Meanwhile, Kozuki Oden had landed on Onigashima with the Nine Red Scabbards, only to find
The Beasts Pirates were fully prepared, clearly having learned of their plan in advance.
Kaido stood at the forefront, a spiked club resting on one shoulder, a sake flask in the other hand, a half-smile playing across his face:
"You're slower than I expected, Oden."
"What? The plan was leaked?"
The moment Oden saw the Beasts Pirates assembled, unease gripped him.
Kaido took a long swig of sake, gripped his spiked club, and advanced a few steps, laughing loudly toward the Nine Red Scabbards behind Oden:
"Orororororo… You lot, hurry up and come over. Once I kill Kozuki Oden, you will be the greatest heroes!"
Swish, swish, swish!
At his words, the Nine Red Scabbards immediately split into several formations.
Kin'emon, Denjiro, Ashura Doji, Kiku, and Raizo eyed each other warily.
Inuarashi and Nekomamushi stood back-to-back, weapons ready.
Kanjuro appeared innocent, scanning left and right.
Kawamatsu's expression was grim; his famous sword gleamed coldly in his hand.
Oden drew his sword, holding it horizontally before the Nine Red Scabbards, staring at Kaido:
"Enough! Whether truth or lies, all problems can be solved by cutting you down! Or are you so afraid, Kaido, that you must reveal others to stall for time?"
"Orororororo…"
Kaido transformed into his blue dragon form and soared into the sky:
"I'm going to make sure you die understanding!"
"Boro Breath!"
"Oden Two-Sword Style!"
The surrounding Beasts Pirates fodder could not withstand Oden and Kaido's Conqueror's Haki; apart from Abel, Queen, and a few others, everyone else collapsed, reducing pressure on the Nine Red Scabbards.
Strangely, Oden still did not suspect the Nine Red Scabbards' internal discord. Clearly, the entire plan had been leaked to only ten people and Lady Toki.
Despite Kaido's preparedness, Oden still trusted his retainers completely.
Yet among the Nine Red Scabbards, already torn by suspicion, harmony had vanished. They guarded against each other even in battle, their former synergy gone.
Meanwhile, Black and his group reached the Shogun's Palace under Lady Toki's guidance.
Orochi occupied the palace, so entry would not be free.
Boom!
The palace gates were cut down. Mandy, rapier in hand, charged, defeating every opponent with a single strike.
"You… who are you? How dare you trespass into the Shogun's Palace? You must be ready for the consequences!"
Black and the others followed Mandy into the main hall, hearing the defiant words.
Black was accustomed to the confidence of Wano samurai; after all, when Whitebeard first came, he knocked Oden out with the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. Even then, the Nine Red Scabbards asked Whitebeard if he was prepared for the consequences.
Black looked toward the voice and saw a lewd old man, about three and a half meters tall, staring at them Orochi, the current Shogun. His proportions were grotesque: short legs, huge belly, oversized head.
Black had no intention of arguing with this fool, kicking him aside with a smile to Lady Toki:
"The troublesome ones are dealt with, Lady. Please, continue to lead the way."
Lady Toki expressionlessly fiddled with things for a moment, then opened a downward passage.
Along the secret corridor, Black used Observation Haki to perceive the surroundings, predicting any sudden movements. Who knew if this dead-hearted woman might snap and attack?
Fortunately, they arrived safely at the third secret room.
Inside, a massive red poneglyph was embedded in the wall.
"Indeed," Black exclaimed.
"The locations of these poneglyphs are known to the Shogun, Daimyo, and other officials of Wano, so they don't always appear in the original places described in history. Luckily, I found someone to guide us here."
He placed Kozuki Hiyori on the ground, took the lantern from Stella, and examined the glyph.
Hmm… could not understand it.
Road poneglyphs were never meant to be read alone; their power emerged only when all four were assembled. Black also had no intention of taking it it was too conspicuous. The content was the key; the stone itself, irrelevant.
Black called Robin over.
"Come, record its content. We should go."
Robin hurried forward, eyes gleaming as she prepared to make a rubbing, joined by Koala and the others.
Black turned to Lady Toki, placing an arm around her trembling body, whispering:
"Thank you, Lady. After we see Kozuki Oden executed, we will return you to Mary Geoise."
Lady Toki glanced at him, her expression one of disbelief, then quickly lowered her head, shivering.
"Oden will not fail," she said softly.
"Then let's wait and see," Black replied casually.
Robin and the others finished the rubbing, and Black signaled everyone to prepare to leave.
Returning to Oden's house courtyard, Momonosuke's cries had grown faint; blood from the severed limbs had slowed.
Lady Toki rushed to him, hesitant to touch his wounds.
Hiyori covered her mouth, softly calling, "Brother."
Remembering Black's presence, Lady Toki knelt, trembling, performing a dogeza:
"Please, save Momo! I will pay any price to keep him alive!"
Black stepped forward, observing the boy, clicking his tongue:
"This is too tragic. It shouldn't be."
He extended a finger across Momonosuke's neck; the head instantly separated from the body.
"This way, he won't suffer anymore."
Black shook his head, sighing:
"Alas… I'm still too kind."
Lady Toki stared at the corpse, slowly lifting the head. Momonosuke's eyes remained open, full of grievances.
Her face lost all expression. After a long silence, she looked at Black calmly.
At that moment, another truth crystallized—heart like dead ashes.
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