Flower Capital, Oric's residence.
Bang!
For the third time that day, Kurozumi Orochi angrily smashed open the gate and strode inside.
"Oric, this isn't over between us!!"
Inside the study, Oric frowned.
"This bastard is getting more and more out of line..."
Outside, Kurozumi Orochi was raging when an unsettling pressure suddenly burst forth from the inner chambers. The carefully selected guards behind him froze in place, their lips turning pale and dry.
Sensing that terrifying Conqueror's Haki, Kurozumi Orochi calmed down slightly and snorted.
"Do you people even consider me an ally? Is this how the Nibelungen Family treats its friends?"
"If you have something to say, say it plainly, General Kurozumi."
Oric slowly emerged from the entrance hall, one step at a time, as though each step landed upon their hearts and brought an overwhelmingly oppressive sense of dread.
His not particularly tall frame grew in their vision like a god or demon. His imposing, powerful presence made their hearts tremble, and his slightly narrowed eyes carried an innate majesty, like a sovereign born to look down upon the world.
"How the Nibelungen Family treats its allies is not for you alone to slander."
"Then hand over Kozuki Toki!"
Kurozumi Orochi snorted coldly. "If she's still alive..."
"Hmm? What happened?"
Oric frowned. Lirisk was not someone with a bloodthirsty nature, so Oric had always assumed that after taking Kozuki Toki away, the outcome was obvious...
Yet, from what Kurozumi Orochi was saying now, Kozuki Toki...
Was dead?
"Quit playing dumb. You heard the commotion at Oden Castle just now, didn't you? I went over there, and there wasn't a single person!"
"Went over there? Wasn't it you who was fighting Lirisk just now?"
"What a joke. I had only just left the city then. It should have been