One Piece: Start by Rebuilding Kuri

The news of the daimyo of Kuri being summoned by the shogun quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys. To the general public, this was a great honor for Kuri, a sign of recognition from the shogunate toward the daimyo of Kuri.

Once a place even dogs wouldn't glance at, Kuri had now become a hot topic, and even the ordinary people felt a sense of pride. The people of Kuri now held their heads high when facing those from other regions.

In truth, even if Dan hadn't been summoned, this sentiment had been brewing for some time. The rapidly developing Kuri, with its prosperous people, was known throughout Wano as a land free from hunger—something even the flourishing Flower Capital couldn't claim.

Not only that, but Kuri's public safety had also become nationally renowned.

Once the most chaotic region, Kuri had now become the most stable. While saying "doors aren't locked at night" might be an exaggeration, at the very least, the soldiers of Kuri were disciplined, neither harassing nor oppressing the people, while still fulfilling their duties.

This place had no underworld. Although Wano's underworld wasn't entirely composed of evil forces, being part of the underworld meant they couldn't be aligned with justice.

Many shady businesses were operated by them, and most of the women who were driven to ruin and sold into the pleasure quarters were their doing. Moreover, in other regions, those pleasure quarters were largely run by them as well.

If they took a liking to a girl from some family, they would scheme to swallow up all her family's wealth and then force these unfortunate women to sell their bodies to make money for them.

This was the so-called underworld.

The Flower Capital's underworld was the strongest in the nation. Or rather, being able to make a name for oneself in the capital was proof enough of one's strength.

The current leader of the Flower Capital's underworld was Hyogoro of the Flower, a man with blue flame-like hair and wave-like tattoos on his arms. Tall and imposing, he looked like a wrathful deity.

This man held great prestige in the Flower Capital, and Dan had instructed Higurashi to keep a close eye on him.

Hyogoro, also known as Yakuza Boss, was a righteous man. Since he became the leader of the Flower Capital's underworld, the gangs there had been significantly restrained. Because of this, he was beloved by many of the people.

Most importantly, as the underworld leader, he could summon a large number of samurai, all willing to follow his commands. If a conflict arose, he would be a significant problem.

The people of Kuri decorated the streets with lanterns and banners, treating the event as a festival. In truth, some weren't celebrating because Dan had been summoned by the shogun, but rather because of Dan himself.

If it weren't for Dan, Kuri would still be a living hell. Where would this prosperity have come from?

The Kozuki clan lived comfortably in the Flower Capital, high above like gods, indifferent to the suffering of those living in the mud. The one who brought life to Kuri was, and always had been, Dan alone.

"I heard that many people plan to come and send you off on the day you leave for the Flower Capital!" Keiko leaned on Dan's shoulder, happily saying, "Dan-sama, you're truly beloved by everyone."

"Those who originally lived in Kuri, as well as those who fled here from other regions and settled down, have seen hell. So even a little warmth is something they'll cling to tightly," Dan explained.

"Keiko, I heard that while Yukiko is away in the Flower Capital, she's left the affairs of the Finance Commission to you. Is that true?"

"Yes, but I'm not sure if I can handle it well," Keiko replied, her face lacking confidence. Although she had been managing affairs for a few days, it still felt different.

"Don't worry. Yukiko went through the same thing back then, and the finances were much more difficult at the time," Dan said with a smile.

Soon, the day of departure for the Flower Capital arrived. Kurozumi Higurashi, transformed into Dan, sat on a bright red sedan chair, dressed in a white hunting robe adorned with cherry blossoms.

The sedan chair in Wano wasn't the kind Dan was familiar with. Instead, it resembled a shrine without walls. Watching from the shadows, Dan saw Higurashi using his face, her cold expression making her look like a true deity.

Accompanying the procession were troops from the Military Commission. Besides the sedan chair bearers, at the front were the towering Ashura Doji and the elegant, light-footed Yukiko, her demeanor sharp and commanding.

Yukiko's white hair was tied back, giving her a very capable appearance. Her white kimono was adorned with a bright red light armor, and instead of wooden sandals, she wore combat boots.

She looked stunningly beautiful, yet her aura was fierce and imposing. Many along the way didn't dare to look directly at her.

In addition to the two of them, several other retainers accompanied them, all chosen for their impressive appearances. Whether they were strong or not didn't matter—they certainly looked the part.

Their attire was specially crafted, resembling the Kairagi (Fiery Might and Dancing Thunder) Samurai of Inazuma, and paired with their tall statures, they didn't seem out of place at all.

Ahead of them, a band playing gongs and drums led the way. The grand procession began to move forward, and the entire population of Kuri turned out to follow the parade, continuously cheering the name of the fake Dan on the sedan chair.

Meanwhile, the real Dan, wearing a mask, along with Yuriko and Mari, headed in the opposite direction.

The sounds of celebration grew fainter, and the trio's journey seemed somewhat lonely in comparison.

However, Mari clearly didn't feel this way.

The girl was dressed in light purple clothes, but her skirt was short, barely reaching halfway down her thighs, with black leggings underneath. Her sleeves were also short, and her chest was prominently displayed.

The girl had inherited her mother's strengths, and one could say she was quite gifted.

Knowing that she would be traveling overseas with Dan, Mari's youthful face was filled with excitement and anticipation.

After all, Mari was just a child. It was normal for her to be excited about going on a long trip, especially one that would take her outside of Wano. The vastness of the seas was something many couldn't even imagine, but she would get to see it with her own eyes. The other maids in the daimyo's residence were envious.

"Mari, slow down!" Yuriko called out softly.

Mari, who had already run far ahead, turned and ran back.

"Mom!" Mari's eyes sparkled. "You should hurry up too!"

"Mom doesn't have the same stamina as you, Mari," Yuriko said with a mix of affection and reproach in her eyes. "You need to be considerate of your mother, okay?"

"But I really want to see the outside world right away! That old witch Kurozumi Higurashi said it's so interesting out there!" Mari clenched her fists.

"Mari! That's very rude!" Yuriko immediately adopted a stern expression. "You mustn't speak ill of Lady Higurashi behind her back, understand?"