Reno glanced at Sukiyaki and saw his shocked expression. Disinterested, he explained,
"In the Outer Sea, Devil Fruit abilities are quite common. Some grant the ability to fly, others allow one to travel through the earth or even control the seas…"
"There are all sorts of bizarre abilities. The one I used to open the portal is just one form of spatial abilities!"
Listening to Reno's explanation of the Devil Fruits, Sukiyaki was visibly astonished, his mind racing: It seems that their country's isolation policy has turned them into a bunch of frogs in a well!
Reno didn't notice Sukiyaki's thoughts. After seeing the old man frozen in shock, he lost interest in him and began observing the laborers and hostages emerging from the cells.
Reno noticed they weren't wearing the collars typical of the later period, and while he breathed a sigh of relief, he speculated in his mind: I wonder if the collars haven't been developed yet, or if these people are too weak to wear them. But the most likely explanation is that Kaido hasn't mastered the technology yet!
Because the World Government already had such collars, worn by the Celestial Dragons' slaves. Reno hadn't learned this from the original series, but from some newspapers.
Reno suspected that the collars in Wano would be a later creation by Queen, designed from the original slave collars. He believed this because the collars in Wano were different from those of the World Government.
The World Government's collars explode when a slave tries to escape, but the Wano collars decapitate the runaway with a hidden blade inside. The two collars looked similar but had different functions.
While Reno and Sukiyaki were both lost in thought, the first batch of people who had come out of the cells were now opening all the remaining cells.
Now, they were walking toward Reno, but there was no sign of chaos. They walked in orderly lines, probably because the earlier group had given them some instructions.
Reno didn't know this, but after seeing the hostages freed, he turned to Sukiyaki and said, "I'll open the portal. You get ready and take them to Kuri first to settle them."
Sukiyaki responded, "Understood, Lord Reno!"
Seeing that everyone was ready, Reno stopped talking. With a wave of his hand, a burst of golden energy flew out.
The golden energy expanded, eventually shaping into a large door, five meters tall and three meters wide.
Once the portal was opened, Reno turned to Sukiyaki and said,
"Have them form three groups. Three people go through at a time. After the first three disappear, the next ones should follow immediately."
"Y-yes, Lord Reno!"
Sukiyaki, still amazed by Reno's divine powers, snapped back to reality and hurried to organize the group.
Reno noticed that the hostages were well-behaved, walking through the portal three at a time.
Since they might still need some time, Reno decided to use his Observation Haki to check on Marco's situation.
He found that Marco was still fighting Queen. Floating in the air, Reno watched the battle with great interest. If only I had some peanuts and melon seeds, I'd be a true bystander!
As time passed, the number of hostages and laborers still in the rabbit bowl grew fewer, until everyone had passed through the portal.
Sukiyaki did a quick check to ensure no one was left behind, then approached Reno and said, "Lord Reno, everyone has gone through the portal. What should we do next?"
Reno, still focused on the battle, turned back to reality and answered, "I'll be heading to the battlefield at sea soon. I won't be going to Kuri with you. Please send my regards to Lady Toki."
Upon hearing about the battlefield at sea, Sukiyaki immediately thought of how there had been no reinforcements despite the chaos, and Lord Oden was also absent.
He silently speculated: It seems Lord Oden must be intercepting the enemy's reinforcements.
Sukiyaki didn't ask further. Instead, he respectfully said, "I'll definitely deliver your message. I wish Lord Reno a victorious return. I'll head to Kuri now!"
Reno nodded.
"Go ahead."
Sukiyaki didn't linger and immediately entered the portal, not wanting to drag Reno down since he wasn't capable of fighting. He didn't ask any more questions about the battle at sea and left.
Once Sukiyaki had entered the portal, Reno closed the golden door and floated toward Marco's location.
At the Kuri Oden Castle Square
Toki stood with Kin'emon on the high platform. Below them, there was a golden energy door, and people were continuously emerging from it.
After they exited, they calmly walked aside, lining up in an orderly fashion with no sign of chaos.
Toki's face was filled with excitement as she watched the hostages emerge.
She had been deeply worried for these people, and her husband had even been forced to disgrace himself by pretending to be mad on the streets for their sake.
Now that she saw them rescued, how could she not feel excited? After being saved, they wouldn't have to endure such humiliation anymore. They could finally hold their heads high and live with dignity again!
When Sukiyaki, the last person, walked out of the portal, the door slowly vanished from sight.
Toki, seeing the door disappear, knew all the hostages had been rescued. She stepped forward and shouted to the crowd below,
"Remember, from now on, Reno is our Kuri's benefactor. It was he who came from the faraway seas to rescue you. Now, he is fighting alongside Lord Oden on the front lines. Let's wish for their safe return!"
"May Lord Oden return victorious…"
"May Lord Reno return victorious…"
The crowd of a thousand people shouted in unison, their voices breaking through the sky, causing the dark clouds to disperse and revealing a bright, round moon.
Toki didn't mention the Whitebeard Pirates' contribution because Whitebeard had requested it.
After this war, Lord Oden would surely become Wano's general. Whitebeard, considering himself a pirate, couldn't be seen to be too close to Lord Oden, or there would be many voices of opposition in Wano.
Toki could only silently appreciate Whitebeard's consideration. For Lord Oden's future, this was the best choice.
Thus, she agreed to Whitebeard's request and attributed the entire rescue operation to Reno, a non-pirate.
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