Kozuki Oden! Then Let's Fight

"No, no. If Kurozumi Orochi dies, his men will kill all those people."

Kozuki Oden immediately shook his head at those words.

His reaction left Kin'emon and the others looking at each other.

"If Orochi dies, his men naturally won't remain loyal to him."

Kin'emon spoke anxiously. Right now, he felt that the person he served was somewhat foolish.

"What if they do?"

Kozuki Oden still shook his head.

"Kin'emon, our lord is right. Orochi's men are all fiercely loyal to him. They will definitely carry out his orders to the letter."

Kanjuro hurriedly said.

Hearing that, Kin'emon frowned and glanced at Kanjuro.

"This is a rare opportunity. Orochi is at his weakest right now, and much of the force in his hands has already been killed."

Kin'emon was unwilling to let it go.

"It's fine. Once I save everyone, I'll kill Kurozumi Orochi with my own hands."

Kozuki Oden waved a hand.

Everyone was rendered speechless.

By the time he really danced for several years and saved those people, Orochi could simply seize more hostages and threaten him into dancing for another five years.

Kin'emon turned a pleading gaze toward Kozuki Toki.

Noticing Kin'emon's gaze, Kozuki Toki lightly shook her head.

The others frowned as they watched the conversation, each lost in thought with differing expressions.

"Kozuki Oden!"

A booming voice from afar immediately threw the people in the room into confusion.

Kin'emon and the others quickly hid toward the back.

Before long, the door was kicked open. Two samurai stood outside.

"The daimyo has ordered that he wishes to watch a duel. Your opponent is a pirate who broke into Wano Country from outside and has now arrived in the Flower Capital. Go stop him.

"If you can kill this pirate, the daimyo has decided to release everyone."

Kozuki Oden's eyes lit up when he heard the samurai's words.

"What are you standing around for? Are you going to defy the daimyo's orders?"

The two samurai felt a little uneasy as Kozuki Oden glared at them.

Reminded of his task, Kozuki Oden immediately grabbed the two swords from the rack on the table and headed outside.

Seeing this, Kozuki Toki shifted her foot forward, only to step back again.

She couldn't stop him.

Knowing Kozuki Oden's character, Kozuki Toki knew exactly what choice he would make.

Kozuki Oden left with the two samurai, swords in hand. Kin'emon and the others emerged, then looked at one another.

"Kin'emon, go find that person and persuade him to leave."

Kozuki Toki looked at Kin'emon as she spoke.

"But... yes, I understand!"

Kin'emon could only nod and hurried away.

The other retainers of Kozuki Oden exchanged glances and filed out after him.

Flower Capital.

A huge pile of bowls and plates sat before Lin Ye.

Several people busily brought food to Lin Ye.

There would be a major battle next, perhaps several in succession.

If Moria and his group had truly been swept by the undersea current to the other side of Wano Country, then once the battle began, he likely would not have time to replenish his strength.

"Kozuki Oden danced for another day. He's completely disgraced the Kozuki family."

Other diners in the distance spoke to those beside them.

"That guy was always unreliable when he was young. Later, he even defied the ban and left Wano Country, actually becoming a pirate at sea.

"I'm not surprised he turned out like this."

Lin Ye slowed his eating, and the people serving him food breathed a sigh of relief.

"Just watch. Kozuki Oden will definitely come dance again tomorrow."

The two spoke in low voices, constantly shaking their heads.

A curious gleam flashed through Lin Ye's eyes.

Should I stay and see what happens? If I do, perhaps Kozuki Toki will show herself then.

But Kozuki Oden was not weak.

In terms of combat strength, he might rival Silvers Rayleigh from Roger's crew. Perhaps slightly weaker, but not by much.

Going by the timeline, he would probably fight Kaido four or five years later.

Then someone interfered and disrupted his focus, which was why he lost to Kaido.

In other words, even if he was weaker than Kaido, the gap would not be large.

Lin Ye narrowed his eyes as he considered it.

But Kozuki Toki's ability was too tempting.

Should I kill her and leave?

Or wait until Wano Country's affairs are settled before making a move?

Although he had great confidence in his future, Lin Ye also understood that he was still some distance away from the truly powerful figures of the seas.

As he had said before, unless his gains in Wano Country this time were enough to raise his strength to that level.

As he pondered, Lin Ye's heart stirred and his eyes narrowed.

"You have killing intent on you. Are you here to kill Kurozumi Orochi?"

A moment later, a voice sounded behind him. A burly man then sat beside him and waved to the owner for a bowl of ramen.

"You shouldn't have come here. Wano Country does not welcome pirates."

The man who had ordered ramen spoke again.

Lin Ye turned to look at Kozuki Oden beside him.

"Doesn't welcome pirates? Have Whitebeard and Gol D. Roger never come here, or does Kaido, who is currently in Wano Country, not count as a pirate?"

Kozuki Oden!

He had only just been thinking about this man, and now he had appeared right in front of him.

His Observation Haki sensed several people watching from afar.

Samurai!

So, Kozuki Oden had come to cause trouble?

"Those people are different. Though they're pirates, what they do is unlike pirates."

When Lin Ye mentioned Roger and Whitebeard, Kozuki Oden directly shook his head.

"You really do have double standards!"

Lin Ye smiled, though there was an icy chill within that smile.

"I heard about you. You landed in Kuri and traveled all the way toward Wano Country, killing many people."

Kozuki Oden turned to look at Lin Ye, inwardly astonished.

Although Lin Ye was not short, his face made it clear that he was not very old.

Or rather, he was extremely young.

Yet at such an age, he possessed such strength.

"Those people deserved to die!"

When Kozuki Oden brought up the people he had killed, Lin Ye replied calmly.

"They were also people of Wano Country."

As soon as those words fell, Lin Ye's expression became strange. He looked Kozuki Oden up and down.

"So you intend to stop me?"

"Yes!"

Kozuki Oden nodded seriously.

"If you stop me, then not only you, but your family, your friends, and your brothers will all become people I can kill."

Lin Ye said with narrowed eyes.

Regarding Kozuki Toki, although Lin Ye wanted her ability, she had not provoked him, so he had been somewhat conflicted.

He had not expected Kozuki Oden to come looking for him on his own.

"Kurozumi Orochi sent me. As long as I stop you, Kurozumi Orochi will release everyone he has taken."

Kozuki Oden ignored Lin Ye's words and explained why he had come.

"Kozuki Oden, Lord Orochi's order was a duel. You are to kill this man."

The samurai who had been hiding outside could no longer stand it. He stepped out and shouted.

Lin Ye slashed backward, sending out a black sword gleam.

Pfft!

The sword gleam flew past, and a spray of blood mist erupted.

Lin Ye's sword was already back in its sheath.

After dealing with that trivial matter, Lin Ye turned his head toward Kozuki Oden.

"Then let's fight!"