"Citizens of Wano Country, my name is Norton Sage, known on the seas as the 'Calamity.' But none of that matters. What matters is that starting today, I will replace Kurozumi Orochi and become the ruler here, the only ruler!"
"These people..."
He pointed at the people in the square below, "Are all those who refuse to surrender, rebellious samurai, defeated generals, stubborn Pirates, all gathered here."
"Let me introduce the ones in front, on the right, this is Yamato, the daughter of Kaido, the governor of the Beast Pirates. But I think she is unlike him, more akin to Oden's daughter, a stubborn breed, so she must be executed."
"Wano Country will open its borders! Oden's spirit will endure forever! We will surely be victorious! Sage!" Yamato shouted loudly.
"On the left, the biological son of Kozuki Oden, Kozuki Momonosuke, heir to the daimyo of Kuri, direct grandson of the former general of Wano Country, supposedly the heir of Wano Country too, but Kurozumi Orochi has ruled for twenty years, so that inheritance doesn't mean much."
The young man Momonosuke, around twenty-eight years old, bowed his head, tears streaming down.
One reason was the imminent death, but more so, it was the hatred for his own failure, finding so much support, putting all efforts into the battle, and yet, failing in the end, even costing the lives of loyal subordinates.
"In the middle, Kurozumi Orochi, right? The general of Wano Country. He failed, I won, it's as simple as that, no illusions or great justice, I am not here to save you, I am here to rule you!"
"I surrender!"
Kurozumi Orochi, although tied with Sea Stone Chains, still able to speak, shouted loudly, "Calamity! I surrender, spare my life! I can work for you! I can help you continue to rule Wano Country!"
"You can surrender, but your status can't."
Sage clicked his tongue, "I have no intention of sharing power with anyone, not at all, so you must die."
"I can become your most loyal dog, do whatever you want! Spare my life!" Kurozumi Orochi was on the verge of tears.
He was captured halfway through the fight with Momonosuke, learning that Kaido was defeated, and Calamity took over. He initially planned to switch allegiances, hoping Calamity would run things behind the scenes.
But that wasn't agreed upon; his fate was sealed.
"Loyalty to a Pirate, is your head not quite right? As long as I keep winning, loyalty will come anyhow. If I lose, what good is loyalty anyway?"
Sage waved his hand and stopped talking to him.
That Kozuki kid has loyalty, but so what? Isn't he just going to die?
Loyal to Sage's children?
But there's one condition...
You have to outlive him!
As a master of body techniques at the pinnacle of his art, Sage assures, his current followers certainly won't outlive him!
He wasn't like the Straw Hat, fighting by burning life force.
Though the fifty-fold form wasn't yet durable, he's healthy!
All enhancements were positive feedback, not only making him stronger but indicating evolution in his physical condition.
To be frank, he didn't quite understand why being stronger meant a shorter life; shouldn't it be longer with strength?
"Kozuki?!"
In front of the livestream in Desolate Town, Tsuru's pupils constricted, "Is it Lord Momonosuke?!"
Their symbol of enduring spirit, now about to be executed?!
No, this can't happen!
"Everyone! We..."
Tsuru bit down, about to rally the people, first to battle the Pirates at least, and seize the strange snail device which seemed to facilitate communication.
"I have a question!"
Just as she was about to act, a voice suddenly rang through the livestream.
Flower Capital.
From within the crowd, a man stood up with a pompadour style head, and loudly said, "How do you plan to govern us? Is it like Orochi, ignoring whether we live or die, letting us starve to death?!"
"Hm?"
Sage turned to look over, momentarily stunned.
It was Arashiyo who spoke...
"My name is Shintaro!"
Shintaro shouted once more.
Sage glanced towards Lily.
"It wasn't me."
Lily whispered, "I didn't arrange for him to do that, it must be spontaneous."
"That's fine, someone asked, so I can provide an answer."
Sage chuckled, and said into the microphone, "Starving is too wasteful, I would extract your labor, let you work for me your entire life until death."
Upon hearing this, the surrounding crowd showed faces of despair.
With Orochi gone, is there another tyrant coming...
In Desolate Town, Tsuru took a deep breath and raised her voice, "We'll resist..."
"Giving you jobs, paying you wages, making you pay taxes, allowing you to buy food. Under my rule, you can be assured of having enough to eat and warm clothes, and even have spare money to buy more things, generating taxes for me."
In the scene, the white-haired man sitting on the Golden Throne laughed heartily:
"Starve? How could you work without eating enough!"
Suddenly, the air around seemed to freeze, making everyone's face stiff.
"Really, really?"
A malnourished farmer next to Tsuru asked tremulously.
Alongside him, another ragged-clothed individual from the livestream bravely stood out and asked the same question.
Sage chuckled at the inquiry.
"Firstly, I never lie. Secondly, me, a renowned landlord of the New World's front half, do you, a weakling, have the qualifications for me to target you?"
Sage bared his teeth, "Genuinely!"
Another wave of silence hit.
Shintaro surveyed the surroundings, frowning. He originally had a plan to ask questions. These people didn't know the governor's goodwill, so they must be informed, to prevent unnecessary resistance later. Asking now was best.
The best way to break Oden's spirit is like this.
Let them spontaneously respect the governor's rule.
In this situation now, it's the best time for the governor's play.
But it seems not enough...
Shintaro was about to continue questioning to reassure the people of Wano Country, but as he opened his mouth, his ears suddenly exploded.
"Oh!!!"
Like a mountain torrent, the people gathered around the square all raised their hands and cheered.
The entire Wano Country seemed shaken by the sound.
Not just in the Flower Capital, but everyone in the broadcast villages who heard the words cheered, eyes filled with hope.
They were not fed up with pollution; they were fed up with hunger and poverty.
The elite of the Flower Capital cared only for themselves, never for them, and the consciousness instilled from their childhood prevented them from approaching the elites, forcing them to bear hunger.
But now, someone said he will execute Orochi and feed them...
The initial reaction is disbelief.
But the person really has a lot of people!
Everyone in the villages could see several tall and fierce Pirates there, alongside in the broadcast scene, a large group of people in different attire, certainly his followers.
Sitting on such a good Golden Judgment Throne, he must be powerful.
Leading so many people as a head, even if not perfectly fulfilled, even if only a tenth fulfilled, it's enough!
They only desire a full meal, anything else like a job or wealth, are luxuries.
Now, at least there's a glimmer of hope.
Lily saw the cheering people with a slight ripple in her eyes but nothing surprising.
This matter was apparent.
Under Sage's rule, it wouldn't take much effort.
Even without personally investigating, just from last night's command, let her broadly understand.
In Wano Country, nobles and commoners are segregated, with samurai between.
Like an abyss dividing them.
It's quite easy to make them an opportunity here.