Outside Wano's great waterfall, the Oro Jackson saw Dimon and Amatsuki Toki back first thing.
"Drop me here. I can fly the rest," Dimon said.
Goodbyes all around—reluctant ones.
"Just join us already," Jabba tried one last time. "What's fun about being a shogun?"
"Yeah, Dimon. Shanks and Buggy will miss yelling at you every day," someone added.
"Who's gonna miss him? Hmph! Just leave already!" Buggy huffed, tsundere to the end.
Dimon ruffled his hair. Baby Buggy really was kind of cute. "My study shines like a beacon for the millions of Wano. Can't just abandon them, can I?"
Rayleigh: "…"
A nation-lifting bandit king saying that with a straight face—zero shame, this guy.
"Not inviting us up for a visit?" Roger grinned.
"Please. Last time you freeloaded for half a year. Hard pass." Dimon slipped an arm around Toki's waist, dark wings unfurling. "See you around, Roger Pirates."
He rose on the wind, not looking back. The crew watched in silence and waved.
Buggy's shoulders slumped. Since Dimon boarded, besides Shanks, he was the only one who could really play with him. Now it felt like losing a favorite sparring partner.
"We'll see him again, Buggy," Roger said, clapping his back.
"Really, Captain?" Buggy's eyes lit up.
"When have I ever lied to you?" Roger laughed—but even he felt the weight of the journey ahead. The "Pirate King" title would lure pirates and paint a target on his back larger than any before. Even Rocks had fallen. A captain has to feel that pressure.
"Alright then—set sail!"
Kuri Beach, Wano.
Dimon and Toki touched down on the sand.
"This is Wano? Not quite what I imagined," Toki said, taking it all in. Her parents' stories were… eight hundred years old. Time erases all but bones.
"Want a tour? Wano's got six regions. Flower Capital's the seat; we can start in Kuri, swing through Kibi, Ringo, Hakumai, Udon, and roll into the Capital from Udon."
Nothing urgent today. And sightseeing with a pretty woman? He'd manage.
Toki flushed a little. She could tell Dimon liked her; no one had ever "pursued" her before, so she wasn't sure what to do. But the voyage had painted her days bright, and she did like him—more than a little.
"Alright. Where first?" She smiled, wide and warm.
"Kuri for a stroll, then Kibi, Ringo's snowscapes, Hakumai, Udon, and finally the Flower Capital."
Plan set, they set out together.
Girls of this era were simpler than the women before she leapt—less drama, fewer hoops. Nice change of pace.
They started with Bakura Town in Kuri. To keep his shogun identity under wraps, Dimon bought a mask—and one for Toki too. Passing through Kasa Village, he picked up two woven hats to "support the local economy."
They ate, drank, wandered, and played. Wano's scenery changed with each province: Ringo a sweep of ice and snow, Udon heavy with industry. As shogun, Dimon usually stuck to the Capital; this loop gave him a deeper feel for the whole country.
Be honest? Compared to the Flower Capital, everywhere else was… countryside.
Half a month later, they completed the circuit and entered the Capital, its bustle making Toki's eyes dance.
Peace lasted about three breaths.
"After her! Don't let her get away!"
Shinsengumi officers pounded down the street, chasing a young woman across the rooftops. She moved like a proper kunoichi—fast, light, precise.
Dimon stopped; Toki stared, intrigued. "What's happening?"
"No idea…"
Something about the ninja rang a bell. Dimon was debating whether to help the police when a flaming pterosaur stooped from the sky and scooped the kunoichi like a hawk with a rabbit.
Abel landed with his catch in front of the Shinsengumi and snorted. "If she'd escaped, how were you going to explain yourselves to the Shogun?"
The squad dropped to their knees. "Our apologies, Lord Abel! She's too slippery—"
"Spare me. Put her back in prison."
Manacles clicked; they marched the kunoichi off.
"What's her crime?" a familiar voice asked.
Abel turned—and saw a masked couple, hands intertwined, stepping out of the crowd.
"Lord Dimon—you've returned!"
"This ninja infiltrated the Shogunate a month ago," Abel reported crisply. "I jailed her, but she escaped this morning."
"Kunoichi…" Toki echoed softly. Her parents had told her of samurai and ninja—but she'd only met samurai so far.
Abel blinked at Toki. Who's this? Holding hands with the lord… A new lady?
"She uses strange 'sorcery'—really a Devil Fruit," he added.
Dimon glanced at the prisoner. "Name?"
As expected—Paramecia: Smooth-Smooth Fruit. She'd likely been sniffing around for Kozuki Sukiyaki while the shogun was away. Time to interrogate the sponsor behind the scenes…
"Lock her up," Dimon said lightly. "Anything else happen while I was gone?"
Abel nodded. "Recently, the Kuja Pirates made landfall. They're in the Flower Capital now. They brought Devil Fruits—want to trade for Wine."
Business had come knocking. Dimon's eyes brightened. Very good.
He escorted Toki back to the Shogunate first, arranged a guest room for her, then sent word to invite the Kuja party.
Shogunate Mansion — Reception Hall.
Dimon met two old acquaintances and one woman he'd only seen on wanted posters.
"Long time no see, Dimon," Shakky greeted with an easy smile.
Gloriosa wriggled uncomfortably on the tatami. "Heard you and Roger found the Final Island. Quite the feat."
"Likewise," Dimon nodded—then looked to the third guest.
The woman wore a gentle smile and bowed with impeccable courtesy. "Hello, legendary Brewer. I am the current captain of the Kuja Pirates—Toritoma."
The way she said his title—Brewer—carried a not-so-quiet expectation. Somewhere in the mansion, a door slid shut. In the corridor, the faintest tap-tap of geta echoed… approaching.
Dimon's gaze dipped to the sealed chests they'd brought—
—and the faint, unmistakable Devil Fruit scent that leaked from the seams.
"How many Fruits," he asked, "and what kind?"
Toritoma's smile didn't waver—but Gloriosa's eyes flicked, just once, toward Shakky.
Shakky's lips curved, unreadable.
From the courtyard, a Den Den Mushi trilled—urgent cadence, cipher line from the Flower Capital watch.
Abel's voice came tight through the receiver:
"Lord Dimon—three Marine warships have appeared beyond the waterfall. One bears the dog-head prow. Vice Admiral Garp requests… an audience."
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