Under Yamato's astonished gaze, Bright reached out and grabbed the two cuffs around her wrists.
Haki instantly seeped into the cuffs, and then—
His hands flicked like phantoms, sending both cuffs flying into the sky.
Boom! Boom!
Two explosions rang out almost simultaneously, bursting into brilliant fireworks over the nighttime shore.
Yamato's eyes widened.
They really had exploded!
She had originally held onto a sliver of hope, believing the cuffs merely suppressed her abilities.
But they really could explode.
"Whoa, that really is—"
Even Bright could not help sighing inwardly.
With her abilities and Haki suppressed, if bombs like those detonated at point-blank range, Yamato's hands might have been blown clean off.
Kaido had always been ruthless toward Yamato.
But he probably had not truly wanted to kill her. After all, he still wanted Yamato to become Wano Country's shogun and help him rule the nation.
"That bastard old man!!"
Yamato practically gritted her teeth.
The change that should have happened nine years later had now come early.
"Alright, you're free now, Yamato."
Bright smiled.
"..."
The anger on Yamato's face froze.
She stood utterly motionless, as though she had been turned to stone.
But Bright could hear something surging up within her heart, quickly booming like a great bell.
"I'm... free?"
She spoke blankly.
"Nothing can bind you anymore. You can go and do whatever you want." Bright said, "Isn't that freedom?"
"That's right, this is freedom!"
Tears welled up in Yamato's eyes. "I'm free now!"
She gave Bright a deep bow. "I still don't know your name, but thank you so much! I will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life!"
"I'm Kaido's enemy. I just wanted to cause him some trouble."
Bright was completely frank. "So it doesn't really count as kindness."
"Huh?"
Yamato