Pirate: It’s not a phantom beast, it’s a phantom god!

Chapter 368 Kozuki Odenshang

"Kozuki Oden"—Kaido first heard this name two years ago from Tōrō, who was escorting a fleet back from abroad.

It is said that a strangely dressed but powerful swordsman suddenly appeared on the Whitebeard Pirates' ship.

Tao Long witnessed his opponent cleave a warship in two with a single, powerful strike from a distance... and then was met with a barrage of hand cannon fire from a certain vice admiral.
He was leisurely enjoying hot pot and singing while escorting his own caravan when he was suddenly requisitioned by the navy as a supply ship because he happened to be passing by.

However, Taolong didn't have any objections, since the munitions on the ship were originally ordered by the navy, so he just considered it as an early delivery.

They operate under the banner of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and are legitimate merchant caravans recognized by the World Government, so the Navy cannot take action against them.

In short, Tao Long somehow ended up fighting alongside the Navy and even had the chance to witness a battle between the strongest warriors on the high seas, which broadened his horizons considerably.

……

The name appeared in Kaido's sight for the second time a few months ago, when Kaido saw the man's true face in a certain issue of the World Economic Daily.

As the number of members in the pirate crew gradually increased, and as apprentices such as Marco, Jozu, and Vista gradually became capable of handling things on their own, the Whitebeard Pirates underwent a comprehensive internal reorganization a few months ago.

The original mixed personnel structure was broken up, and Whitebeard then let these guys form new divisions according to their personal preferences and elect division commanders.

Five squads have already been formed, and it is said that more squads will be added when the number of members increases in the future.

Kozuki Oden was the captain of the second division of the Whitebeard Pirates, and his photo was prominently displayed in newspapers and on the Navy's wanted posters...

This was also the first time that man had officially appeared in the sight of various forces, large and small, in the new world.

A previously unheard-of figure suddenly appeared on Whitebeard's ship and even became the captain of the second division... This was enough to attract the attention of those who were interested.

Not to mention that Kozuki Oden was said to be the only man on the Moby Dick, which was full of "sons," who addressed Whitebeard as "brother."

Kaido was well aware of Whitebeard's arrogant nature. For him to take notice of Oden and treat him as a brother... Oden was definitely no ordinary man.

Looking at the face in the newspaper with its strange hairstyle and odd eye makeup, Kaido had always wanted to find an opportunity to meet this legendary 'samurai'...

However, the whereabouts of the Moby Dick remained elusive, so a good opportunity was never found.

Ossie even teased him about it, saying something like:
'When one person begins to feel curious about another, that's the beginning of their descent into infatuation.'

'Boss Kaido, since you're not interested in women, you'll probably fall for men eventually.'

'If you get this stuff, your life is over~'

And so on~
Kaido kicked Osei in the butt after hearing it, and then forgot about it... but unexpectedly, he heard the name again in Wano Country a few months later.

At the banquet, Kaido watched the Noh play on stage, which was already showing the story of Oden's conquest of Kuri. He reached out and picked up the oden in front of Osei, then gulped it all down into his mouth.

"Hmph~ Kozuki Oden, huh~"

"I'm really looking forward to the day I meet you..."

Ossie: ""

……

"Ah chirp~"

"Suck~"

In the New World, on an island covered in ice and snow, a tall samurai dressed in a kimono with two long swords at his waist is rubbing his arms and shivering.

"What's wrong, Oden? Have you caught a cold?"

I told you to wear more layers!

"Sister Shi even specially made a winter coat for you and told you to wear it... but you couldn't wait to rush to the island as soon as you saw it."

"You know, this is a winter island—and a winter island in winter!"

Wearing only a single layer of clothing and surrounded by pale blue flames, Marco circled in the air, speaking with a helpless expression.

"No, no, it's nothing!"

"I am a samurai, and samurai are not afraid of the cold!"

"Ah chirp!"

"Honestly, she's just putting on a brave face."

Marco looked at the samurai, who was practically frozen to death, and felt somewhat helpless...

Even though he's been sailing with them for two years, every time they arrive at a new island, this guy still rushes to the front without a care in the world, just like it's his first time landing.

This man's enthusiasm for new things has not diminished in the slightest in the past two years; it can still be described as fervent.

Thinking of this, Marco flapped his wings and called out into the distance:
"Hey! Dad, Sister Shi, Izang!"

"Oden is over here~"

"He's...wait, Oden's frozen solid!!!"

"Ah?!"*3
……

"Honestly, he's already a father, yet he's still so reckless."

On the deck of the Moby Dick, Whitebeard sat cross-legged, propping his chin up as he looked at the large block of ice in front of him.

Beside the ice, a handsome man with a woman's hairstyle was anxiously pouring warm water onto the ice, accompanied by a cat, a dog, and a large group of people.

They were eager to free Oden from the ice as soon as possible.

"Haha~"

"Well, he is Oden after all~"

A beautiful woman holding a child saw this scene and couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, causing the baby in her arms to laugh along as well.
"Eeya~" "Haha! Has Momonosuke woken up?"

Upon seeing the baby named 'Momonosuke' wake up, Marco Bista and the others, who love children, immediately gathered around and began to chatter and tease the child.
"How adorable! The baby is so cute."

"It's so pink and tender, it really does look like a peach!"

"I hope I won't be an idiot like Oden in the future."

"Hey! Marco, don't talk bad about Lord Oden and Lord Momonosuke behind their backs!"

"If you're free, come and help out quickly."

"Hi hi~"

……

Wow~
The ice was enveloped in a burst of blue flames, and then began to slowly melt... Marco's flames weren't as intense as real flames, but they were more than enough to melt ice.

Before long, Oden, whose limbs were stiff, was successfully rescued.

Wrapped in a winter coat sewn by the beautiful woman herself, with two cats and dogs snuggling in his arms, insisting their fur was warm and offering to keep Lord Oden warm... Oden accepted the hot soup offered by the handsome man and drank it all in one gulp, then let out a long sigh of relief.
"Ah~~~ I'm alive! I'm alive!"

"I'm finally alive!"

"Lord Oden, I beg you not to do such dangerous things again."

The handsome young man added another bowl of hot soup to Oden's bowl while offering his advice.

"Wow~ I can't help myself whenever I see a new island."

"Sorry, Izou. I've caused you trouble~ Haha!"

"You are the next shogun of Wano Country. If something happens to you while we are here, then..."

"Hey hey~ I got it, Izang."

"Ah~"

Seeing Oden nodding repeatedly but with an expression that showed he hadn't listened at all, the man named Izo could only sigh and continue to earnestly persuade him:
"Lord Oden, you've been at sea for two years now, and recently you've even been put on the Navy's wanted list. You're practically a criminal overseas..."

"Now that you have a wife and children, for the sake of Lady Toki and Lord Momonosuke, shouldn't you consider returning to Wano Country?"

"This... but, I haven't seen enough of this world yet, Izou."

Wrapped in thick winter clothes, Oden looked at Fuyujima, the place that had caused him so much trouble, and said with a troubled expression:
"During my two years abroad, I have seen animals, plants, celestial phenomena, and wonders that I had never seen before, and experienced 'cold' and 'hot' conditions that I had never experienced before."

“Every single one of these things is completely different from what I’ve experienced in the first few decades of my life. Every day I encounter things that blow my mind, and everything outside is so beyond my imagination…”

"Do you remember the meteor shower we saw near Fishman Island? I never thought I would see such a spectacular sight one day."

"It's so beautiful, it's unbelievable!"

Oden closed his eyes, a smile on his face, as if recalling the miraculous shower of falling stars.

Seeing Oden like this, Izo didn't know how to persuade him.

He, too, was enjoying this incredible adventure.
However, as a retainer of the Kozuki clan, he also had to take on the mission of safely escorting Oden back to the country.

"Lord Oden..."

"Izang, I haven't seen enough yet."

"No matter how far I have traveled on this sea, I have not yet seen enough of it."

"Sorry, I simply can't give up the adventure."

Oden opened his eyes again, and this time he looked to the other side, where the boundless sea was reflected in his eyes, as if it were shimmering with light.

"..."

"Izou, you don't need to worry about us. Momonosuke and I are enjoying this adventure too~"

"Right, Momonosuke?"

"Eeya ya~"

The woman holding the child, who was Oden's wife, Mitsuki Toki, also stepped forward with a smile to comfort him.

"Lord Toki, Lord Momonosuke..."

"Well~ we just need to follow Lord Oden, it doesn't matter where we are~"

"That's how it is, meow~"

The two cat- and dog-like creatures that had been nestled in Oden's arms to keep him warm also made their own sounds.

"Neko-Viper, Inuarashi, you..."

"Gulu Meow?"

"Don't you dare steal the soup I made to warm Lord Oden up!"

Just as Izo was about to say something more, he saw the cat and dog secretly licking the soup in Oden's hand.

"Ah! So hot!"

"I forgot I'm a cat's tongue, meow~"

"Haha! You're still as dumb as ever, you stinky cat!"

……

(End of this chapter)