Chapter 553 - 393

Chapter 394: Zou's Adventure (Part 6)The night in Whale Forest belonged to Master Nekomamushi.And Master Nekomamushi's night belonged to the feast!!!The proper, almost sleep-inducing aristocratic aura that belonged to Duke Inuarashi during the day was torn to shreds by a wild, almost primal vitality the moment night fell.A huge bonfire blazed in the forest clearing, painting half the night sky fiery red.Drumbeats so rhythmic they made hearts pound shook the forest, and countless tall Mink TribeGuardians danced a wild, uninhibited dance around the bonfire.The air was filled with the savory scent of roasted meat and the rich aroma of strong liquor, blending into a smell that stirred the soul.At the absolute center of this revelry, a feast of near-genocidal proportions was underway."Garchu~!!! Another piece! Straw Hat, you're no good! This much meat isn't even enough to get stuck in my teeth!"Master Nekomamushi roughly tore off a huge piece of Roasted Elephant Trunk Fish, larger than a human head, stuffing it into his mouth, bones and all, chewing with a "crunch, crunch" sound, then pouring an entire barrel of Rum down his throat as if he were watering a plant."What are you talking about!!! I can still eat!!!"Luffy's cheeks were puffed out like two giant steamed buns, and his mouth chewed at a speed that defied the laws of physics.His stomach seemed not to be a stomach, but a black hole connected to another dimension, capable of instantly swallowing any amount of food.The bones in front of them had already piled up into a small mountain.The scale of this scene made the Mink Tribe chefs nearby tremble. They weren't afraid of anything else; they were afraid that if this continued, Zou's ecosystem would collapse due to a depletion of ingredients.On the other side of the feast, the atmosphere was equally lively."An... another barrel!"Zoro's face showed no change, only his eyes were slightly unfocused. He tossed an empty giant wine barrel aside.He held up three fingers to his drinking buddy, Sicilian, a Lion Mink."A Three Sword Style user must drink three barrels!""Garchu~! I'll drink with you to the end!"Sicilian's face was as red as a monkey's bottom, and he was already swaying when he walked, but the pride of a lion prevented him from admitting defeat.He roared, grabbed two even larger wine barrels, and wobblingly placed them between the two of them."We lions, we believe in... chugging it down! Hic!"And on the outskirts of the feast, a peculiar storytelling corner had formed."Back in the day, in Dressrosa, I! The great Captain Usopp, alone, faced an army of 100,000 executives led by Sugar!"Usopp stood on a wooden stump, spitting and gesticulating wildly, bragging to a group of wide-eyed Mink Tribe cubs."At that time, I only used one move and scared her unconscious on the spot! That's right! It was I... who saved the entire country!""Wow~~~!!! So amazing!""Long-Nose Uncle is a hero!"The cubs' adoration made Usopp's nose almost point to the sky.In this chaotic, joyful atmosphere, mixed with a lot of bragging, only a few people still remembered their real purpose for being there."Nekomamushi!"Yamato, carrying her Spiked Club, finally managed to squeeze next to Nekomamushi. She seized a moment when he was tearing at his meat and urgently said:"The feast is great! But defeating Kaido is more important! Let us inherit Oden-sama's will and set off now!""Hmm? Oh... hic!"Nekomamushi let out a huge burp, a strong smell of alcohol almost making Yamato faint.He mumbled, chewing on his meat, and answered carelessly:"Garchu~! Defeat Kaido? Alright! I've wanted to go for a long time! That guy is our sworn enemy!""That's great!!!" Yamato's eyes lit up."But..."Nekomamushi changed the subject, irritably pointing a greasy paw in the direction of Kurau."That stubborn bastard Inuarashi won't agree, and no one can leave! It's so annoying!!!""Garchu~! All day long, he just clings to that broken prophecy, nagging like an old woman!"His words were filled with undisguised contempt and dissatisfaction towards Duke Inuarashi.Yamato's heart sank by half again.She finally understood: these two kings were like oil and water, completely impossible to mix.Amidst the clamor, in a corner of the feast, Robinheld a glass of Fruit Wine, her posture as elegant as a noblewoman who had stumbled into a primitive tribe.Beside her was Pekoms, one of the oldest and most composed members of the Guardians, a Jaguar Mink."Mr. Pekoms, you also followed Kozuki Oden, didn't you?"Robin's voice was soft, yet it had a magical quality that made people want to open their hearts to her."Hmm..."Pekoms took a sip of wine, his eyes full of nostalgia and unconcealed sadness."Of course. Oden-sama was the most generous and free man I've ever met in my life...""I once thought he would become the Shogun of Wano Country and lead us into a new era.""That must have been a very exciting adventure," Robin softly echoed."Indeed..."Pekoms's eyes were a little red, he seemed to have drunk too much, and his voice dropped."It's just a pity... such a pity... If... if back then, Master Nekomamushi and Duke Inuarashi, if those two... hadn't completely fallen out over that matter...""Perhaps... perhaps Oden-sama... wouldn't have..."Mid-sentence, Pekoms suddenly snapped awake!!!He cautiously closed his mouth, shook his head vigorously, and drained his wine glass."Sorry, I misspoke."He didn't say another word, but that unfinished sentence, and the unconcealable regret on his face...Were seen clearly by Law, who was nearby, feigning drinking with a dark expression.The feast continued until the middle of the night.When the last roasted pig was divided between Luffy and Nekomamushi, and when Zoro and Sicilian both passed out beside mountains of empty wine barrels, the revelry finally ended.The Straw Hat crew was arranged to rest in the Guardians' guest rooms.While everyone else was sleeping like logs, the light was still on in Robin's room."Knock, knock."A knock sounded, and Law entered with a dark expression."That bunch of idiots, the straw hat Captain and his crew, are sleeping like dead pigs."His first sentence was full of disdain for his alliance Captain."Hehe, the hardships of sailing need to be cured with a feast; isn't that also the romance of pirates?"Robin smiled as she poured him a cup of tea, then changed the subject."However, I don't think you came to me to complain about this, Doctor Law?"Law's face immediately became serious."You heard what Pekoms said."He sat down, his gaze as sharp as a scalpel."The split between Duke Inuarashi and Master Nekomamushi is indeed related to Kozuki Oden's death twenty years ago.""Indeed."Robin nodded, her all-seeing eyes sparkling in the lamplight."I've been wondering what kind of conflict could make two Red Scabbard Samurai, who served the same lord with equal loyalty, turn against each other to such an extent that even their country was divided in two."She picked up her teacup, gently blew on it, and continued:"Power struggle? Unlikely. Their goal was both to open Wano Country's borders; their fundamental interests were consistent.""Personality clashes? Perhaps, but not enough to cause a twenty-year rift.""It wasn't until tonight that I understood."Robin put down her teacup, and everything clicked into place."The root of their division was not hatred, but... love."Law raised an eyebrow, clearly not following the archaeologist's train of thought."It was their excessively heavy loyalty and love for Kozuki Oden-sama."Robin explained,"I guess, twenty years ago, when Oden-sama faced peril in Wano Country, the two of them had a fatal disagreement on how to rescue him.""One advocated for holding their ground on Zou, waiting for the right moment, believing Oden-samacould resolve it himself. This aligns with Duke Inuarashi's calm, conservative personality.""The other, however, advocated for using all the country's might to immediately rush to Wano Country, to rescue their lord at all costs. This is precisely Master Nekomamushi's bold and unrestrained style."Law's pupils suddenly contracted; he immediately connected all the dots."As a result... neither of them managed to save him."He spoke the cruel outcome in a cold voice."Yes."Robin's voice carried a hint of a sigh."The ultimate outcome was that Oden-sama died. And so, this immense failure and guilt transformed into a sharp blade pointed at each other.""Inuarashi would accuse Nekomamushi's recklessness of ruining everything, while Nekomamushi would curse Inuarashi's cowardice for missing the opportunity.""They spent twenty years furiously hating each other, just to escape the fact that caused them even more pain—"Law took over her words, his tone carrying the coldness of a surgeon dissecting a body:"Escaping self-hatred. Because they both believed that their own choices had led to the death of their most beloved lord."The room fell silent; no one spoke.They had finally touched the deepest, most painful festering wound beneath the twenty-year-long scar of this country.This was not a problem that could be solved by force or persuasion.This was a shackle carved deep into the soul, named regret.