"A big fool?"
Everyone froze on the spot.
Just moments ago, they had hoped that if Luo Yu truly knew Kozuki Oden, they might appeal to his emotions.
They never expected reality to slap them twice in the face.
The man they revered as a national hero—was being called a "big fool."
"How dare you insult Lord Oden?"
Kyoshiro's face turned cold, his hand instantly gripping the hilt of his sword.
A murderous aura surged from his body.
Luo Yu chuckled, shook the wine gourd in his hand, and sat casually on a nearby rock.
"What? You don't believe me?"
"That big fool—he was the Second Division Commander of Whitebeard's crew, and a member of the Pirate King Roger's ship. When he returned to Wano and discovered Kaido and Orochi's collusion, instead of seeking outside help, he claimed he didn't want to trouble his comrades and insisted on solving Wano's crisis alone. That's fine."
"But then, when Kaido and Orochi took hostages, he chose to believe the word of pirates. He danced naked every day, and in the end, not only did he fail to save anyone, he gave Kaido the time he needed to fully seize control of Wano."
"Later, when he sought revenge, he charged in without preparation and got himself killed—humiliated before he died. If that's not a big fool, then what is?"
"To you, Oden might be a hero. But to me, he was a man with strength and no brains. If he had any, Wano wouldn't be in this mess."
"If you ask me, Oden bears half the blame for Wano's downfall."
"You're courting death!"
Kyoshiro roared, drawing his blade.
But before he could strike, Hiyori reached out and stopped him.
"Uncle Kyoshiro, don't be rash!"
Her eyes were already red, tears shimmering. Her lips, bitten too hard, had begun to bleed. Her voice trembled with fury and sorrow.
"I know you're strong. If I fight you, I'll die."
"But as Kozuki Oden's daughter, I will not allow you to speak of my father like that."
"If you can't give me a reason why my father—who died for Wano—deserves such scorn, then even if it means death, I will draw my blade against you!"
She picked up a fallen ninja's sword, her face filled with grief and resolve.
Kyoshiro and Hitetsu were both stunned. They hadn't expected Hiyori to be so fierce.
Luo Yu smiled, unsurprised.
He had always thought Hiyori, who endured ten years of humiliation for revenge, was far stronger than that brat Momonosuke.
Facing the girl who now stood with sword in hand, Luo Yu took another sip and said:
"You asked me for a reason?"
"Honestly, if I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't need one. But thinking about that big fool Oden, I can't help but speak my mind."
"He had the power of Whitebeard and Roger behind him, but refused to use it. He clung to some twisted sense of honor, got tricked from start to finish, rushed into revenge without rallying Wano's forces, and died like a fool. What kind of hero is that?"
"If he had united the clans, gathered the daimyos, raised tens of thousands of samurai, and led the charge with the Nine Red Scabbards—couldn't he have taken Onigashima?"
"Don't forget—Kaido back then wasn't the monster he is now. He was just a crawling lizard."
"Even Gecko Moria, now a Warlord, once fought Kaido in Wano. If Oden had seized that moment, maybe Wano wouldn't have suffered like this."
Luo Yu swirled his gourd and looked at Hiyori.
"Tell me—am I wrong?"
"Shut up! You don't understand! Kaido had hundreds of hostages! Lord Oden did it to save lives!"
Kyoshiro roared, his face twisted with rage.
He had planned to refute every word Luo Yu said.
But each sentence had struck like a hammer to the soul.
He had no rebuttal.
"Save lives?"
Luo Yu took another sip.
"Those hundreds were innocent. But what about the rest of Wano, who suffered for decades?"
"There were many ways to save them. But Oden chose the dumbest one—trusting pirates to keep their word. That's laughable."
"The sea is ruled by the strong. A true ruler should rise and fight."
"Wano's decades of suffering were caused by Oden's foolishness. Following a man like that—that's the real tragedy for Wano's people."
"Remember this: Wano was ruined by a fool. And when he sought revenge, he didn't even protect his family. No foresight. No plan."
"He wasn't just an unfit ruler—he wasn't even a decent father."
Luo Yu's quiet words echoed across the field, lingering in the air.
Even the hidden Kozuki Sukiyaki and Hiyori were stunned.
Only Kyoshiro remained defiant, his face contorted as he roared:
"You're spouting nonsense!"
He gripped his sword and charged at Luo Yu once more.
"Kyoshiro, stop!"
Hiyori's voice cracked with tears.
Kyoshiro froze.
It was the first time he had heard that commanding tone from her.
A shadow of Kozuki Oden.
Before he could respond, Hiyori's sword clattered to the ground.
She covered her face, collapsed to her knees, and broke into sobs.
"Uncle Kyoshiro… I'm sorry."
"I… I had so many arguments ready. But when he called my father a fool… I couldn't refute it."
"There were so many ways to drive Kaido and Orochi out of Wano. Why did Father choose the stupidest one?"
"If that's not being a fool… then what is?"