"To think Kaido himself came here..." Nekomamushi muttered darkly.
"Kaido? Kaido of the Beasts?!" The Musketeers were stunned. "But Boss Nekomamushi! We only saw a big white-winged birdman!"
"Hah? White wings? Since when did Kaido have that ability?"
While Nekomamushi's single-track mind struggled with this, Pedro regained consciousness.
"B-Boss Nekomamushi!"
"Pedro! How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine! But... that person! He took the small Poneglyph!" Pedro grabbed Nekomamushi's shoulders.
"And he said... he had Duke Inuarashi's permission!"
"Inuarashi's permission? Then it definitely wasn't Kaido... but why such a strong Kaido scent?" Nekomamushi shook his massive head, then hoisted Pedro over his shoulder.
"Whatever! Forget it for now! Boys! Follow me to meet Inuarashi! What the hell has Inuarashi done?!"
The journey from White Whale Forest to Inuarashi didn't take long.
When Nekomamushi barged in, he found Inuarashi conducting a headcount of the crew.
"Hey! Inuarashi! How dare you allow an outsider into the White Whale Forest and let him take away a Poneglyph!"
"You don't understand... the one who went to the White Whale Forest had already obtained higher authorization than me..."
"Higher than you? Don't be ridiculous! Isn't the Mokomo Dukedom jointly governed by the two of us?"
"But Michael... received permission from Zunesha itself."
"Z-Zunesha? You mean he can communicate with Zunesha? Isn't that a power only possessed by Lord Oden and young Master Momonosuke?"
"Unfortunately, this is yet another man who can wield the Voice of All Things." Inuarashi nodded at the Musketeers following behind Nekomamushi.
"Good, your men are here too... let's all go to Wano Country together."
"What's happening in Wano?"
"Since you were asleep all day, you wouldn't know... Wano Country was attacked by Kaido, but it seems the battle has ended victoriously now. The people who just came to take the Poneglyph... they were holding Lady Toki's token."
Nekomamushi froze, cold sweat instantly dripping down his back.
Wano was attacked!?
And he, a retainer, was asleep during it!?
"I deserve death ten thousand times over! I'll commit seppuku right now!"
"What's gotten into him?" Inuarashi glanced at Pedro beside him. "He's always been crazy, but never this insane?"
"Probably being forcibly awakened during his usual sleeping hours. The grogginess must've scrambled his brains," Pedro shrugged.
"sigh..." Inuarashi patted Nekomamushi a couple times, then scratched under his chin until the cat began purring and gradually fell asleep.
"Cats... such troublesome creatures."
...
When Inuarashi and Nekomamushi led the Musketeers and Guardians to leave Zou and arrive in Wano, the scenes along the coastline already revealed the intensity of the great battle.
While the top-tier fighters had achieved overwhelming victory, the samurai of Wano had still suffered casualties during close combat with the Beasts Pirates.
Though compared to the Beasts Pirates' losses, it could almost be called negligible.
The Beasts Pirates - apart from a small number who fled, and the Numbers specifically spared at Yamato's request - had almost all perished beneath the waves or by the blade.
As for the Beasts Pirates' officers, apart from Who's Who who couldn't withstand the combined assault of Sandersonia and Marigold, the others were all still barely clinging to life.
It just goes to show - the vitality of Ancient Zoan users is no joke.
Though for the Marines, capturing enemies alive actually brings greater merit than killing them.
The members of SWORD Forces, upholding Michael's will, were quite particular about military achievements.
Several among them hadn't yet been promoted to Vice Admiral.
But after confirming their merits in eliminating the Beasts Pirates, SWORD would likely see all its members promoted to Vice Admiral.
This would allow them to more legitimately access various positions of power within the Marines...
Naturally, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi knew nothing of this.
So when they encountered Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Toki on their way to the Flower Capital, both the dog and cat burst into tears.
"My lord! Are you unharmed?!"
"Why didn't you tell us Kaido was invading Wano? We're your retainers!"
"To have failed fighting alongside our lord - we deserve death! I'll commit seppuku immediately!"
"Are you insane?!"
Inuarashi restrained the hysterical Nekomamushi, then finally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Oden and Lady Toki before them.
"It's such a relief to see you in such vigorous health."
"Ahahaha! Inuarashi! Nekomamushi! Your concern alone is more than enough! Now you're kings of the Mokomo Dukedom - you can't go calling yourselves retainers!" Kozuki Oden boisterously clapped both cat and dog on the shoulder.
"This might have looked dangerous, but in truth, it was all sound and fury signifying nothing!"
"That's good, that's good..." Inuarashi let out a long sigh of relief before turning to Kozuki Toki.
"Lady Toki, there's something I'd like to ask..."
"I know what it is. Father went to Zou and took away that small Poneglyph..." Kozuki Toki nodded with a gentle smile.
"I'm aware of all this."
"So it really was your father..." Inuarashi's eyes widened suddenly. "But you... you're from over 800 years ago! And... that person seemed far too young?"
"I know it's hard to explain... but I could never mistake my own father." Kozuki Toki pointed into the distance.
"Father said we'd reunite in the future... and he didn't lie."
Following her finger, Inuarashi saw Michael folding his wings as he stood before the Poneglyph.
Beside him stood a tall, black-haired woman who was eloquently discussing the Poneglyph, seemingly interpreting its contents...
"So, Robin, what exactly does this Poneglyph say?"
Upon hearing this, Robin's face showed an expression of not knowing how to respond.
"Hmm? What's wrong? Is the interpretation difficult?"
"No... it's more that saying it out loud is difficult." Robin sighed and indicated a section on the Poneglyph.
"From here to here, the first ninety-five percent is just Joy Boy ranting about how despicable some birdman named Michael is..."
"The only meaningful part is the very last line..."
"Joy Boy says..."
"Michael, beware of the Nefertari."
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