One Piece : Rise of Thunder King

You can read the advance chapters here : patreon.com/Vigilante04

---------------

Duke Inuarashi and Nekomamushi stared at Arthur, puzzled by his sudden reaction. Arthur, still visibly shocked, began to think rapidly.

'No, this isn't right! The timing is completely off! How could they arrive in Zou so early? There should still be three years before the original events unfold!' he thought. 'Could Lady Toki have foreseen something and sent them here earlier? It's possible, but highly unlikely.'

Arthur's mind raced, sorting through possibilities. He knew this unexpected development meant something significant.

Meanwhile, at the gates of the Mokomo Dukedom, four figures, exhausted from their journey, climbed up the giant elephant's leg and approached the gate. The group, all clad in samurai attire from Wano Country, was led by a young boy with a traditional samurai hairstyle and pink clothing—Momonosuke.

"Father, is the man Mother spoke of really here in Zou?" Momonosuke asked, glancing at the man beside him.

"Your mother had the power to glimpse into the future. If she said he would be here, I believe her," Kin'emon replied seriously.

"Don't worry, Momonosuke," added Raizo, a large man with a crescent scar on his forehead. "Your mother was clear about the timing. We'll wait for this man, if need be."

"Yes!" Momonosuke nodded firmly. "I trust Mother's vision!"

At the gate, a member of the Mink Tribe spotted the newcomers and called out, "Samurai? What business do you have in the Mokomo Dukedom?"

Kin'emon looked up and responded, "We are retainers from Wano Country, here to find someone!"

"Who are you looking for?" the mink asked, surprised by the sudden arrival of not just one, but two groups of outsiders.

"We seek the king of the Angel Tribe, who was said to be here," Kin'emon answered.

"Huh? An angel?" The mink blinked in surprise. "How do you know an angel is here?"

"Is he here already?" Momonosuke called out excitedly.

The mink curled his lips in mild disdain. "Rude child!" he muttered.

"What did you say?!" Momonosuke fumed, glaring at him.

"Momonosuke, calm yourself," Kin'emon intervened, then apologized. "Apologies, good sir. He is young and impetuous. Can you confirm if the angel you mentioned is here?"

With a twitch of annoyance, the mink replied, "Indeed, an angel is here, and he's the king. If you're here to meet him, follow me."

Momonosuke and his companions were overjoyed. "Mother was right," Momonosuke said. "She said this man would help us defeat Kaido!"

"Yes, absolutely!" Kin'emon, Raizo, and Kanjuro nodded with enthusiasm, completely trusting Lady Toki's prophecy.

They followed the mink deeper into the city, their hope renewed.

Back with Arthur, he had been eavesdropping through an invisible electromagnetic field, one of his special abilities. This allowed him to overhear the entire conversation.

'King of the Angels? That's me. Did Lady Toki really foresee my arrival? But why wouldn't Inuarashi and Nekomamushi know about it?' Arthur pondered, growing more confused.

His thoughts spiraled, considering whether he, as a traveler from another world, was subject to the same constraints as characters within the timeline of this world. 'No… there must be a way. I won't let these unexpected events derail me.'

Regaining his composure, Arthur noticed the expectant looks on Inuarashi and Nekomamushi's faces. With a small smile, he said, "It seems the very people we spoke of have arrived. Your young lord, Momonosuke, is here."

"What?!" The two stood abruptly, their shock evident.

"You knew, didn't you?" Arthur said, reading their reaction.

For a brief moment, Arthur's thoughts turned strategic. If he couldn't ally with this powerful nation, then he needed a plan to counter their formidable warriors. Meanwhile, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi sensed something ominous and instinctively glanced toward the gate.

'This... their presence! They're really here!' Arthur thought as he sensed the approaching visitors.

"Master Duke, Boss! Some samurai claiming to be ninjas are here looking for the Angel King," a Dog Mink Tribe member announced from outside the room.

Sicilian, the Lion Warrior standing by the door, opened it.

'So it's true; they've come early. I don't know if this is because of the Kozuki prophecy—if it's a blessing or a curse for me. But since they foresaw the future, it must have some positive intent,' Arthur considered while looking at the familiar figures entering.

"Inuarashi, Nekomamushi," Kin'emon called out, his eyes full of emotion.

But Inuarashi and Nekomamushi seemed confused. Inuarashi asked, "Who are you? Why have you come to the Mokomo Dukedom?"

"Uh..." Kin'emon and his companions hesitated, and Momonosuke looked anxious, ready to speak.

Sensing what was happening, Kin'emon intervened and avoided answering directly. Instead, he focused on the unfamiliar face in the room—Arthur.

"I am Kin'emon, a retainer from Wano Country. May I ask who you are?" he asked.

Arthur, with a hint of amusement, glanced at Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, who were clearly pretending not to recognize Kin'emon's group.

"Before entering this country, weren't you just talking about me and the prophecy from Momonosuke's mother?" Arthur said pointedly.

Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, and Kin'emon exchanged startled looks. "Are you the Angel King, God Arthur?" Kin'emon asked.

"That's correct," Arthur replied, pleased with how things seemed to be playing in his favor.

"Just as Lady Toki predicted!" Kin'emon said, then turned to Inuarashi and Nekomamushi. "Apologies for the delay; we traveled through time to get here."

Inuarashi and Nekomamushi broke into a sweat, clearly uneasy. They realized Kin'emon understood their feigned ignorance.

"After Lady Toki gave us the prophecy, she sent us to this timeline but could only reveal a few key details," Kin'emon explained, removing his shirt to show the Kozuki crest on his back.

"Kin'emon, you..." Inuarashi and Nekomamushi finally let their masks slip, casting a wary glance at Arthur.

"I'm sorry we arrived early. It's because of this man," Kin'emon said, gesturing to Arthur.

"What's going on?" asked a stunned Inuarashi.

"Don't interrupt me, old dog!" Nekomamushi shot back, prompting another heated exchange. The two often clashed, and this was no exception, even in a tense moment.

Arthur watched with a mix of amusement and exasperation. Their quarrels seemed unending, but he understood that their fierce loyalty and history tied them together.

Momonosuke, tears brimming, stepped forward, cutting through their argument. "Stop it, Inuarashi, Nekomamushi! You were close friends once—why are you fighting now? My father would be heartbroken if he saw this!"

The two Minks fell silent, regretful and ashamed. "You're right, Lord Momonosuke," they said in unison, bowing deeply before him.

The soldiers around them were shocked. "Is this boy... the heir of the Kozuki family, the son of Lord Oden?"

As murmurs filled the room, Arthur stepped in with a wry smile. "Quite the performance, wouldn't you say?" he remarked, eyeing Inuarashi and Nekomamushi.

They nodded apologetically. "Forgive us, King Arthur. We had our reasons for secrecy," Inuarashi said.

Kin'emon then turned to Arthur. "Are you truly the King of the Angel Empire, God Arthur of Skypiea?"

"Indeed, I am," Arthur affirmed, certain that Lady Toki's prophecy had foretold their meeting.

With Arthur's confirmation and the visible trust from Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, Kin'emon, Momonosuke, and their companions bowed deeply to Arthur, just as the Minks had done before Momonosuke.

Arthur leaned forward, intrigued by their gesture. "What is this?" he asked.

Inuarashi and Nekomamushi were equally stunned, unable to hide their surprise at the scene unfolding.