Chapter 19: 19. Yamato

As Emily had reported, Alex, always alert to developments, sensed Orochi's forces gathering at night. Orochi himself, along with Kaido's men, launched a raid on Hyogoro's home in the Flower Capital. Simultaneously, Kurozumi Orochi traveled by carriage toward Kuri. The five-year agreement was drawing to a close, and Orochi's actions signaled his intent for a full confrontation with Kozuki Oden, igniting a conflict that had been simmering from the start. Five years had passed, and Kaido was now powerful enough that he no longer feared Oden's past associations with Whitebeard and Roger. He had become a true monster. As in the original tale, Hyogoro was captured, and news spread quickly that his subordinates and their families had been executed. Five years of humiliation, sacrificed in the name of peace, had led only to betrayal, and the final thread of restraint in Kozuki Oden's heart snapped. Overcome by grief and rage, Oden resolved to confront Kaido, rallying only his loyal retainers for the task. But tragically, it was both too late and too reckless. In five years, the Beasts Pirates had grown to formidable power—far more than Oden and his retainers could hope to challenge alone. Worse yet, a spy in their ranks had betrayed their plan, leading to the failure of their ambush, culminating in a clash at mainland. At this moment, Alex used his Float-Float Fruit ability to reach Kaido's current stronghold—Onigashima. With nearly the entire Beasts Pirates' force deployed, only a few remained on guard, leaving Onigashima almost deserted. Hovering silently in the air, Alex drifted toward the massive skeleton at the island's heart. Using his Observation Haki, he detected two presences nearby. "Jack, why won't Father let us go with him?" a young voice asked. "This is Lord Kaido's decision, because we're not strong enough," came the response. "But I really want to see it..." "It's not our place to decide that." The speakers were a large, blond boy—chubby but already towering at nearly four meters, with jagged teeth—and a girl with long, multi-colored hair, fading from white to green to blue, with a pair of red horns adorning her head. Listening to their conversation and recognizing their appearances, Alex easily identified the two. The first was the future "Drought," Jack. The girl was Kaido's daughter, Yamato, whose relationship with her father was complex and filled with both defiance and longing. "Is it just you two here?" Alex asked as he landed lightly on the eaves above them. The Beasts Pirates prided themselves on raising future powerhouses, but Alex noted the absence of the Tobi Roppo, who would later come to prominence. It was just these two young hopefuls here for now. The sudden sound made both Jack and Yamato jump in surprise. Turning toward the voice, Jack quickly assessed that Alex wasn't dressed in the attire of the Beasts Pirates and, with a wary tone, demanded, "Who are you? This is Master Kaido's territory!" Unlike Jack's defensive posture, Yamato eyed Alex with a hint of fear and asked cautiously, "Are you a samurai from Wanokuni?" Both of them had noticed the sword at Alex's side. Even at just eight years old, they understood the ongoing conflict between Kaido and the samurai of Wanokuni; Onigashima was full of captured warriors who had rebelled against Kaido. "Damn it! Take this!" Without waiting for a response, Jack launched himself at Alex, fist swinging forward in a preemptive strike. With Onigashima nearly empty of guards, he decided it was better to act than to risk facing an unknown threat. Alex calmly extended a hand and caught Jack's fist, effortlessly halting his attack mid-air. A surge of Haki knocked Jack back to the ground, leaving cracks in the stone where he landed. "Relax—I'm not a Wanokuni samurai, and I don't plan on bullying kids," Alex said, gesturing for Yamato to stand down as well. "Liar! You just knocked out Jack!" Yamato yelled, still tense. "He attacked first, and he didn't seem in the mood to listen." Alex shrugged, then turned to Yamato. "I'm here to find Kaido. Since you're his daughter, you should have his Den Den Mushi." As Alex looked directly at her, Yamato initially flinched but then straightened, lips pursed in silent defiance. Kaido was still held in high regard in her eyes, and she knew that today was the day some samurai planned to challenge her father. Sensing her emotions with Observation Haki, Alex added, "I'm not a Wanokuni warrior, and I'm not here to fight Kaido. I'm from overseas, and I have business to discuss with him." The word "overseas" seemed to spark something in Yamato. Her eyes lit up, the fear fading as she exclaimed, "Overseas?!" Though she hadn't yet read Kozuki Oden's logbook, Yamato had always yearned for the world beyond Wanokuni, hearing tales from the Beasts Pirates about the sea's vastness. Knowing her curiosity, Alex leaned in slightly. "What's this? Interested in the world beyond?" "Yeah!" Yamato's face brightened, and she asked eagerly, "Can you tell me about it?" Alex smiled at her enthusiasm. Yamato, with her budding Conqueror's Haki and exceptional potential, was a "treasure" he wanted to recruit. Rather than seeing her idolize Oden, he preferred to inspire her himself. "I know plenty of interesting places on the sea," Alex began, pausing pointedly. "But... Kaido's Den Den Mushi?" "I'll go get it right now!" Yamato dashed off to retrieve the phone, leaving Alex amused by her enthusiasm. Shortly after, in the forested hills surrounding the Udon where the battle had just concluded, the Den Den Mushi from Onigashima rang loudly, cutting through the stillness left by the skirmish.