Settsetse! The Pirate Nemesis

Could you elaborate?

As a transvestite, Ivankov's gender is highly flexible thanks to the Hormone Fruit. But now, he realizes the seriousness of the problem... It seems that no matter how his physical characteristics change, in Sett's eyes, there is no difference... he is still female.

Even if you take out a growth hormone, that thing will be bigger than a donkey's.

Hawkeye shook his head indifferently at this:

"But don't worry, although this guy is so arrogant that he thinks he's the only male and the number one man in the world, and everyone else is a sissy, there's one thing: his aesthetic sense is still normal."

"At least there's no need to worry about chastity... He's not very interested in either men or women."

"What is he interested in?" Having always wanted to recruit Sett into the Revolutionary Army, Dragon immediately perked up after hearing Hawkeye's words, his sharp eyes filled with questioning intent.

After a brief moment of reflection, Hawkeye calmly said, "Stronger... no, to be precise, it should be combat."

"A battle...?" Upon hearing this, Long nodded thoughtfully. Indeed, just as the intelligence indicated, according to the informant's report, Sett always reacted with great excitement when provoked.

Hawkeye's gaze remained calm. If Hawkeye remembered correctly, Sett hadn't even touched a handful of women since setting sail... and the strongest desire he had shown throughout was his passion for battle.

In comparison, women? Women only affect the speed of my punches.

Upon hearing Hawkeye's explanation and then looking at Sett beside him, all the doubts that had been lingering in Dragon's mind were instantly resolved.

It wasn't out of recklessness or ignorance, but rather because he chose a technology that truly resonated with his soul... Although he still couldn't understand the purpose of purity, the dragon no longer agonized over such things.

After all, compared to the perception that "everyone except me is of the opposite sex," the concept of purity is insignificant... especially given that, according to Dragon's guess, Hawkeye's words are very likely true.

"What a rare hero!"

Compared to Ryu and the others' incomprehension, Koushirou on the side seemed to appreciate it very much.

Born in Wano Country, a closed-off country where the inhabitants even considered Devil Fruit users to be practicing "sorcery." Koushirou himself was no exception; it took him a long time to adjust and become familiar with the vast ocean after leaving Wano.

Similarly, Koushirou understood Kozuki Oden's desire to open the sea... to see the vast world outside before returning to that small world. No matter how you look at it, the only thing to do was to find a way to break free.

But it's pointless to try to understand now; after all, it's too late...

Thinking this, Koushirou shook his head, then looked at Hawkeye beside him and said, "Speaking of which, Mr. Mihawk doesn't have a suitable sword yet, does he?"

"A sword? It's alright." Upon hearing the Minister's question, Hawkeye shook his head and said, "Even without a suitable weapon, it doesn't matter. The journey continues, and I can feel the sword that truly suits me calling to me."

“Not so.” Koushirou shook his head and said, “For a swordsman, besides inner training and honing skills, a good weapon is of paramount importance. You can’t fight empty-handed until you find your own blade, Mihawk.”

“…It’s alright.” Shaking his head, Hawkeye said, “Even with a wooden sword, I can split steel.”

This statement was not out of arrogance, but rather Hawkeye's heartfelt expression of his thoughts—the philosopher, fighter, and magical girl nemesis, Illaoi, from the Bilgewater Sea, once said: "Broken bones are the best textbooks."

If Hawkeye's use of the black blade was still quite imperfect before, then after this fierce battle, Hawkeye can be said to have made leaps and bounds in improvement.

This is also a key reason why Hawkeye seeks out and battles with master swordsmen—the moment blades clash is not merely a contest of strength and technique, but also a manifestation of the will of two swordsmen. In this process, Hawkeye can perceive things that cannot be experienced through isolation.

Koushirou didn't say anything, but instead took out a gray samurai sword from behind him.

“I know that you would not keep a valuable weapon if it were just for temporary use, so this sword should be sufficient… Fine Sharp Sword - Rusty Velvet.”

Upon hearing Koushirou's words, Hawkeye's eyes lit up slightly—for a swordsman, a good sword is even more attractive than a Logia-type Devil Fruit. The Supreme Twelve Great Weapons and the Twenty-One Great Weapons go without saying; each one is a divine weapon, capable of cutting a hair in two. Because the most basic criterion for judging such weapons is how an ordinary person would react to them.

Even an ordinary person without cultivation could easily slice through a human body with a supreme weapon, and it could even shatter steel. A great weapon, on the other hand, represents a sword or blade capable of easily slicing through 70-80% of a human body's thickness. While a fine sword is not as powerful as the former two, it can still easily cut through 50% of a human body's thickness.

Combined with Hawkeye's own swordsmanship skills and Armament Haki, once he enters the realm of black blades, he can contend with even the most powerful and unparalleled techniques—provided the skill gap is not significant, but the level of Armament Haki application differs.

For many swordsmen, supreme treasures and great treasures are things they can only come across by chance. A fine and swift sword like this is already the most precious weapon of their lifetime.

“I was born in Wano Country and am a retainer of the Shimotsuki family. My ancestors have made a living by forging swords for generations.”

Seeing Hawkeye's surprise, Koushirou slowly said, "Mr. Mihawk, you are undoubtedly the man who will compete for the title of the strongest swordsman. If possible, I hope that sometime in twenty years, you can personally go to Wano Country and, together with the Nine Red Scabbards who have traveled through time, defeat Kaido and open Wano Country to the world!"

As he said this, Koushirou's face became serious. His previous gentleness vanished, replaced by a sharp, piercing edge.

"Please! This rusty knife is my gift!!"

Upon hearing Koushirou's words, Hawkeye's brows furrowed slightly, as if weighing the pros and cons. Before Hawkeye could finish his thought, Sett returned with a beer, and Sett grabbed Rusty and shoved it into Hawkeye's hand.

"Take it if I tell you to. I'll deal with Kaido sooner or later anyway," Sett said nonchalantly. "It's just that twenty years is too long. By the time those nine men arrive, all that'll be left is Kaido's grave!"

158·The Imperial Palace in Seti’s Eyes

Sett couldn't be bothered with the Nine Red Scabbards. What truly concerned Sett was Kaido, whom Koushirou had mentioned.

"I've been hearing about that guy named Kaido from that old man Zephyr for ages. He's the strongest creature in the world, with the most powerful body. I'm getting a little tired of hearing about him."

He moved the teacup aside—as a free spirit, Sett simply couldn't appreciate the so-called lingering flavor of tea. Or rather, rather than savoring the subtle nuances and aromas, Sett preferred the raw, malty scent to fill his mouth directly.

With a satisfying chugging sound, Sett put down his wine glass: "Just watch, sooner or later I'll make that guy named Kaido discover the feminine in his heart."

"..."

Upon hearing Sett's words, the dragon beside him did not look at him directly, took a sip of the tea in front of him, and his gaze was full of casualness.

Monkey D. Dragon, 39 years old, professional revolutionary.

If Dragon had previously harbored some desire to recruit Sett into the Revolutionary Army, he has now largely abandoned that idea.

Upon closer reflection, Sett's choices all stemmed from his nature and pure desires. In contrast, his decision to become a bounty hunter might simply have been driven by a desire to escape the constraints of conventional rules and regulations.

Such freedom makes the Revolutionary Army unsuitable for him... Of course, this doesn't prevent Dragon from getting closer to Sett.

On this vast ocean, having one more friend is always better than having one more enemy. Especially when this friend possesses extraordinary potential and terrifying fighting power.

Sett ignored this. Instead, he turned to Koushirou beside him and asked, "Tell me, how powerful is that Kaido?"

“…Okay.” Upon hearing this, after a moment of silence, Koushirou nodded seriously, then seemed to be lost in painful memories, a chilling look appearing between his brows.

"I don't remember the beginning very clearly, but I do remember that Kaido came to Wano Country with his henchman Kurozumi Orochi to tyrannize and enslave the people of Wano Country. After that, in 1499, Lord Kozuki Oden, who had returned from the sea and whose strength had increased many times over, returned to Wano Country."

"Just when we thought he would kill Kurozumi Orochi and drive away Kaido, Lord Kozuki Oden was forced to..."

"Wait a minute, you said he was being held hostage?"

Upon hearing this, Sett frowned slightly and then asked, "Is it his mother or his father?"

"...Uh, neither..." Not quite understanding why Sett would ask such a question, Koushirou explained, "Back then, Kaido and Orochi kidnapped many citizens of Wano Country as hostages, and Lord Oden didn't want these citizens to suffer any harm. So, they made a pact. If Oden abandoned his dignity and jumped over Orochi's castle every week, he would release 100 people, and after five years, he would build a ship so everyone could sail away from Wano Country..."

"...Isn't that just an idiot?"

Hearing Koushirou's words, Seti looked utterly bored. Seeing this, Koushirou seemed somewhat angry and said, "Lord Oden was a true hero! He was willing to set aside his dignity for the sake of the people! He was definitely not an idiot! Please take back those words immediately!!"

As he spoke, Koushirou's face was full of seriousness—the rigidity unique to Wano Country caused retainers to have a morbid trust and loyalty to their lord.

In other words, he's become accustomed to the outside world, and his perception has changed. If he were still in Wano Country, Koushirou might already have drawn his sword!

Seti didn't bother with Koushirou's anger. His face was full of disdain as he looked at Koushirou and said, "If it were family or something, that would be one thing, since these things are indeed hard to predict. But to abandon one's dignity for something so trivial... I think this guy's been brainwashed by the outside world! He doesn't even know how to think anymore!"

"you--!!"

"Tch," Sett remained indifferent in the face of anger; "One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand. Wanting to show the world the vastness of the world to one's closed-off nation, yet unwilling to sacrifice anyone. Is that even possible? And as a ruler, to abandon dignity because of such a threat. Even if Kaido really keeps his promise, so what? The nation's authority is gone; the nation is essentially dead in name only… I don't believe any nation's citizens could accept their prime minister dancing naked at someone else's city gate!!"

Anyone with even a modicum of national pride would probably find this unacceptable.

As they were talking, Sett suddenly paused, then asked curiously, "By the way, didn't you say that Oden went straight to Orochi as soon as he returned to Wano Country? Didn't he want no one to get hurt? Come on, what made him so furious and go there?"

"..." Upon hearing Sett's question, he paused. Although reluctant to speak, as a samurai, Koushirou couldn't allow himself to lie. After a long silence, Koushirou said, "On the eve of Lord Oden's return to Wano Country, Kaido's men stormed Oden Castle intending to kill Lord Oden's young son. Although they were eventually repelled by his retainers, Kozuki Tokifumi was also wounded by an arrow in the chaos..."

"He can tolerate this?" Hearing this, Sett was even more incredulous. "His wife and kids were beaten up, and this guy can still put up with it? Seriously, even if it was self-defense, he should have slapped Kaido a couple of times, or at least spat on him. Don't tell me Oden rushed in and came out dancing naked like you described!!"

"..."

Koushirou remained silent, for after hearing Sett's words, even Koushirou himself shared some of the same thoughts... Unlike the inhabitants of Wano Country, having come to the outside world, the current Koushirou was no longer the retainer who only knew blind loyalty...

"The purity is too low."

Sett shook his head as he drank and ate peanuts.

"A man who can't even control his anger is untrustworthy... Speaking of Kaido, he actually used such a disappointing method. Tsk tsk, what a disgrace, the strongest creature in the world, huh?"

After hearing Koushirou's complete account, Sett did not want to praise Kozuki Oden's idea, and his evaluation of Kaido himself also began to decline.

In Sett's view, no matter how much one praises Kozuki Oden's heroism, it cannot change the fact that his reforms as a feudal landowner were a complete failure.

His lofty goals, like opening the country to Wano, are all well and good. His progressive stance, like not wanting anyone to be harmed because of his recklessness, is all well and good. None of this can change his inherent pedantry and his nauseating, outdated kindness... Calling it womanly kindness is an understatement.

"You don't understand Lord Oden at all!" Hearing Sett's words, Koushirou, though somewhat sympathetic, couldn't help but argue, "That wasn't womanly compassion, but rather a consideration for Wano Country..."

"I can't be bothered to understand that kind of coward."

Even though this was Koushirou's dojo, Sett still showed Koushirou considerable respect—Sett was absolutely pure and uncompromising. Why should he be constrained and preoccupied with this and that? Why should Sett learn to read the room?

"If I could understand him, I wouldn't be Sett!" Sett said, his face full of indifference, looking at Koushirou in front of him. "Then let me ask you a question."

Upon hearing this, Koushirou took a deep breath and looked at Sett in front of him, ready to argue his point: "You speak."

Nodding, Sett then said, "If a group of terrorists seeking revenge on society took several civilians hostage, and you were in charge of the security forces, what would you do?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, before Koushirou could answer, Sett casually picked at his nails and said, "Actually, you don't need to answer. It's just the usual tactics: negotiation, sniper, and assault."

"But what about Oden, the one you mentioned? He actually listened to those terrorists' demands and surrendered without a word! The speed was so fast the French were impressed!" Sett said with a look of disgust; "Please, if I were a hostage, I would definitely want you to come and rescue me, not just surrender!"

"It's because of the prophecy!"

Hearing Sett's words, and knowing that if things continued this way, Lord Gotenko would only become a complete laughingstock, Koushirou had no choice but to say, "Lord Gotenko personally witnessed the Pirate King's great deeds; he saw the true form of the One Piece. Although he rarely mentions it, Lord Gotenko said that Wano Country would face a harsh winter, and in that winter, twenty years later, someone would appear to defeat Kaido and open Wano Country to the world. At that time, the entire world would be plunged into a massive war. All that Lord Gotenko has done is not only for the people of Wano Country, but also because the prophecy said..."

"You've gotta hurry up and finish."

Sett shook his head, his face showing no intention of listening further.

"Don't you know? Believing in fate is more ridiculous than a woman's sentimentality."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Koushirou opened his mouth, intending to say something more, but all his resentment turned into a few drops of helplessness.

Even as the King was being executed, the people of Wano Country showed him disdain and even insults. It wasn't until Shinobu, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward and explained the whole story behind the King's actions that the people of Wano Country came to understand and admire him.

In reality, after arriving overseas, Koushirou had considered that if no one had ever revealed the reason behind the Lord's actions until he was boiled to death, would the Lord still be regarded as a fool, a madman...? If that were the case, would he still continue to be loyal to the foolish Lord?

Koushirou was unaware that Kaido and Orochi had used this method to force Kozuki Oden to tarnish his reputation precisely because they feared Oden's strength and popularity in Wano Country.

For five years, Kozuki Oden would go to Orochi's castle every week to protest. Eventually, even the people of Kuri, who trusted him the most, began to despise him. Even during the final battle against Kaido, aside from the Nine Red Scabbards, not a single samurai still trusted Kozuki Oden.

Perhaps Oden's death is poignant, but that's precisely what makes it so strange. A brief recap reveals that the powerful Oden was constantly constrained, and each time he made the worst possible choice—Moria's Moonlight Pirates infiltrated Wano Country to fight Kaido, which was clearly a golden opportunity to turn the tide, yet Oden chose to drown his sorrows in alcohol, ignoring everything else. It feels as if… he made the wrong choice every time.

Since arriving overseas and seeing a wider world, his mind has broadened, and he is no longer the blindly loyal samurai educated in Wano Country. Not to mention others questioning the Lord, even Koushirou feels lost at night.

"I don't care about any prophecy about Radluff or Raidluff." Sett never agreed with the vague concept of fate. "I'd rather believe in prophecies written on cold stone than believe in my own burning heart."