The flames had long devoured the body of Orochi, yet the embers still hissed and cracked as they clung stubbornly to the charred remains of the fallen tyrant. The acrid scent of burnt flesh lingered in the air, wafting through the plaza, but instead of repulsion, it only deepened the cathartic relief that washed over the capital.
The people did not disperse and lingered in the square as if afraid that turning their backs might make this moment fade into a dream.
"The snake is dead… the snake is dead…"
And then, as if a dam had broken, a wave of cheers erupted all at once.
"LONG LIVE WANO!"
"FREEDOM! FREEDOM AT LAST!"
"THE SHOGUN IS DEAD!"
The sound spread like wildfire, rolling over the rooftops, bouncing down alleyways, echoing through mountains and valleys. From the Flower Capital to the outer villages, people began lighting small lanterns, sending them into the skies. The bells tolled, drums were struck, shamisen players plucked victorious chords.
What was once a land drowned in silence and fear was now a living festival.
The children began to run around with makeshift flags, drawing the Kozuki crest onto scraps of cloth with trembling hands. The firecrackers cracked in the distance, filling the air, while sake cups were raised high in every tavern, toasting to a tomorrow that suddenly didn't feel impossible.
For the first time in decades, the Flower Capital breathed with joy.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Wano.
Team One moved like shadows through the smoky industrial valleys. The air was thick with soot, broken machinery groaning as if mourning its own death. The heavy hitters stood amidst the wreckage of what were once Kaido's great weapon factories.
Massive gears lay shattered like the bones of giants. The clang of chains had gone silent, their weight discarded by freed slaves who now clung to one another, too overwhelmed to even weep. The Beast Pirates who had survived the assault groaned, bound in chains of seastone, glaring at their captors with eyes full of both hate and fear.
Issho wiped blood and oil from his blade with a flick, sheathing it with a sharp clink. He glanced at the burning ruins, the flames painting his stern face with a faint red glow.
"That's one more factory gone… Kaido's grip weakens by the hour."
Hina crossed her arms, her sharp gaze sweeping over the freed slaves. There was a hardness to her voice, but her tone carried a rare undercurrent of warmth.
"These people… they've suffered too much. The least we can do is give them a choice now. Do they flee? Or do they fight alongside us?"
Chiton stepped forward, his coat fluttering in the heat of the burning wreckage. His lips curled into a smirk, though his eyes betrayed the weight of the moment.
"Choices? Hah. With the way the capital is celebrating, I doubt anyone will choose to run."
The ground still trembled from the collapse of smokestacks in the distance, dust and ash drifting like snow.
As the team regrouped, the echoes of cheering from the Flower Capital faintly reached their ears, carried by the wind like a sacred whisper.
Prince Grus tilted his head toward the direction of the cheers. His lips twitched into the barest hint of a grin.
"Sounds like things are going well on their end. Guess the snake finally got what he deserved."
------
In the flower capital
Inside of a chamber was too quiet. The muffled sounds of celebration from the city below seeped faintly through the paper walls, a stark contrast to the tense silence within.
Komurasaki... No, Kozuki Hiyori sat upright, her silken gown shimmering with every subtle movement, her turquoise hair flowing over her shoulders like a cascade of jewels. Though she tried to compose herself, her heart raced furiously.
Behind her stood Kyoshiro. Gone was the flamboyant yakuza boss persona, now his posture was straight, his presence solemn, and the sharp, hawk-like eyes of Denjiro, one of the Nine Red Scabbards, were laid bare. His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his blade, not out of hostility, but out of instinct.
And then there was Luffy sitting across from Hiyori. He sat cross-legged on the tatami mats, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His gaze was steady, and piercing as he looked at the two of them.
Hiyori's fingers clenched over the folds of her gown as she tried to steady her breath. She had faced Orochi's vile gaze for years, but somehow, the boy sitting so calmly before her was far more unsettling. He was not lecherous, nor cruel, yet his mere existence seemed to bend the room around him.
Her thoughts churned.
'Why does he know? How much does he know? And why… why does my heart feel so restless when he looks at me?'
Luffy broke the silence first, his voice low and smooth, carrying weight without force.
"Princess of the Kozuki clan… right now, I have only question for you... What are you planning to do now? What will you do as the representative of your clan, as the rightful bloodline of Wano, as its leader?"
The words struck Hiyori like a hammer. She stiffened, her lips parting slightly in disbelief.
"I… I…"
Her throat tightened and the image of her brother, Momonosuke, flickered in her mind.
The child who was supposed to inherit the throne. The boy she had been separated from for so long. Yet where was he? Was he even alive?
Denjiro stepped forward abruptly, his voice sharp. "Enough! What are you suggesting, boy? Even though you are our benefactor but watch how you speak with Hiyori-sama? And who even told you of her identity? How do you know who she is?"
The room grew heavier and Hiyori's heart thudded against her ribs.
But Luffy only leaned back slightly, his smile never wavering.
"That… is my secret."
A soft chuckle escaped him as he tilted his head, his eyes glinting like lightning hidden behind clouds.
"What matters is this: Orochi is gone because of me. But Kaido… Kaido is still alive, right now just away for some business. And as long as he lives, your Wano will never truly be free."
The mere utterance of the name Kaido made the air drop several degrees.
Hiyori's breath hitched, her knuckles turning white as she gripped her gown tighter.
Denjiro's eyes narrowed, his usual calm faltering, a bead of sweat trailing down his temple.
'Kaido… the Beast. The unkillable monster... The true tyrant of this land.'
Luffy's voice cut through their fear, calm and unwavering. "I am willing to deal with him for you."
His words landed like thunder in the room.
Hiyori's eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat but Denjiro's jaw clenched as his mind raced.
"W-What?" Denjiro finally stammered, unable to hold his composure. "You… you dare to claim you can stand against Kaido?"
Luffy's smile grew faintly sharper. "I don't claim, Denjiro. I only state a fact."
The conviction in his tone sent a shiver crawling up Hiyori's spine. Her heart hammered even faster, torn between terror and hope?
But then, his tone shifted to smooth, deliberate, and almost predatory.
"But of course… my help comes with conditions."
Denjiro's eyes flared with suspicion. He stepped forward, his aura swelling, the room thick with the scent of unsheathed steel.
"What conditions? What game are you playing?"
Luffy didn't flinch. Instead, his eyes slid past Denjiro and locked onto Hiyori.
"That question is not for you, retainer. You job is to serve and protect her. But you do not have the right to decide... Only she can do that."
The silence after those words was deafening.
Hiyori's lips parted, her breath shallow, her cheeks flushed. She could feel Denjiro's gaze burning into the side of her face, waiting for her to speak, waiting for her to decide.
Her mind screamed at her. 'This man is dangerous. He is cunning. He is not bound to you, nor to your clan.'
And yet, her heart whispered differently. 'But he offers something no one else can… freedom. A chance at vengeance and salvation.'
Denjiro finally exhaled sharply, his hand falling away from his blade. His voice was low, grudging, but firm.
"… He's right. This decision… belongs to you, Princess."
He bowed his head slightly, but his eyes never left Luffy, sharp with warning.
Now, only Hiyori remained.
The princess lifted her gaze, her hands trembling slightly in her lap as her turquoise eyes met Luffy's steady, unwavering stare.
---- ✦ ✦ ✦ ----
Spoilers for the next five chapters!
Chapter 191: A Blood Tie
Chapter 122: Three Conditions
Chapter 193: Victory Banquet
Chapter 194: Trip to Onigashima
Chapter 195: Onigashima
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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