"But... there are a lot of people outside watching me."
Yamato looked troubled, but the anticipation in her eyes had already given her away. She really wanted to run outside and play freely.
After all, she's just a kid~
"No problem. I have my ways."
"Ways?"
...
Thud...
Thud...
Buzz—
A wave of overwhelming power swept across the area. Without their core officers, the Beasts Pirates were nothing in Orin's eyes—easily trampled underfoot.
"Hey, you."
With the little girl perched on his shoulder, Orin had intentionally left one conscious lackey. He stepped on the guy's Viking-style helmet and spoke with a casual, dismissive tone,
"When Kaido gets back, tell him this: I, Orin, have taken his daughter. I'll return her... eventually."
"We're going out to play~!"
Yamato was now completely convinced of Orin's identity. For someone this strong, being her father's friend seemed perfectly reasonable.
Honestly, anyone dead set on becoming a fool probably is one themselves.
She got abducted way too easily!
...
By the time Kaido returned to the base dragging Oden and the others with him, and saw the fallen members of the Beasts Pirates sprawled all over the place, his mind went blank with a buzzing rage.
"What the hell happened here!!!"
Furious, Kaido spotted the only conscious soldier left. He grabbed him by the collar, killing intent in his eyes.
The soldier nearly wet himself, crying as he stammered,
"K-Kaido-sama, it was... it was that Black Emperor—Orin!!! Yamato-sama got taken away by that guy too!!!"
"NANI???"
"ORIN!!!"
...
Outside the borders of Wano, with young Yamato riding on his shoulder, Orin had already traveled hundreds of kilometers away in the blink of an eye.
He didn't know exactly where they were now, but it was definitely outside Kaido's territory.
At the very least, it was a bustling place, with lively crowds along the streets.
"Ne ne, Orin-san, what's the sea like out there?"
Young Yamato was already showing a yearning for the outside world. Maybe it was just her nature.
"You're so strong, you must've been to lots of amazing places, right?!"
Stars twinkled in Yamato's eyes as she sat in Orin's arms, clutching his collar and blinking with pure curiosity and wonder.
Her innocent smile made it hard for Orin to say no. He simply pinched her cheek and patted her head.
Though he'd seen Yamato before—always shouting "I am Kozuki Oden!" and generally acting annoying—
None of that had happened yet.
At this point, she was still a blank slate, untouched by the world. She'd simply encountered Kozuki Oden—a top-tier idiot—and ended up getting led astray by him.
Kaido, a rough brute, only knew how to fight fire with fire, trying to use cruelty to force Yamato into accepting her "role" and understanding of the world.
But unfortunately, that backfired completely.
Just like how Garp beat Luffy with his fists, but Luffy still shouted about becoming Pirate King.
With people like this, you either teach them while they're still a blank canvas, or you shatter their beliefs with brutal reality.
Punching alone won't work. Idealists are stubborn as hell.
So now—
It was time for the master of worldview transformation, Orin-sama, to pick up the brush and start painting!
"There are so many fascinating things on the sea..."
Orin casually tossed out a few gold coins, bought some skewered candied fruits and snacks, then cradled Yamato in one arm as he strolled through the streets, telling her stories.
What stories, you ask?
Why, the legendary life of Orin-sama, of course~
Anything Kozuki Oden saw on his voyage, Orin had seen too.
Anything Oden didn't see, Orin had also experienced.
Yamato was totally engrossed just reading Oden's travel journal—which said a lot about how empty her inner world was.
It was like a sheltered little girl meeting a real man of the world. Her mental canvas was being filled in piece by piece.
Orin narrated his epic tales:
"This world has four vast seas, and one legendary route—the Grand Line!"
"I've been to so many amazing islands: castles that move, trampoline forests made of rubber, glaciers that can freeze you instantly, lands where the ground burns as soon as you step on it... Islands and houses made entirely of chocolate, cookies, and sweets—rivers of juice, and trees and flowers that talk..."
"There are giants taller than ten-story buildings, the small yet mighty Tontatta Tribe, long-arm tribes with three elbow joints, the three-eyed tribe, and Fishmen who can live and breathe underwater..."
"Even the clouds in the sky can be lived on. That's called Sky Island. The god there? He's my underling."
Looking at Orin's life, you could easily write a classic wish-fulfillment novel.
Little Yamato sat in awe, completely stunned.
Bit by bit, she began to understand the meaning behind names like Kaido and Orin—and she was completely taken in by Orin's overwhelming charisma.
So cool!!!
Alone, he took on Marine Headquarters for his captain.
Whoever saw him had to give him respect.
He even defeated her father and his comrades.
Yamato had never heard so many amazing stories. Compared to Oden's so-called "journey," Orin's tales were way more spectacular and thrilling.
With her mouth wide open, eyes sparkling, she kept pestering Orin to keep telling more.
But a journey of over ten years couldn't be summed up in just a few hours.
Even with Orin's patience—snacking as he told tales—Yamato eventually dozed off after a few hours.
She still held the candied fruit Orin had bought her.
Cradling her in his arms, Orin noticed that even in sleep, she was mumbling,
"Marines... You're not even worthy... to face the great Yamato-sama..."
"Kaido... You'd better bring backup..."
Her snot bubble grew and shrank as the little girl mumbled dream-talk.
Well now~
This was working beautifully.
If she hasn't seen the world, then show it to her.
Technically, Orin hadn't taken her out to sea, but the principle was the same.
All he had to do next was stop Yamato from witnessing Oden's execution, and her life path would take a dramatic turn.
At the very least, there'd be one less tomboy running around yelling about being the heroic Oden—which was kind of annoying to watch.
And what would that leave instead?
A new possibility—
Yamato, led by Orin.
"I am Yamato, daughter of the man known as the Black Emperor Orin. Pleased to meet you!"
Just imagining that line made Orin chuckle—especially when he thought of Kaido's face.
How interesting this all was~