One Piece: Start by Rebuilding Kuri

In the Land of Wano, the different regions are separated by very deep and wide river. To cross these rivers, one must either take a boat or use a bridge.

In previous years, the bridges leading to Kuri were only guarded on one side. However, Dan has now stationed people specifically to guard the bridge passages.

Typically, the only people who come to Kuri are wanted criminals. Dan welcomes these individuals without hesitation, as they are assigned to work under Serpent Marks, ensuring they undergo labor reform here.

What kind of criminals?

They are free labor!

Dan stationed guards at key points not to prevent people from entering, but to ensure that scattered thieves hiding in the mountains do not find an opportunity to escape from Kuri.

After establishing these defenses, the guards on the other side of the bridge could also see each other. As a result, the changes in Kuri gradually became known. This was no small matter, and soon, with the deliberate efforts of Dan and Kurozumi Orochi, even the shogun, Kozuki Sukiyaki, in the Flower Capital, learned of it.

After all, Dan was someone they had never heard of before. This sudden newcomer had quietly taken control of Kuri and even declared himself the daimyo of Kuri, which made it hard for them to ignore.

If Dan were replaced by Kozuki Oden at this moment, the situation would be entirely different.

"What are your thoughts on this?" Sukiyaki preferred to consult the other daimyos when faced with such matters.

"Actually, the pacification of the bandits in Kuri is a good thing for our Land of Wano," said Shimotsuki Ushimaru, whose territory was in Ringo and did not border Kuri, so he spoke without much concern.

"Kuri is a vast area. If it can truly be developed, it will undoubtedly become prosperous in a few years, and the nation's wealth will increase as well."

Kozuki Sukiyaki nodded. This was also his thought.

If Kuri were to develop, the Flower Capital would gain an additional source of tax revenue, which would be beneficial for him. The key issue, however, was Dan himself, as they knew nothing about his background.

"I disagree. Since ancient times, the daimyo families have only been the Amatsuki, Shimotsuki, Fugetsu, Uzuki, and Kurozumi clans. Now that the Kurozumi clan has been removed, how can this unknown person become a daimyo?" argued the current daimyo of Udon.

"Regardless, based on the information we have, that person has indeed pacified the bandits in Kuri. He now holds a significant force of samurai under his command. If we suddenly deny his legitimacy, it could lead to war, which would be a great loss for the country," someone else pointed out.

This statement left everyone in silence.

The samurai of Kuri were battle-hardened outlaws. If they were to riot, even if they could be suppressed, it would come at a great cost. And the key question was: who would be sent to suppress them?

The daimyos exchanged glances, but none were willing to take on the task.

Who would want to do such thankless work?

If Kozuki Sukiyaki promised that whoever pacified Kuri would gain control of it, they might consider it. But this was unrealistic, which is why Kuri had remained lawless for so many years.

"Yasuie, why are you silent?"

Sukiyaki glanced curiously at Yasuie and asked.

Shimotsuki Yasuie was someone he considered to be quite steady, so he valued his opinion.

"Lord Shogun," Yasuie nodded, "I was thinking that this person seems familiar."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, the others turned to look at him.

"Some time ago, I heard people talking in the streets of Hakumai about a man and a woman who claimed they would pacify Kuri. At the time, people dismissed it as a joke, but now we hear that Kuri has indeed been pacified." Shimotsuki Yasuie picked up a newspaper, which prominently featured a photo of Dan and Yukiko standing in front of the daimyo's residence.

"So, it's really these two?"

Yasuie nodded: "Before coming here, I specifically sought out residents who had seen these two and confirmed that it was indeed them. I also investigated their backgrounds, and there don't seem to be any issues."

"In that case, there shouldn't be any major problems," said the daimyo of Kibi.

After some thought, he suggested, "Lord Shogun, why not first acknowledge him as the daimyo of Kuri? Once Lord Oden arrives in Kuri, he can assess whether this daimyo is suitable. This would also be a good opportunity to restore the relationship between Lord Oden and yourself."

"That's a good idea," Shimotsuki Ushimaru nodded. If anyone could pacify Kuri besides Dan, it would undoubtedly be Oden. "If Lord Oden finds that the daimyo is not suitable, we can use this opportunity to remove him and have Lord Oden take over as the daimyo of Kuri."

Hearing this, Kozuki Sukiyaki nodded.

In this way, it would be best if the daimyo of Kuri were deemed unqualified, as it would make it easier to restore the father-son relationship between Oden and himself.

Although Kozuki Sukiyaki had previously cut ties with Oden in a fit of anger, everyone knew that their relationship would eventually be restored. Kozuki Sukiyaki had no other heirs, and in their eyes, the daimyo of the Land of Wano could only be Kozuki Oden.

"Where is Oden now?" Kozuki Sukiyaki asked.

"Some time ago, he was heading south from Kibi. He should be in Udon now."

Hearing this, Kozuki Sukiyaki nodded and then said, "Then, for now, let's grant this man named Dan the title of daimyo of Kuri."

As for Kuri itself, he didn't place much importance on it. To him, it was like a piece of meat he couldn't eat. Now that it had a ruler, he could benefit from it, so why not?

As for Dan's family name, given the number of samurai and troops he commanded, Sukiyaki felt it was no longer important.

Although those samurai seemed weak in front of Dan, in reality, Dan's current strength was no less than that of Doflamingo. With such power, he could easily rule a country in the New World through force.

...

Soon, Kozuki Sukiyaki's acknowledgment of Dan D. Lyon as the legitimate daimyo of Kuri was published in the newspapers.

The people living in Kuri suddenly felt as if their world had changed. In the past, they lived in thatched huts and wore tattered clothes. Now, they had enough food to eat, and with the help of the Military Commision, every household had moved into new homes.

In no time, Dan's reputation in Kuri had soared.