Apophis did not stay onstage for long. He obtained the Shadow-Shadow Fruit and, while he was at it, "borrowed" the Nidai Kitetsu from Tenguyama before returning to his true identity.
However, when Longinus arrived in the Konomi Region, he realized for the first time that things seemed to have already slipped beyond his control.
He, Issho, Gion, Ashura Doji, Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, as well as the rebel army, the Mink Race, the bandits, and the prisoners—once all these forces were gathered together, they were no weaker than the combined forces of Kurozumi Orochi and Beasts Kaido, whether in terms of their top combatants or their lower-level troops.
Therefore, as he looked at those hopeful eyes, Longinus could not help feeling troubled.
Could they really kill Kaido? The balance among the Three Emperors is already somewhat unstable. I even considered having Apophis fill the final gap and become one of the Four Emperors. If the Three Emperors were reduced to two, the current Marines would become far too powerful! Even with the Revolutionary Army taking the brunt of the pressure in front, it could still arouse the government's wariness.
Longinus pondered to himself.
But if I refuse outright, that wouldn't fit my persona. After all, this isn't a situation without hope. If we refuse to fight despite clearly having a chance to destroy the Beasts Pirates, the news would probably leave many people bitterly disappointed!
"Lord Longinus, please give us a chance!" Seeing Longinus deep in thought, Kiku and Shinobu skillfully dropped into a full kowtow. "As long as you can hold Kaido off for one... no, half an hour... even ten minutes would do."
Longinus used invisible Armament Haki to lift the two of them up, then asked with an unreadable expression, "Your target isn't Beasts Kaido?"
"If we can, of