Chapter 66

Today, Kong has come to put an end to this nonsense. He knew what happened with Garp's student was ugly, but he didn't have the time to think about right and wrong now. The elders were already breathing down his neck regarding Roger's matter, and added to that, they had also assigned additional tasks despite their current lack of manpower.

"Kong-san, I still hold a modicum of respect for you. Please don't make me lose that as well," Garp's voice echoed as he stepped out of the room, eyeing the door, which had seen better days.

"Respect... Respect to hell with your respect, Garp! Do you know what's going on out there? And here you are doing what? Absolutely nothing," Kong fumed furiously, seeing the Marine Hero standing there as if the matter happening out at sea had no connection to him at all.

"Tell me, Kong-san, why should I care? I am just a vice admiral, and if I am not wrong, you have hundreds of vice admirals under your command. Why don't you send out a dozen and have them fix your problem?" Garp was truly furious. If it weren't for Kong's order to return immediately, he might have somehow caught wind of the nefarious plan targeting Ross. Although he knew Kong was simply following orders, he still held some resentment. Today was not the first time in this month Kong had come to him for help to get out to the New World.

"Why should you care? Did you just ask me why you should care? Here, let me give you more than a hundred reasons why you should care." Kong started throwing one report after another furiously while reading the main content.

"More than 12,000 killed... Here, this whole island was massacred... A dozen Marine ships sank... Here, read this... Here." Kong started throwing out reports after reports portraying the drastic situation around the world. The world was in chaos, and the ones who were suffering were the common folk. After throwing down a stack of reports right in front of Garp's feet, he took out another stack, which were the recent bounty posters.

"Whitebeard Edward Newgate, Golden Lion Shiki, Hundred Beast Kaido, Patrick Redfield, Big Mom Charlotte Linlin, Sanjuan Wolf, and finally, the Golden Bounty poster of the Pirate King himself." Kong threw more than two dozen bounty posters.

"Every one of them is out there creating the carnage that you see in these reports. Every single innocent life might have been saved if you were out there instead of moping around here," Kong said with emotion. He knew how Garp was. Despite the sorrow in his heart, Garp was someone who truly wanted to serve justice for the innocents, and the reports in front of him showed the casualties that had been caused in just this one month.

"Garp, I may not understand what you are feeling, but at least I can relate. All I say is, don't condemn these innocent souls. Your presence out in the seas may change the lives of many innocents. Don't lose sight of what's in front of you. We need you, Garp, or rather, I need you. Unless I can keep these powerhouses in check, the entire sea will descend into chaos, and more innocents will die." Kong sighed, understanding that he could not force Garp; he would have to do it out of his own will.

" Don't worry about the World Nobles; I have already spoken to the elders. You will no longer be restrained. You can do as you see fit. Just get out there and do what you do best. I have shared what I wanted to say, but the rest is up to you." Kong stood without bothering to pick up the reports and bounty posters. He knew Garp would not let him down, and the concession given by the elders worked in his favor for getting Garp back into the seas.

"If you still consider yourself a Marine, then please do us both a favor. Put on your Marine coat get out there and help me bring some sort of stability to the chaotic seas. Roger is out there somewhere, and the longer he remains at large, the worse the situation will become. Eventually, the whole world will descend into chaos," Kong sighed. Even though he held the title of Fleet Admiral, he didn't know how else to convince the Marine hero to rejoin the fray. With these words, Kong left Garp alone to make his decision.

Unlike Garp, who was wishing for a miracle, there was one person who had absolute confidence, bordering on blind faith, that the young masters were alive: young Vergo. He had almost crumbled when he heard of the Donquixote family's fall. During the incident at the bay, he was away and unaware of the happenings until he heard the commotion.

Now, he still believed Doffy and Ross were alive and resolved to grow strong, waiting for his young masters to return. He knew it in his gut that, despite half his heart being ripped out, Ross was alive somewhere out there. Vergo had immersed himself in training like a madman, and he was going to complete the mission that Doffy and Ross had given him. He was waiting and biding his time for the eventual return of his family.

******************

The Oro Jackson, carrying Roger's crew, glided silently through the dark waters, cloaked in the shroud of night. As it approached the shores of Wano, Oden stood at the bow, his gaze fixed on the land that had once been his home.

"What an impressive mess, all that wreckage from just trying to enter Wano!" The navigator of the Oro Jackson observed the shore through his spyglass, noting the debris left behind by broken ships.

"If you choose the wrong current, the ship will be destroyed without making it anywhere near the shores of Wano," Oden remarked with pride as he watched the Oro Jackson expertly navigate through the treacherous waters.

Meanwhile, Rayleigh, who also understood the truth that Wano was hiding, admired the country, which would become a major part of the New Dawn. He couldn't help but comment, "There is a reason for Wano's closed borders. But they will open these borders the day 'JOYBOY' finally appears!"

"Worry not, Rayleigh san, I will open the border of Wano to the world before Joyboy comes!" Oden commented with a silent promise.

After a heartfelt farewell and with a promise of meeting them again someday, Oden finally made it to the shores of Wano alone, where a grand welcome awaited him.

Oden stepped onto the familiar soil of Wano. His eyes scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar face. And there she was, standing on the shore with a smile that could light up the darkest night—Toki, his beloved wife. Without a moment's hesitation, Oden rushed towards her, enveloping her in a tight embrace.

"Toki Chan, I've missed you so much," Oden whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

"And I, you, my dear Oden sama," Toki replied, her eyes shining with tears of joy. "Welcome home."

As they stood there, lost in each other's embrace, Oden's children approached, their faces alight with excitement. They threw themselves into their father's arms, laughing and crying all at once. It was a moment of pure happiness—a family reunited after years of separation.

"You have grown so much, Momonosuke!" Oden scooped his son up, and all his retainers also surrounded themselves with hope that what they believed would release them from this darkness.

But the joy didn't stop there. As Oden and his family made their way through the streets of Wano, they were met with cheers and applause from the citizens. It seemed that the entire Kuri had turned out to welcome their beloved daimyo home.

Oden was taken aback by the outpouring of love and support. He hadn't expected such a warm reception, especially after his tumultuous past. Turning to his retainers, he asked, "What's going on? Why are the people so happy to see me?"

His retainers exchanged a knowing glance before Kin'emon stepped forward, a proud smile on his face. "Toki-sama has been working tirelessly to rebuild your reputation, my lord," he explained. "She has helped the people in countless ways, and they have come to see you as a hero once again."

Oden's heart swelled with pride as he listened to Kin'emon's words. He knew that Toki was capable of great things, but her efforts had surpassed even his wildest expectations. Turning to his wife, he took her hand in his and said, "Toki Chan, I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for me and for our people."

Toki smiled warmly at her husband, her eyes shining with love and admiration. "It was my honor, Oden-sama," she replied. "I only wish to see you happy and respected once again."

As they continued their journey through the streets of Wano, Oden couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the love and support of his people. He knew that he had a lot to catch up on, and as they reached the safety and comfort of their home, he turned to his retainers and said, "Tell me everything that has happened since I left. I want to know everything, from the moment I set sail to the day I returned."

After receiving a thorough briefing from his retainers about the situation that had unfolded in his absence, Oden's fury knew no bounds. Words were not enough to contain the storm raging within him. Gripping both of his swords tightly, Oden's resolve was unwavering as he charged toward the direction of the capital.

Determined to assess the true extent of the devastation, Oden chose not to conceal his identity as he wandered through the streets of the entire Wanokuni. His heart clenched at the sight of the desolation that surrounded him—homes reduced to rubble, streets littered with the debris of lives shattered by tyranny.

"Is that... Oden Sama?

"It can't be! He's been gone for so long..." whispers echoed through as they saw the mighty Oden walk through the streets of the capital.

"Oden-sama has returned!"

"Praise be to the heavens! Our savior has come back to us!" Oden's name was akin to that of a legendary warrior in Wano, and at the sight of Oden's return, hope flickered once again in the hearts of the citizens of Wano.

Approaching a group of weary townsfolk gathered around a meager fire, Oden's voice rang out with a question heavy with sorrow. "What has become of Wano?" he inquired, his tone laced with empathy for their plight.

A woman, her eyes red-rimmed and weary, looked up at the hope in their midst, as she was aware of Oden's identity. "It's been more than a year since Kaido and Orochi seized control,Oden Sama," she murmured, her voice trembling with exhaustion. "The people suffer under their tyranny—hunger gnaws at our bellies, and those who dare to resist are met with merciless reprisal. Please save us; save us from this hell!"

Oden's fists clenched with a mix of rage and grief as he absorbed the grim reality of his homeland's plight. Though he had heard whispers of Kaido's brutality, witnessing the devastation firsthand only fueled his resolve to bring about change.

As he traversed the entirety of Wano, Oden bore witness to scenes of unspeakable suffering—families torn apart, livelihoods destroyed, hope hanging by a thread. Yet amidst the despair, he glimpsed flickers of defiance—small acts of resistance that spoke to the indomitable spirit of the Wano people.

As dawn broke, casting a golden hue upon the ravaged land, Oden stood at the precipice of the capital, his heart heavy with the burden of responsibility. Despite the perils that lay ahead, he vowed to confront Kaido and Orochi, challenge their tyranny, and restore honor to Wano.

With a silent prayer for strength and courage, Oden steeled himself and unsheathed both his blades for the arduous battle that lay ahead. The fate of Wano hung in the balance, and he alone could be the beacon of hope that would guide his people towards a brighter future. He moved in the direction where Orochi was so as to put an end to this menance once and for all.