Back aboard the warship.
Inside a cabin.
Ares saw a "little runt" wrapped head to toe in a black robe. The man was so short he didn't even reach Ares's knee.
The moment Kurozumi Orochi laid eyes on Ares towering, broad as a fortress, muscles like some devil carved them out of iron his face went white. Cold sweat poured down his temples.
Just standing in front of Ares made every hair on his body rise. Bottomless fear swallowed his heart.
Ares looked at him with a faint, amused smile. "Oi kid. You wanted to see me?"
"Y-yes…" Orochi stammered, bowing so low it was practically groveling. "My name is Orochi. I heard you intend to open Wano's borders, and I agree with your vision completely. Wano has been closed off for hundreds of years…"
He recited a speech he'd clearly rehearsed, praising Ares from every angle painting him as Wano's savior, the one destined to pull the nation into a new era.
Sitting cross-legged, Ares propped his head on one hand, listening with interest as Orochi poured on the flattery.
Orochi didn't dare lift his head. "Ares-sama… I've learned something. The shogun of Wano plans to send ninja to assassinate you…"
"Or poison you!!"
Chinjao's brows shot up, fury snapping in his eyes. "Those idiots are courting death!"
Sladab Sladar added calmly, "Ares-brother, why not just wipe them out? We can take Wano either way."
Ares lifted a hand, stopping them. Then he looked at Orochi. "Orochi. Do you think the ninja can kill me?"
"O-of course not." Orochi smiled like a toady. "Those ninja are strong, but compared to you, they're nothing…"
Yet inside, he spat venom.
So confident. Does he really think Kozuki Oden is the strongest Wano has to offer?
How arrogant.
Ares couldn't read the little schemes in Orochi's heart.
But he knew exactly what kind of snake Orochi was.
And people like that…
sometimes had their uses.
Like right now delivering secrets.
As for Orochi himself…
Ares planned to squeeze every last drop of value out of him first.
And only then…
would he wipe out this "Kurozumi" rat who was rotten to the bone.
Ares smiled. "Anything else?"
"If you bring me truly important information, I don't mind rewarding you with some treasure."
As he spoke, he reached out and opened a chest.
A wash of golden light spilled out jewels and coins flashing like a small sun.
Treasure Ares had taken from Hachinosu.
The moment Orochi saw it, a greedy gleam flickered in his eyes. "Guh-heh-heh… Of course. The daimyo of Ringo, Shimotsuki Ushimaru, proposed a martial contest…"
"A wager. But the idea hasn't been accepted by Shogun Sukiyaki yet."
Ares's eyes brightened.
He grabbed a handful of treasure and tossed it in front of Orochi. Gold coins spun and clinked as they rolled to his feet.
"This is your reward."
"If you can push that proposal and make Sukiyaki accept it, I'll reward you with even more."
"And even…"
"One day, if you want to become a daimyo, that's not impossible. Become a daimyo, and you'll be a king over a whole region."
Ares knew Orochi was ambitious.
Desperate.
The kind who would crawl through mud if it meant climbing higher.
A promise like that was irresistible.
Because with Orochi's own abilities, he might never become a daimyo in his entire life.
Especially now
Kurozumi Semimaru and Kurozumi Higurashi were already dead by Ares's hand. Without their power and support, Orochi's chances of rising were slim to none.
What Ares offered…
was hope.
Orochi's eyes shone. "I'll do it! Only you can make Wano great again!"
He swept the gold into his robe like a starving man clutching food.
Ares chuckled. "Chinjao. Get him out of Kuri. Quietly. Don't let anyone notice."
After Orochi left
Ares called Kaido, Sladar, Chinjao and the others.
"You three don't expose your true strength. And tell everyone below: keep your mouths shut."
"Soon, a show will begin."
"And when it does…"
"We'll become the rulers of Wano smoothly and legitimately."
Kaido's grin turned feral. "Wororororo Ares-brother! Once we take Wano, the Rocks Pirates won't mean a damn thing!"
Chinjao looked even more excited than Kaido. "Wano has countless samurai. A lot of them are strong real assets. If we control that force…"
"The War God Pirates will skyrocket in power!"
And if Ares's power kept expanding…
Then as Second Division Commander, Chinjao's influence and status would rise right along with it.
Besides
compared to his old Happo Navy, this wasn't some small-time game anymore.
Ares was aiming to seize control of an entire superpower.
Of course…
Ares's ambitions didn't end there.
Orochi hid the treasure he'd gotten from Ares, stripped off the black robe, and went to find Kurozumi Kanjuro.
"Guh-heh-heh… Oi, Kanjuro. I've found a way to destroy the Kozuki Clan."
Kanjuro red hair, straight bangs, and the same ugly features that seemed stamped into the Kurozumi bloodline laughed. "Kakaka… You're planning to borrow the power of those outsiders, aren't you?"
Orochi flinched hit dead center.
Kanjuro continued, "Their arrival is already common knowledge across Wano. And they want to open the country. That's something the Kozuki will never allow."
"I am borrowing their power," Orochi said, face twisting with malice, teeth grinding. "I'll use it to take my revenge on the Kozuki Clan!"
The Kurozumi became a family everyone spit on…
because of the Kozuki.
He would have revenge.
He would reclaim the Kurozumi name its authority, its power.
Kanjuro laughed again. "Kakaka… Orochi, you're helping Ares, but have you considered this?"
"Ares could become another Kozuki in the future."
"Don't forget…"
"Ares is from the Amatsuki Clan!!"
The Amatsuki were enemies too.
If not for the Amatsuki interfering with the Kurozumi plans, maybe Wano would have fallen into Kurozumi hands long ago.
And in the process…
both clans had sunk into decline.
Orochi's smile turned sharp and nasty. "Guh-heh-heh… That's why I came to you."
"I want you to join Ares."
"As a spy."
"He's waving the banner of opening Wano's borders and recruiting drifters by the thousands, right?"
"Perfect. You'll join them, use that chance to gather intelligence, maybe even become a trusted insider…"
Kanjuro thought it over.
Orochi was already under Shimotsuki Yasuie.
If they crushed the Kozuki first…
both he and Orochi could earn Ares's trust.
He nodded. "Fine. I'll go to Kuri."
...
A full month passed in a blink.
Kuri had changed completely.
It was no longer a reeking ruin, no longer a trash heap soaked in filth and rot.
A town had begun to take shape.
A port.
A fishery.
Farms.
Basic infrastructure stood in place, ready to be expanded and refined over time.
Everything looked alive again bright, thriving, full of momentum.
Chinjao found Ares, his expression heavy with worry.
"Ares-boss… our food…"
"We're almost out. At this rate, we won't last until the crops are ready."
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