One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

The crest formed by a golden light dissolved quickly, but the towering figure managed to catch a glimpse of it.

Abandoning his original plan, the figure dashed toward the alley where the golden light had just faded.

"…"

Seeing another wisp of golden light vanish in the alley, the figure gritted his teeth and sped after it.

At the base of a hill outside the Flower Capital, the towering figure finally caught up with the one who had lured him with the golden light.

"Who are you?!"

The towering figure scanned the surroundings, confirming they were alone.

"Renowned thief 'Ushimitsu Kozo'… or should I say, Denjiro!" Wright turned to face him, and his words made the towering figure's pupils contract sharply!

The thief known as "Ushimitsu Kozo," secretly the Flower Capital's yakuza boss, "Napping Kyoshiro," and one of the Nine Red Scabbards, Denjiro, drew his long blade with a sharp sound and lunged forward!

"Clang—!"

Wright's sword, Ashes, met Denjiro's blade head-on. Wright smiled faintly. "Let's not make too much noise, shall we?"

"…"

Denjiro narrowed his eyes—Ashes had a distinct, striking appearance.

However, Wano Country's isolation meant Denjiro wasn't familiar with Marine intelligence, nor did he recognize the transformed appearance of Ashes.

"Cling, clang, clang~"

After several exchanges, realizing he couldn't overpower Wright, Denjiro finally spoke again. "What's the meaning of that Shimotsuki family crest you're displaying?"

"So, we can finally talk?"

Wright let out a sigh of relief. For someone like Denjiro, who thrived on secrecy, the idea of his undercover identity being exposed was utterly unacceptable—hence his immediate intent to silence any potential threat.

Denjiro glared intently at the blond swordsman before him. The moment this man revealed his true identity, Denjiro felt his convictions nearly crumble.

And that Shimotsuki family crest, paired with such exceptional swordsmanship… Could this man truly be from the Shimotsuki clan of Ringo? Impossible!

"No need to be so tense. I'm an ally, not an enemy.

"I just came from Master Yasuie."

Wright spoke a name that made Denjiro's head spin.

"What did you say?!"

"Master Yasuie… he's alive?!"

Denjiro couldn't believe it. Was this some kind of trap? Or…

"You two… you've probably seen each other many times but never recognized each other."

Wright sighed and explained Shimotsuki Yasuie's situation in detail.

Denjiro, whose appearance had drastically changed due to the grief and rage following Oden's execution, was unrecognizable. Meanwhile, Shimotsuki Yasuie had altered his appearance further by hiding his iconic spiky hair.

"So that's what happened!"

Tears streamed down Denjiro's face. "Master Yasuie is alive! All these years, he's been so close, and I never realized! How could I be so blind?!"

Bowing deeply, Denjiro expressed his gratitude. "Thank you for this news! I never imagined you had such a connection to the Shimotsuki family!

"Master Yasuie's kindness is immeasurable. Knowing he's alive is the best news I've heard in over a decade!

"Earlier…"

"Earlier, you acted correctly."

Wright shook his head. "For what you're doing now, eliminating all potential instability is your top priority.

"As for your identity, I have a unique way of knowing.

"I can sense people's thoughts and emotions—especially when they're not consciously guarding them."

For someone as mentally resilient as Denjiro, Wright would usually find it incredibly difficult to glean his thoughts. But when unguarded, some basic information could slip through.

Wright studied Denjiro's conflicted expression. "Don't worry. This ability is unique to me—no one else knows your identity, not even Master Yasuie.

"You may still doubt me, but that's fine.

"You'll have plenty of chances to get close to Kaido. Check if he's recently gained a new scar, and you'll know if I'm telling the truth.

"At the very least, Master Yasuie's existence is undeniable, and you can verify that easily.

"Just know this—I aim to bring down Kaido. My immediate target, however, is Donquixote Doflamingo, who's recently aligned himself with Kaido."

Wright paused. "That man has monopolized Wano's seastone exports. It seems he's also taken over the weapons trade here. He's a threat no less significant than Kurozumi Orochi."

"Doflamingo? That man has indeed been dealing with Orochi lately…"

As the trusted retainer of Wano's shogun, Denjiro wasn't unfamiliar with Doflamingo.

"Kaido and Orochi have built numerous weapons factories across Wano. The weapons they produce have started flooding the markets, and Doflamingo controls the primary distribution channels."

Denjiro spoke gravely. "He and Kaido are a perfect match. Even the seastone trade—Doflamingo has managed to multiply its export price several times!"

"No wonder…"

Wright nodded in realization. With Doflamingo's influence, he could pull off such schemes. The World Government, despite their displeasure, had no choice but to comply—money wasn't their issue; maintaining a steady seastone supply was paramount.

This allowed Doflamingo to expand his underground network under Kaido's banner, thriving in the underworld.

"I came to Wano precisely because Doflamingo severely reduced the seastone supply. I need to plant agents here to monitor him and Kaido."

Wright sighed. "Before arriving, I even prepared to go undercover for a while to create opportunities for my agents.

"But unexpectedly, I crossed paths with Master Yasuie, altering my plans—and your presence is an even bigger surprise."

Of course, Wright couldn't tell Denjiro his true mission was to find him, nor that he'd originally planned to infiltrate his ranks disguised as Rosinante.

Denjiro muttered, "I can't risk exposing my identity. Even though I know clues about our comrades, I can't seek them out."

"Wright-dono, I'm committed to defeating Kaido and Orochi. However, according to the prophecy, Wano's 'opening' is still eight years away. We're not ready yet."

"I understand the prophecy."

Wright smiled. "A righteous cause is crucial in Wano. I'll do my best to weaken Kaido's Beast Pirates, and internally, I'll send people to assist you."

Wright handed Denjiro a Lightforged Beacon Crystal. "This crystal will resonate with someone I've sent. Please support them as much as you can.

"They're also a capable fighter—especially in assassination.

"With you and Master Yasuie, I'm confident Kaido will fall!

"As for Orochi… he doesn't understand Kaido at all. Working with such a despicable pirate will lead to his demise before he even realizes it!

"Oh, and one more thing—I've unleashed a 'special beast.' Try not to kill it.

"Looking forward to our next meeting!"

Denjiro was stunned, watching Wright's figure dissolve into golden light. Gripping the crystal tightly, he murmured,

"Incredible…"

"Master Yasuie… If you're truly alive, then I'll trust him this time!"

"But… a special beast?!"

-------

Want to read ahead of schedule?

Join here: patreon.com / juanpiece

There are more than 60 advance chapters available for you!