The Furious Kurozumi Orochi! The Weapon in His Hands

After disabling the pickup boosts, Lin Ye looked around.

The aftershock of the slash had already spread to the outskirts of the distant Flower Capital.

That attack had not been the Divine Departure he had unleashed.

But the level-eight Divine Departure had given Lin Ye a deeper understanding of Conqueror's Haki-infused slashes, and he had become more proficient in wielding them.

This attack had imitated Divine Departure's method of slashing, coating his own Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki around it.

Lin Ye was very satisfied with the result.

He had finally managed to destroy terrain on a large scale.

This was the mark of a true powerhouse in the world of pirates.

If one could not even destroy the terrain, what kind of powerhouse could they be?

Lin Ye scanned the area, then looked toward a distant mound. His figure flashed, and he appeared directly atop it, lowering his head to look at the several figures hiding behind it.

He raised his hand, then swung down the sword in his hand.

"My lord, we are Lord Oden's—"

The few people hiding there had been terrified by Lin Ye's earlier slash.

But what terrified them even more was that the man who had unleashed that attack now stood before them, raising the weapon in his hand. They hurriedly cried out.

Boom!

The ground beneath their feet suddenly exploded, and their voices stopped abruptly.

Only shredded clothing remained where they had stood.

"What Oden?"

Lin Ye sheathed his sword and muttered softly before turning toward the Flower Capital.

"Oden's subordinates? Whatever. It was all the same anyway."

Lin Ye's voice drifted through the air.

Flower Capital.

Kozuki Oden's dance continued, and some of the people Orochi had sent even jeered and mocked him.

Kozuki Oden seemed unable to hear them, as though he could not see the pointing fingers and stares around him. He swayed to his own rhythm.

But when an aura erupted outside the city, Kozuki Oden's body jolted. He turned to look in one direction beyond the city.

That was Conqueror's Haki.

Who was it?

Kozuki Oden's eyes widened.

Let alone Wano Country, even on Whitebeard's and Gol D. Roger's ships, he had only seen a handful of people with Conqueror's Haki.

Just then, Kozuki Oden saw a figure in the crowd wave at him before turning and leaving.

"Dance! Why did you stop dancing?"

Seeing Kozuki Oden stop, a samurai furiously shouted at him.

Kozuki Oden suddenly turned and glared at the scolding samurai, frightening him into swallowing the curse that had reached his lips.

Then, Kozuki Oden continued dancing.

Seeing this, the frightened samurai's face immediately flushed red with rage.

Especially when he saw the expressions of the other samurai around him, his anger flared even further. He rushed forward, gripping a sheathed sword and smashing it down on Kozuki Oden's head and body.

Kozuki Oden acted as though he had not noticed the blows. Even his dancing never lost its form.

The person outside who had waved at Kozuki Oden earlier also showed anger at this sight and raised his hand to grip the sword at his waist.

Then a fair hand stopped him from drawing it.

"Kin'emon!"

The woman who had stopped him shook her head slightly.

"But, my lord!"

Seeing that it was Kozuki Toki, Kin'emon hurriedly spoke.

"This is his choice. We only need to trust him."

Kozuki Toki shook her head.

Kin'emon turned to look at Kozuki Oden, who was dancing while being beaten.

"The one who came this time is a powerful man, an incredibly powerful one. I've already sent people to investigate. He's heading toward the Flower Capital. Orochi sent many samurai and ninjas, but none of them could stop him."

Kin'emon spoke in a low voice.

"Is he Kurozumi Orochi's enemy?"

Kozuki Toki froze for a moment before asking quickly.

"I don't know, but judging by the current situation, it seems so. Perhaps he came specifically for Kurozumi Orochi."

Kin'emon looked somewhat excited.

If Kurozumi Orochi died, then Kozuki Oden would be the only one who could become daimyo.

But whether that hope could be realized was unknown.

"Let's go back first. We can discuss this after he returns."

Kozuki Toki glanced at Kozuki Oden, then turned and left.

Kin'emon did the same and departed afterward.

Flower Capital Daimyo Residence.

Kurozumi Orochi's face was filled with fury, but beneath that rage was even greater terror.

"So many people couldn't stop a single pirate?"

Kurozumi Orochi's voice had become shrill.

"Lord Orochi, please calm down."

Seeing Kurozumi Orochi like this, an ugly old woman spoke to reassure him.

"Do you have a way to kill this pirate?"

Kurozumi Orochi looked at her expectantly.

From the time he had received the news until now, he had sent out several hundred men. Yet every report said they could not stop the enemy, and that everyone had been killed.

And now, the other party had reached the outskirts of the Flower Capital.

"It's fine, Lord Orochi. Don't forget that you are now allied with Governor Kaido."

This ugly old woman was the one who had given Kurozumi Orochi the Yamata no Orochi Fruit and used the Clone-Clone Fruit's power to impersonate the former daimyo, Kozuki Sukiyaki, pushing Kurozumi Orochi into the position of daimyo.

Kurozumi Higurashi.

"Then contact Kaido immediately!"

"Rest assured, it's not time for that yet. Don't forget, you still have a weapon."

Kurozumi Higurashi chuckled sinisterly.

Confusion flashed through Kurozumi Orochi's eyes.

What weapon did he have?

Was she expecting him to take up a weapon and risk his life himself?

At that thought, Kurozumi Orochi immediately flew into a rage, glaring at Kurozumi Higurashi with fire in his eyes.

"Cough, cough. Lord Orochi, have you forgotten Kozuki Oden?"

As soon as those words were spoken, Kurozumi Orochi's angry expression vanished, replaced by confusion.

"Kozuki Oden will help me?"

"Hehehe, Lord Orochi, don't forget how you threatened Kozuki Oden. Use the same method and make him stop that man."

"So that's how it is!"

Kurozumi Orochi was overjoyed.

If that was the case, Kozuki Oden would definitely obey him.

"Quick, go now."

"Yes, Lord Orochi!"

Kurozumi Higurashi chuckled sinisterly and turned to leave.

"You, find out where that man is. I want to watch Kozuki Oden duel him."

Kurozumi Orochi immediately felt certain of victory and wanted to watch the battle.

Fukurokuju, whom he had pointed at, hesitated for a moment before nodding.

There had been no news from the ninjas and samurai sent out this time either. They were probably all dead.

Where had such a powerhouse come from?

But this scene reminded him of Kozuki Oden when he had first returned—he too had returned to Wano Country alone, wielding two swords as he charged toward the Flower Capital.

No one had been able to stop him either.

This time, no matter who died, it would benefit them.

If Kozuki Oden died, they would contact Kaido.

That man would definitely be interested in a master like this.

"I saved five more lives today!"

Kozuki Oden said happily upon returning.

Kin'emon and the others hurriedly brought clothes over and draped them over Kozuki Oden.

Then they reported everything they knew about Lin Ye.

"Wow, a master!"

Kozuki Oden's eyes lit up.

"Kurozumi Orochi sent many samurai and ninjas, but he has killed them all. He has already reached the Flower Capital and may attack Kurozumi Orochi."

Kin'emon told Kozuki Oden his speculation.