A gloomy smile bloomed across Kanjuro's face, and an eerie atmosphere spread through the scene.
Whether it was Kin'emon or Inuarashi and the others, they all noticed that something was strange about Kanjuro.
Unfortunately, in their eyes, it was already too late.
At some point, Kanjuro had already circled around behind Kozuki Hiyori.
The predatory expression on his face made it seem as though he had long been poised to strike, merely waiting for Orochi's command.
At such close range, they had no time to rescue her.
"Kehehe, after waiting so long, this play has finally come to an end. I can return to being a cold killing machine. Since you're no longer useful, then die!" Kanjuro sneered viciously.
The dagger concealed within his sleeve suddenly shot out and stabbed toward Kozuki Hiyori.
"Kanjuro, don't!"
Kin'emon's eyes widened as he roared in alarm.
Unfortunately, at this moment, any words were pale and powerless.
The only thing they could do was watch helplessly as that incomparably fierce blade came down.
Clang!
A crisp metallic collision rang out across the plaza.
A half-broken dagger, gleaming with cold light, spun through the air before embedding itself diagonally into the ground.
Kozuki Hiyori, the target of the assassination, remained standing where she was, her expression unchanged.
No blood splattered, much less had she been killed.
At that moment, all they could see was the black-steel-like, indestructible gleam of Armament Haki on Kozuki Hiyori's back.
"Im... impossible. According to the script's intelligence, you should have been an unarmed songstress!" Kanjuro was dumbfounded.
Throughout his life, everything had been performed according to the script.
If one word had to describe him, then this year's Shadow Emperor could only be Kanjuro.
"My lord truly did not deceive me. You really are a traitor," Kozuki Hiyori said calmly.