Chapter 512: An Unbridgeable Gap!"Appetizer?"King's eyes beneath his mask revealed extreme brutality. His initial astonishment and wariness were forcibly suppressed by the absolute pride of a Yonko Commander.He knew the Straw Hat had infiltrated Wano Country, and he was well aware that this Mosshead before him had left him a bloody lesson back in Dressrosa.But, so what?!He was the head of the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates! He was Kaido of the Beasts's most trusted right-hand man!If he were to tuck his tail and run without even fighting, what face would he have to call himself [conflagration]!"Roronoa Zoro..."King's voice was low and deep. His wings suddenly spread, and a violent red flame shot into the sky!!"Don't think that just because you took out that idiot Jack, you have the qualification to be arrogant in front of me!""I am the top executive of the Beasts Pirates!"King couldn't be bothered to say more. With a flap of his wings, his massive body turned into a red and black afterimage that tore through the air, using explosive power beyond the speed of sound, charging straight at Zoro's face!"Flame Emperor · Blade!"The scorching red flames were tightly wrapped around his serrated longsword, carrying high temperatures capable of melting steel, and he slashed down with the force of a mountain-splitting blow!"Oh? You're finally getting serious!!"Zoro grinned. He didn't retreat but advanced instead. His right hand gripped wado ichimonji, his left hand drew sandai kitetsu, and he crossed both blades above his head."Clang—!!!"The blades collided, and a shockwave mixed with sparks instantly exploded outward!The ground beneath Zoro's feet couldn't withstand this immense force; it instantly collapsed over a large area, creating a crater."You've got quite a bit of strength, King!!!"Zoro felt the heavy pressure coming from his arms, but his eyes became even more excited."But this flame's temperature is only enough to warm me up!""Arrogant brat!!!"King let out a roar, pulled back his sword, and without a moment's pause, immediately launched a storm of rapid-fire attacks!His speed was ridiculously fast. Utilizing his Pteranodon's aerial advantage, he attacked Zorofrom all directions.The red flames turned into sharp fire blades, enveloping Zoro in a sea of death."Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"Zoro swung his dual blades, his feet moving rapidly across the rubble. He wasn't panicked at all; every slash precisely parried King's fire blades.The two of them were engaged in a desperate close-quarters battle across the wasteland.Swords clashed, and their movements were impossible to see. One could only see a red and a green light crazily colliding, separating, and colliding again in the ruins!!!Shutenmaru hid behind a large rock, shielding his face from the incoming heatwave, his eyes nearly popping out.This wasn't a fight between humans!Every time their blades collided, it made his skin ache, and even breathing was difficult."Too slow! Too slow! Too slow!!!"King spun wildly in mid-air, his serrated sword trailing red flames across the sky. He became increasingly shocked as he fought; his speed and power, which he prided himself on, were being perfectly countered by this guy using only two swords.Zoro forced King back with a cross-slash, the blade edges tracing two green rays in the air."Is that all your sword skills amount to?"Zoro twisted his neck in impatience, his bones cracking."Just having great strength and being able to breathe fire won't break my blades!""Warm-up is over. I don't have time to waste with you here!!"He drew his final named sword, Shusui, from his waist with his left hand and bit the hilt. The stance of the Three Sword Style was fully displayed!"Boom—!!!"A thick, explosive Armament Haki, mixed with a green Oni Aura that distorted the air, erupted from Zoro's body as if it were free!The blades of the three named swords were simultaneously wrapped in intertwined black and green Ryou.Standing there, the phantom of the three-headed, six-armed Asura seemed to manifest behind him. That killing intent forced the surrounding flames back by over a dozen meters.Feeling this terrifying pressure that made even his soul tremble, King's movements in mid-air suddenly froze.Cold sweat dripped down the edge of his mask."This level of Haki... How is it possible?!?"King's pupils shrank to a pinpoint.That domineering, pure sword intent that threatened to destroy everything gave him the illusion that he was facing Boss Kaido!This guy's strength was already infinitely close to a true emperor of the sea!"Damn! Must not let him swing that blade!"The combat instinct of a Yonko Commander allowed King to make an immediate judgment.He pulled up sharply, pushing his Ancient Typepower and red flames to the limit.His massive black wings flapped violently, sucking the surrounding air dry.King gripped his serrated longsword with both hands. Endless red flames gathered on the blade, compressed, and finally turned into a giant fire dragon over a hundred meters long!"Tankudon!!!"King let out a hoarse roar, and with that fire dragon capable of melting an entire mountain, he smashed down straight at Zoro from high in the sky!This was his finishing blow, betting all his dignity on it!Facing this red destruction crashing down, covering the sky, Zoro didn't even bend his knees.He looked up, his right eye calmly locking onto King in mid-air.He crossed his two swords in front of his chest and held Shusui horizontally in his mouth."Three Sword Style Secret Technique: Billion-fold World Trichiliocosm!"Zoro let out a low shout, stepped forward fiercely, and transformed into a high-speed rotating green tornado, charging straight at the hundred-meter-long fire dragon!"Swoosh—!!!"Zoro's sword aura nonchalantly split the violent fire dragon in half!The severed flames exploded outward, turning into a rain of fire across the sky.And within the rain of fire, Zoro's figure passed through the flames and instantly appeared in front of King."Nani?!"King didn't even have time to make a defensive move before the three blades wrapped in black and green Haki struck his chest with destructive force."Puchi—!!!"The hard Ancient Type defense was instantly shattered!A large splash of blood erupted from King's chest, and the black mask on his head cracked in half directly from the aftermath of the blow!"Urgh—!!!"King let out a pained grunt, smashed from mid-air toward the ground, crashing through over a dozen large boulders, and plowed a deep trench over a hundred meters long in the ground.After the dust settled, King struggled to support himself with his sword, kneeling on one knee, vomiting blood.The crossed sword wound on his chest was deep enough to see bone, shocking to behold, and even the hand holding the sword was shaking.He looked up, his half-exposed face full of unconcealable shock and powerlessness.Zoro landed steadily on the ground, not even out of breath.He casually sheathed Shusui and looked at the heavily injured King with a calm gaze."I originally wanted to use you as a whetstone, but it seems I overestimated you."Zoro curled his lip in disappointment."You can't even take one of my moves; a roast turkey is still just a roast turkey."The difference in strength was simply too much!!!King gritted his teeth hard, his mouth full of the taste of rust.He was a proud warrior, but even more so, a clear-headed commander.That last slash, Zoro clearly hadn't used his full strength.If he kept fighting, not only would he die here without suspense, but he wouldn't be able to bring the crucial intelligence about the Straw Hatmonster's emperor-level combat power back to Brother Kaido!Face was a small matter; the great cause of the Beasts Pirates could not be destroyed in his hands!"Roronoa Zoro... Straw Hat..."King endured the tearing pain in his chest and spread his tattered black wings.He grabbed the unconscious Jack nearby, not even daring to utter a harsh word."Boom!"Red flames erupted, and King used all his remaining strength to flee.He carried Jack and shot into the sky, turning into a small black dot, fleeing toward Onigashimawithout hesitation, his speed astonishingly fast."Tch, ran away fast!"Zoro watched the direction King fled, not bothering to chase.He neatly sheathed wado ichimonji and sandai kitetsu, bent down, and picked up the empty sake gourd he had thrown on the ground earlier.In this wilderness, there wasn't even a place to buy sake, and after a fight, he was even thirstier.Zoro turned around and cast his gaze toward Shutenmaru, who was still hiding behind a rock not far away, looking completely stunned."Hey, fatty over there."Zoro walked over and pointed at his empty sake gourd with his thumb."I'm thirsty!! Where's there a place to buy sake around here?"Shutenmaru shuddered violently.He swallowed hard, looking at the monster before him who had severely injured King with a single slash and scared off a All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates, his speech stuttering."Go... go east for about twenty miles, there's a place called Bakura Town... there's a tavern there..."Shutenmaru pointed to the east with a chubby finger, his hand shaking."Oh, thanks."Zoro nodded and hung the sake gourd back on his waist.Then, under Shutenmaru's horrified and bewildered gaze, he turned around without hesitation, walking with his own unique pace, striding toward the deep mountains and old forests in the direct west.Shutenmaru's finger was still awkwardly raised in mid-air, the whole person disheveled in the wind."Does... does this guy... have some misunderstanding of the word 'east'?"After a long while, Shutenmaru retracted his hand and sighed heavily.Although that green-haired swordsman seemed to have a screw loose and couldn't find his way, that terrifying power capable of shattering everything was the real deal.
Chapter 513: The "Guiding Light" of the KuriWastelandThe wind in the Kuri Wasteland seemed to be blowing in every direction today.Just like the green-haired swordsman walking at the very front.Zoro walked with long, confident strides, one hand resting on the hilt of the wado ichimonji at his waist.His cold, stern face was so full of absolute confidence that one might as well have written 'I am invincible and possess an impeccable sense of direction' on it in ink.More than ten meters behind him, Shutenmaru was dragging his two-hundred-plus-pound, rotund body along, following with an expression of utter despair.This mountain bandit leader, who dared to go head-to-head with the All-Stars Jack, currently looked more miserable than if he had swallowed a live fly." Th-that... "Shutenmaru finally couldn't take it anymore. He pointed at a strangely shaped, crooked tree nearby, the corner of his mouth twitching uncontrollably." If I recall correctly, we have passed this twisted, pretzel-like tree for the sixth time now!!! "" Do you even know where we're going?! Boro Town is clearly in the opposite direction!!! "Hearing the challenge from behind, Zoro's footsteps came to an abrupt halt.He turned around, looked at Shutenmaru with the eyes of someone watching an idiot, and scoffed." What do you know? "Zoro lifted his chin righteously and spouted nonsense with a straight face:" This is called pre-battle terrain reconnaissance! Understand? "" As a swordsman, one must have a thorough understanding of the terrain, vegetation distribution, and even the wind direction of every inch of the surrounding land before a battle! "" I am checking to see if there are any ambushes by the Beasts Pirates in this forest! "Shutenmaru:...He stared at the man before him, who could lie without even blinking, with a face full of black lines, as if a Crow were flying over his head, cawing.What kind of "terrain reconnaissance" is that?!You were literally asking a rock for directions just a moment ago, okay?!Just as Shutenmaru was about to continue complaining about this hopeless, super-grade pathfinder..." Brrr-brrr-brrr~~~ "A sudden, urgent ringing of a den den mushiechoed out.Zoro frowned and reached out to pull out a miniature den den mushi wearing a fuzzy spotted hat.As soon as the den den mushi was connected, its normally normal facial features instantly distorted.Dark circles, thick enough to reach its chin, immediately appeared under its eyes, and even its snail shell seemed to emit an almost tangible black aura of resentment." Roronoa-ya... "Trafalgar Law was exhausted to the extreme, as if life had completely drained all his vitality!!" I don't care where you are lost right now, and I don't care if you've mistaken East for West again. Now, immediately, stop those feet of yours that have absolutely no sense of direction! "" Huh? Are you looking to die, Tra-guy? "A vein throbbed on Zoro's forehead. " I am not lost at all! I am conducting rigorous pre-battle reconnaissance! "" I don't have time to listen to your excuses. "Law, on the other end of the den den mushi, took a deep breath, seemingly trying to suppress a feeling of impending collapse." The plan has changed! Something went terribly wrong here in the Flower Capital! "" Nico-ya and Uta have started a massive brawl involving hundreds of people in the back alleys of the Flower Capital! ""... "Zoro's eyes lit up, and a wild grin spread across his face:" Oh? Sounds lively! Is Orochi dead yet? Leave his head for me to drink with! "" Is that the point?! The point is that they've caused trouble!!! "Law roared directly into the phone, his voice loud enough for even Shutenmaru, standing nearby, to hear clearly.After roaring, Law seemed to collapse, his voice becoming weak and listless again:" Listen well, the original infiltration plan is completely cancelled!! "" However, we saved a very crucial person in the Flower Capital!! "" Kozuki Oden's daughter—Kozuki Hiyori!! "" Wano Country is now on full lockdown, and there are pursuers everywhere! "" You must immediately change direction and head to Ebisu Town to meet up with us! Remember, it's Ebisu Town! "" Click—!! "The den den mushi was hung up unilaterally.Zoro pursed his lips indifferently and stuffed the den den mushi back into his pocket." Tsk, Kozuki Hiyori, never heard of her! "" Ebisu Town? "" What kind of crappy place is that? Do they sell alcohol? "However, just as Zoro finished his casual complaint.He suddenly felt an aura from behind that made his hair stand on end.Zoro turned around.He saw the pink-haired fat man, Shutenmaru, who had just been furiously complaining about him, now frozen in place as if he had been hit by a binding spell." You... who did you just... say? "Shutenmaru's voice trembled uncontrollably, and his large, bell-like eyes were instantly filled with crimson bloodshot veins." Kozuki... Hiyori? Princess Hiyori?!! "Before Zoro could answer." Waaaaaahhh—!!! "A heaven-shaking wail exploded directly across the Kuri Wasteland!Seeing Shutenmaru, the mountain bandit leader who didn't blink at killing and dared to slash even a mammoth..." Whoosh—! "Shutenmaru slid more than ten meters through the mud, and in a standard dogeza position, slid and knelt right at Zoro's feet!He stretched out his two thick arms and hugged Zoro's thigh tightly.Tears and snot mixed together, and a huge snot bubble even blew out from his nostril!" Princess Hiyori! It's Princess Hiyori!!! She's still alive! "" Lord Oden's bloodline is still alive!!! "Shutenmaru cried like a two-hundred-pound fat child, rubbing his large head against Zoro's pant leg.Twenty years!He had been a bandit in these desolate mountains for twenty years!Bearing the infamy, watching the country being ravaged by Kaido and Orochi!He thought the hope of the Kozuki Clan had been completely extinguished, he thought he would only rot in the mud for the rest of his life!But now, what had he heard?!Lord Oden's daughter, the true princess of Wano Country, was still alive!" Sir! Green-haired sir! No, Master Swordsman!!! "Shutenmaru lifted his tear-stained, miserable fat face, his eyes filled with extreme eagerness." Take me! Please, take me to Ebisu Town! "" Even if you make me work like an ox or a horse, or dump your chamber pot, I'm willing! "" I want to see Princess Hiyori! I want to go protect her, ahhhh!!! "Zoro was covered in goosebumps by this sudden combo of a tough guy crying and sliding to hug his thigh.He looked at the shiny snot on his pant leg with a face full of black lines, his stomach churning." Hey! You dead fatso! Let go of me right now! It's disgusting!! "Zoro kicked his leg hard, trying to shake off this two-hundred-pound sticky bun." Is this fat guy crazy?! "" He was acting so high and mighty just a moment ago, why is he crying like this just because of a woman's name?! "" If I bring him along, won't it be noisy as hell? I have no interest in bringing a burden with me! "Zoro was just about to kick him away mercilessly and then head to Ebisu Town in style.But.Just at the moment he lifted his foot.Wait...Where... is Ebisu Town?The cold expression on Zoro's face suddenly stiffened, and a drop of cold sweat quietly seeped from his forehead.He looked around, and all he saw were identical weeds and twisted, pretzel-like trees!!Forget Ebisu Town, he couldn't even remember which direction the place where he had just fought was!If he didn't bring this fat guy along, he might very well wander around in this forest until the day Luffy became the Pirate King!At this moment, the air fell into a deathly silence!!Zoro lowered his head and looked at Shutenmaru, who was still hugging his thigh and wailing.He coughed twice and forcibly pulled back the leg he had intended to kick out with.The disgust on his face instantly transformed into a mysterious, cold demeanor." Ahem... well, since you are so determined... "Zoro crossed his arms, lifted his chin slightly, and looked down with a haughty gaze." I am not an unreasonable person. "" Although your fighting strength, you fatso, is barely passable, and keeping you around is purely a burden that holds me back... "While Zoro was stubbornly demeaning the other party, he was also naturally providing a way out." But considering your loyalty, I will reluctantly allow you to accompany me. "Hearing this,Shutenmaru suddenly lifted his head," Really?! Thank you so much! Master Swordsman! "" Cut the crap! "Zoro turned his head away tsundere-style, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword." Since you're coming along, you have to follow my command! "" Now, walk in front and lead the way! I'll bring up the rear to guard against enemy sneak attacks! "" Remember, you'd better walk fast on the route to Ebisu Town; I don't have time to waste wandering around on the road with you! "Shutenmaru completely failed to notice the guilt Zoro was trying to hide because he didn't know the way.His mind was now entirely filled with the wild joy of going to see Kozuki Hiyori. He leaped up from the ground and, as if pumped with adrenaline, patted his chest in assurance:" No problem! I can navigate the terrain of Kuri with my eyes closed! "" Sir, you just rest easy in the back; I guarantee I'll get you to Ebisu Town at the fastest speed! "After saying this, the two-hundred-plus-pound pink-haired fat man moved with the agility of a rabbit, taking long strides and sprinting ahead to lead the way.Watching Shutenmaru's back as he led the way.Zoro let out a long sigh of relief and reached up to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead." What a gullible idiot. "Zoro muttered to himself in secret delight, then a smug grin spread across his face,and he followed behind, walking with a swaggering, devil-may-care stride.
Chapter 514: The Price of the AllianceOn a dirt path in the wilderness on the outskirts of the Flower Capital, four figures were sprinting rapidly toward Ebisu Village.Trafalgar Law ran in the lead. He tilted his head slightly, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the woman following in the middle of the group—Kozuki Hiyori!!Hers was a face of unreasonable beauty. Even now, breathless from running with her hair slightly disheveled, she carried a pitiable yet breathtaking and lethal charm.Law couldn't help but sigh inwardly."Stop." Law suddenly stopped and turned around."Tra-guy, what is it?" Robin stopped, the hem of her deep purple kimono swaying gently in the night breeze.Uta also stopped, glancing at Law vigilantly, then glared at Kozuki Hiyori beside her...Law ignored them, instead planting his named blade, kikoku, which he had been carrying on his shoulder, into the ground."Kozuki Hiyori!!""Before we reach Ebisu Village, there are some accounts we must settle in advance!!"Hiyori paused slightly, her fair fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, her watery eyes looking at Law:"Please speak, benefactor...""Don't call me benefactor. We are pirates, not some great saints here to save the world."Law interrupted her unceremoniously, his tone revealing the harsh reality of being a pirate!!"We intend to overthrow Kaido and slay Orochi. This is equivalent to declaring war directly on one of the Four Emperors, and it carries the risk of total annihilation!""Although we are already qualified to contend for the title of the new emperor of the sea, we cannot risk our lives just for someone else's 'thank you'.""Therefore, I need you to represent the Kozuki Clanand give me a clear commitment."Hiyori took a deep breath. On her cool, composed face appeared a trace of resilience that didn't match her delicate appearance."What do you want? As long as it is within Hiyori's power, no matter the cost...""Wano Country." Law didn't mince words, spitting out these three words cleanly and concisely."Once Kaido and Orochi fall, Wano Country must open its borders completely!!""This land must fly the Straw Hat pirate flag and become the exclusive territory of the Captain!!"Law's voice rang out clearly in the quiet night."Not only that, the surviving, formidable samurai of Wano Country must be ready to obey the Captain's orders at any time!!""What we want is a military alliance that absolutely obeys the Straw Hat!"These words could be called a naked attempt at extortion.To anyone listening, this was akin to driving away a hungry wolf only to welcome a ferocious tiger.To hand over an entire country to a pirate as their backyard—such a humiliating and sovereignty-forfeiting condition would cause any descendant of royalty to flip out on the spot.However, Kozuki Hiyori's reaction caused a momentary look of bewilderment to appear on Law's cold face."I agree."There was no hesitation. Not even a second of struggle.Hiyori nodded. On that stunningly beautiful face, instead of anger, a smile of extreme, tragic beauty bloomed."Do you know? Under the rule of Kaido and Orochi, Wano Country has long since become a living hell."Hiyori's eyes instantly turned red, her voice trembling slightly from extreme suppression."Clear rivers have been polluted by toxic water from factories, and fertile land cannot grow a single crop.""The common people are despairingly waiting for death in hunger and fear every day~~~"Her beautiful eyes held a desperate resolve."As long as we can drive away those two man-eating monsters, as long as the people of Wano Country can have a full meal...""Never mind letting Wano Country become Luffy's territory, even if it means the whole country becomes beasts of burden, Hiyori is willing!"Speaking of this, Hiyori suddenly stepped forward.Her fair, rosy face flushed with a charming blush under the Moonlight. Her watery eyes shifted, revealing a lethal shyness that could make one's bones go soft."And..."Hiyori extended her fair, delicate hands to gently cover her burning cheeks, her voice so soft and sweet it seemed like it could drip water."If it is to become Luffy's exclusive territory... as the sole heir of the Kozuki Clan, Hiyori is naturally a part of that territory, right?""As long as Luffy doesn't mind, Hiyori is willing to be an add-on to Wano Country, serving forever by Luffy's side. Whether it's washing clothes and cooking, or... or warming the bed and folding quilts, Hiyori will learn very hard!"The air froze completely in this instant. Law's jaw nearly hit the ground, and his originally cold expression shattered on the spot.This script is wrong!! I'm trying to negotiate a treaty of ceding territory and paying indemnities, and you're staging some massive 'giving yourself away for free' scene here?!An add-on? Warming the bed and folding quilts?!How are the brain circuits of this Wano Countrywoman even more absurd than that rubber idiot!!"What—did—you—say?!?!?!"A sharp, ear-piercing cry exploded from the side.Uta was about to burst into flames!! The two tufts of red and white hair on her head were now like two antennas receiving a top-level radar alert, standing straight up in mid-air.The Worlds Greatest Diva had fire in her eyes, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and she rushed in front of Hiyori in a single bound."You shameless woman! Do you even know how to write the word 'modesty'?!!"Uta put her hands on her hips, her chest heaving with anger, and pointed at Hiyori's nose, cursing loudly."Who wants you, this vixen, as an add-on! Luffydoesn't need any bed-warming maid!""He only drools and kicks the covers when he sleeps; if you go, you'll just be kicked out of bed by him!!"Uta was so anxious she was incoherent, frantically asserting her absolute sovereignty."I warn you, stay away from my Luffy! He is mine!!""He will absolutely... absolutely not fall for a green-tea vixen like you who deliberately acts weak!!"Facing Uta's barrage of attacks, Hiyori instead wore an innocent expression. She gently bit her lower lip and leaned tearfully toward Robin."Miss Uta is so fierce... Hiyori just wants to repay Luffy for saving the country, is that wrong too?"Hiyori wiped the corners of her eyes, looking aggrieved. That pitiable appearance could easily arouse the protective instincts of every man in the world."If Miss Uta really dislikes Hiyori, Hiyori won't go to the master bedroom to disturb you... Hiyori only asks to lay a mat and sleep outside Luffy's door, and I'll be satisfied if I can see his smile first thing every morning...""Ahhhhhhhh——!!!"Uta was driven crazy with anger on the spot, rubbing her hair with both hands, wishing she could just pounce and bite someone."Sleeping outside the door isn't allowed either! You're not even allowed to look!!""You vixen!!!""I'm going to sew your mouth shut today!!"Watching this chaotic, super-level romantic battlefield, Robin stood elegantly to the side. Not only did she not step in to mediate, she instead covered her red lips with her wide kimono sleeve, letting out a belly-black chuckle of extreme delight."Oh my, it seems our Captain's charm is already high enough to conquer a country without bloodshed."A mischievous gleam flashed in Robin's beautiful eyes, hoping for chaos."But little Uta should be careful. This Princess Hiyori is clearly prepared... who knows, one day you might wake up and find an extra great beauty from Wano Country on the Captain's bed.""Sister Robin! Whose side are you on?!!"Uta stomped her feet in shame and anger, tears almost streaming out in her anxiety.Law watched the three women putting on a show with a blank expression, only feeling his migraine getting worse. He rubbed his temples, shouldered kikoku without a word, and turned to leave."Do whatever you want. I'm only responsible for the negotiation, not for handling someone's romantic entanglements."Law coldly threw out this sentence and quickened his pace.The four of them continued walking forward amidst the noise. Soon, after passing through a desolate mound, a dilapidated village appeared before everyone's eyes.This was the hidden location Hiyori spoke of—Ebisu Village.However, the moment they stepped into the village entrance, Uta, who had still been bickering with Hiyori, instantly stopped in her tracks. Law also stopped abruptly, his eyes becoming vigilant.Even Robin, who had been wearing a calm smile, saw her expression disappear completely. The scene before them was eerie to the extreme.Dilapidated thatched cottages, cracked earth, villagers starved to skin and bones... everything here showed extreme poverty and suffering.However, in the entire village, there was not a single wail, not a single complaint. In their place were bursts of loud laughter echoing throughout the village.Even a mother holding a child who had fainted from hunger, even an old person collapsing on the roadside on the verge of death... everyone had a brilliant smile on their face, emitting a bone-chilling "Hahaha" laughter.
Chapter 515: The Smiling Hell of Ebisu VillageThe moment the four of them stepped into Ebisu Village, it was as if they had crossed into some absurd alternate dimension.Their ears were filled with the sound of manic laughter: "Hahaha."This laughter was exaggerated, shrill, and even carried a hair-raising, jarring quality.Law gripped his kikoku, scanning the surroundings!!Dilapidated thatched huts, cracked earth, and villagers starved to the point of being skin and bones~~~Yet, these starving people, who could barely stand, were rolling on the ground, laughing as if their lives depended on it."Does the feng shui of Wano Country specialize in producing lunatics?"Law complained weakly in his heart.Having just encountered a fallen princess who was giving herself away, and now stumbling into a village of madmen all laughing hysterically, he felt his fragile nerves were about to snap.Uta was also utterly confused.She stretched out her fair little hand to scratch her red and white hair, then sidled up to Robin like a curious baby."Sister Robin, did something happy happen to them? They're laughing so loudly, is there going to be a banquet in the village? Is there meat to eat?"Uta's train of thought was clearly perfectly synced with her Captain, filled entirely with banquets and meat.Robin didn't say a word; her eyes, which usually held a sense of composure and cunning, darkened at this moment.She keenly noticed that the villagers laughing the most exaggeratedly actually had dried tear tracks at the corners of their eyes."Uta, this isn't happy laughter at all!!"Robin said softly, her voice carrying an unusual gravity.Kozuki Hiyori, walking in front, was trembling!She fought back tears, leading the three of them through this place that could only be described as a smiling purgatory, and arrived in front of a dilapidated, drafty thatched hut."Lady Hiyori! You're safe and sound, that's wonderful! Hahahaha!"A short old man with blue hair rushed out of the thatched hut.What felt jarring was that the smile on this old man's face was even more exaggerated than the villagers outside; the corners of his mouth were stretched almost to his ears.Yet, his eyes, filled with the weariness of the world, were streaming with tears like a broken dam."Lord Yasuie..."Hiyori stepped forward quickly and supported the excited old man.She turned her head and introduced him to Law and the others:"Benefactors, this is the contact person I proposed, and also the elder I trust the most—he was once the Daimyo of Hakumai who served the Kozuki Clan, Shimotsuki Yasuie."Law's eye twitched violently twice.What the hell, a dignified Daimyo reduced to such a miserable state, laughing hysterically while streaming tears in a slum?Has the upper echelon of Wano Countrycollectively been struck by lightning?!Yasuie enthusiastically welcomed the four of them into the dilapidated hut that didn't even have a decent chair, and sat cross-legged on the dirt floor, continuing to emit that eerie laughter.Uta really couldn't hold back anymore; she blinked her large, heterochromatic eyes and asked innocently:"Grandpa, what exactly are you celebrating in your village? Even if you're poor, it's nice that everyone is so happy!"As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the room instantly froze.The smile on Yasuie's face seemed to be frozen by some invisible force, and the unstoppable tears flowed down his deep wrinkles into his mouth.Hiyori bit her lower lip so hard that blood seeped out.She fell to her knees and buried her face deep in her hands."No... it's not like that..."Hiyori's voice was broken by extreme suppression."They don't want to laugh at all..."In the shocked gaze of the three, Hiyori revealed the darkest scab of Wano Country to the Straw Hat."In order to build the Gifters army, Orochi and Kaido imported large quantities of those Artificial Devil Fruit called SMILE.""But, the success rate of those fruits is extremely low, and the rest are all scraps with side effects!"Hiyori suddenly raised her head, her beautiful face filled with monstrous hatred."That devil Orochi, he found the crying and screaming of us poor people struggling at the bottom too noisy, so he actually mixed those fruit scraps into leftover food and distributed them to the villagers of Ebisu Village!""Everyone was starving to death, and in order to survive, they had no choice but to eat those poisonous fruits!""The price was... being completely stripped of all emotions except laughter!"Hiyori pointed to the villagers rolling on the ground outside the door."Even if their loved ones starve to death in front of them, or if they are sick and in agony, they are forced to wear this mask of hysterical laughter!""This isn't a celebration at all; this is a smiling hell that Orochi built for the world!!!"After hearing this tragic truth, the atmosphere in the dilapidated hut instantly dropped to freezing point.Law, who was leaning against the mud wall, stiffened, and his usually cold face darkened completely.As a doctor, he knew better than anyone how vile and perverted it was to strip away human emotions."Orochi..."Law lowered his spotted hat, and in his heart, he coldly wrote an irrevocable death warrant for that pig.Beside him, Uta was already on the verge of losing it.This extremely emotional world diva's eyes turned red!!"How could such a thing happen?!""Is that Orochi's brain filled with sewer sludge?!"Uta instinctively squeezed out a few extremely dangerous, tangible musical notes glowing with colorful light."Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!!!""I'm going to fly back to the Flower Capital right now and finish off that Orochi!"Judging by her posture, she looked like she would rush out to fight to the death the very next second."Calm down, little Uta."Robin reached out her fair hand and pressed it onto Uta's shoulder.The gentle smile on this Archaeologist's face had vanished without a trace.Recalling her own dark childhood before meeting Luffy, when she survived by the skin of her teeth amidst betrayal and pursuit, the miserable state of the people of Wano Country before her eyes only highlighted Orochi's viciousness to the extreme.Around Robin, a few deep purple petals floated up silently.Those petals looked soft and beautiful, but they carried a bone-chilling murderous intent that made one's back go cold."Although we are not agents of justice, for such a cruel and boring ruler, it is indeed necessary to let him experience what a real hell is."Robin's voice was extremely light, yet it carried a hair-raising sense of cunning.Just then, from the direction of the village entrance, a burst of arrogant footsteps suddenly approached!!"Tch, what kind of hellish village is this!""Why is everyone laughing like idiots? Is there free alcohol being given out here?"Zorojuro was seen with one hand resting on the hilt of his wado ichimonji at his waist, swaggering into the entrance of Ebisu Village.Behind him, Shutenmaru, who once struck terror into Kuri, was dragging his heavy, two-hundred-plus-pound body, panting like a dying dog from exhaustion."Sword... Swordmaster sir!!""How many more circles do you need to walk before you'll walk in a straight line! You've walked all my fat off..."Shutenmaru collapsed on the ground, lifeless.The four people in the room turned their heads in unison to look at the village entrance.Law looked at the Mosshead who couldn't even tell directions but still wore an expression of 'I am invincible,' and felt his migraine intensify threefold instantly."This idiot with no sense of direction actually managed to find the right place?" Law muttered.Zoro also keenly sensed the gazes of the people in the room; he raised an eyebrow and strode over!"Yo, everyone's here!!""Just in time, I'm dying of thirst."Zoro patted his empty sake gourd!!
Chapter 516: Akazaya Reunion!"You idiot Mosshead!!!"Law hadn't even lost his temper yet.The Worlds Greatest Diva stood with her hands on her hips, pointing at Zoro's nose and giving him a sound scolding:"Do you even have eyes or not?!""Can't you see everyone here is laughing so painfully?!""And you're still thinking about drinking?!""Is this how Luffy usually teaches you?!"Zoro was stunned by the outburst, scratching his green hair in confusion.He looked around...The dilapidated village, the villagers rolling on the ground laughing hysterically, and inside the house, Kozuki Hiyori with red-rimmed eyes and Robinradiating dangerous killing intent."Hey, hey, what the hell is going on here?!?""Where's the enemy?! Orochi or Kaido?!?""The enemy isn't here, they're in the Flower Capital."Law pulled down the brim of his spotted hat and said coldly.He then forced the slow-witted swordsman to catch up on the cruel truth about the SMILE fruits and the Smile Hell.Upon hearing the explanation, Zoro's cold face instantly darkened.He lowered his head, his green hair obscuring his eyes, making his thoughts unreadable...(╯°Д°)╯︵ ┻━┻"Depriving others of the right to cry, huh~"Zoro's voice was low."That bastard called Orochi, his head, I'm claiming it!!!"Just then!!"Thump—!!"Everyone turned to look.Shutenmaru, the pink-haired fatty who had been lying at the village entrance like a dead dog, was now pressed firmly against the threshold.His bell-like eyes were glued to Kozuki Hiyori, who was kneeling inside the house.His two-hundred-plus pounds of fat were trembling at an unnatural frequency."Hi... Hiyori-sama?!? It really is Hiyori-sama!!!"Shutenmaru's voice cracked, thick with sobs o(╥﹏╥)oThe next second!!!"Waaaaaaahhhh—!!!"A wail that shattered the atmosphere exploded in this Smile Hell!!!This bandit leader, once famous in Kuri and daring enough to take on a All-Stars like the Mammoth head-on, was actually crawling frantically on the muddy ground using his hands and feet!!!"Whoosh—!"Covered in mud and dust, he executed a smooth dogeza, sliding all the way to the feet of Kozuki Hiyori!!!"Hiyori-sama!!! You really didn't die!!! Oden-sama's bloodline still lives!!!"Shutenmaru cried like a two-hundred-pound giant baby, his head thumping against the ground."Ashura Doji..."Hiyori looked at the rough man before her who was weeping without any shred of dignity, her own tears breaking through.Unable to control herself, she reached out with fair hands and gently supported Shutenmaru's broad shoulders, sobbing until she couldn't catch her breath:"It's been twenty years... These years, you've suffered so much...""It's not bitter at all!!! As long as I can see you again, Ashura is absolutely OK with being cut into a thousand pieces!!!"Just at this tear-jerking, highlight moment of the master and servant reuniting..."Meow... You dead fat pig, you're crying so disgustingly, meow...""Woof!!! You were a lean young man twenty years ago, how did you get this fat and ugly?!?"Two voices, familiar beyond belief, drifted faintly from the shadows of the dilapidated house.Shutenmaru's body froze instantly.He looked up, completely bewildered, in the direction of the voices.Two furry figures, one tall and one short, stepped out from the darkness.Duke Inuarashi was biting on his pipe, his eyes as red as a crazed rabbit's.Boss Nekomamushi was rubbing his eyes desperately with his large cat paws, refusing to admit to the tears falling down."You... you two old geezers?!?"On Shutenmaru's fat face, covered in snot and mud, a look of ecstatic joy broke out that would make even ghosts shake their heads."You didn't die either?!?"The old comrades of the Akazaya Nine, in this dilapidated thatched hut, finally reconnected after a long, twenty-year progress bar!!!The three rough men, whose combined age was several hundred years, hugged each other tightly, crying earth-shatteringly, letting out all the extreme frustration of twenty years of hiding and burden.Watching the three of them weeping in each other's arms, a flash of tenderness crossed Robin's eyes, and Uta also secretly wiped away tears, moved.After a long while...Shutenmaru finally shut off the floodgates of his tears.He wiped the water off his face with his rough palms and suddenly turned around."Bang!"The two-hundred-plus-pound giant baby knelt straight down in front of Zoro and Law!!!"Green-haired Master!!! And you, Master with the spotted hat!!!""I heard everything from the cat and dog, you're here to take down Kaido and Orochi!!!""Please! Take me with you!"Shutenmaru pressed his forehead hard against the ground,"My life, Ashura Doji, belongs to you guys from today on!!!""Whether it's suicidally charging in or acting as a meat shield in the front line, as long as I can chop off that scum Kaido's head, I won't even blink an eye!!!"The sudden, face-to-face oath stunned everyone.Law pushed down his hat brim, just about to say something cool and high-class...But the Mosshead next to him snatched the mic."I guess I can let you join the group."Zoro crossed his arms, lifted his chin slightly, and curled his lips into an extremely arrogant and tsundere smirk."But listen well, next time you lead the way, you are absolutely forbidden from pointing in the wrong direction!!!""I'm most disgusted by idiots who lead the way in the wrong direction!!!""...""..."The air went completely silent in that instant.The expression on Law's face completely collapsed!!"How can you, an epic-level idiot with no sense of direction, have the audacity to say something like that?!?""You were asking a rock for directions for half an hour just a moment ago, okay!!!""Do you have even the slightest, single-cell level of self-awareness regarding your sense of direction?!?"Uta immediately covered her face in total social death, looking absolutely desperate as if she were thinking, 'Where did this green-haired alien come from? I don't know him' (￣_￣|||).Shutenmaru, however, was tearfully slapping his forehead in gratitude:"Absolutely no problem!!! Master, rest assured!!! Even if I close both my eyes, I will definitely not lead us the wrong way!!!"Just when the atmosphere in the room was made extremely bizarre by Zoro's heaven-defying remark..."Hahaha!!! Everyone, look at what amazing treasure I found!!! Hahaha!!!"Accompanied by shrill, exaggerated laughter, a tiny figure stumbled into the dilapidated hut.It was a little girl with short pink hair, at most six or seven years old.The girl ran up to Hiyori and, as if presenting a treasure, held out her small, dirt-caked hands.Resting quietly in her palm was half a rice ball, salvaged from some garbage heap, already green and moldy."Hiyori-nee-san!!! Hahaha!!!""I got something delicious!!! Hahaha!!!""Let's all eat together!!! Hahaha!!!"The little girl laughed hysterically, using all her strength to hold up that disgusting piece of food.Even though her eyes were filled with hunger and exhaustion beyond limits,that uncontrollable laughter was like a bloody, dull knife sawing back and forth in everyone's hearts."Toko..."Hiyori's eyes turned completely red, her emotions exploding, and she pulled the little girl tightly into her arms."I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Nee-san isn't hungry, Toko should eat it herself..."Hiyori's tears streamed down her face, falling into Toko's hair.Toko was pressed tightly in her arms, but her mouth continued to laugh hysterically; it was as if this world had never even installed a patch for sadness.As this scene unfolded..."That piece of trash Orochi..."Uta's voice trembled.Law turned his head away coldly; this scene completely crossed his bottom line!!Zoro's gaze was heavy and dark,he reached for the sake gourd at his waist, wanting a drink to suppress the evil fire burning in his chest.As his hand touched the hilt of his sword..."Cling—"The three famous swords at his waist knocked against each other, making a crisp metallic sound.Hiyori, who had been holding Toko,her teary eyes nearly popped out of their sockets!!!"That... that sword is..."Hiyori gently pushed the little girl away and stood up in disbelief."Black Blade... Shusui?!?"Hiyori extended her trembling fingertips, pointing at the famous sword at Zoro's waist!"Why... why are you carrying our Wano Country's national treasure?!?""Could it be... that you are that grave robber who dug up all the samurai graves?!?"As soon as the words fell, the air pressure in the room did a 180-degree spiral reversal.Inuarashi and Nekomamushi were so shocked they made comical faces, everyone's eyes locked onto Zoro's belt, their expressions full of confusion and complex code."Grave robber?!?"Just as Zoro, the person in question, was preparing to speak up and argue..."What kind of fake tabloid gossip are you making up here!!!"Uta was like a little hen protecting her chick, dashing and flashing right in front of Zoro!!!She spread her hands wide, turning herself into a human wall of sighs, blocking the space between the two, her big eyes glaring at Hiyori."Even though this Mosshead is a hopeless, top-tier idiot in this life!!""His sense of direction is so bad he's not even as good as a three-year-old in diapers... but he is absolutely not a thief!!!"Uta shouted angrily, arguing back, exposing all of Zoro's dirty laundry without a second thought,but her protective nature, the 'I'll fight anyone who messes with my teammate' attitude, was fully maxed out."In Luffy's crew, there is absolutely no way there would be trash who digs up dead people's things!!!""If you dare to splash another drop of dirt on him, I'll PK you right now!!!"Zoro watched Uta, who was going crazy in front of him, with a face full of black lines.Being defended by a teammate was indeed not a bad thing, but why did every piece of nonsense this pink-haired loli just say feel like a stab to his lungs?!?""Hey, are you trying to defend me, or are you insulting me in a roundabout way?!?"He reached out impatiently and ruthlessly pushed her aside."Listen up, woman.""This sword was absolutely not something I swiped on the side.""This was personally handed over to me by the Wano Country samurai Ryuma after a real, head-on duel!!!""Even if this thing is your country's national treasure, now, it is my weapon!!!"
Chapter 517: The Kindling of the Dark Night!"Are you saying this blade was personally entrusted to you by Lord Ryuma?!"Kozuki Hiyori's beautiful eyes widened, her exquisite face filled with disbelief!Not just her, but Inuarashi and Nekomamushibeside her also looked at each other, deeply shocked.After all, the legend of the Sword God Ryuma was a sacred and inviolable belief in Wano Country.Zoro curled his lip with a look of utter impatience.He hated dealing with these prying, troublesome matters the most. He casually slid Shusui back into his waist, his tone nonchalant."Believe it or not, it's my sword now anyway."Uta stood to the side, her hands on her slender waist, lifting her chin quite proudly."See, I told you this Mosshead wouldn't do something as shady as thievery.""Even though he's a hopeless directionless idiot with nothing but muscle in his head, his character is still decent."Zoro's face was covered in black lines!!"Is this girl here to help or just to pick a fight!"Just as the atmosphere in the room eased slightly because of this bickering...*Rumble rumble rumble—*Law's temples throbbed wildly, and an ominous premonition instantly shot through his skull."SUPER—!!! Tra-guy! Everyone's here on time, right!"A gaudy, multi-colored, exaggerated battle tank screeched to a halt right outside the thatched hut.Franky, wearing sunglasses, struck his classic star-shaped pervert pose."This is the Super Stealthy Rendezvous Tank 5.0 Ultimate Edition that I modified overnight!""It can perfectly hide our movements in the night!"While Franky was lost in self-admiration, two streaks of machine oil tears ran down his face from emotion.On the vehicle, Usopp and Carrot were huddled together, shivering."Stealthy my ass! You idiot cyborg!""At least a hundred pirate patrol squads gave us their full attention along the way!"Usopp wailed in a total breakdown."Back off, back off! Who wants to fight me first!"Yamato, carrying her massive Spiked Club, leaped down from the battle tank.Her clear, large eyes burned with undisguised fighting spirit as she looked around and shouted excitedly:"Is this Ebisu Village?""Has Luffy not arrived yet?""Where is Kaido's head? I'm going to go crush it right now!"Looking at this group of idiot companions who had come to 'infiltrate' with such fanfare, Law felt his fragile nerves snap completely."You bunch of hopeless morons...""If you don't want to be sliced into sashimi by me to feed the wild dogs, turn off those damn lights right now and get inside!"Hearing the Surgeon of Death's warning filled with killing intent,Yamato and Franky finally restrained themselves a bit and obediently slipped into the thatched hut.Yamato blinked, only then noticing that besides a few strangers in the room, there were starving people lying outside on the ground, rolling around and laughing wildly."They... why are they laughing all the time?"Yamato scratched her head in confusion, her gaze innocent."Is there some fun banquet going on here?"Kozuki Hiyori, her eyes rimmed with red, took a deep breath and recounted the cruel truth about the smile fruits and the 'Smiling Hell' once more to the newly arrived members of the Straw Hat crew.After hearing this tragic truth, the Straw Hat crew, who had been noisy just a moment ago, instantly fell into an oppressive silence."Waaaahhhhh—"Franky burst into earth-shattering wails on the spot, tears spraying out from under his sunglasses like two high-pressure water jets."That's too much! That shameless bastard Orochi!""To even strip away the right to cry! This is simply not treating people like humans!"While wailing, Franky angrily smashed the ground with his mechanical Iron Fist, directly punching a large crater into the dirt."Unforgivable! SUPER unforgivable!"Carrot was also shaking with rage, her long rabbit ears drooping, her small hands clenched into fists, and undisguised sparks of electricity flickering in her eyes."To use such despicable means against unarmed civilians!"Yamato gritted her teeth, her eyes red."I'm going to the Flower Capital right now to smash that Orochi's head to bits!""Yamato, count me in! My sniper rifle is going to blow that bastard's dog head off!"Usopp was also completely enraged!!The usually cowardly sniper now had fire in his eyes, completely forgetting his fear of the Four Emperors' forces."Everyone shut up!"Law gave a cold shout, forcibly suppressing this group of hotheaded troublemakers.He scanned the group of troublemakers before him, his tone carrying an unquestionable coldness:"Straw Hat-ya isn't here; no one is allowed to act recklessly!""Orochi's life will be ours sooner or later, but losing your cool and rushing in now will only drag the innocent civilians of this village into the flames of war!"Although everyone was full of resentment, they knew Law's analysis was perfectly logical, so they could only forcibly suppress their boiling anger."So we just have to wait here like this?"Zorojuro crossed his arms and snorted in extreme dissatisfaction."I don't have the patience to sit here and watch such a frustrating drama."Just as the situation reached a stalemate,"Hahahaha! Everyone, don't be angry! I have an idea! Hahahaha!"A burst of exaggerated laughter, completely out of place, broke the silence.Shimotsuki Yasuie, who had been sitting cross-legged on the ground, slowly stood up with his face forced into a wild laugh.Though he was laughing uncontrollably, deep tear stains hung from the corners of his eyes."Lord Kanka?"Hiyori looked at him with some concern.Kanka straightened his tattered clothes. Though small in stature, he now faintly exuded the noble majesty of a Daimyo."Hahahaha! That stupid pig Orochi must be in a complete mess right now because of Komurasaki's disappearance.""The patrols in the Flower Capital may seem tight, but internally, it's total chaos!"Kanka patted his withered chest and shouted with a laugh."Since you heroes from overseas are here to help our Wano Country defeat Kaido, then leave the dirty work of rallying the samurai to me!"Shutenmaru was stunned, his fat face covered in snot filled with disbelief:"Lord Kanka, are you actually going to the Flower Capital yourself?! That's too dangerous!""Hahahaha! Not only am I going, but I'm going with great fanfare!"Kanka pulled a stack of papers with strange totems from his robes; they were the secret codes used by the Kozuki Family to summon their old retainers for rebellion."Although I'm just a useless set of old bones now, I still have a bit of influence left from the old days in Wano Country!"Kanka laughed through his tears, his voice ringing with conviction."Tonight, I will stuff these codes into the door cracks of thousands of households!""I will reignite the fighting spirit that has been extinguished for twenty years!"Boss Nekomamushi was so anxious his large tail stood straight up:"That's absolutely not allowed, meow!""The Flower Capital is crawling with searching pirates and the Oniwabanshu right now. If you're caught, it's a certain death sentence!"Law also pulled down the brim of his hat, coldly pointing out the suicidal nature of the plan."In your current physical condition, you couldn't even outrun an ordinary grunt. You're just going there to die for nothing!!""Hahahaha! So what if I die!"Kanka straightened his back, meeting Law's cold gaze without fear."For twenty years, I've worn this disgusting mask every day, living like a clown!""Watching the people suffer while I could only laugh along, powerless!""Now the Kozuki bloodline still exists, and the heroes from overseas have gathered here!"Kanka looked up, and in his cloudy old eyes, he seemed to see the brilliant dawn of Wano Country."To open the borders of Wano Country once more! For those children who can't even get a full meal!""This life of mine should have been given to Lord Oden twenty years ago!""Even if I'm crushed to pieces, what is there to fear! Hahahaha!"These soul-stirring words left all the pirates in the room silent.Zorojuro slowly lowered his crossed arms, his gaze becoming incredibly serious.He reached out and gripped the hilt of wado ichimonji, showing a rare trace of respect belonging to a swordsman."Old man, you are a samurai with true backbone."Zorojuro's lips curled into a wild and confident arc."Since you've decided, then go ahead and do it. As for that bastard Orochi...""Once our Idiot Captain arrives!!""I promise you, I'll chop off their heads to serve as snacks for your drinks!""Hahahaha! Splendid! Then it's a deal!"Under the admiring gazes of everyone, Kankacarefully tucked the stack of codes carrying their hope into his robes.He laughed and turned, walking out of the thatched hut without hesitation, his small frame disappearing alone but heroically into the pitch-black night....Meanwhile.In the inner hall of the Shogun's Mansion in the Flower Capital, another farce was unfolding.Orochi was like a pack of rabid dogs, frantically smashing every expensive antique he could see in the room.*Bang! Crash!*A priceless blue-and-white porcelain vase with a flying crane motif was hurled against the wall, instantly shattering into shards."Komurasaki actually ran away?! And she's a Kozuki, the one this Shogun hates the most!!"Orochi was so angry his eyeballs were red enough to drip blood.He kicked over a solid wood low table in a fit of rage and roared frantically at the Oniwabanshukneeling on the ground, shivering."Shame! This is a humiliation that won't be washed away in ten thousand years!""I've ruled Wano Country for so long, and I've never suffered such an insult!""Search! Scour every single mouse hole in all of Wano Country for this Shogun, and find that woman for me!"Orochi's eyes were so malicious they made one's skin crawl.
Chapter 518: Exposed!Night in the Flower Capital should have been the city's most bustling and decadent time.But tonight, the place was like a boiling cauldron."Search! Everyone search carefully! Don't even miss a mouse hole!""By order of Shogun Orochi! If you don't catch those rats from overseas, all you useless trash will have to commit seppuku!"In the streets and alleys, the Oniwabanshu, holding torches, scurried around frantically like a swarm of headless flies.The sound of chaotic footsteps, the rough kicking of doors, and the crying of terrified innocent civilians turned the night of the Flower Capital into a complete mess...And above this chaotic district,A small, thin figure was jumping carefully across the rooftops."Oh boy! My old bones aren't what they used to be!"Shimotsuki Yasuie had just leaped across an alley less than two meters wide. As soon as his feet landed on the blue tiles of the opposite roof, he couldn't help but reach back and pound his lower back twice.He panted heavily, but due to the side effects of the smile fruit, his mouth pulled back uncontrollably into an exaggerated, laughing expression."Back in the day, I was at least the Daimyo of Hakumai who could go toe-to-toe with that Odenbrat!""Now, I nearly throw out my back just jumping across a roof! Hahaha!"Yasuie ruthlessly mocked himself in his heart.However, in those weathered old eyes, a bright light shone that hadn't been seen in twenty years.From the large bundle on his back, he pulled out a drawing showing the Kozuki Family's secret rebellion signal.Under the cover of night, he skillfully slid down the eaves and precisely stuffed the paper into the crack of a tightly closed wooden door.This was already the three-hundredth one tonight!!As the chivalrous thief 'Witching Hour Boy' from Wano Country's folklore, who robbed the rich to give to the poor,Yasuie knew every dark alley and every dog hole in the Flower Capital like the back of his hand.He knew that the stupid pig Orochi must be throwing a fit in the Shoguns Mansion right now because of the disappearance of the Oiran Komurasaki.This time of city-wide chaos was actually the best opportunity for him to spread the seeds of hope."Sleep, samurai of Wano Country!!""When you wake up tomorrow morning and see this signal, you will know that the fires of our Kozuki Clan's revenge have never been extinguished! Hahaha!"Yasuie muttered silently in his heart as he continued to weave through the night.Though his legs were shaking from exhaustion, the thought of the overseas heroes he had just met in Ebisu Village injected infinite strength into his shriveled chest.*Click.*Just as Yasuie stuffed a paper into the door crack of a blacksmith shop,A dense sound of footsteps suddenly came from the corner of the alley not far away."Damn it! Making us come out on patrol in the middle of the night! Does Shogun Orochi have a hole in his brain?""Shh! Keep it down! Do you want to die? I heard the Shogun was stood up by Oiran Komurasaki tonight, and now he's going crazy smashing things in the main hall!""Serves him right! With a face that would make even a dog turn away, he still wants to eat swan meat? If I were the Oiran, I'd run away too!"The two patrolling samurai complained bitterly about their boss as they walked forward with torches.Crouching in the shadows of the eaves, Yasuie found the scene of these two samurai mocking Orochi without any restraint to be incredibly hilarious.He tried hard to cover his mouth, desperately attempting to suppress the laughter surging up because of the smile fruit.However, that muscle reflex caused by emotional fluctuations was simply beyond human control."Pfft... Haha... Hahaha!"A sharp and highly piercing laugh suddenly exploded in the quiet alley!Yasuie covered his mouth tightly, but the laughter still leaked through his fingers.Below in the alley, the two gossiping samurai shuddered violently, nearly dropping their torches."W-what was that sound?!""Oh god! Could it be a ghost? I heard people have died in this alley before!""What kind of ghost! The sound came from above!"One of the samurai gathered his courage and suddenly raised his torch, shining it toward the eaves beside them.The flickering firelight instantly illuminated Yasuie, who was crouching on the tiles with a large bundle on his back, his face still laughing wildly."That outfit... and that big bundle!"The samurai's eyes bulged,"It's the Witching Hour Boy! The wanted criminal Witching Hour Boy is here! Someone come quick!!!""Oh no! This cursed illness of mine!"Yasuie cursed inwardly, quickly grabbed his bundle, and began to run for his life across the tiles."Don't run! Stop!""Catch him! Shogun Orochi has offered a huge reward!"With that loud shout,Patrol teams from the surrounding blocks swarmed in from all directions like sharks smelling blood.The sounds of gongs and whistles filled the air.Yasuie leaped across the rooftops, panting, the wind whistling past his ears.But his body, severely overextended by hunger and old age, finally reached its limit.*Thud!*As he crossed a roof ridge, his foot slipped, directly crushing a blue tile.Losing his balance, he rolled down the sloping roof and crashed heavily onto the cobblestone path of a dead-end alley."Oh boy! My herniated disc! It's completely finished now! Hahaha!"Yasuie was in so much pain he saw stars. He lay on the ground unable to get up for a long time, but his mouth continued to let out uncontrollable laughter.Before he could catch his breath,*Tap, tap, tap.*Dense footsteps instantly blocked the dead-end alley completely.Dozens of samurai holding torches and cold, gleaming katanas surrounded Yasuie."Run! Why aren't you running now, you old geezer?"The lead samurai stepped forward and kicked Yasuie hard in the stomach.Yasuie groaned, curling up like a cooked shrimp, but that exaggerated smile remained on his face."Hmph! You still dare to laugh? Let's see if you can still laugh after we skin you alive!"The samurai viciously raised his katana, preparing to chop off one of Yasuie's legs first.Just at this critical moment!"In the middle of the night, all this noise... it's really annoying."A lazy, deep voice, thick with sleepiness, suddenly rang out at the entrance of the alley.Hearing this voice, the fierce samurai instantly froze as if a binding spell had been cast on them, turning around in unison.When they saw the person's appearance, everyone immediately lowered their heads respectfully and proactively made way for a wide path."Boss Kyoshiro!"A tall man with a signature exaggerated pompadour, heavy dark circles under his eyes, and wearing a magnificent kimono walked in swaying, one hand resting on the hilt of the long katana at his waist.It was Orochi's most trusted money changer and the boss of Wano Country's underworld—Kyoshiro the Nap!Kyoshiro picked his ear with his pinky finger, his half-closed eyes revealing a chilling indifference.He had only been forced out to patrol the streets because Orochi's tantrum was making it impossible for him to sleep.As a result, he had just arrived nearby when his subordinates told him they had caught the legendary thief 'Witching Hour Boy.'"Honestly, making such a fuss just to catch a petty thief who only dares to sneak around at night."Kyoshiro yawned as he impatiently walked with his long legs to the front of Yasuie, who was surrounded by the crowd."Hey, old man!!""Since you've fallen into my, Kyoshiro's, hands, then go obediently to Shogun Orochi to meet your death."Kyoshiro spoke his emotionless lines casually, carelessly looking down.The torchlight flickered, illuminating the blue-haired old man on the ground who was covered in dirt but still laughing loudly.One second.Two seconds.Three seconds.Kyoshiro's always-drooping eyelids trembled violently and imperceptibly at this moment."Ya... Lord Yasuie?!"Kyoshiro—or rather, Denjiro, one of the Akazaya Nine,His brain completely stalled at this instant!That was the Daimyo of Hakumai!It was the person who, back when the Akazaya Nine were just a group of street punks,Not only didn't despise them, but instead gave them food to eat, clothes to wear,And even stuffed handfuls of money meant for building the country into their hands, telling them to go and assist their benefactor, Kozuki Oden!In Denjiro's heart, Shimotsuki Yasuie was a great existence, just like a father!But now!This respected Daimyo had actually become this thin, skin-and-bones, miserable figure!He lay on the cold cobblestones like a street beggar, his face wearing the wild laugh caused by the smile fruit!Why?!Why would you appear in the Flower Capital at this time?!Why did you use this almost suicidal method to distribute those signals?!Denjiro's heart was screaming and roaring wildly!His soul felt as if it were being torn in opposite directions by two mad horses.An uncontrollable surge of grief and anger rushed to his nose, about to turn into hot tears and burst forth.But he couldn't cry!He absolutely could not!Dozens of Orochi's spies were standing around,If he showed even the slightest hint of emotional fluctuation, his nineteen-year undercover plan would be completely ruined!The great cause of the Kozuki Clan's restoration and the last hope for Wano Country's dawn would all be lost because of a moment of weakness!Denjiro bit the tip of his tongue hard, forcing back the tears that were about to burst from his eyes.And Yasuie, lying on the ground, also saw the face of the pompadoured man before him.Although Denjiro had changed his appearance,Yasuie's weathered eyes, which had seen countless people, seemed to penetrate the disguise named 'Kyoshiro' in the first second, seeing the soul of this suffering man.Yasuie didn't speak.He just used his last bit of strength to look up at Denjiro, and the wild laughter on his face became even more unbridled and loud."Hahaha! Hahahaha!"That laugh seemed to be saying to Denjiro:"Don't worry about me! Do what you must do! For Wano Country, strike!"Denjiro understood that look.His heart was bleeding profusely, as if countless knives were cutting his internal organs.But the expression on his face became extremely cold in an instant."So it's just an old madman who can't even walk straight."A bloodthirsty sneer curled at Kyoshiro's lips, his voice devoid of any warmth."To dare cause trouble on my turf and disturb my precious sleep. Truly, death is too good for you!""Clang—!!!"The clear ring of a blade suddenly echoed.Kyoshiro's right hand suddenly drew his katana, the blade flashing with a piercing cold light under the torchlight.He raised the katana high and, without any hesitation, slashed down hard at Yasuie's body!"Splurt—!!!"A long bloody gash instantly burst open on Yasuie's chest, hot blood spraying out and staining the cobblestones red."Argh—!"Yasuie groaned and fell heavily into a pool of blood, losing consciousness completely, but that absurd smile still hung on his lips.Kyoshiro slowly sheathed his blade, his eyes coldly scanning the samurai around him who were intimidated by his ruthless methods."Just a petty thief playing tricks, not worthy of dirtying my blade."Kyoshiro turned his back, his hands tucked into his wide sleeves.Inside those sleeves, his fists were shaking violently, his nails digging deep into his flesh."Tie him up and take him to the Shoguns Mansion!!""Shogun Orochi needs a punching bag right now!!"Kyoshiro yawned and walked out of the dark alley with leisurely steps, never looking back.Leaving behind only a silhouette swallowed by the darkness....A few hours later.Flower Capital, inside the Shoguns Mansion.Orochi was sprawled out on a expensive tatami mat, holding a drawing of the Kozuki Family's rebellion signal, laughing his head off."Hahahaha! I thought some powerful figure was making trouble in the shadows, but it turns out it's just a geezer who can't even walk straight!"Orochi kicked over the low table in front of him, pointing at the blue-haired old man covered in blood on the floor.When he saw the old man's face clearly, his hideously ugly face was instantly filled with the arrogance of a petty man and morbid excitement."Shimotsuki Yasuie! So it's you! I've finally found you!"Orochi squatted down, his thick palm slapping hard against Yasuie's still-laughing face."Back then, you were the majestic Daimyo of Hakumai, and even that fool Kozuki Oden had to respect you!""Look at your pathetic state now!""Instead of scavanging for food in that fly-infested Ebisu Village, you actually came to the Flower Capital to spread these childish doodles?"Yasuie, tortured to his last breath, struggled to raise his head.On his shriveled face, there was not a hint of fear or pleading for mercy.Instead, due to the smile fruit's side effects, his mouth pulled back uncontrollably, letting out a piercing laugh."Hahahaha! Orochi! You're just a maggot hiding in Kaido's shadow, shivering in fear!"Yasuie laughed until tears came to his eyes, but his voice was loud enough to break the silence of the hall."I just spread a few pieces of scrap paper I drew for fun, and it scared you so much you couldn't sleep?""Your courage really is smaller than a mouse's! Hahahaha!""Shut your mouth!!!"Orochi, his sore spot poked, drew the samurai sword at his waist in a fit of rage,And smashed the hilt hard against Yasuie's head, directly making the old man's head bleed as he lost consciousness again.Orochi panted, an extremely malicious light flashing in his eyes.The anger from Oiran Komurasaki's disappearance, combined with his fear of the Kozuki Clanremnants, made him desperate for a bloody show to assert his authority."Someone! Go to the central plaza and build an execution platform!"Orochi turned around and spread his arms!!"At high noon, I will carry out a public execution of this Daimyo of Hakumai in front of all the people of the Flower Capital!""Also, go and notify the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates! Say that I want to borrow heavy troops!"An extremely sinister arc curled at the corner of Orochi's mouth."Since those overseas pirates want to help the Kozuki Clan restore their nation!!""Then I will use Shimotsuki Yasuie's blood as bait, set an inescapable trap, and catch them all in one net!"
Chapter 519: Execution!The midday sun scorched the Flower Capital like an oven.The central square was now a sea of people.Tens of thousands of Wano Country citizens were forcibly driven here by fully armed samurai with spears, and stifled sobs occasionally drifted from the crowd.On the high platform in the center of the square stood a massive wooden crucifix.Shimotsuki Yasuie was bound tightly to it by thick iron chains.His body was covered in terrifying bloodstains "cut" by Kyoshiro, and his blue hair was a mess.Yet, on that face fixed by the side effects of the smile fruit, there still hung an exaggerated smile as if mocking the entire world.For this public execution intended to warn others, Orochi could be said to have put in every ounce of effort, even going so far as to lower himself to request top-tier combat power from Kaido.However... the style of today's luxurious security lineup was a bit strange.The VIP viewing area to the left of the high platform.[plague] Queen sat slumped in an oversized lounge chair.This fat man, who usually enjoyed singing, dancing, and rapping, now had a thick layer of medical bandages wrapped around his belly, with traces of blood faintly seeping from the edges.He grumbled and complained while scooping red bean soup into his mouth with a spoon."Ow, ow, ow... that devious bastard Trafalgar, he really played dirty..."Queen swallowed a mouthful of red bean soup, his small eyes behind small round sunglasses glancing disdainfully at the man sitting to his right.[conflagration] King sat with his arms crossed, his black wings hanging limply behind him!"What are you looking at? You dead pig who only grows fat."King keenly sensed Queen's gaze, a cold curse coming from beneath his mask."Can't I look at your miserable state to help my appetite?!"Queen spat back without hesitation, the flesh on his large fat face twitching."Usually acting so high and mighty, yet you went to the Kuri wilderness to catch a petty thief and were almost hacked to the point of losing your wings by that Mosshead brat from the Straw Hat crew!""You still have the face to sit here? The face of the Beasts Pirates has been thrown into the latrine by you!""Do you want to die, Queen?"King's eyes instantly became extremely dangerous, his hand instinctively reaching for the serrated longsword at his waist.As a result, he accidentally agitated the bone-deep sword wound on his chest, causing the corner of his mouth to twitch in pain, forcing him to stifle the action of drawing his sword.As for [drought] Jack...Because he was directly cut into a near-death state by Zoro's "Yakko Dori,"He was now lying stiffly on a stretcher in the back with an IV drip, lacking even the strength to groan.Below the high platform, Ulti of the Tobi Roppowas irritably tugging at her mask, kicking Page One's shin next to her one foot after another."It's so hot! So annoying! When is that idiot Orochifinally going to carry out the execution!""My skin is going to get tanned! Pay-Pay, go and hurry him up!"Page One clutched his swollen shin, wanting to cry but having no tears.This was the current state of the Beasts Pirates' top combat power—two half-crippled, one a living corpse, plus a group of problem children full of complaints....Below in the square, amidst the crowded civilians.Trafalgar Law felt that he must have destroyed the world in his past life to be punished by the heavens in this one, sent to be a full-time babysitter for the Straw Hat crew.Six figures draped in tattered cloaks were squeezed into the front row of the crowd.Law was now covered in sweat, his eyes with heavy dark circles bloodshot.His left hand was death-gripping Yamato's arm;His right hand was desperately pinning down Uta's shoulder;And he didn't forget to stomp firmly on Franky's mechanical foot, which was ready to press the "pervert light button" at any moment."Let go of me, Tra-guy!!"Standing at the very front, Zorojuro's voice was as cold as a Siberian winter wind.This Mosshead swordsman's right hand was already on the hilt of the wado ichimonji, his thumb even pushing the blade out half an inch."I'm just going up there to ask for directions, and while I'm at it, borrow the head of that guy named Orochi."Zoro's excuse was so perfunctory that even a three-year-old wouldn't be fooled."Put your sword back! You irreredeemable directional-idiot and moron!"Law lowered his voice, almost squeezing this roar out from between his teeth."Who needs to draw a sword to ask for directions?! Do you really think I'm blind!""Tra-guy, don't stop me!"Yamato writhed her body frantically under the cloak, a raging fire burning in her clear eyes."That Orochi is too wicked! I'm going to use Thunder Bagua to smash his dog head into a rotten watermelon!""That's right, that's right! Sister Yamato is right!"Uta waved her fair little fists indignantly!!"Blow that ugly monster away! Let's just snatch Grandpa Yasuie back!"Law felt his blood pressure soaring at a speed that broke all medical logic."Have you lunatics even seen the lineup up there?!"Law warned in a low voice through gritted teeth, the veins on his forehead throbbing."All three All-Starss are there! The Tobi Roppo are there too!""Clearly, Kaido is watching this place from the shadows!""straw hat-ya isn't here! With just us, we might not be able to take down Kaido for sure!""Everyone, rein in your killing intent!"Under Law's desperate suppression, although Zoroand the others were full of rage,They barely managed to restrain the urge to rush onto the stage, only able to stare fixedly at the high platform with murderous gazes.Just then, Orochi finally made his appearance on the high platform.He held an amplification den den mushi in his hand, his hideously ugly face filled with the arrogance of a petty man who had achieved his goal."Lowly citizens of Wano Country! All of you, open your eyes and look closely for this General!"Orochi pointed at Shimotsuki Yasuie on the crucifix and let out a piercing, maniacal laugh."This old man who refuses to die is the culprit who was distributing rebel ciphers in the Flower Capitala few days ago! He attempted to overthrow this General's rule!""Today, this General will thoroughly execute this lackey of the Kozuki Family in front of all of you!"Hearing Orochi's judgment, Yasuie on the crucifix slowly opened his blood-stained old eyes.He looked down at the faces filled with despair and sorrow below, his gaze sweeping through the crowd.Suddenly, Yasuie's gaze paused slightly.He saw Kyoshiro standing at the edge of the high platform on guard—Denjiro, who had crushed all his pain and tears and swallowed them, forced to wag his tail and beg for mercy from his enemy.Yasuie sighed silently in his heart, his eyes filled with the affection of an elder.Then, his gaze swept across the front row of the crowd.Although those few were draped in tattered cloaks,Yasuie recognized at a glance the green-haired swordsman with eyes as sharp as a beast, and the overseas hero wearing a spotted hat."Haha... so you all came too..."Yasuie's withered chest heaved violently.Since the spark of the Kozuki Clan already has someone to inherit it, since the overseas heroes have already descended upon this land.Then his useless old bones should also give off their final spark."Hahahaha—!!!"Yasuie suddenly used all his strength to burst into a deafening, maniacal laugh.This laughter instantly spread through the entire square of the Flower Capital via the amplification den den mushi.Orochi was startled by the laughter and roared in exasperation:"What are you laughing at when death is imminent?!""I'm laughing at how stupid you are! Orochi! You coward who isn't even as good as a mouse! Hahahaha!"Yasuie held his head high, looking down at Orochiwith a gaze of extreme contempt and mockery."Rebel ciphers?""That was nothing more than a prank drawn by this old man out of boredom, seeing how you idiot are suspicious all day long!""A few scraps of paper with gibberish on them scared you, the grand General of Wano Country, so much that you couldn't even sleep, and even went to the trouble of holding some public execution!""A pest like you, who only deserves to shiver in the gutter, has simply disgraced Wano Country's face! Hahahaha!"As soon as these words were spoken, the whole place was in an uproar.The samurai in the crowd who were originally prepared to draw their swords and rebel instantly widened their eyes.They immediately understood Yasuie's intention.This former Daimyo of Hakumai was using his own life to forcibly define the leaked rebel cipher as a prank.He was using his own death to clear the suspicion of all the hidden samurai, preserving the last remaining strength for Wano Country's restoration!"Lord Yasuie..."The samurai hidden in the crowd bit their lips hard, tears streaming down!!Kyoshiro suddenly lowered his head, his large pompadour covering his face, which was violently distorted by extreme sorrow."You... you're full of crap!!!"Being so humiliated by Yasuie in front of tens of thousands of people, Orochi's entire face instantly turned the color of pig liver.That pitiful bit of self-esteem was being crushed into the ground, making him lose his mind completely."Men! Fire! Fire and kill him for this General!!!"Orochi roared hysterically like a mad dog, even snatching a musket from a nearby soldier himself and pointing it at Yasuie on the crucifix."Samurai of Wano Country!"Facing the dark muzzle of the gun, Yasuie showed no fear.He used the last bit of strength in his life to issue the most stirring swan song to this land he deeply loved."Don't be looked down upon by those pirates from outside!""The dawn of Wano Country... will eventually come!!!""Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"The piercing sound of gunfire exploded one after another over the Flower Capital, and the merciless bullets instantly pierced through Yasuie's thin body.Blood bloomed in the air like a series of poignant red flowers.Shimotsuki Yasuie's head hung down limply, but the smile at the corner of his mouth was frozen into eternity.The noise of the entire venue came to an abrupt halt at this moment, and even the wind seemed to stagnate.Sorrow suppressed to the extreme spread frantically in the hearts of tens of thousands of citizens.Amidst this suffocating desolation."Hahaha! Everyone look! It's Daddy! Hahaha!"A crisp yet infinitely heart-wrenching childish laughter suddenly came from the back of the crowd.The little girl Toko, with short pink hair, had broken through the outer defensive line at some point.Her shoes had long since been lost, and her fair little feet were covered in bloody cuts from the stones.She stumbled across the cordon and ran towards the bottom of the high platform.She had clearly seen with her own eyes the tragic scene of her father being shot to death.She clearly had large tears welling up in her eyes like a dam breaking, crying so hard she couldn't even catch her breath.However, on that small face fixed by the smile fruitscraps, she could only let out that kind of frenzied, heart-wrenching laughter."Daddy! Hahaha! Don't die! Hahaha!""Toko is here to save you! Hahaha!"Toko collapsed below the high platform, her small hands stretching upwards desperately, crying frantically while letting out a spine-chilling maniacal laugh."Damn brat! That laughter is so annoying!"Orochi on the high platform not only had no pity but instead felt Toko's laughter was a huge mockery of him.A sickening, malicious sneer squeezed onto his ugly face, and without hesitation, he pointed the still-smoking muzzle of the gun at the six-year-old girl below."Since you miss your dead father so much, this General will be merciful and send you down to see him!"At this moment.Law felt the arm of the man he had been death-gripping suddenly become like a piece of eternal, unmelting ice.That was... a killing intent pure to the extreme!!"Tra-guy."Zorojuro's voice was as calm as if there wasn't a single ripple,But it carried an ultimate danger that would freeze one's soul."Take your hand... off."Boom—!!!Without waiting for Law to react, a violent green Oni Aura, almost substantial, erupted from Zoro's body like a volcanic eruption!This momentum was so terrifying that it actually forced Law's hand away on the spot."Bang!"Orochi pulled the trigger with a sneer, the lethal lead bullet flying towards Toko's forehead with a flash of fire.However.That bullet did not pierce the girl's head as Orochihad hoped."Clang—!"A dazzling green sword light appeared in front of Toko in an instant, at a speed that the naked eye simply could not catch.The high-speed lead bullet, the moment it touched the green sword light, was cleanly split in two, turning into two pieces of scrap metal and falling to the ground."Who is it?!"Orochi's eyes widened in shock.Queen and King on the high platform also suddenly became alert.The strong wind kicked up dust all over the sky.When the dust settled.That man with short green hair and three famous swords at his waist stood quietly in front of Toko, like a god of death walking out of Shura hell.Zoro slowly raised his head, his only eye flashing with a crimson, murderous light as if looking at a dead man."Hey, you idiot who looks like a toad."Zoro's right hand gripped the hilt of the wado ichimonji, a bloodthirsty sneer curling at the corner of his mouth."Your head, I'm taking it today."