"What!? Build sewage treatment plants?"
Kaido sat in the main seat, his face full of reluctance when he heard Kurosaki Rei's proposal.
"Why are you so resistant to this idea, Mr. Kaido?"
Kurosaki Rei asked curiously. He hadn't even mentioned the cost yet.
"I've seen how some countries handle factory waste," Kaido said with dissatisfaction.
"The process is complicated, and the price is high. If we start treating sewage, I don't even need to calculate it—I know profits will drop by a lot."
This actually surprised Kurosaki Rei a little. He hadn't expected Kaido to know that wastewater was normally treated before discharge. It turned out Kaido simply thought it was too troublesome and would cut into profits, so he'd never bothered.
"Mr. Kaido, you have a preconceived misconception about this matter,"
Kurosaki Rei explained.
"In ordinary countries, treating industrial waste is indeed a major expense. But in the long run, it's essentially just a matter of labor costs. In Wano, however, labor is extremely cheap."
As he spoke, he took out a document containing his calculations.
Kaido took it and glanced at it, visibly surprised.
"So cheap?"
Kurosaki Rei nodded.
"Yes. Just like I said before—because our food is cheap, the real cost we pay is only the grain. Meanwhile, our product profits are extremely high. So even if we divert manpower to handle sewage, it's merely a drop in the ocean. The profit margin won't decrease noticeably."
"If it's just manpower, then that makes sense," Kaido mused.
"But sewage treatment requires technology, doesn't it?"
"You're right," Kurosaki Rei said.
"Technology is the biggest cost in sewage treatment. Human labor alone can't turn wastewater into clean water. So we need high-tech treatment equipment—installing primary purification devices at each factory node, then using large-scale equipment at the end of the waterways for centralized processing."
He spread out a map of Wano on the table, densely covered with factory connection lines.
"With this many devices, the amount of money required won't be small,"
Maria frowned after looking at the map.
Kaido, on the other hand, didn't have much sense of the exact figures. He simply waved his hand.
"Equipment isn't hard to deal with. Make that brat Doflamingo handle it. I'll give him one hundred million Beli."
Kurosaki Rei smiled when he heard that.
"Now that's the pirate way."
"He'll agree,"
King said coldly from his seat.
"He's made plenty of money over the years through artificial Devil Fruits. He understands what we mean."
Kaido wasn't some sucker who'd get cheated and say nothing. Since he'd clearly been ripped off before, this procurement was a perfect chance to squeeze Doflamingo hard and make him spit back what he'd swallowed over the years.
According to Kurosaki Rei's original estimates, the total value of this equipment in the pirate world would exceed five billion Beli. If Kaido had to foot the bill himself for environmental protection, he'd be unwilling a hundred times over.
But now they had someone to fleece.
Doflamingo could absolutely come up with the money. As the underground world's Joker—and Caesar's direct contact—he could probably obtain the equipment cheaply as well.
As for whether Doflamingo was willing? He had no choice.
He was a smart man, and smart men thought too much. Right now, he was probably scared out of his wits.
"Excellent. As long as you agree, Mr. Kaido, everything's easy,"
Kurosaki Rei said with a smile.
"I thought it'd be hard to convince you—but you agreed before I even explained the follow-up benefits."
"There are more benefits?"
Kaido asked, puzzled.
To be honest, a few months ago he would never have agreed to something like environmental protection. But now he trusted Kurosaki Rei deeply, instinctively believing that everything Kurosaki Rei did was beneficial to him. So after a brief discussion, he approved the proposal.
"Of course," Kurosaki Rei said.
"Didn't I say before? If the Governor wants to realize his dream, the power of overall momentum is indispensable. If foreigners come to Wano as tourists, they'll see our prosperity—and they'll also see our factories. If they see us dumping sewage directly into the sea, what will they think?"
"That would be terrible for Wano's reputation," he continued.
"And it would hurt your efforts to recruit like-minded powerhouses, Mr. Kaido."
"So that's it,"
King said thoughtfully.
"If other countries become hostile, rumors will spread against us. When the time comes to raise arms, we won't have any outside support. As expected of Mr. Rei—your thinking is far-reaching."
Compared to their grand cause, spending a bit of money now to pave the way was clearly worth it.
"Alright, then it's settled,"
Kaido said, clearly in a good mood and already wanting to go drink.
"Anything else you came to Onigashima for today?"
"There is one more thing, actually,"
Kurosaki Rei said with a smile.
"I'll need to trouble you to make a trip to Wano."
Kaido looked confused.
"For what?"
"The new housing in several villages has been completed," Kurosaki Rei explained.
"I need you to personally go and distribute the property certificates to workers who still don't have homes."
Kaido frowned.
"Why do I need to go for something this small? Just have the subordinates do it."
Kurosaki Rei was speechless.
Kaido really doesn't understand public performance at all…
But sometimes, showmanship was an essential skill for those in power.
Wano was currently being rebuilt from the ground up. The people had already received tangible benefits, but their only lingering concern was that their ruler was a "notoriously brutal pirate."
Although Yamato was the shogun in name, everyone knew whose daughter she was. The true supreme authority of Wano had always been only one person—Yonko Kaido.
Kaido's cruelty and fearsome reputation were well known far and wide. Anyone with a bit of sense would assume that a pirate capable of becoming a Yonko must be unimaginably brutal.
This impression was extremely detrimental to Wano's long-term governance.
So Kurosaki Rei needed to help the people change their perception of Kaido—just like how many citizens already adored Yamato and considered her a good shogun.
If Kaido could be acknowledged by the people as a Guardian Deva King, then recruiting workers or soldiers in the future would become incredibly smooth.
After a brief explanation from Kurosaki Rei, Kaido roughly understood—and, in a daze, followed him along.
The next morning, under a blazing sun, a massive crowd gathered outside the new city.
Under Kurosaki Rei's initiative, factories now operated on a five-days-on, two-days-off schedule. Today just happened to be a rest day.
Kaido had initially been very opposed to giving workers days off. Only after Kurosaki Rei patiently explained the benefits of "proper balance" for efficiency did Kaido reluctantly agree.
In front of the sea of people, a temporary high platform had been erected at the main road entrance to the new city.
The crowd below was excited—desperate to receive homes of their own—but they still barely maintained order. No one surged toward the stage or shoved others.
Part of it was because soldiers were maintaining order nearby. More importantly, they remembered what kind of country they lived in—they didn't dare cause trouble.
"Look! Lord Rei is here—he didn't lie to us! He's really giving us houses!"
"Heavens above, I'm finally getting my own home. And it's not even a wooden house—this should last a long time, right?"
"I can't wait to move in. My wife and children have suffered in the cold for years. We can finally settle down."
"Long live Shogun Yamato! Long live Lord Rei!"
"..."
As Kurosaki Rei stepped onto the stage, many citizens shouted excitedly.
But their excitement quickly died down.
Because behind Kurosaki Rei, a towering figure climbed the steps. Today, he'd changed his usual style and was wearing a black Wano-style haori.
Even the loose robe couldn't hide his massive muscles. Still, compared to his usual appearance, this was already considered very neatly dressed.
As soon as this towering figure took the stage, the entire crowd fell silent. A faint sense of fear spread through the air, steadily fermenting.
They all recognized him.
The pirate who had broken open Wano's gates—Yonko Kaido.
"Everyone, please remain calm,"
Kurosaki Rei stepped forward.
"I believe you all recognize him. This is our Guardian Deva King, Mr. Kaido."
"This housing construction and distribution plan was carried out under Mr. Kaido's directive. Now that the houses are complete, it's only fitting that today's first distribution be done by Mr. Kaido himself—as a historic moment."
Kaido stood beside Kurosaki Rei, towering and silent, his face stern.
In truth, he was silently reciting the lines Kurosaki Rei had taught him beforehand.
"Now, please let Mr. Kaido say a few words,"
Kurosaki Rei said, stepping back.
All eyes turned toward Kaido. Most people lowered their heads within two seconds.
He was simply too intimidating.
It wasn't his appearance—it was his fearsome reputation and the overwhelming authority he exuded. Ordinary people just didn't have the courage to meet his gaze.
Seeing this, Kaido secretly marveled at how accurate Kurosaki Rei's predictions were. He then spoke according to the script:
"Everyone… raise your heads."
He tried to sound gentle, but his deep, booming voice still made the front rows feel numb.
"Why are you so afraid of me? …Is it because I am a notorious pirate of the seas? Or because I broke open the gates of this country?"
Kaido couldn't remember long speeches. By the second sentence, he was already close to getting stuck—but Kurosaki Rei stood behind him, quietly prompting him. Kaido's huge body conveniently blocked the view.
"But think carefully—who ruled this country for over ten years? And who invited me here in the first place?"
Kaido's powerful voice carried far, reaching people over a kilometer away.
"I only sought a place to settle. I never claimed the title of shogun, nor did I interfere with Kurozumi Orochi's rule. Yet you all know how Orochi trampled this country over the years."
At this, many in the crowd clenched their teeth in anger. Their hatred for Orochi ran deep.
"I am indeed a pirate,"
Kaido continued.
"I even earned the title of Yonko in the New World, reigning over these seas with absolute strength. But even I could no longer stand Orochi's actions."
At this point, Kaido's expression turned slightly strange—because in truth, he'd never been unable to stand Orochi at all. But since Kurosaki Rei told him to say this, he forced himself to continue.
"I, too, come from a poor country. I have been oppressed, and I have seen countless oppressed people. My heart told me I could no longer sit idly by. So I overthrew Orochi's rule and stepped into the spotlight—to truly liberate this country, and let all of you live happy lives."
As Kaido spoke, more and more people raised their heads, beginning to truly look at this legendary Deva King.
They were common folk, unfamiliar with political scheming. For many, this was their first time seeing Kaido in person.
They had thought he would be a cruel, vicious monster.
But now…
He actually seemed… not that bad.
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