The war between Vane and Kaido of the Beasts had shaken Wano to its core. Though the country had long been closed off from the world, news of the battle spread rapidly within its borders. Across the land, people were in an uproar.

Kaido, that monstrous creature in the form of a massive blue dragon, had ruled over Wano like a demon for decades. His image haunted the dreams of countless citizens. But now, he was defeated. His Beast Pirates crushed, the once-imposing mining zones devastated, and Wano was finally free from his grip. The people were overjoyed.

And Vane—he had become a hero to the people of Wano.

But Vane had little interest in fame.

Dragons, especially ones like Kaido, had long been regarded as cursed beings in Wano's folklore. In ancient legends, they were described as evil and impure. The famed dragon-slayer had once used the sword Shusui to strike down such a beast—one very much like Kaido. Now, with Kaido defeated, that old hatred had found closure.

Yet Vane scoffed at such bias. "It's idiotic to hate dragons. Kaido's design was cool—if nothing else, he looked strong. That's more than I can say for Neptune."

He looked down at the streets below.

"Wano is stuck in the past. This country needs a revolution—not just in politics, but in culture. Let's rebuild it. Let's create something like Sabaody, Water 7, or the Golden City!"

Wano was behind the times. Even Flower Capital, for all its beauty, thrived only by draining the rest of the country. That kind of centralized development was destined to collapse. People were starving while elites lived in comfort. Only the iron rule of Orochi, backed by ruthless laws banning weapons and martial arts schools, had kept the unrest at bay.

Vane's solution was simple: "Change the model. And if anyone resists, exile them—or execute them. The ones who'll resist are the nobles and the wealthy. But they're a small group. No different from the Celestial Dragons."

That afternoon, Kozuki Hiyori requested a meeting with him.

He had relocated to a quieter residence north of Flower Capital, away from the bustle of the taverns. The house was peaceful, surrounded by nature. Birds sang and flowers bloomed. A place with elegance—like a scholar's estate.

Vane had abandoned the traditional Wano garments, and intended to push for a cultural shift—starting with fashion. Change the look, and you begin to change the mindset.

Hiyori arrived dressed formally, her green hair tied up in an elaborate bun. Her makeup, though beautiful, was thick and overly artificial. She gave off the air of a courtesan—which, of course, she was.

"Vane-sama," she greeted, bowing deeply, her voice delicate and laced with flirtation.

The woman had charm, certainly. Years of being a courtesan had taught her how to win over men with calculated grace.

"Sit down," Vane said, eyeing her. "You used to go by the name 'Komurasaki,' didn't you?"

He said it as if he barely remembered, subtly signaling that she wasn't important enough to remember clearly. Her tone and demeanor irritated him slightly.

She seated herself with careful poise—perfectly graceful, almost too perfect.

Kalifa entered with tea. She handed Vane a cup personally brewed to perfection. Hiyori's was poured plainly, with no special attention.

"Master Vane," she began, with that same delicate voice, "My pseudonym was Komurasaki, but my real name is Kozuki Hiyori. You can call me Hiyori."

Kalifa, walking away, smirked. Trying to seduce him? You're not even in the same league.

Vane leaned back. "Kozuki? As in Kozuki Oden?"

"Yes," Hiyori replied. "He was my father. He was killed twenty years ago…"

"By whom?" Vane asked, though he already knew.

"Orochi and Kaido. They conspired together…"

Her voice cracked, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Whether real or fake, it didn't matter—she was an expert in emotional manipulation.

But Vane wasn't swayed. "I see. So why did you come to me?"

"To thank you. For defeating Kaido. For killing Orochi. For liberating Wano. I'm deeply grateful."

Vane studied her and replied plainly. "Don't try to seduce me. I'm not like the others. I don't fall for soft voices and false tears."

"Ah—"

She was caught off guard, genuinely stunned by the cold response.

In the other room, Gion smiled to herself. This boy's got backbone.

Vane continued, "Next time you come to see me, wear normal clothes. Read the world newspaper. Look how women outside Wano dress. Stop acting like a geisha and speak plainly. That style doesn't work on me."

"Yes, Vane-sama!" Hiyori straightened up, instantly shifting her tone.

"Much better. Keep that attitude."

"I will! I'll remember!"

He sipped his tea, watching her closely.

He needed someone local to govern Wano. Someone with influence and heritage. Someone who could rally the people while he worked from the shadows. And Hiyori… might just be the perfect tool.

"I want you to help govern Wano."

"…What?" she blinked.

"You heard me. Help run the country."

"Can I… really?"

"Just say yes."

"Yes! I will!"

Vane leaned forward. "You know how to play men, right?"

"Eh?! N-no—I mean, I've never actually—"

"Running a country isn't much different. If you can get shallow men to follow you, you can get corrupt nobles to kneel. Treat them like the fools they are."

"…I understand."

In the other room, Gion stifled a laugh. His metaphors were outrageous, but strangely accurate.

"Bring order to Wano. Make it peaceful. People need to live without fear."

"I will do my best."

"You're no longer an oiran. That whole world—burn it down."

"Gladly."

The two spoke for hours. Vane outlined his vision—reducing class inequality, reshaping cultural norms, and bringing Wano into the new world. Hiyori was captivated, and even Gion, who listened from nearby, was impressed.

When Hiyori finally left, Vane leaned back, exhausted. That was more than he'd ever said to a woman he barely knew.

She was a puppet—nothing more. But perhaps a useful one.

If any nobles dared resist, he'd deal with them himself. Words would fail. Violence would not.

Later that evening, Vane made his way to Gion's room.

He knocked. "Gion, I'm coming in."

"…Okay." She hesitated but relented.

As he entered, she looked at him with conflicted eyes. There was a tenderness there—but also confusion.

"Don't let Esdeath and the others know…" she whispered.

He gave a simple nod.

Boys grow into men. That's what Gion was realizing.

"Can we talk?" she asked.

"Sure."

"Why did you give Wano to her? Couldn't you govern it yourself?"

"She's a tool. A puppet. Wano is still mine. But her name holds weight, and her family is well-known. I'm just using that. Simple."

"What about Kaido? He's still on Onigashima, not far from here…"

"Let him try. If he dares come back, I'll cut off his horns and make soup out of them."

Gion laughed. Not because it was ridiculous—but because Vane had a way of making even the grim things sound amusing.

"I wonder how dragon horn soup tastes?"

"Better than fish head soup, probably."

"But Kaido's defense is something else."

"Yeah. That's why they call him the strongest creature in land, sea, and air."

She bit her lip, trying to keep quiet. Esdeath and the others were sleeping, and she didn't want them to wake up.

The night was quiet.

Outside, the moonlight streamed through the window. The stars sparkled above the now-free nation.

Orochi was dead. Kaido had been defeated. Corrupt nobles were being purged.

Wano was finally on a path to something better.

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