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Duck Karoo is timid and often confused—but not stupid.
At first, it had been very worried about Weiwei. If Lu Chi's owner got hurt, Karoo's heart would break. And what happened? She went missing again!
Karoo fretted all night, but by the next morning, it noticed that the small glowing spot found by puppy Xiu Xiu had vanished—taken away. That meant Lu Chi's owner was still alive. So what was there to worry about? Time to play again!
The old courtier Mr. 8 called to inquire. Karoo responded with two quick "quack"s, like it was just running errands. Then Nico Robin called—same response. Neither of them knew where Weiwei had gone… she had "disappeared."
Karoo, however, was thriving in Torrance Town. The people here were kind and always gave him delicious food. With his boss not around, the retired duck could finally enjoy life!
…
Weiwei, meanwhile, had no idea that Karoo was once again enjoying a blissful, semi-retired existence. She was so anxious she couldn't sleep all night. One moment, she pictured the duck standing loyally on a beach waiting for her; the next, she imagined it going out to sea, falling into the water, and getting eaten by a sea monster. She even dreamed that Doflamingo was chasing the duck with a knife and fork, mistaking him for a plump chicken in broth. Honestly, it was terrifying!
But anxiety alone didn't help.
After two days of barbecuing meat with Ayu and Komachiyo in the forest, Weiwei had fully recovered her stamina. Still, she didn't dare to fly off on her own. What if she flew in the wrong direction and ended up on Raftel?
If she had a Den Den Mushi, she could call for help. Wano was a closed country, but it wasn't off the map. If she contacted Lao Fan or Zefa, they could dispatch a Navy warship to Wano's waters. The nation might be isolated, but it wasn't invisible. If it came to it, she could even fly out to meet the ship.
The only problem? She didn't have a Den Den Mushi.
"Ta-ta!" Komachiyo had played with Ayu for two straight days and was beginning to take on the role of a loyal guardian. Now he was giving the girls a ride through the countryside.
Weiwei sat on Komachiyo's back, lost in thought. Ayu, on the other hand, was having a blast, urging the giant beast to run faster.
Ayu's joy was contagious. Her radiant smile slowly lifted Weiwei's mood.
Weiwei decided to stay a few more days. Wano natives might not use Den Den Mushi, but Kaido's men certainly did. She couldn't fight Kaido, but his underlings? That was doable. If she could steal a Den Den Mushi, she could contact help. That was one option.
Doflamingo and Kaido had a covert trading relationship. If one of their black-market ships docked in Wano, she might be able to stow away and escape. That was another option.
There were always more solutions than problems.
All human wisdom is contained in five words: wait and hope.
She planned to wait. Unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn't take any reckless risks.
As Komachiyo galloped across the open fields, they reached a fork in the road. He halted, then looked left and right, clearly confused.
Weiwei stared for a second, then burst out laughing. "Pfft—hahahaha! You're a lunatic! Are you lost?! I can't believe this—I'm dying!"
Komachiyo hung his head in shame. Sorry. He had no sense of direction. Ayu covered her face, mortified. Beautiful sister, should you really be laughing? Are you in any position to mock Komachiyo for getting lost?
Weiwei pulled out the Nidai Kitetsu, pointed the blade in a random direction, and sprinted off twenty miles. Eventually, a small village appeared in the distance.
Komachiyo's huge size was intimidating. Weiwei had Ayu wait with him on the outskirts while she scouted ahead.
This village, though still poor, was better off than Bianli Village. The people wore patched but clean clothing. Their faces had more life than the hollow-eyed villagers from before.
Near the main road, Weiwei spotted a teahouse. A middle-aged woman in a blue plaid kimono gave her a sideways glance. Her expression revealed caution and curiosity—Weiwei's appearance and aura were clearly foreign.
"Guest, would you like a rest at the teahouse? The heat today is dreadful," the woman said with a practiced smile.
"Are you the owner?" Weiwei asked.
"Yes… you are—are you a samurai?" the woman stammered. Weiwei's sharp gaze and the sword at her waist, the Nidai Kitetsu, made her assume as much. But Weiwei's attire was completely un-Wano.
Weiwei, following the logic that there was no harm in asking, ordered a pot of tea and struck up a conversation. "Yes, I'm a warrior. I washed up here because of a storm. I need to contact my people—they're probably worried. Do you know where I can find a Den Den Mushi?"
"Den Den Mushi?" The woman looked puzzled. After thinking for a moment, she said, "We use a kind of snail for communication here, but I'm not sure it works outside Wano."
Weiwei sighed. As expected. All she could do now was wait.
"Ah… it's so frustrating. Can you tell me more about this country? I just arrived and don't know the customs. I can trade you fresh meat from the forest beasts in return."
The woman covered her mouth in shock. "You can't eat those animals! They're contaminated!"
Weiwei's tone turned serious. "I examined them carefully. The contamination isn't that bad—yet. The key is knowing what to eat and what to avoid. Animals are more sensitive than humans to these things. They avoid the organs. So far, they're safe. A year from now, maybe not. So, is the deal on?"
The woman thought it over. It made sense. She finally nodded, a bit excited. "Yes. I suppose what I know isn't worth much compensation—it's common knowledge."
"That's fine. Tell me everything you can. Wherever you want, however you want."
Using tea as ink, the woman began drawing a rough topographic map.
Wano Country is ringed by cliffs and waterfalls. It's divided into the main island and Onigashima, the demon island.
Onigashima has been occupied by Kaido for years. The main island itself is split into six regions: Kuri, Kibi, Udon, Ringo, Hakumai, and the Flower Capital.
The Bianli Village where Ayu lived and the pickle village where the woman lived are both in Kuri, the southwestern part of the island.
The woman's name was O-Tsuru. She spoke clearly and calmly. After outlining the geography, she moved on to people.
"The current Shogun of Wano is Orochi Kurozumi. He rules from the Flower Capital. He brought in Kurozumi Kanjuro to serve as his royal artist…"
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