"There are invaders!"
"Evacuate the citizens on the streets!"
"Run!!"
The streets.
In the eastern part of the Flower Capital, an area densely packed with entertainment establishments, a large number of geishas and citizens fled in panic.
In the nearby streets, many guards dressed as samurai, armed with swords or jitte, were engaged in fierce battles with pirates.
These pirates were fierce and ruthless. Their movements were clean and decisive, every strike aimed at incapacitating their enemies with maximum efficiency. They quickly slaughtered their way through more than half of the Flower Capital.
On one of the quieter streets, Allen watched the setting sun slowly sink below the horizon, its last rays fading away with the drifting clouds.
At the end of the street, inside a relatively grand wooden building, over twenty geishas were hiding in a small attic.
They huddled in the corners, trembling uncontrollably as they listened to the sounds of slaughter outside with terrified expressions.
Meanwhile, in another deserted room next door.
"Why is it him? This is completely different from what the intelligence said."
A man with light blue hair styled in a pompadour had most of his body hidden behind a wooden wall. He peeked out slightly, secretly observing Allen through the window.
Denjiro frowned slightly, withdrew his gaze, and turned to look at Princess Hiyori, who was sitting formally on the mat. He lowered his voice, "Kurozumi Orochi just contacted me using a Transponder Snail. He said Kin'emon and the Whitebeard Pirates are about to invade Wano Country, and ordered me to take my subordinates to the Shogun's Palace to act as guards."
"..."
Denjiro paused, his expression solemn. "If I'm not mistaken, those people outside are clearly from the Demon Lion Pirates. What exactly is going on?"
The sudden chaos had caught everyone in Wano Country off guard. Without any source of intelligence, he had no clue about the current situation.
Hiyori's bright eyes revealed a hint of profundity as she thought aloud, "It's somewhat understandable that Kin'emon and the others are with the Whitebeard Pirates. After all, Father and Mother spent time on their ship in the past."
"Back then, Mother used her powers to send Brother and Kin'emon twenty years into the future, telling them to find people who could help open Wano Country's borders. Thinking about it now, it must be the Whitebeard Pirates."
"But why are the Demon Lion Pirates here at this time..."
Thinking of this, a trace of worry inevitably appeared in Hiyori's eyes.
Ever since her father Oden's death, she had been hiding in the entertainment district disguised as a geisha.
Although Wano Country had been closed off for years, having spent so much time in a place where information flowed relatively freely, she had some understanding of the outside world.
Demon Lion Allen, Red-Haired Shanks, Kaido of the Beasts, and Flame Emperor Ace were the Four Emperors, their status and reputation in the New World at their absolute peak.
An unfamiliar faction with strength rivaling the Animal Kingdom Pirates had descended upon Wano Country, and right at the exact time predicted by her mother. This couldn't help but make Hiyori deeply worried.
"The situation in Wano Country is complex right now. I really can't rest easy with you hiding here alone, Princess. Please come with me to the Shogun's Palace later," Denjiro proposed.
Although being near Kurozumi Orochi wasn't a good choice, it would at least provide a greater guarantee for her life.
Hiyori understood Denjiro's good intentions and nodded softly. "I understand."
Relieved by her agreement, Denjiro turned his gaze back outside and said, "Once these pirates leave, we'll head out and bypass Sake Street to..."
Suddenly, his voice came to an abrupt halt.
Hiyori looked at Denjiro by the window in confusion. Just as she was about to ask, she was shocked to find a black-haired figure standing in the corridor outside the window!
"Who's there!" Hiyori cried out in panic, quickly standing up and instinctively drawing a dagger from her robes.
"Oh? Do the geishas of Wano Country also possess sword-dancing skills?" Allen glanced at her indifferently, his eyes landing on the dagger in Hiyori's hand.
Denjiro's face turned extremely grave. He gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist tightly, ready to draw it at any moment, and gritted his teeth. "Demon Lion Allen, what is your purpose in coming to Wano Country!"
"You recognize me?" Allen looked at Denjiro with interest. "That's quite rare. I've been in this country all day, and you're the first person I've met who recognizes my identity."
"Cut the chatter! Answer me!"
*Clang!*
Denjiro shouted again, rapidly drawing his sword to slash at Allen's neck, while simultaneously turning his head to yell at Hiyori behind him, "Run!"
Obviously, he didn't think his strike would have much effect; he only hoped to force Allen back so Hiyori could take the opportunity to escape.
However.
*Ding!*
The blade let out a crisp metallic hum. Just as it was about to strike Allen's neck, it was forcefully stopped by a single, pitch-black finger coated in Armament Haki.
Hiyori, who had just made up her mind to run and taken a single step, froze in shock at the sight.
Denjiro's face went pale. He stared in disbelief at the cold-looking Allen before him, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
To easily block his quick-draw slash with just one finger—this gap in strength was simply despair-inducing.
Allen slowly raised his other hand, pinching his index finger and thumb together and aiming at Denjiro. His fingertip rapidly heated up, glowing with a scorching red light.
"Flying Finger Pistol: Draw!"
*Swish!*
As Allen flicked his finger with force, a shockwave condensed with Haki and intense heat shot out from his fingertip!
*Pfft!*
The Haki shockwave pierced through Denjiro's body, bursting out from his back along with a spray of blood, before scattering and striking the wooden wall.
*Boom!*
The wooden wall shattered, creating a massive gaping hole. Through the opening, over a dozen geishas could be seen huddled in the corner, their faces filled with terror.
"Puh-wah—!!"
*Thud!*
Denjiro fell heavily to his knees. Clutching his profusely bleeding abdomen, he spat a mouthful of blood onto the floor in agony.
"Denjiro!!"
Hiyori cried out in panic. Just as she was about to rush forward, Denjiro hurriedly raised a hand to stop her.
"Don't worry about me... run...! Cough, cough!" Denjiro shouted pleadingly, unable to hold back another two mouthfuls of blood. He struggled to look up, glaring at Allen, his trembling arm gripping his sword tightly as he tried to stand up again.
Allen didn't even spare him a glance. Instead, he looked toward Hiyori and the group of geishas hiding in the next room, his gaze suddenly darkening!
*Boom!!*
Conqueror's Haki was released! A powerful shockwave of Haki rippled outward, instantly sweeping over everyone present!
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
In the blink of an eye, all the geishas rolled their eyes back and lost consciousness, their bodies slowly collapsing onto the floor.
"This is... Conqueror's Haki...!"
Feeling the familiar yet foreign power before him, Denjiro glared at Allen with a mixture of anger and astonishment.
Only then did Allen look down at Denjiro, the only person present who hadn't been knocked out by the Haki. With a cold expression, he raised his foot and kicked him viciously in the head!
*Boom!!*
Denjiro's body was sent flying backward, crashing through the wall and slamming heavily onto the street, sending wood splinters and dust flying into the air.
Just then.
*Puru~ Puru~ Puru~*
The Transponder Snail in his pocket suddenly rang. Allen took it out and answered.
*Kacha.*
"Who is it?"
"Hey! Allen, it's me. We're currently at the bottom of the island's waterfall. Flame Emperor Ace just led the New Whitebeard Pirates onto Wano Country!" Cavendish's urgent voice came through the phone.
Allen couldn't help but look surprised. "Are you sure? How many of them came?"
"Unless there's a second Whitebeard pirate flag in the world, I shouldn't be mistaken. They brought nearly thirty ships; almost their entire pirate fleet is here!" Cavendish replied through the Transponder Snail.
Hearing this, Allen frowned. He pondered for a moment, connecting a few dots in his mind, and then said, "Notify the entire fleet to come up immediately."
"Understood."
*Kacha.*
After hanging up the Transponder Snail, Allen turned to look at a magnificent mansion built on a high rock in the distance.
The sudden arrival of the Whitebeard Pirates was somewhat unexpected, but after a little thought, it made sense.
If he remembered correctly, Ace had already visited Wano Country five years ago when he first entered the New World.
He had apparently encountered a shipwreck and drifted here, where he befriended a girl named Tama in Amigasa Village, and later met Kaido's daughter, Yamato.
Coupled with the Oden family's past relationship with the Whitebeard Pirates...
Now that those guys hadn't disbanded due to Whitebeard's death, nor had they been wiped out in their crusade against Blackbeard, it was understandable that they would come to Wano Country.
Without lingering any longer, Allen jumped down to the street and continued heading in the direction of the Shogun's Palace.