One Piece: Groudon the Beasts

Chapter 41 Oden = Kaido?

Flower City, Eastern Suburbs.

Hundreds of samurai gathered, followed by General Orochi and a group of noble families, as well as a large number of onlookers.

Goode and Yamato rode two deer at the very front of the procession.

Only one week had passed since the Great Serpent announced the crackdown on bandits, and the army and military funds had been fully raised.

Five hundred samurai, plus four ninja from the Oniwabanshu, and a huge sum of money totaling nearly three hundred thousand gold coins—this grand display of force demonstrated the determination of the villagers to suppress the bandits.

Without further ado, Goode raised his arm.

The noise stopped abruptly.

"set off!"

"Oh oh oh!!!"

The samurai excitedly raised their swords.

Suppressing bandits represents merit, as well as wealth and honor.

Target: Jiuli.

Half a day later, in a mountain village deep in the mountains.

The scouts who went outside to gather information broke into the main hall of the mountain stronghold.

"Boss Shutenmaru, something terrible has happened!"

"Don't panic!"

Shutenmaru sat in the rattan chair, his gaze dark as he reprimanded.

Of course he knew it was wrong.

The recent anti-bandit campaign has caused quite a stir, and as the main figure in the campaign, how could he be completely unaware of it?

This time it seems like they're serious.

Where is the enemy?

"We've reached the southern part of Tou Mountain and are setting up camp!"

The scout answered, trembling.

"So fast!"

Startled, Shutenmaru sat up, his slightly bloated body buckling.

Judging from the enemy's progress, they will probably send people to search the mountain tomorrow. Although the mountain covers a vast area and has a complex environment, the stronghold is not so easy to hide.

As long as you put in the effort, it's only a matter of time before the counterfeit is discovered.

He didn't want to lose his home.

"How dare you bully me!"

Shutenmaru sneered.

The giant serpent tried to kill him more than once, but always failed. To think that he could fight him on the territory of Tou Shan was just wishful thinking.

This is his territory!
"Men, prepare to depart!"

Shutenmaru grinned maliciously: "Don't think we'll just sit here and wait to die. Let those guys see the terror of the Xiatou Mountain bandits!"

"Yes!"

Half an hour later, dozens of thieves followed behind Shutenmaru, who was riding an ox, bypassing the bandit-suppression army's camp and heading towards Boluo Town.

Temporary campsite on the southern side of Tou Mountain.

Inside the largest tent.

Goode looked at the topographic map of Tou Shan.

Tou Shan is not a single mountain, but rather refers to an area consisting of dozens of peaks. Finding the Tou Shan bandit gang's headquarters within this area is quite troublesome.

Yamato was also inside the tent, looking worried: "Good, is that Shutenmaru really a retainer of Kozuki Oden?"

"Yes."

Goode looked up at Yamato and asked calmly, "You've read all the information about Shutenmaru. What do you think of him?"

"He is an utterly wicked person!"

Yamato nodded firmly.

Good gave her very detailed information, including not only Ashura's rule over Kuri more than a decade ago, but also the story of Kozuki Oden subduing Ashura alone and becoming Oden's retainer.

From a notorious thief to a retainer of Kozuki Oden, and then back to a thief plundering the countryside.

Although he has had experiences of reformation, his numerous crimes will not disappear, and his hands are already stained with the blood of innocent people.

To verify its authenticity, she specifically asked Shimotsuki Yasuie and Hyogoro, and the answers she received were the same as the intelligence.

"Whether it's pirates, samurai, or ordinary people, there will be good people and bad people in any group."

Goode stared into Yamato's eyes.

"The same was true of Oden's retainers."

"Shutenmaru ruled the mountain, not only burning, killing, and looting, but also protecting criminals from various villages, his hands stained with the blood of innocent people."

"Kin'emon used to be a petty thug, doing everything from theft and fraud."

"Kanjuro was a strange man who cut off people's hair, made it into calligraphy brushes, and sold them." Goode recounted the deeds of Oden's retainers without emotion, not to slander them, but to dispel the myth surrounding Yamato.

"In fact, even Kozuki Oden himself had a long history of misdeeds. He frequented casinos from a young age, got into fights and injured people, and even abducted women and built a harem in a temple. These are all recorded in the history of Wano Country. Can you accept these evil deeds?"

"Good, it's me."

Yamato felt an overwhelming sense of sorrow.

She certainly couldn't accept it.

In her mind, Kozuki Oden was a free and bold samurai, and it was hard to imagine that he would do so many bad things.

Goode smiled and shook his head.

"Yamato, you are an independent individual with your own thoughts. It's fine if you want to become like Oden, but you need to understand Oden first."

"A single meeting, a diary, and a few hearsay tales are not enough to fully understand a person."

"Think about it carefully. Think about your original reasons for wanting to become Oden. Think about whether Oden is really the person you envisioned!"

Yamato fell silent.

After a while.

Tears welled in Yamato's eyes as he asked with distress, "Good, you're smarter than me. What kind of person is Oden in your eyes?"

"In my eyes? Hmm, let me think."

Good stroked his chin and chuckled.

"Just like your father, right?"

"what?"

Yamato was stunned.

Oden doesn't resemble his father at all!

"Why?"

"Because Kozuki Oden and your father both relied on their own strength to disregard the rules, act recklessly, and never consider the feelings of others. Simply put, they were bastards!"

Goode shared his thoughts.

"Eh?"

Yamato blinked, his brain steaming.

That does seem to make some sense!

If she wants to become Oden, wouldn't that be the same as wanting to become her father?

Ugh, my head is spinning!

"Haha, don't overthink it, let's play something else."

Goode chuckled and ruffled Yamato's hair, then pulled her to the map and pointed to the topographical map of Touyama, asking, "Yamato, if you were Shutenmaru, what would you do now?"

"Am I Shutenmaru?"

Yamato tilted his head in thought, his attention drawn to Goode's question.

"Hmm, hide it?"

"That possibility certainly exists."

Goode nodded, then shook his head.

“But Shutenmaru wouldn’t do that.”

"what."

Yamato was a little confused.

If it were her, she would definitely find a secluded place to hide, so she wouldn't have to fight or get caught.

"why?"

"Because he has a very bad temper."

Goode replied jokingly.

Having spent his entire life as a gang leader, accustomed to murder and robbery, how could he possibly have a calm and peaceful nature?

Once a person becomes irritable, they will not be willing to suffer losses. When faced with the bandit suppression army, their first thought will not be to sit and wait for death or to run away, but to seek revenge.

It's also very simple to get revenge on them.

Goode pointed to the town on the map that was closest to the head of the mountain.

"I bet Shutenmaru will head here!"

"Boluo Town?"

Yamato was shocked.

"Shall we go to Boluo Town and arrest him?"

"No need, I've already arranged for ninjas to ambush in Boro Town."

Goode shook his head, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

He wanted to kill more than just Shutenmaru!
(End of this chapter)