One Piece: Building Amazon Lily, starting as a Celestial Dragon

The samurai flew backward like a kite with its string cut, slammed into the wall at the end of the alley with a dull thud, then slid limply to the ground, completely unconscious.

Saint Dio withdrew his fist and looked down at the faint trace of lingering Haki on his knuckles. A satisfied smile slowly curved his lips.

He was still far from proficient, but at least he had begun to get the hang of it.

He could just barely produce that penetrating force that struck through a barrier.

"Not bad. Not bad at all."

Saint Dio clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking crisply. Feeling the faint trace of Haki lingering on it, he was quite satisfied.

His very first target had brought him to the threshold of Ryuo. This start had gone much more smoothly than he had expected.

Now that he had a feel for it, he would strike while the iron was hot.

That night, the samurai of the Flower Capital suffered a truly miserable stroke of luck.

They had merely gone out to seek pleasure as usual, drinking in taverns, flirting with geishas in their arms, then ambling home contentedly.

Instead, a white-haired boy inexplicably blocked their way halfway home.

Before they could react, a storm of punches and kicks greeted them.

Some angrily drew their swords to fight, some cursed and tried to reason with him, and some were knocked down with a single punch before they even understood what was happening.

But without exception, whatever they chose, they all met the same end: lying unconscious on the cold stone pavement.

Meanwhile, Saint Dio grew more excited and more adept with every fight.

He went from awkward imitation to gradually circulating and gathering Haki skillfully within his body, then to releasing that penetrating force precisely at the instant his fist met a blade.

His rate of progress could only be described as astonishing.

Overnight, unconscious samurai lay sprawled through the streets and alleys of the Flower Capital.

Some had fallen beneath the curtains outside taverns, some lay slumped beside rubbish heaps deep in alleys, and some even hung halfway over the riverside railings, like dead fish washed ashore by the waves.

Saint Dio stood in the darkest streets before dawn, facing the morning sun and bathing in the cool morning breeze as he exhaled a long plume of white breath.

Dust and sweat covered him, and several shallow sword cuts marked his knuckles, but his eyes shone remarkably brightly.

That night's fighting had been more valuable than all his fights in Mary Geoise over the past year combined.

His combat experience was growing at a visible pace, and his understanding of Ryuo deepened with every clash.

If he stayed here for a few years, his strength would undoubtedly advance by leaps and bounds.

Chapter 75: The deserted Flower Capital, Kaido meets Kurozumi Orochi

Over the course of a month, Saint Dio fought his way from the northern end of the Flower Capital to its southern end.

Almost every samurai who spent the night in the Flower Capital inevitably found his way blocked in a late-night alley by that mysterious white-haired figure. After a fierce exchange, he would end up lying bruised and battered on the cold stone pavement, until townsfolk cleaning the streets splashed him awake with cold water the following morning.

The samurai had even organized patrols, hoping to root out this outrageously brazen villain.

However, patrolling in groups only made things easier for Saint Dio. He no longer needed to search for prey alley by alley. He only had to pick a patrol, follow them, and take them down one by one when they were alone or split up. It was even more efficient than before.

As time passed, a name began circulating through the streets and alleys of the Flower Capital-"Night Owl."

It was said that the mysterious man who called himself Night Owl only appeared late at night and targeted lone samurai. He came and went without a trace, and no one knew where he came from or what he wanted.

The only certainty was that anyone he targeted was in for a savage beating.

Gradually, fewer and fewer samurai came to the Flower Capital for pleasure.

After all, they came to drink and find women, not to get beaten up.

With fewer samurai, the geishas and courtesans had fewer customers to entertain, and naturally, their earnings dwindled too.

Some of the popular courtesans began leaving the Flower Capital one after another, moving to towns with more samurai to make a living.

Without its courtesans, the Flower Capital's streets became much quieter at night. Even the lanterns seemed a little dimmer.

Inside the shogun's residence.

Kurozumi Orochi slowly woke with a pounding hangover.

He rubbed his temples, washed and changed with his maids' help, then swaggered into the banquet hall. Sitting in the seat of honor, he clapped his hands, ready to begin the most important part of his day: drinking and making merry.

"Someone! Go fetch my favorite courtesan! Have her come drink with me!"

The attendant lowered his head and cautiously replied, "My lord... that courtesan left the Flower Capital several days ago."

"Hm?" Kurozumi Orochi frowned, but quickly waved his hand. "Never mind. Get another one. That... what was her name again? The one who danced best last time."

"...She left too."

Kurozumi Orochi's expression darkened.

He slammed his hand on the table and roared, "What is going on?! Why are my courtesans leaving one after another?!"

The frightened attendant dropped to his knees with a thud, pressing his forehead to the tatami as he explained in a trembling voice, "Please calm yourself, my lord... Something strange has been happening in the Flower Capital over the past month. Every night, a mysterious man calling himself 'Night Owl' attacks samurai around the city, leaving everyone frightened. Fewer and fewer samurai have been coming to the Flower Capital, and the courtesans have been moving away because they have no business... I reported this to you more than ten days ago, my lord."

Hearing this, Kurozumi Orochi tilted his head and thought for a while. He vaguely remembered that something like that had indeed happened.

He had been enjoying his drink at the time, and after giving an offhand acknowledgment, he had put it out of his mind.

"Ahem... Of course I remember!" Kurozumi Orochi cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment, then put on a stern face again. "But you didn't explain it clearly back then! In any case, find a way to drag out this Night Owl fellow! Otherwise, how am I supposed to show my face? I'm drinking with Kaido tonight. Surely I can't be left without even a woman to pour our drinks!"

Just then, a loud, gruff voice came from outside, carrying a hint of impatience. "What's all the noise? I could hear you yelling from far away."

A thick arm abruptly swept the door curtain aside, and an enormous figure bent down and squeezed through the entrance.

The newcomer stood over seven meters tall. Long black hair spilled over his shoulders, and a pair of thick, curved horns grew from his forehead. His bare torso revealed knotted muscles covered in scars, and a thick shimenawa rope was tied around his waist. His entire presence radiated the oppressive force of a ferocious beast.

Behind him followed a tall man dressed entirely in black, with wings on his back. It was King.

That made the other man's identity obvious as well: Kaido of the Beasts.

At the sight of his visitor, Kurozumi Orochi's displeasure vanished instantly, replaced by an enthusiastic smile. "Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Kaido! Didn't we agree to drink tonight? What brings you here so early?"

Kaido snorted heavily and strode over beside the seat of honor. Without standing on ceremony, he sat straight down, making the floor of the entire banquet hall tremble slightly.

He grabbed the wine jug on the table, poured himself a bowl, and drained it with his head tilted back. Then he wiped his mouth and said, "I couldn't wait until tonight. There's something I need to discuss with you."

Kurozumi Orochi waved for the attendant to hurry and fetch more wine, then looked at Kaido with a smile. "Oh? Whatever it is, Mr. Kaido, feel free to speak."

To Kurozumi Orochi, Kaido was merely a partner.

Their relationship was one of equals, not one of superior and subordinate.

He even felt that he was using Kaido. After all, although Kozuki Oden had now become a ridiculous clown, the forces and supporters behind him still could not be underestimated. Combined with the stubborn rebels within Wano Country, they would be difficult to suppress completely with his own men alone.

He needed Kaido's Beasts Pirates to keep things under control for him.

"I want to build arms factories in Kuri," Kaido said, getting straight to the point.

Without even thinking, Kurozumi Orochi agreed. "No problem! Feel free to use the land in Kuri however you like, Mr. Kaido."

Kuri was outside his control anyway. It was remote, its people were fierce, and resistance forces were entrenched there. He had long wanted someone to clean up that mess.

If Kaido was willing to take over, he would conveniently clear out those troublesome people for him-two birds with one stone.

"However..." Kurozumi Orochi changed tack, smiling as he held out an open hand. "I want fifty percent of the profits."

Kaido's expression instantly darkened.

He gave a cold snort. Just then, the attendant brought freshly warmed wine, and he snatched up a bowl and took a great gulp. Amber wine ran from the corners of his mouth and dripped onto the coarse hair on his chest.

Then he set down the bowl and gave Kurozumi Orochi a cold glance. "Fifty percent? You're far too greedy. Thirty percent at most."

Rather than getting angry, Kurozumi Orochi chuckled and readily agreed. "Thirty percent it is."

To him, that thirty percent was pure windfall.

He would not have to spend a penny or provide a single man. He could sit back and collect money just by moving his lips. Why would he refuse?

Their cooperation was settled, and the atmosphere at the banquet grew quite harmonious for a while.

After several rounds of drinks and exchanged toasts, the two chatted and laughed as though they were the closest of allies.

Yet behind their smiles, each harbored his own designs.

Kurozumi Orochi needed Kaido's Beasts Pirates to suppress the resistance within Wano Country and secure his position as shogun; Kaido needed Kurozumi Orochi as a puppet shogun to control Wano Country's government and pave the way for his expansion plans.

Both were using the other, and both knew perfectly well that the other was using him. Once they had exhausted each other's usefulness, this so-called "partnership" would probably collapse in an instant.

The drinking continued, each man harboring his own schemes.

Chapter 76: King takes action

Kaido drank bowl after bowl, the wine pouring down his throat like running water.

His capacity for alcohol was astonishing, but after drinking so much, even his face took on a drunken flush.

Kurozumi Orochi had long since drunk enough for his tongue to grow thick. His gaze was unfocused, and his words had begun to ramble.

There was little difference between them; both were slightly tipsy.

Just as Kurozumi Orochi was about to call for another round, Kaido suddenly set down his wine bowl with a dull thud.

He wiped the wine from around his mouth and said, "Right, there's one more thing."

Kurozumi Orochi's hand paused slightly around his cup. "What is it?"

"Outsiders have sneaked into Wano Country recently."

Much of Kurozumi Orochi's drunkenness vanished in an instant.

He abruptly put down his cup, his triangular eyes widening. "Outsiders?! What sort of outsiders?!"

This was what he feared most.

Wano Country had been closed off for years, with very little contact with the outside world. The appearance of any outsider could upset the situation he had only managed to stabilize with such difficulty.

Especially at this critical moment. Although Kozuki Oden was still abiding by their agreement and posed no threat to him for now, who knew whether some outside force might want to interfere in Wano Country's affairs?

King stepped forward at the appropriate moment.

He took a folded pirate flag from behind him, unfolded it, and displayed it before Kurozumi Orochi.

It was a black flag bearing a skull. The fabric was somewhat tattered, and dried blood still stained its edges.

"This was seized from a pirate ship discovered in the waters surrounding Wano Country," King explained. "There were several crew members aboard, but the captain and the other principal members were no longer on the ship. According to the interrogation results, they have likely already infiltrated Wano Country."

Kurozumi Orochi's expression immediately turned ugly.

He stared at the pirate flag, then looked at Kaido and asked urgently, "What about those men? Did you get anything out of them?"

"They're tight-lipped." King shook his head. "We used quite a few methods, but couldn't pry a single word out of them. Either they underwent strict secrecy training, or some special means has been used to seal their mouths."

Kurozumi Orochi rubbed his hands and paced a couple of steps back and forth among the banquet seats, his anxiety plain to see. "Then what do we do? Wano Country is so large. If they're determined to hide, where are we supposed to look?"

King glanced at him and continued calmly, "Over the past month, I've already sent my subordinates to search the entire country, but we haven't found any trace of suspicious individuals. They clearly came prepared and have very likely disguised themselves. With the Beasts Pirates' strength alone, finding them quickly may prove difficult. We need your assistance, Lord Shogun."

With his position and safety at stake, Kurozumi Orochi made no excuses this time and agreed without hesitation. "No problem! I'll issue orders immediately for the daimyo and magistrates everywhere to cooperate fully with your search!"

After saying this, his eyes suddenly shifted as though he had remembered something, and a sly smile appeared on his face. "Speaking of which... Mr. Kaido, aren't your Beasts Pirates helping me deal with a little problem?"

Kaido raised his eyelids and glanced at him. "What problem?"

"Recently, a fellow calling himself 'Night Owl' has appeared in the Flower Capital. He attacks samurai at night, frightening everyone so badly that even all the courtesans have run off." Kurozumi Orochi rubbed his hands and grinned. "Tell me, could this Night Owl be the outsider you're looking for?"

Kaido gave a cold snort. He saw through Kurozumi Orochi's little scheme at once. The fellow clearly wanted to use him to take care of his own problem along the way.

Still, what he said was not entirely unreasonable.

Someone of unknown origins who only appeared at night and specifically targeted samurai certainly sounded highly suspicious.

"King," Kaido called without turning his head.

"Yes."

"I'm leaving this to you." Kaido raised his wine bowl and took another gulp. "Drag out this Night Owl fellow. If he really is an outsider, take him alive. If not, just dispose of him while you're at it."

King bowed slightly, his black wings folding gently behind him. "As you command."

Seeing Kaido take the matter on, Kurozumi Orochi was delighted, his smile nearly stretching from ear to ear.

He repeatedly urged Kaido to drink, drawing him into several more rounds. Even as the sky darkened, the banquet had yet to end.

Night fell, and scattered lanterns lit up the Flower Capital's streets once more.

King stood on the highest rooftop of the shogun's residence, his black wings stretching gently in the night breeze.