Shimotsuki Ushimaru's other consideration was, in fact, Ren.
In his eyes, Ren was the type who appeared cold on the outside but was warm on the inside. On the surface, he had told Oden that as a pirate there was no benefit in helping. Yet hadn't he still sent both troops and supplies?
Back then, the relationship between Ringo and Kuri was purely commercial, yet Ren still remembered that bond and specially dispatched five skilled warriors to aid in his rescue.
If that wasn't being cold outside but warm inside, what was?
He was actually quite moved by and grateful to Ren.
If possible, he certainly didn't want to trouble Ren for help, but there was always the unexpected. During the journey to Ringo, Shimotsuki Ushimaru had already heard from Oden that he didn't have absolute certainty of victory against their foe.
So he needed to prepare a contingency plan.
'If the worst comes to pass and Oden and the rest of us fail to defeat Orochi and Kaido, then someone must save this country!' Shimotsuki Ushimaru silently resolved himself.
If they truly met with disaster, then he believed only Ren could bear such a responsibility!
In terms of strength, Oden had said that ten years ago he was defeated by Ren in a single strike—probably only that overseas captain he mentioned could match Ren. In terms of power, Kuri was flourishing, the Flower Capital's military force was formidable, not to mention Ren's vast influence overseas!
When that moment came, he would bring this sword as a bargaining chip to exchange for Ren's assistance.
A single Shusui alone might not be worth such a commitment, but Shimotsuki Ushimaru felt that given Ren's "cold exterior, warm heart" nature, he would surely be willing to help. The sword would merely serve as an excuse for Ren to convince himself.
To be honest, even Shimotsuki Ushimaru felt this was somewhat of a moral obligation.
He still didn't know that inside, Ren was black to the core. It could only be said that Ren had cultivated a rather good image for himself in this regard. The people led by Kozuki Oden—those who could barely be called leaders—all had a favorable impression of Ren.
Kozuki Oden went without saying—this kid was one step away from personally handing Wano over to Ren. Shimotsuki Yasuie's feelings toward Ren were also positive. Hyogoro hadn't had direct contact with him, but through observation and hearsay, he naturally didn't dislike Ren either.
...
After Kaido arrived in Wano, he threw a massive tantrum on Onigashima, and the members of the Beasts Pirates barely dared to breathe. The four jailers stationed at Udon didn't dare make a single sound.
"It hurts, it hurts so much, you bastards!" He covered his face, tears streaming freely, snot flowing—clearly having downed quite a bit of sake, putting him in a highly sentimental state.
This was one of the reasons those below were trembling with fear. No one could predict the temperament of a drunken Kaido. Perhaps he would smash these failing jailers to death with a single blow, or perhaps he wouldn't punish them at all.
That uncertainty only made their suffering worse.
But despite appearing drunk, Kaido's mind was perfectly clear. He certainly wanted to execute these incompetents on the spot—after all, the prisoners in those quarries were more than just labor. Among them were warriors he coveted!
Take Shimotsuki Ushimaru, for instance—even at full strength, the four jailers combined couldn't match his value. And that wasn't just about strength—it was about his status.
Shimotsuki Ushimaru was the daimyo of Ringo. If even a provincial daimyo were willing to submit, then what about the other citizens and warriors?
But what good would killing them do?
Other than venting his rage, it served no purpose. The freed prisoners couldn't be recaptured, the dead soldiers wouldn't come back to life, and his own fighting force would only be further diminished.
Kaido was no fool who couldn't read the situation and only knew how to throw tantrums. Naturally, mistakes had to be punished.
He wept for a while before finally lowering his sake gourd. His weathered face was about to deliver the punishment, but he was interrupted by a subordinate.
"Lord Kaido, Lord Kaido! O-Orochi, that guy is here!" A mohawked underling in punk leather gear burst in, causing Kaido to swallow the words he had been about to say.
'Orochi, what is that bastard here for?' The thought flashed through Kaido's mind, but he didn't show it.
He simply said, "Let him in."
Before long, the figure in purple robes with a head of purple curly hair entered, flanked by two imposing warriors.
"Yo, Kaido, you're really letting it rip, huh? I could hear you from outside," Orochi said as he walked in.
"Hmph, Orochi. I suppose we have your timely reinforcement to thank for this," Kaido said without changing his expression. It was as if the alcohol had completely evaporated—he sat up straight on his throne, looking down at Orochi from above.
It was clear his mood was far from good.
"Say what you will, we're partners. This level of assistance is nothing," Orochi said nonchalantly.
But Kaido didn't buy that garbage for a second.
Moving troops from the Flower Capital to Udon took no less time than deploying from Onigashima. Orochi's reinforcements had arrived so promptly that they must have been pre-deployed. In other words, this cunning fox had known about Kozuki Oden's prison break plan all along.
He had the intelligence but chose to conceal it, only to show up now playing the benefactor. No wonder Kaido's expression grew even darker.
"Don't make that scary face, Kaido. I actually have some wonderful news for you." Orochi grinned, gesturing as he produced a Visual Den Den Mushi.
When the Den Den Mushi opened its eyes, it projected the image of a room.
Inside that room, there was a woman with a face full of worry, and two small children.
One of them, a black-haired child with a chonmage hairstyle, clung to the woman crying endlessly. The other, still an infant swaddled in cloth, was far quieter.
"And these are?"
"Kozuki Oden's wife and children." Orochi grinned sinisterly, the sound of his voice making even Kaido feel a chill.
"With these three hostages, won't Kozuki Oden be completely at our mercy?" Orochi asked with a rhetorical sneer.
At this, even Kaido finally cracked a smile. But he also made a mental note.
Kozuki Oden, now with a wife and children, clearly had a weakness. If he ever had children of his own, he absolutely couldn't let the information leak.
With that thought, Kaido took another swig of sake, preparing to hear how Orochi planned to deal with Kozuki Oden.
"Right now, the people of this country practically worship Kozuki Oden like a deity. With such an idol standing before them, even if we truly controlled Wano, we probably couldn't claim it in any short time."
"We must shatter this idol completely before the eyes of the people!"
[
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