Good stated the facts.
Wano Country was no longer what it had been twenty years ago, and there was no Kozuki Oden to stand against Kaido. Even if Hyogoro gathered the Kozuki Remnants, they would be little more than a minor nuisance.
They could hardly cause much of a stir.
Good looked at the four of them.
"But why should I spare him?"
"..."
The four froze, as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over them.
But they soon recovered.
They exchanged glances, then knelt together, bowing their heads in supplication. "Lord Good, if you spare Boss Hyo, our lives will be yours from now on. We will never go back on our word!"
"How touching."
A smile finally appeared on Good's face.
Frantic, Hyogoro tugged at them with all his strength and could not help cursing. "You fools! Get up this instant!"
"Boss Hyo, this is our choice. Please don't interfere!"
None of them raised their heads. Their foreheads remained pressed firmly against the ground.
They knew perfectly well that they were making a deal with the devil, but they had no other bargaining chips. All they could stake was everything they had.
Their lives were insignificant, but Boss Hyo was not only their benefactor. To the samurai of Wano Country, he was also their last hope.
Clap, clap, clap!
Good applauded softly.
Merely letting them see Hyogoro would not make these underworld bosses serve him with unwavering loyalty. He needed a greater incentive.
He had no desire to be stabbed in the back without warning.
"You... sigh!"
Hyogoro looked at Good, a chill running down his back.
The pirate before him was nothing like Kaido. His methods of manipulating people were ten, even a hundred times more terrifying!
Chapter 33: Cooperation was nothing more than aligned interests
The village chief's thatched hut.
Old Kō lifted the door curtain and entered, hurrying over to Good with a comical, ingratiating smile.
"Lord Good, did you want to see me?"
"Yes."
Good nodded slightly and pointed to Hyogoro, who stood frozen beside him.
"Say hello to an old friend."
"An old friend?"
Old Kō turned his head in confusion. The moment he saw Hyogoro, his pupils trembled.
Although the man's build had changed drastically, he recognized him at once: Hyogoro of the Flower, the Flower Capital's "chivalrous outlaw."
He was indeed an old friend!
A very close old friend, at that!
But why was Hyogoro here?!
Horrified, Old Kō desperately suppressed his shock. Keeping up his comical act, he scratched his head in confusion, trying to bluff his way through.
"Lord Good, who might this be?"
"Stop pretending."
Good lifted his cup and leisurely sipped his tea, wearing an amused smile. "I investigated your background long ago. Shimotsuki Yasuie, how could you not know Hyogoro?"
"Huh? Huh?!!!"
Old Kō froze for three seconds, so startled that snot sprayed from his nose.
Had he already been exposed all this time?!
He was not the only one frightened out of his wits. The four underworld bosses crouching in the corner were also so shocked that their eyes bulged.
"Shimotsuki Yasuie?"
"Isn't that the name of Hakumai's daimyo?"
"Could this old man be Lord Yasuie?!"
Times had changed. Hyogoro was not the only one who looked drastically different; Shimotsuki Yasuie had also gone from a burly samurai to a comical-looking old man.
"Stop making such a fuss."
Good frowned in mild distaste.
They were all renowned figures, after all. What was with all this jumping and gasping?
"You have three minutes to catch up!"
"..."
After more than ten seconds of silence, Old Kō dropped his comical act and approached Hyogoro with a complicated look in his eyes.
"Hyogoro."
"Lord Yasuie."
The two old men gazed at each other with deep emotion, then sighed in unison, remembering the days when they had chatted over tea.
Three minutes later.
Shimotsuki Yasuie faced Good calmly. "Lord Good, since you already knew my true identity, why...?"
"You're still useful."
Good answered calmly.
Shimotsuki Yasuie smiled bitterly. That certainly was this man's style, but what use could he possibly be in his current state?
"All of you, come here."
Good spread out a map of Hakumai. Once everyone had gathered around the table, he pointed to God of Wealth Town.
"This is our current location. I intend to build a large town here, and construction starts tomorrow!"
"The plans are already finalized. Master Minatomo will arrive tomorrow with some craftsmen to oversee the town's construction."
"Look here!"
Good pointed to a red line on the map. One end led to the weapons factory in central Hakumai, while the other reached the sea to the south.
"This red line marks a waterway. I want to dig a wastewater channel between the weapons factory and the sea to solve the water pollution problem!"
The highest point in Wano Country was Mount Fuji, north of the Flower Capital, and the rivers flowing through every region all originated there.
To protect the Flower Capital's water supply, no weapons factories had been built near Mount Fuji. The water flowing toward the other regions was clean as well.
Thus, as long as each region dealt with the wastewater from its local weapons factories, its water supply would largely be secured.
In fact, Orochi had deliberately created the wastewater problem to take revenge on the people of Wano Country. He intentionally discharged wastewater into each region's irrigation channels and even controlled the upstream water sources, forcing people to pay for drinking water.
"And here!"
Good pointed around God of Wealth Town again.
"These fields used to be fertile, but they've gone unirrigated for so long that they're now wasteland. They need to be reclaimed before crops can be planted."
"Finally, look here!"
Lines covered the area around God of Wealth Town on the map, extending through the town and surrounding fields, with different colors distinguishing them.
"These lines are all roads we need to build. Blue marks the main roads, green marks secondary roads, and yellow marks smaller paths."
Building a town, digging a waterway, reclaiming farmland, and constructing roads.
Four major projects in total.
Shimotsuki Yasuie and Hyogoro were already stunned by Good's plans. Following his description, they could even picture what the future would look like.
"Now, let's discuss your assignments."
Good turned first to the four underworld bosses.
"Omasa, Mitaiping, Gongoro, and Acho, I need you to gather your followers and each form a patrol force of at least one hundred people. You'll be responsible for security and supervision on these four projects. Understood?"
"Understood!"
The four took deep breaths.
They had been deeply resistant to serving Good, yet now they actually felt as though they had been entrusted with a mission!
These were great projects whose benefits would last for generations!
Good nodded slightly and turned to Hyogoro.
"I'll divide the prisoners into groups of ten and squads of one hundred, with each choosing its own group leaders and squad captains. Every prisoner squad will eat, live, and travel together!
"Let me make this clear up front: if one person in a squad escapes or shirks their work, everyone else will be punished along with them!"
"As for you, Boss Hyo, I need you to serve as commander of all the prisoners. You'll direct them and keep their emotions under control. Don't entertain any unrealistic fantasies."
"In return, I can guarantee that the prisoners won't be treated too badly. At the very least, you'll have enough to eat."
"At the end of every month, I'll also select ten Prisoner Stars from the best-performing prisoners and grant them their freedom!"
"No objections?"
Hyogoro was silent for several seconds before nodding with difficulty.
Compared with the Prisoner Quarry, the terms Good offered were unimaginably generous. They even included the most important thing of all: freedom!
Whether for his own sake or for the prisoners' sake.
He could not refuse.
Good turned to Old Kō last.
"Old Kō, you were once Hakumai's daimyo, so you must have the deepest attachment to this land. I'm therefore appointing you chief administrator, in charge of overseeing every project!"
"You'll coordinate all resources, including purchasing supplies, assigning and reallocating labor, handling logistics, and everything else!"
"Can you do it?"
Shimotsuki Yasuie opened his mouth, then nodded firmly!
It was not a question of whether he could. He had to!
Every night, he dreamed of the Hakumai of old, of its splendid prosperity and bustling streets!
Rebuilding Hakumai was his greatest dream.
"Mr. Good!"
Shimotsuki Yasuie drew a deep breath. There was one question he desperately wanted answered.
"Why do you trust us?"
"Trust?"
Good shook his head.
"I don't trust you. We may even face each other with weapons drawn someday. As for why I'm comfortable leaving these matters to you, partly it's because I have no one else available, and you happen to be suitable. As for the other reason..."
"It's nothing more than aligned interests."
Aligned interests!
Shimotsuki Yasuie and Hyogoro exchanged a glance. Each could clearly see the amazement in the other's eyes, along with emotions neither could put into words.
What a terrifying man!
Hyogoro hesitated, then spoke with newfound respect in his voice. "Sir Good, I also have a question I'd like you to answer."
Before you continue