So Shimotsuki Yasuie was not as important as he imagined himself to be.
Of course, he knew none of this.
In his eyes, Kurozumi Orochi had been his subordinate and had come out of Hakumai. As the first person to take Orochi in, Yasuie naturally felt he bore an inescapable responsibility.
Smiles
Kuta looked back at Shimotsuki Yasuie, his voice carrying hope everyone could hear, along with unease.
"Mr. Silver Hair, I... I want to know..." He raised the newspaper he had been clutching, unfolded it, and pointed to the black-and-white photograph. "I want to know if what it says here is... is true."
As he spoke, unprecedented hope blazed in Yasuie's eyes.
Looking at the old man, worn to skin and bone by years of hardship, Kuta let his smile fade and nodded solemnly.
"We did kill Kaido. A few days ago."
"We killed King the Wildfire and Jack the Drought of the Beasts Pirates that same day."
Kuta paused. Hope had grown so bright in the old man's eyes that it seemed to take shape. A smile tugged at Kuta's lips as he continued. "And a few hours before we came here, we ran into Queen the Plague below Wano Country's waterfall. He was about to leave with the remaining Beasts Pirates officers, including the Flying Six."
"So we took care of them too."
"That means Wano Country's shackles are gone. Orochi is dead. Kaido is dead. Even if the Beasts Pirates still have a few officers left, they can't threaten you anymore."
"Really?"
The old man looked up. Tears had soaked the cloth over his face. His voice trembled with hope he could scarcely believe as he asked Kuta—and himself.
"Is it really true?"
"It is," Kuta said with quiet certainty. Then he shook his head and