lord Oden, give it up. Whitebeard won't agree. If you want to leave Wano with them, there's only one person you need to convince," Nekomamushi said.
"Right! The Whitebeard Pirates have this 'Big Bro' figure that Marco ntioned. Apparently, he's the only one who can change Whitebeard's mind," Inuarashi added.
"Hey, Nekomamushi, Inuarashi, what are you two blabbering about?" Izo scolded.
"Ah, sorry, we misspoke," Nekomamushi laughed.
"Big Bro?" Oden committed the na to mory.
The next day, Oden sneaked out again and headed straight for the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Who is your Big Bro?" By now, everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates knew Kozuki Oden, and they got along well.
The person Oden asked looked confused.
"Big Bro? We don't have anyone called that," the new recruit replied, shaking his head.
"Idiot, he ans Big Bro Roy," said Aruwan, who was helping move so timber.
"Oh, Roy. Why do you call him Big Bro?" the newbie asked.
"You don't understand. Stop talking and get back to work."
"But Aruwan, Roy's weak, isn't he? He's just a normal guy."
"Shut your mouth! If you talk badly about Big Bro again, I'll tell Pops and have you kicked out of the ship"
"Wha-?!!"
"Aruwan, where's Roy?" Oden ca over and asked.
"See that guy over there? That's Big Bro Roy." Aruwan pointed to a boy sitting on the grass reading a book, completely out of place with everything around him. He exuded an aura completely opposite of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Without a word, Oden rushed over and stood in front of Roy.
"You're Roy, right? Can you convince Whitebeard to let join you?" Oden asked eagerly.
"Are you sure you want to join us?" Roy closed his book and looked up at him.
"Absolutely! One hundred percent!" Oden replied.
"Then you'd better think carefully. Your decision now will bring disaster to Wano. Your whole country will fall into crisis, and even face destruction," Roy said.
"That's impossible. You're joking. How could Wano possibly…"
Oden didn't believe him at all, but when he looked into Roy's eyes, his instincts scread that this wasn't a joke.
Especially the mont he t Roy's gaze, he was sure this man could influence Whitebeard. His deanor, his actions—he was far too calm.
"My decision.... would destroy Wano?" Oden laughed loudly. "Impossible! If I leave, Wano will be just fine. It won't be destroyed because of . You're just trying to scare . Hahahahahaha."
Oden laughed nonstop, but Roy didn't interrupt; he just kept looking at him, his eyes were unsettling, utterly calm, like still water, devoid of emotion.
Oden laughed for a while and realized Roy wasn't reacting. It beca a bit awkward, like a flock of crows flying over his head.
"You're such a boring guy. I have my dreams! I'm sick of life here. I long for the outside world!" Oden roared.
"Everything is already set in motion. Talking to won't change anything. Only Newgate can decide whether you join. That's all I can tell you. But mark my words: this is the mont that will alter your fate—and Wano's. If you leave now, everything will unfold as I've said."
"Hmph! Boring! I don't want to talk to you anymore. You're just a boring person. In the end, you can't decide anything. I'll go find Whitebeard. I will leave Wano!"
Without looking back, Oden walked away. Inside, he was undoubtedly conflicted, on one hand, he believed Roy's words, but on the other, he still chased his dream of leaving Wano.
Once Oden was gone, Roy opened his book again and resud reading.
"Honestly, even if you didn't leave Wano, the country would still fall. With soone as foolish as you, Wano's suffering is only a matter of ti."
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