Kaido's words struck Kozuki Oden like a bolt from the blue.
Although his mind had already been battered by countless shocks these past days, when bloody reality was laid bare before him, he still couldn't bear it.
Oden looked to Toki for confirmation.
At this moment, the only one he could think of was still Toki.
As for Rosse, who had been watching like a spectator the whole time, Oden had already ignored him.
That bastard, nothing that came out of his mouth could be true, Oden didn't believe a single word.
"No need to deceive you."
Toki said coldly, "If you hadn't come back then, or if you hadn't left, none of this would have happened."
Similar words Oden had already heard once before.
But Kaido's words never cut as deep as Toki's.
Especially now, as he dimly realized, it might have been his lack of trust that pushed Toki toward Rosse. That realization struck him even harder.
But things had reached this point; he neither wanted to nor could admit it.
"That was Whitebeard, how could I not go save him? And this time he came to save me too!"
Oden said stubbornly, righteousness and bonds of brotherhood, that was the root of his being.
"If you don't have the brains for it, don't throw yourself into danger so lightly. If you insist on joining in, then be prepared to pay the price," Toki gazed at Oden calmly. She knew him well, which was why she could peel open his wounds one by one, "Now you understand, don't you?"
"As the price, the entire Wano has fallen into hell."
"Enough!"
"As the price, Hiyori and I became the enemy's spoils."
"Shut up!"
"As the price, you're now hanging here in misery."
"TOKI!"
"As the price, the entire Wano will be erased, its culture and customs completely obliterated, leaving nothing behind."
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH, TOKI!"
Oden roared with a twisted face.
These prices, these were the things Oden valued most, almost as important as those bonds of brotherhood.
But now, not a single one of them had been kept.
Whitebeard had fled, but everything else had become burdens he must carry as the cost.
To see all he cherished torn away, how could he accept it?
Especially when these icy words came from Toki's mouth.
"Can't handle it already?", Toki's gaze was cold as she stared at the crazed Oden.
Some things, with time, don't fade. They fester, the more you think, the angrier you get.
'Why?'
Why was it, when she returned from Rosse, Oden hadn't trusted her at all, not even giving her a chance to explain?
Why, at the very beginning, did he intend for her and Hiyori to be given away as spoils, as tools for Rosse's amusement?
Even that she could endure.
But it was Oden himself who had decided to ignore her feelings, preparing to throw her out to face Rosse.
Since you'd made ready to send her away, then why later act ashamed and furious?
Why strip her and throw her out, to be humiliated by outsiders at will?
At that time, what thoughts were you harboring when you said such cold words?
And now, it's only just begun, and you already can't take it?
"Kozuki Oden, today has only just begun,".Toki's voice was indifferent as she finished.
Rosse, as if he knew exactly what she was about to do, smiled faintly and clapped his hands.
The applause carried far, like a signal.
Within a minute, a wooden cart appeared before them.
A miserable, weakened old man was carried off the cart and thrown to the ground.
Seeing this old man, Oden's eyes widened instantly, "Father?"
'Impossible!'
His father, Kozuki Sukiyaki, wasn't he killed by Kurozumi Orochi?
"Fool! You think Kurozumi Orochi could kill Kozuki Sukiyaki?", Kaido sneered with folded arms.
"It wasn't you who did it?", Oden asked in surprise.
To see a parent thought long dead, at least in that moment, Oden was overwhelmed.
"Hmph! I wouldn't stoop to it."
Kaido laughed coldly. In truth, his ties with Orochi back then weren't what they were now. Only after Sukiyaki fled did he and Orochi cement their alliance.
"Father, are you alright?"
Once Oden confirmed it was indeed his father, he shouted in excitement, almost forgetting the scene he was in.
But while he was lost in joy, others hadn't forgotten.
And then Oden saw, Toki drew her Ame-no-Habakiri, stepping slowly toward his father.
"Toki, what are you doing?"
"No! He's my father, Toki, you can't do that!"
"You bastard! Why are you raising your blade?"
"No, if you keep going, even as a ghost I won't forgive you!"
"Ame-no-Habakiri was forged by my father for me! If you're going to kill, at least use another blade!"
"AHHHH! I'm begging you, stop moving already!"
As Oden's frantic cries poured out, Toki still held her blade raised high, now above her head.
In that instant, she looked like an executioner about to behead a prisoner.
Seeing it, Oden completely snapped, "You filthy wh*re! If I'd known it would come to this, I never should've saved you! I should've let those bandits use you to death!"
"Kozuki Oden, even if you hadn't saved me back then, I could've escaped with my Devil Fruit powers. And for all these years, I gave up myself for you alone. I owe you nothing," As Toki spoke coldly, her Ame-no-Habakiri slashed down.
SHHHK!
Under Oden's near-mad gaze, Kozuki Sukiyaki was beheaded before his eyes.
"AHHHHH!!"
Oden suddenly broke free of his chains. Even without arms and legs, he lunged at Toki at terrifying speed, intent on killing her.
A father's murder is a hatred that cannot coexist under heaven.
Even more so when the murderer was once his closest companion.
But unfortunately—
Thud!
Oden had barely made it halfway before Kaido effortlessly slammed him down, pinning him to the ground.
In his current state, Oden couldn't possibly break free of Kaido. He could only thrash in powerless rage, spitting curses at Toki.
With his knee pressed on Oden's back, Kaido showed a mocking grin.
'Kozuki Oden, so you can end up like this too?'
At that thought, Kaido gave a serious glance at Toki.
This was the first time he truly looked at the woman he'd always dismissed.
Once, by Oden's side, she seemed like a meek little lamb.
But now, at Rosse's side for only a short time, she had completely changed, like an entirely different person.
Perhaps this was her true nature, or perhaps Rosse's training was extraordinary.
Whichever it was, today's Toki was enough for Kaido to acknowledge.
Not about strength, this was absolutely a ruthless character.
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