The Seagull King felt that one of its claws had slightly bent.
What kind of monster is this…
As expected of someone whose innate physique could rival its master.
Perhaps because of her lost memories, Linlin was not using Conqueror's Haki Infusion at this moment. Driven only by anxiety, her Conqueror's Haki leaked out instinctively, colliding directly with the Seagull King's Conqueror's Haki.
One belonged to a Yonko, the other belonged to the pinnacle of an entire race, having witnessed battles of the highest level no worse than Linlin herself.
After clashing for only a short moment, the Seagull King was ultimately blasted backward dozens of meters by overwhelming strength.
Using that very force, it reverted to its full beast form, transforming into a colossal bird that blotted out the sky as it soared upward.
"O-Tama!!!"
Linlin, wanting to rescue O-Tama, immediately ran toward the direction the Seagull King had flown — toward the interior of Wano Country.
...
Meanwhile, in the Flower Capital, Kurozumi Orochi received a call from Orin.
Faced with this unexpected call, Orochi immediately became humble and fawning.
"Th-this… isn't this Orin-sama? What business do you have calling me?"
Orochi rubbed his hands together, forcing a smile as he stood before the Den Den Mushi.
"Yo, Orochi. It's been quite a while since we last met, hasn't it?"
"Long time no see, but I haven't seen my Seastone for quite a while either~"
Hearing this, cold sweat instantly poured down Orochi's face, his expression turning pale with shock.
"Th-this is because… that Doflamingo gentleman never came to receive it! I've always had the Seastone prepared!"
Orochi hurriedly expressed his loyalty.
"I absolutely had no intention of withholding it! But Wano Country is just like this…"
"Is that so? Then it seems I wrongly blamed you~"
Hearing that, Orochi clutched his chest and sighed in relief — only for his heart to tighten again immediately.
"I was just about to storm into Wano myself and take both your head and Kaido's. Looks like that won't be necessary~"
"However, I've already sent subordinates. They'll assist with the Seastone delivery when they arrive. Make sure you receive them properly."
"Yes!!!"
Kurozumi Orochi dropped to his knees and nodded frantically in agreement.
Click.
After the Den Den Mushi hung up, Orochi realized his entire body was drenched in sweat, as if he and Kaido's heads had just taken a walk through hell.
"So terrifying…"
But after the lingering fear passed, a pleasant thought suddenly crossed his mind.
The subordinates of [Black Gun] were coming to Wano for Seastone?
Once those so-called loyal samurai and ninja saw Wano's resources being sold off by him, they would surely protest violently.
In that case…
Couldn't he use this opportunity to eliminate those hateful samurai and pirates?
"Wonderful!!!"
"Perfect chance to show those wretches just how strong my backing truly is!!!"
"Those fools who worship the Kozuki clan should finally learn their place!!!"
...
Not long after the call ended, a loud commotion erupted outside the room. Orochi, who had been secretly plotting, became instantly furious.
"So noisy! What's going on?!"
He opened the door —and immediately froze in place.
"This is…"
He nearly collapsed to the ground.
A gigantic bird that blotted out the sky descended above the Flower Capital, wrapped in violent storms, completely covering his shogun residence.
Within its massive claws, two struggling figures were bound by wind ropes.
Its body gradually shrank, the Seagull King reducing to the size of a house as it landed inside Orochi's courtyard.
"H-hey hey hey!!!"
Thinking it had come for him, Orochi scrambled away in panic — only to be blown back by a hurricane-force gust.
"Gaa—" (Translate for me.)
Chopper, held within its claw, had no choice but to comply because O-Tama was captured.
"It says… it came for the Seastone trade. It was sent by its master."
"Wait!!! Master? You mean that Orin-sama?!"
Only then did Chopper realize he had learned a great deal of information from the Seagull King's words.
The Seagull King ignored him and instead looked at Orochi.
Upon hearing this, Orochi's fear instantly turned into delight, a smile spreading across his face.
"I see! So you're one of that great person's subordinates! Of course we have Seastone — but it's currently being watched by those outsider pirates and the Kozuki clan samurai, so I'm afraid…"
The Seagull King stared at Orochi, its eyes devoid of emotion.
"Gaa—" (If that's the case, we will act and clear obstacles for Orin-sama.)
Chopper's face turned pale in terror. The "outsider pirates" clearly meant the Straw Hat crew, Law, Kid, and the others.
"It… it says… you must not target the Kozuki clan or the Straw Hats, and you should hand over the shogun position—"
Before he could finish, the Seagull King squeezed him hard.
This guy actually dared to mistranslate.
It simply couldn't speak human language — that didn't mean it couldn't understand it.
Orochi was startled at first, then realized the deer had been deliberately mistranslating.
The Seagull King lifted O-Tama and shook her slightly. Chopper immediately stopped messing around and translated honestly.
"Gaa—"
"If you perform well, Orin-sama has said… it may not be impossible for people in Wano to bear the Kurozumi name again."
"Really?!"
Orochi was overjoyed. This promise carried far more weight than Kaido's — after all, that person was a terrifying existence whose power and influence far surpassed even the Yonko!!!
The Seagull King looked at Kurozumi Orochi's clownish expression without saying anything more.
Orin-sama had indeed said those words.
But only those words.
...
Even after learning that Orin would intervene, Luffy did not abandon his determination to save Wano.
He intended to help the Kozuki clan reclaim Wano Country and free it from Kaido's tyranny.
The samurai gathered at the port prepared to set sail, but due to the traitor Kanjuro, their plan was exposed.
The timid and cowardly Momonosuke, even after being captured by Kanjuro, did not dare say a word. Under the disappointed gazes of the samurai, he disappeared.
Meanwhile, the alliance assembled to attack Kaido faced overwhelming technological suppression from the Beasts Pirates.
Long-range cannons bombarded them so heavily that they couldn't even raise their heads.
In the pitch-black deep sea, a figure moved silently beneath the water.
Jinbe prepared to use an attack to destroy Kaido's warship, while Luffy and the others' eyes lit up.
"Boss Jinbe!!!"
"Jinbe!!!"
"This is great!!!"
Jinbe smiled, clearly pleased by his companions' praise.
But in the very next moment—a dark crimson current shot out from the sea, intercepting Jinbe's Fish-Man Karate.
Jinbe's expression froze as he stared in disbelief into the depths below.
And then—
"What is that?!"
"Someone just launched… a tsunami from the seafloor!!!"
----------------
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