"'Den—' what were you about to say, Miss Komurasaki~?"
Xia Te asked with a smile.
Komurasaki, who had almost revealed Kyoshiro's real name, covered her mouth tightly and shook her head in panic.
"N-Nothing… it's nothing…"
Meanwhile, Kyoshiro—who had been blasted out of the brothel—landed safely thanks to his strength, though a trace of blood ran down from the corner of his mouth.
The courtesans nearby were all stunned.
As Orochi's trusted guard, Kyoshiro was second only to the shogun in status within the Flower Capital.
When had anyone ever seen him in such a miserable state?
"I already said—all samurai are to be expelled from the Flower Capital. My ship has no need for people with divided loyalties."
Standing atop the brothel, Xia Te looked down coldly.
"And you thought you could use Orochi to pressure me? Go ask your master if he even dares."
Though Orochi seemed to control Wano's samurai forces, his power was hollow.
A large portion of those forces were loyal to the Kozuki clan.
Even Kyoshiro himself—his most trusted subordinate—was secretly one of Oden's retainers.
Now that Kaido had shifted his focus toward cooperating with Xia Te for Whitebeard's territory—
Orochi didn't have the guts to oppose him at all.
As Xia Te finished speaking—
Weevil stepped forward, naginata in hand, like a ferocious beast.
"What were you trying to do to my big brother just now?"
Feeling the pressure from both of them, Kyoshiro knew there was no chance of taking Komurasaki today.
He could only back down, retreating with his men in disgrace.
Seeing him leave unharmed, Komurasaki finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But her heart was heavy.
Wano was about to be torn apart.
Before Kaido and Orochi had been dealt with, now there was Xia Te—another monster in the mix.
What would become of Wano… and of their future?
She had no answer.
—
Just then—
Her chin was lifted again.
Xia Te's face drew close, their noses almost touching.
"L-Lord Xia Te… please, calm yourself…"
Raised in the pleasure quarters, Komurasaki knew exactly what he intended.
But the tricks she used on Orochi were useless here.
"You seem to be hiding quite a few secrets, Komurasaki~"
Xia Te chuckled, reaching into her collar.
She trembled—
but instead of anything improper, he pulled out a small blood pouch.
It was the fake blood she carried to stage her own "death" under Kyoshiro's plan.
"A courtesan carrying something like this every day… what for?"
Xia Te waved it lightly, smiling.
Komurasaki was speechless.
It felt as though everything about her had been seen through.
"Relax. I'm not interested in your secrets."
He casually tossed the pouch out the window, then cupped her face gently.
His gaze softened.
"I'm interested in you."
The look in his eyes—
wasn't tenderness so much as the familiar gaze of men who desired her.
A gaze she had seen countless times.
The only difference—
was his face…
and his overwhelming power.
Komurasaki knew—
there was no escaping tonight.
As expected, the next moment, her lips were claimed.
—
Xia Te couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
After giving that Celestial Dragon woman to Weevil, he himself hadn't even had the chance to enjoy anything yet.
What a generous captain he was.
—
"Maybe… this man could help me kill Orochi…"
As things unfolded, a thought suddenly surfaced in Komurasaki's mind.
Using herself to tame the lion.
She had seen Xia Te's strength.
Perhaps—
he could become her weapon.
—
Xia Te paused slightly.
What's with this woman?
Why is she suddenly so… proactive?
If he knew what she was thinking, he'd probably laugh.
In his eyes—
she was nothing more than a bird kept on his ship.
A canary in a cage.
And this little bird…
was actually thinking of using him?
As if she could have it that easy.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.
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