"Don't underestimate us!"
The samurai flew into a rage and drew their swords.
"Kaido's lapdog, today you die!"
"At the hands of you beaten strays who aren't even worth as much as wild dogs?"
Good scoffed.
A bunch of rats in the gutter. They didn't have the guts to attack Onigashima, so they played at picking off lone targets instead. What a disgrace.
Then again, after Kozuki Oden died, this country's backbone had snapped for good. What true samurai could possibly remain?
At Good's taunts, three young samurai immediately saw red and charged recklessly.
"Bastard, die!"
"Get lost!"
Good grabbed the Door-Sized Greatsword and swung it in a crushing sweep. Its heavy blade, nearly two meters long, sent all three young samurai flying, swords and all.
"Aaaah!!!"
Screams and blood erupted in the air.
Four remained.
The four remaining samurai's expressions changed drastically.
"Don't meet him head-on!"
One look at Good's build and weapon told them he relied on strength. Matching strength with strength was the stupidest possible way to fight him.
"All together!"
Their leader gripped his sword with both hands, coating the blade in a thin layer of Ryuo, then leaped up and slashed at Good from the front.
Clang!
The greatsword blocked his blade!
Good held his greatsword horizontally before him. Feeling the unusual aura wrapped around his opponent's blade, he understood.
It was Haki.
In Wano Country's terms, it could also be called Ryuo.
Unfortunately, the man's strength was a little lacking.
Hunted down and forced to hide wherever they could, these samurai could barely maintain regular meals and shelter, let alone strong bodies.
Being able to use Haki already placed him among the best of the Kozuki Remnants.
"Don't forget us!"
While their leader kept Good occupied, two samurai attacked from either side, thrusting their blades at his waist.
The corners of Good's mouth lifted slightly. He stamped his right foot, and two stone walls rose from the ground, intercepting their blades.
Clang!
Their blades struck the rock, scattering sparks.
But there was still one more!
The last samurai crept silently behind Good, then leaped with all his might, swinging his long sword at Good's neck with everything he had.
Their leader pinned the enemy down from the front, two men flanked him, and the last delivered the killing blow. They had used this tactic many times, slaying several powerful enemies.
Got him!
The moment his blade struck Good's neck, the joy of revenge filled the samurai's eyes. Then something horrifying happened.
Crack!
His blade snapped in two!
"Ryuo!"
Ryuo was wrapped around the back of his enemy's neck!
"Is this everything you've got?"
Good spoke coldly. The muscles all over his body gradually swelled and tightened, and grotesque veins like little snakes rose beneath his skin.
The ground began to shake violently!
Horror filled the samurai's eyes.
"Run!"
They tried to flee, but it was too late.
Boom!!!
The entire warehouse burst apart and collapsed, sending great clouds of dust billowing outward.
An unknown amount of time passed.
When all the dust had settled, the warehouse site looked as though a powerful earthquake had struck it. Cracks and rubble covered the ground, along with the samurai corpses buried beneath the debris.
Good stood in the center of the ruins, his foot planted on the dying samurai leader, and looked toward the Flower Capital's inner city.
"Here comes the cleanup crew."
A crowd was approaching.
He had made too much noise for the people in the city not to notice. The only question was whether the arrivals would be Orochi's Mimawarigumi or the Kyoshiro Family gang.
"Hmm?"
A conspicuous pompadour came into view.
It was Sleeping Kyoshiro!
An amused smile appeared on Good's face.
"Looks like a big shot showed up!"
Chapter 7: I Am the Devil Muscle Man!
The Kyoshiro Family was the Flower Capital's largest criminal organization, and its leader, Kyoshiro, was known as Shogun Orochi's most loyal dog.
Alongside criminal activities such as gambling, extortion, and collecting protection money, the Kyoshiro Family was also responsible for maintaining order in the Flower Capital-and did so legally.
Furthermore, as Orochi's subordinate, Kyoshiro was effectively an ally of the Beasts Pirates. His standing was fairly high, too, allowing him to speak directly with the Calamities.
Good greeted him with a smile. "Well, if it isn't Boss Kyoshiro. I never expected you to come in person. What an honor."
"..."
Kyoshiro didn't answer. His narrowed eyes fell on the samurai at Good's feet and the corpses buried beneath the rubble, and his heart ached.
Damn it, I was too late!
Yet however furious he was, he had to hold it in.
Fifteen years had passed since that incident, and he had long since learned restraint. He was no longer Denjiro, Kozuki Oden's retainer, but Kyoshiro, Orochi's lapdog.
Suppressing his anger, Kyoshiro looked at Good with a smile and asked the routine question. "Young man from the Beasts Pirates, what happened here?"
"These pieces of trash tried to assassinate me."
Good grinned, took a knife, and sliced open the samurai leader's trouser leg, exposing a crescent-moon tattoo for everyone to see.
"He's a Kozuki samurai!"
Cries of surprise rose from the crowd.
It wasn't just Kyoshiro and his men who had come. Plenty of civilians had gathered to watch, and the sight of the crescent-moon tattoo shocked them all.
The last appearance of a Kozuki samurai had been several years ago.
Good narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Kyoshiro with a cold smile. "I never imagined security in the Flower Capital had gotten this bad. Even Kozuki samurai can sneak in. Boss Kyoshiro, if you're short on men, we Beasts Pirates can send some people to help."
"My apologies, young man. This really was negligence on our part. Allow me to apologize first."
Kyoshiro apologized with a smile.
The Flower Capital was Orochi's territory. Members of the Beasts Pirates were welcome to visit for fun, but stationing troops here would cross a line.
Of course, that probably wasn't what this man intended.
These formalities were likely just a way to pressure him into offering money or some other form of compensation.
What a sly bastard!
Kyoshiro grew considerably more attentive. Few of those Beasts Pirates brutes had brains, so this one warranted some care.
"By the way, what should I call you?"
"Good, deputy to Shinuchi Ulti!"
Good gave his name, deliberately bringing Ulti into it.
Ulti ranked among the top Shinuchi of the Beasts Pirates, her status second only to the All-Stars. Even Kyoshiro had to take her seriously.
"Good, Ulti's deputy..."
Kyoshiro repeated the name, then quickly recalled the intelligence he had received last night. His eyes opened a fraction in surprise.
"You're the Devil Muscle Man?"
Huh???
Good was a little dumbfounded.
Devil Muscle Man?
Was he talking about me?
What bastard gave me that nickname?!
A line of dialogue automatically surfaced in Good's mind.
[In 1974, I fought my first freestyle kickboxing match in Southeast Asia...]
He fell silent for three seconds.
With a cold expression, Good folded his arms across his chest and quietly flexed every muscle in his body, making himself look even more imposing and powerful.
"That's right. I'm the Devil Muscle Man!"
Gasp!
Sharp intakes of breath rose one after another.
Whatever else could be said, "Devil Muscle Man" was certainly an intimidating nickname. Combined with Good's physique, it cowed everyone on the spot.
Kyoshiro wasn't intimidated, but his regard for Good rose another notch. Making a name for yourself among the Beasts Pirates was no easy feat.
He was certain the man before him would become an officer of the Beasts Pirates someday, perhaps even a core officer.
This is troublesome.
Kyoshiro glanced at the ruins.
A man capable of causing such severe destruction was certainly no weakling. A little money wouldn't be enough to send him on his way.
And then there was the Kozuki samurai beneath his foot.
If Kyoshiro didn't intervene, the samurai would inevitably be sent to the prisoner quarry-a fate more painful than death.
He wanted to rescue the man without exposing himself. These Kozuki samurai had once been his brothers-in-arms.
After considering it for a few seconds, Kyoshiro spoke in a low voice. "Brother Good, the appearance of Kozuki Remnants in the Flower Capital is our responsibility. Please do me the courtesy of handing this fellow over to us. Rest assured, we'll give you a satisfactory answer!"
"Haha, of course I'll do Boss Kyoshiro that courtesy."
Good's smile widened.
He had deliberately left one survivor, waiting for the man to ask for him.
Good pointed beneath his feet. "But these bastards destroyed the house I just bought. Rebuilding it will cost quite a bit."
"Put it on my tab!"
Before you continue