章 148: Chapter 148: Blind Old Man
Recognizing Kaido's intentions, Luo Ning took action to prevent another escape. He approached Kaido and, using his power, directly altered the hardness of Kaido's bones. Unlike the near-unbreakable state of Biscuit Cracker, Luo Ning opted for a more moderate level of reinforcement.
"What... what did you do?" Kaido stammered, bewildered.
"I've adjusted the bone density in your body," Luo Ning explained. "While you can still move around like normal, this is the maximum it can handle. Any attempt to exert greater force will cause your body to collapse."
This modification essentially served as an invisible restraint. Exceeding the designated limit would cause Kaido's body to break down, effectively hindering any escape attempts from Impel Down.
"No! You can't do this!" Kaido roared in defiance. He attempted to exert his strength, but the effort resulted in a sickening crack – a broken bone in his remaining arm, which now hung limply at his side.
"I told you," Luo Ning said flatly, "your body can barely handle its own weight now. Remember, that's the maximum."
Unfazed by Kaido's outburst, Luo Ning summoned Zephyr to transport them. As for the remaining Beast Pirates, Luo Ning unleashed a terrifying aura – a burst of Reiatsu that swept across all of Onigashima.
Everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates found themselves sprawled on the ground after being overwhelmed by Luo Ning's burst of Reiatsu. The free points he received weren't enough for another lottery draw, frustrating Luo Ning. Swiping the "Four Emperors" option again yielded a result that fell just short of the previous requirement.
Following the battle, the remaining Beast Pirates were apprehended. Luo Ning envisioned a large force easily capturing them, considering everyone was trapped on Onigashima. Zephyr and his crew would then transport the prisoners to Impel Down.
Speaking of Impel Down, overcrowding was a growing concern. Luo Ning contemplated expanding the prison; otherwise, the ever-increasing number of criminals might cause a breakout.
"With this, it's finally over," Yamato declared in a monotone, her expression unreadable to those around her. Kozuki Hiyori, in particular, couldn't help but wonder if her father had indoctrinated Yamato. Their unwavering devotion to Kaido was bordering on fanaticism, and the thought of Yamato clinging to her as a father figure was frankly unsettling. While Yamato was an ally, her desire to emulate her father made Hiyori incredibly uncomfortable.
"It is indeed over, Hiyori," Whitebeard rumbled. "The focus now shifts to stabilizing Wano Country. As for your brother Momonosuke, even upon his return, the leadership position shouldn't be handed to him."
Whitebeard, a firm believer in the importance of bonds, acknowledged Kozuki Hiyori's contributions over the years. She had earned the respect of others, unlike Momonosuke. To prevent Wano Country from falling back into chaos upon Momonosuke's potential return, Whitebeard emphasized the importance of keeping him away from the true leadership role. After all, what governing experience could an eight-year-old possibly possess?
Hiyori concurred, not necessarily out of personal ambition, but because the people of Wano Country overwhelmingly supported her becoming a shogun. Wano had no laws barring women from such a position. By the time Momonosuke returned to the present, Hiyori would have solidified her leadership with the unwavering backing of the populace, potentially rendering Momonosuke's claim to the throne irrelevant.
Leaving behind a contingent of captains to guard the Beast Pirates, the others returned to Wano.
Soon after, a flurry of news articles from Morgans announced the official founding of Wano Country and its alliance with Impel Down, effectively deterring outside threats. The Red Scabbard Nine swiftly dealt with Orochi's remaining followers.
Wano's recovery progressed rapidly within a week, although significant environmental restoration and rebuilding efforts remained ongoing. Orochi and Kaido's reign had left the country in a deplorable state.
The Seastone industry was also shut down. The lack of proper sewage disposal systems rendered continued operation untenable, and further activity would only exacerbate the situation. Fortunately, a functional Seastone industry remained within Wano. While some pollution persisted, Kaido had left behind a substantial treasury and finished goods. Selling these stockpiles could generate funds for environmental cleanup initiatives. The process would be lengthy, but it was a necessary first step.
Wano Country had demonstrably improved after this series of transformations. However, one day, a sudden message arrived for Luo Ning, disrupting the nascent peace.
"Someone for me?" Luo Ning inquired, surprised. "Who is it?"
Kozuki Hiyori informed him that a samurai wished to see him. After pondering, Luo Ning couldn't recall anyone he knew on Wano.
"He's a very strong swordsman, though blind," Hiyori added.
The news jolted Luo Ning's memory. It was Fujitora.
In the original story, Fujitora was an Admiral recruited by the Marines through a global conscription effort. He was known as the "Draft Admiral."
This detail highlighted an interesting point: the rank of Admiral within the Marines wasn't solely tied to merit or experience. Otherwise, the two conscripted Admirals, Fujitora and Green Bull, wouldn't have achieved such high positions.
At the time, Akainu became Fleet Admiral, Aokiji resigned, leaving only Kizaru as an active Admiral. This vacancy prompted the world conscription to find new candidates.
The current Marine situation mirrored that to some extent. The only reliable Admiral was Kizaru. Aokiji suffered from chronic pain, rendering him unfit for active duty.
It wasn't that Luo Ning specifically targeted Aokiji, but the Admiral had attacked him in the past, causing damage to his soul. This naturally soured their relationship.
The Marines were also facing a shortage of combat power. However, unlike the original story, they hadn't conducted a global conscription. Luo Ning's actions had tarnished their reputation worldwide, making such an effort unlikely to yield significant results.
Luo Ning hadn't anticipated encountering Fujitora in Wano. However, it made sense. Fujitora's attire wouldn't be readily recognizable to those who hadn't ventured out of Wano. Therefore, it wasn't surprising that Fujitora had also left the country, and their meeting here wasn't entirely out of the blue.
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