When Geng Hua presented Kakuzu, bound by Wood Release, before him after leaving the hospital, Shiraishi Yoshijo's feelings were extremely complicated.
Geng Hua was actually quite outstanding—hardworking, ambitious, and possessed an exceedingly rare sense of justice. Although Shiraishi Yoshijo disliked his way of doing things, Geng Hua was the strongest among the children, and Shiraishi Yoshijo had always been proud of him.
But he had never expected that in merely a few years, the one child who could still be considered upright would be corrupted by power.
"Geng Hua, do you know what you did wrong?"
Geng Hua silently knelt on the ground, lowering his head without saying a word.
When Geng Hua gave no answer, Shiraishi Yoshijo instead began to laugh. Then he looked at Kakuzu, a cold killing intent gradually appearing in his eyes.
"The entire world is my territory, Kakuzu. Tell me, where do you think you can run?"
Kakuzu wanted to say a few harsh words to vent his dissatisfaction, but upon sensing that icy killing intent, he wisely swallowed them.
"Your Majesty, what crime have I committed?"
"Trading power for money, abusing authority for personal gain, slave trafficking... Forget it, none of that matters. What matters is that you bastard actually dared to deceive me so openly. You deserve to die ten thousand times over!"
"Everything between us was a transaction. How could you call it deception?"
A trace of mockery flashed through Kakuzu's eyes. "If you arrested me merely to uphold your dignity as emperor, that would be far too ridiculous. Your Majesty, among your children and Peach Country's high-ranking officials and councilors, at least one-third have interests tied to mine!"
Shiraishi Yoshijo remained unmoved. "So what? Is that a threat?"
"No, how would I dare threaten the esteemed Emperor? I am merely proving