Kurozumi Orochi was taken aback, then burst into wild, joyful laughter.
"Hahahaha! You agreed!"
"You actually agreed! Good! Good! As expected of Oden, who values loyalty and righteousness!"
But I have conditions.
Oden interrupted his maniacal laughter.
"During this period, you must guarantee the safety of these hostages. If I hear of any hostages being mistreated or dying, this agreement is immediately void."
"Sure! Either way is fine!"
Kurozumi Orochi readily agreed, his face beaming with barely concealed smugness.
"As long as you dance obediently, I guarantee they'll treat you to the best food and drink!"
Kozuki Oden stopped looking at him and turned to walk out of the hall. When he reached the door...
He paused for a moment, without turning around, his deep yet clear voice reaching the ears of everyone in the hall.
"Remember your promise, Orochi. Three years. I will return in three years."
The Kurozumi Orochi's laughter abruptly stopped, and a chill inexplicably rose up his spine.
But watching Oden's departing figure, he forced a sneer, his eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of a successful scheme.
With Kozuki Oden gone, the palace returned to silence.
Kurozumi Higurashi, leaning on her cane, walked to the window, gazing in the direction Oden had gone, and murmured...
He agreed... more readily than I expected.
"Isn't this exactly what we wanted?"
Kurozumi Orochi sat down again, took a swig of sake to calm himself, and his arrogant expression returned.
"Starting tomorrow, all the people of Wano Country will see what a ridiculous clown their once revered Oden really is!"
Kurozumi Semimaru silently withdrew his barrier and returned to the shadows. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly beneath his mask.
Something about Oden's last words made him feel vaguely uneasy.
In the shadow of the watchtower at the highest point of the General's Mansion, a tall figure quietly disappeared.
Kaido sat atop the Skull Dome on Onigashima, the liquid in his gourd gleaming faintly in the moonlight.
After listening to Jin's report, he grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth.
"Hehehehe... You agreed?"
"More courageous than I imagined, Kozuki Oden."
He took a big gulp of wine.
"To save lives, you even abandoned the dignity of a samurai... Unfortunately, this very kindness will become your grave."
Jin stood to one side, the flames behind him flickering in the night wind:
"Next, Kozuki Oden's reputation will completely collapse."
Those so-called Nine Red Scabbards will gradually drift apart during the long wait.
Three years later, even if we set him free, he will no longer have the strength to cause any trouble.
Three years?
A crimson light flashed in Kaido's eyes.
"I don't have the patience to wait that long. This is just the beginning, Jhin,"
"Like boiling a frog in lukewarm water, you have to take it slow, wait until he gets used to the humiliation, wait until everyone abandons him."
When he himself begins to doubt the meaning of perseverance... that's when it's time to reap the rewards.
"What about Captain Roy...?" Jhin asked.
"That Roy kid is even more cunning than I am,"
Kaido laughed.
His attention is now focused on that bloodline research and fruit experiment.
But this is for the best; his increased strength is beneficial to Lao Tzu's plan.
Allies, after all, have to have some value.
"Understood." Jin nodded.
Kaido gazed towards the Flower Capital, where a gigantic moon hung in the night sky, making the lights of the Shogun's mansion appear small and fragile.
" Kozuki Oden, enjoy your 'dance'!"
"This Wano Country is no longer an era that your Kozuki Family can control."
Meanwhile, Kozuki Oden, who had already returned to Kuri, went back to his base.
Ignoring Kin'emon, Denjiro, and the others who surrounded them,
He went straight to his wife ' Kozuki Toki's' room.
Looking at his wife, who was sitting cross-legged waiting, and his two children, who were sleeping soundly beside him, Kozuki Oden's agitated heart gradually calmed down.
Keen-eyed Kozuki Toki clearly noticed that her usually carefree husband's expression was unusual.
However, he didn't say much more.
Kozuki Toki stood up, pulled Oden to sit beside her, rested Kozuki Oden's head on her lap, and gently comforted him.
" Oden! No matter what you do, I will always be behind you!"
"At that time! I..."
"No need to say more! We're husband and wife, aren't we?!"
The next day at noon, on the main street of the Flower Capital.
Tens of thousands of people were driven to gather on both sides of the street, discussing the matter and not knowing what had happened.
Kurozumi Orochi's army blocked off both ends of the street, creating a tense atmosphere.
Then they saw it.
That was Kozuki Oden once punished villains and implemented new policies in Kuri, full of vigor and ambition.
Having removed his samurai armor and dignity, he walked bare-chested, wearing only a simple loincloth, to the center of the street.
The music started, a ridiculous and vulgar tune.
Oden closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his face was expressionless.
He began to dance awkwardly and comically to the music, his movements exaggerated and ridiculous, like a circus clown.
An incredulous gasp erupted from the crowd, followed by whispers.
Some covered their mouths and chuckled, some looked disdainful, and most were bewildered and disappointed.
"That's... Oden?"
"What is he doing?!"
"How so..."
"I heard... it's to rescue people who have been arrested..."
Even if it's for saving lives, this is just too much...
The image of the hero crumbled in the hearts of countless people at this moment.
Kurozumi Orochi sat on the high viewing platform, watching Oden dancing and the commotion below, laughing so hard he could barely breathe.
A hint of pleasure flashed in the eyes of Kurozumi Higurashi beside him.
Meanwhile, atop a distant pavilion, Roy silently observed all of this.
"It's begun," he muttered to himself, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.
He knew that from this day forward, the name Kozuki Oden would gradually transform from a "hero" into a "joke."
But he also knew that a person who could give up all their dignity for others...
The flame and will within one's heart will never be easily extinguished.
The three-year agreement may not be the end, but rather the prelude to another storm.
But what will become of Wano Country and the Kozuki Family then?
Roy turned around and disappeared from the top of the attic.
He has more important things to do.
Back at the Onigashima research base, Roy first gathered his companions.
The Ark Maxim docked at the base's dedicated pier, where Bullet, Hawk Eyes, Tesoro, and others had been waiting for some time.
"Boss, how's the situation in the Flower Capital?"
Savi was the first to rush up and ask.
Roy briefly explained the situation.
" Kozuki Oden has fallen for the trap and started his naked dance. He shouldn't pose a threat to us for the next three years."
"Nude dancing?"
Enel's eyes widened.
"That really strong samurai? Really?"
"He made a choice to save the hostages."
Roy didn't offer much comment.
"But this means that Wano Country will be relatively stable for the next few years. Our research base is safe."
Tesoro stroked his chin.
Three years... that's enough time for us to do a lot of things.
"That's right."