Samurai Gather, a Princess's Righteous Cause

Capital of Flowers, Shoza House.

Hahaha~~

"Hiccup~ General Orochi is such a coward!"

A man with light blue hair tied in a huge bun, wearing a dark blue kimono and a high-necked cloak, and with narrow eyes that seemed to be always sneering, tilted his head back and took a swig of sake. He ignored the tense expressions of the samurai around him and the sighs of the dancing beauties. For the first time, he found the sake in his hand to be so delicious.

When people are happy, they are in high spirits; even without wine, one can become intoxicated by one's own mood.

"Kyoshiro, you mustn't speak so loudly..."

"Shut up, you idiot!"

As the personal merchant of Kurozumi General Orochi, Kyoshiro, the "Sleepless" who controls half of Wano Country's economy, doesn't care if he speaks ill of his boss behind his back. Moreover:

"What are you afraid of? I'm just stating the facts. Twenty years ago, the Oden family and his retainers were already reduced to ashes in the flames."

Kyoshiro, holding a cup, had a half-smile, a half-drunk look on his face.

"It is said that Oden left behind a poem before her death: 'In the dark of night, the moon shines like you; I hold onto my brokenness and await the dawn; on the appointed day of the twenty-year journey, the Two Kings will descend and the sun will rise in the east.'"

"Hahaha, it's been exactly twenty years now, hiccup~~"

"General Orochi is really something, trembling with fear at the words of a dying man. If there really is such a thing as 'Two Kings,' I'd really like to have a go at them..."

Seeing Kyoshiro, his samurai were caught in a dilemma: whether to offer advice or not.

While their leader was speaking the truth, given Wano Country's closed-door policy and the perilous cliffs surrounding it, it would be extremely difficult for outsiders to enter. Moreover, with the 'Guardian King' Kaido present, who could possibly threaten General Orochi?

Could it be that some 'Two Kings' could just fall from the sky?

"I... take my leave..."

"I am also..."

Faced with their leader's drunken ravings, the group of samurai could only make up various excuses to slip away. After all, they didn't have the same status as their leader, who could mock the general and get away with it.

"Kyoshiro, you're drunk."

With her beautiful long, emerald-green hair styled like that of a noble princess from the Edo period, delicate features, and dignified demeanor, adorned with a pink flower headdress and dressed in an embroidered kimono, the beautiful 'Komurasaki' waved her hand to dismiss the Kyoshiro playing the instrument before gently taking Kyoshiro's sake cup.

"I didn't..."

"I'm sorry, I lost my composure."

Facing his top courtesan, Kyoshiro, Kyoshiro just moments before, straightened up, sat up straight, and bowed to her.

Because Kyoshiro wasn't Kurozumi Orochi's subordinate, but rather Denjiro, one of the Nine Red Scabbards who served Oden; and the courtesan wasn't a true prostitute, but rather Hiyori Kozuki, the former princess of Wano Country. Therefore:

"Please don't do this. If it weren't for Uncle Denjiro, I don't know what would have happened to me."

If it weren't for Denjiro, who was using the Denjiro Kyoshiro, protecting her back then, the little girl, a princess of a fallen kingdom, would probably have become a samurai's plaything, even if she hadn't died. So, although they were master and servant in name, they were actually family.

Why are you so happy today?

As an undercover agent, Denjiro dared not even fall asleep, let alone get drunk! He was terrified of accidentally revealing Hiyori's identity, hence his nickname "Sleepless." He hadn't had a proper night's sleep in twenty years, all in order to protect his former lord's daughter.

"Because Kurozumi Orochi's death is imminent—"

Faced with the excited Denjiro, the girl using the alias 'Komurasaki' sighed.

"Uncle Denjiro, do you really... believe in Mother's prophecy?"

It was called a prophecy, but it was more like a deathbed curse.

But if words can kill, then what's the point of swords?

"Princess Hiyori, if I was only half-believing and half-doubting before, like you, now I can finally be sure that Lady Toki's words are not untrue."

?

"I've received intelligence that the 'Bad People' have left Kibi!"

?!

"How is that possible?"

Hiyori Kozuki covered the lower half of her face with her sleeve to hide her surprise, but her eyes couldn't conceal her shock!

"Could it be that they've repeated the 'solo walk' incident from twenty years ago?"

Twenty years ago, with Kozuki Oden being boiled alive, Kurozumi Orochi's conspiracy was exposed. Faced with pleas for help from other regional daimyo, the Bad People, after a heated argument, sent two great swordsmen and several constellations out of Kibi to join the daimyo's resistance. Unfortunately...

They all fell to Kaido, cementing his reputation as the 'Strongest Creature'.

Even so, the remaining Bad People clung to their tradition, stubbornly preventing Kibi from leaving. Although the protracted battle later forced Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido to abandon their plans to conquer Zhonghua Town, however:

"They haven't made any moves for so many years, why are they doing this now—"

If Wano Country is incredibly mysterious to the rest of the world, then the "Bad People" are an even more mysterious organization. Despite possessing immense power, they've remained holed up in Wano Country 'Kibi Zhonghua Town for centuries, refusing to venture out unless attacked.

If you want to leave, you must sever all ties with the past and swear a solemn oath never to leak any related information!

Even the two great swordsmen who were captured along with Shimotsuki Daimyo back then never revealed any information about the Bad People.

"Therefore, the moment that Lady Toki predicted has truly arrived."

Denjiro's swordsmanship, capable of unleashing fierce flying slashes, trembled slightly.

"I learned from Kurozumi Orochi that the Bad People possess a Greatest Treasure. The purpose of this organization is to protect that treasure, and even Wano Country's 'closed-door' policy is related to protecting this treasure. But now that they've mobilized as a whole, whatever the reason, they're bound to clash with the Beasts Pirates, who are coveting that treasure."

"At the same time, my 'clam-touching men' sent word that a huge 'white whale' had been discovered in the waters of Kuri."

"A beluga whale? How can that creature be swimming against the waterfall?!"

"Could it be..."

"That's right," Denjiro nodded. "If I'm not mistaken, it's not some white whale, but the 'Moby Dick'!"

"It's Little Marco and his guys!"

In an instant, Hiyori Kozuki became excited. You see, she spent her childhood on the Moby Dick, with Little Marco, Uncle Jozu, Harta's "sister"... At that time, her father Kozuki Oden, was the Whitebeard's Second Division Captain.

"It's a pity, I heard that Uncle Whitebeard has passed away..."

If the World's Strongest Man were present, Hiyori Kozuki would certainly believe that with his help, the problems in Wano Country could be resolved, but:

"It's alright. According to the intelligence I've gathered, the current leader of the Whitebeard Pirates is a man named 'Asa'! After Whitebeard's death, he made the difficult decision to abandon most of his territory and consolidate his defenses, withstanding several fierce attacks from the Blackbeard Pirates and successfully recovering from the blow of losing his captain..."

Although Wano Country is isolated, the Beasts Pirates are fully aware of every movement on the high seas. And as Kurozumi Shogun's most trusted "money changer," Denjiro is naturally very knowledgeable about news from the Grand Line. Therefore:

"At the same time, news came from Kuri that the 'Earth Dragon Turn Over.' According to reports from my spies planted among the lower-ranking samurai, the Straw Hat crew, who just caused a huge disturbance at Big Mom's wedding, should have arrived..."

The Straw Hat Pirates and the Heart Pirates have arrived—

Hawkins reported this to Jack the Drought, the ruler of Kuri, and when there was no need to 'move the ship over,' Jack was the Beasts Pirates' diligent and intelligent member. So he immediately went to see his boss, Kaido, for a decision. However:

"Kaido is currently engaged in a fierce battle with the BIG MOM Pirates, who are chasing after the Straw Hat Pirates. This means that four powerful forces are now eyeing Kaido's head, and this is our opportunity!"

As the former employer of Kozuki Oden, the Whitebeard Pirates would likely help Hiyori Kozuki; and the Straw Hat Pirates' captain is the younger brother of the late Ace, the Whitebeard's Second Division Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, so they probably wouldn't make things difficult for them.

The fact that these two pirate crews have come here means their goal is undoubtedly Kaido's head! Thinking about it this way, doesn't it perfectly align with the prophecy of the 'Two Kings'?

"So that's true..."

Hiyori Kozuki hesitated for only a second before her expression turned serious.

"Give me 'that',"

?!

"Princess!"

"I will seize the opportunity to slip it into Kurozumi Orochi's sake. It's time to end the hatred of twenty years of national ruin and family destruction."

"... It's because your subordinates are incompetent."

All her words were summed up in one apology. Facing Denjiro's prostrate 'dogeza' (a deep bow), Hiyori Kozuki, known as the 'number one courtesan of Wano Country', stepped forward to help him up.

"Uncle Denjiro, if it weren't for you, there wouldn't be 'Komurasaki' today."

"So there's no need for such formalities. Even if Kaido has been handed over to the Whitebeard Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates, we still need to do what we can!"

As a princess of the kingdom, Hiyori Kozuki is not just beautiful. Contrary to her delicate appearance, she could not have kept up her act under the noses of her enemies until now without a strong heart.

"Be careful in everything, and please do not give up hope until the very last moment, Princess."

"I will secretly contact the samurai who are still resisting in the princess's name, and we must kill Orochi on the day of the final battle!"

Just as the local samurai of Wano Country began to secretly gather, Roman was also contacting various parties and making arrangements for manpower in a hurry.

"Were they discovered by the diving fishermen?"

Seeing Ace's embarrassment, the white dove flapped its wings.

"It's alright. Because of the BIG MOM Pirates' intrusion, the Beasts Pirates are already on high alert, so there's no possibility of a surprise attack. On the contrary, you should be prepared for a tough battle."

"Haha, Roman, don't underestimate us."

On deck, a group of captains were already eager to get started, even Ace, who had taken off his mask, looked ready to try. This prompted White Dove to remind them:

"Although you defeated the legendary pirate 'Silver Axe' some time ago, Kaido is not comparable to the old and frail Silver Axe. You'd better be careful."

"Don't worry, Roman."

Two years as acting captain had shed Ace's former impulsiveness and recklessness. The smile on his freckled face was no longer a forced performance, but a genuine expression of maturity.

"For Luffy, for Whitebeard, for my brothers, I will no longer act impulsively."

That's good. Once Inuarashi and Nekomamushi's men arrive, these high-ranking officers and Division Commander- level powerhouses will wear down the Beasts Pirates and BIG MOM Pirates!

That's right, Roman never dared to dream of Big Mom betraying him at the last minute or his men and children disappearing without a trace. What he wanted to do was:

A fair and square fight against two Four Emperors crews!! Defeat Kaido, and then:

Let's see what secrets Wano Country holds.