Dark clouds had enveloped the country, but at this moment, Vlad was still unaware of it.
"So, Mr. Vlad," under the cherry trees again, Kozuki Oden was also sitting on the ground. A small blackboard was hung on a tree, inscribed with a passage of ancient text. The teaching between the two continued.
"Uh..." Vlad looked somewhat embarrassed, squinting at the small blackboard. He recognized most of the vocabulary on it, but the combined meaning eluded him completely. The grammar of this ancient language was entirely different from the languages prevalent across the seas. Although he recognized the characters, their combination could have been more easily understandable, and any literal translation would have been nonsensical.
"I don't know," Vlad honestly shook his head.
"Is that so?" Oden nodded with some understanding. "It seems I was a bit hasty. We need to continue strengthening your learning, Mr. Vlad!"
"Understood!" Vlad wasn't disappointed; after all, considering he had only started learning this a couple of weeks ago, remembering so many words was already impressive. Achieving mastery in scholarship as in strength doesn't happen overnight; both require a solid foundation for sudden leaps forward.
"Alright, let's end today's lesson here," Oden said with a smile, putting away the blackboard. "Now, let's enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms under this tree!"
"Sakata!" Oden called softly.
"Yes, teacher!" the man named Sakata responded, carrying two tables over to where Vlad and Oden were seated, placing them in front of each man.
Vlad sniffed the air, the sweet scent giving him a sudden sense of bliss. The tables were set with several dishes of sweets—not cakes, but dumpling-like treats, popular in Wano. Having spent quite some time together, Oden understood Vlad's preferences well.
Next to them was a bottle of what must be sake, with small cups likely meant for drinking.
"Please, Mr. Vlad!" Oden, too had a similar setup and poured himself a drink, downing it in one go.
"Ah, that's good!" the man exclaimed.
"Is it?" Vlad awkwardly poured himself a drink—it was his first time drinking sake in such a traditional manner.
"Sip!" Taking a light sip, Vlad smiled, "Not bad!"
"Right?" Oden looked pleased. "The sake is good, isn't it?"
"Of course," Oden continued, seemingly lost in memories. After a while, he added, "Captain Roger and Mr. Newgate said the same."
"…" Vlad lifted his head, staring at Oden. The man seemed to have dropped something significant casually.
"Takes me back! It's been over twenty years," the Daimyo of Kuri said. "Those two once drank heartily right where we sit, reminiscing about their carefree voyages."
"Hey, you just dropped quite the bombshell there!" Vlad chuckled, pouring another cup of sake. "Is revealing such a big secret so casually okay?"
Mr. Sakata, standing aside, his eyes sharply focused, seemed very interested in Oden's tales of his seafaring adventures.
"No problem; from the first moment I saw you, I knew you were a man to be trusted," Oden said, pouring another drink for himself. "Besides, you already knew, didn't you?"
"Uhahaha!" Vlad laughed heartily, stuffing a dumpling into his mouth; the trust he felt was always pleasant. "Whether I knew already or not, who's to say?"
"Quite the sly one, Mr. Vlad." Oden didn't mind and poured another drink, raising his cup towards Vlad, "Cheers!"
Vlad also poured himself a drink, raising his cup in return, smiling, "To this era!"
Oden paused, then laughed and replied, "To this era!" They both drank in unison.
The Pirate King and his companions forged this era of the Great Pirate Age!
"Mr. Vlad," Oden suddenly said, "do you aspire to be the Pirate King?"
"Yes, the Pirate King, that is my dream!" Vlad declared. "I want to be the freest person in the world, and that's what the Pirate King is!"
"The freest person? Hahaha," Oden laughed heartily. "That's no simple feat! There are so many in the world who wish to restrict freedom!"
"Yes, those folks are annoying, always insisting others live by their rules," Vlad said. "So, for my freedom, I might have to take down everyone in my way!"
"…" Oden paused, then laughed out loud, "Hahahaha!"
Oden laughed for a long time, finally saying, "You will succeed, Mr. Vlad! The world will change because of you!"
"Of course!" Vlad said, his mouth full of dumplings. "It's bound to be."
"Yes." Oden agreed. "Some people, you can tell from the first meeting, are exceptional men who will change the world."
Oden strongly felt this; when he first met Vlad, it reminded him of his initial encounter with Roger.
It was then that something unexpected happened.
"What?" Vlad's brow furrowed.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!!!"
A series of thunderous noises came from afar, rapidly approaching.