Momonosuke's Death

News of Genji leading a large force to attack Kuri spread throughout Wano Country. Kozuki Oden was surprised by Genji's arbitrary and unilateral actions. He did not expect that Genji would actually launch a war for his own selfish desires.

If Genji had been wise and composed, Kozuki Oden wouldn't have been so disgusted and resistant. Even if it were to give up the land of Kuri to resolve the disasters brought about by the war, it wouldn't have been impossible. But Genji was ambitious, cruel, and tyrannical. Kuri fell into his hands, it would only bring disaster to the people and cause widespread suffering.

Unable to bear seeing his people oppressed, Kozuki decided to gather the troops from various villages and towns in Kuri and head to Yamatai, at the border between the north and south, to repel the invading Minamoto Genji!

The army gathered outside the gates of Izumi Harmony Spring, and the retainers and servants of the Kozuki family put on armor and helmets and followed Kozuki Oden.

"Although the northern border ruled by the Genji is vast and populous, it is not invincible. Don't worry, as long as we defeat the Genji, Father will return."

Kozuki Oden looked at Momonosuke, his expression calm and composed. "Now I entrust Harmony Spring to you. As the heir of the Kozuki Clan, listen to all advice and gather all wisdom. Do not let me down!"

Momonosuke wiped away the tears welling in his eyes, a surge of passionate determination rising within him. "Before you return, Father, I will make sure Harmony Spring is in perfect order!"

Kozuki smiled with satisfaction, then turned and led his army on their way.

"Although you have a past of traveling abroad, as a citizen of Wano Country, the concept of isolationism is hard to change. That's why you don't want outsiders to interfere in Wano Country affairs, isn't it, Kozuki?"

Buggy stood atop a high pavilion, watching the army march below, gradually receding into the distance.

"The local customs and traditions have been passed down for thousands of years and are deeply ingrained in people's hearts; they cannot be changed overnight." Hawkins, who was standing beside him, nodded in agreement. "I've been here for a month and I understand this deeply."

"Did you stay for a month just to wait for me?"

"I can only choose one direction: forward, backward, left, or right. And the direction you're in has the highest probability of leading to victory."

"Yeah..."

As the two talked, the army led by Kozuki Oden gradually disappeared from sight.

"If I can't help at all and just run errands, even if those old cats and dogs are willing to keep their promises later, I can't very well ask for their assistance... Kozuki Oden is so stubborn, I shouldn't have too much hope of getting him to ask for help. I'll leave after resting in Harmony Spring for a few days..."

Buggy sighed inwardly, glanced at Hawkins and Weevil, and then felt relieved. "However, this trip to Wano Country wasn't entirely fruitless..."

With Harmony Spring's main force being transferred to Gekko Oden's army, the patrols and defenses along the streets became much weaker. Not only that, but some of the patrols and soldiers in the Kozuki Prefecture were also transferred away, and the huge Kozuki Prefecture became somewhat deserted due to the reduction in manpower.

Momonosuke sat at the desk in Kozuki Oden's room, reviewing the documents that Kozuki Oden usually handled. Although he was young, he had followed Kozuki Oden since he was a child, and after being familiar with him, he was able to imitate some of Kozuki Oden's way of thinking, even if he was not very good at it. As he wrote down his opinions, he gradually became more and more proficient.

Finally, he put down a document with pending opinions and breathed a sigh of relief. Today was the second day of his reign in place of his father, and his initial enthusiasm had gradually faded. In just two days, he could deeply appreciate the busyness of Kozuki Oden's daily work. He had been sitting for a full four hours since noon.

"I'll rest for a bit, and then continue..."

Momonosuke yawned, slowly closed his eyes, lay down on the floor, and soon fell asleep.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he was groggily awakened by a gust of cold wind. The candle by the wall had been blown out. He looked at the crack in the door and the darkness outside the window, and murmured, "It's completely dark now. Is it already night...?"

Just as he was about to get up and close the door, it suddenly opened, and a beautiful woman dressed in a black kimono, her hair held in place by a spider-shaped hairpin, walked in slowly. Her expression was extremely charming. "This Momonosuke."

"Who are you?"

Momonosuke was still a little dazed. He rubbed his eyes and realized that the beautiful woman in front of him was not a hallucination.

The beautiful woman chuckled as she looked at Momonosuke, then closed the door and walked over.

"This humble servant..."

She leaned down and breathed hot air into Momonosuke's ear, making him feel a tingling sensation. He opened his arms, wanting to find a reason to hug the beautiful woman, but at that moment, the beautiful woman paused slightly before saying the rest of her sentence with a smile, "But I'm here to kill you~~"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop significantly, and a bone-chilling cold surged from Momonosuke's feet to the top of his head. Without thinking, he hurriedly stopped his forward embrace and rolled backward, trying to create distance between himself and the beautiful woman and escape the room!

Just as he turned and stood up, it felt as if he had stepped on a small nail, which stung him painfully. His face contorted in pain, but he dared not slow down even a little and ran as fast as he could.

The beautiful woman giggled and chased after them like a ghost.

"I can't let her catch me! I don't want to die here! That's right, the guest my father was entertaining must have a way to save me!!"

Momonosuke tried to shout, but found that something was blocking his throat, and he could only make very weak "uh uh uh" sounds.

"What happened?!"

Momonosuke shocked. He felt his vision blur and tripped over his own foot, falling headfirst to the ground. He found that he had no strength left to struggle.

"Good children don't run around..." The beautiful woman chuckled as she sat down beside Momonosuke, pulling him into her arms and speaking in a hypnotic voice, "Just sleep in your older sister's arms like this..."

Momonosuke couldn't enjoy the softness on his cheek; instead, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier. A sharp pain, like his neck being torn apart, surged through his mind, mixed with an overwhelming weariness. His mind went blank, and finally, he felt nothing at all...

Less than a minute later, the door to the room was pushed open again, and an ugly, petite woman walked in. She glanced around the room and spoke in a hoarse voice like an old woman, "The target is dead... We should leave, Jorogumo."