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Mine, plaza.
"Hurry up!"
"If you delay, you'll all die!"
"Gah-gah, look forward to it. I heard a big shot arrived."
Under the whips of the jailers, a large number of prisoners gathered in the plaza, each filled with fear and unease.
Similar situations often occurred, especially when Queen, the tyrant of the mine, arrived. He would always find ways to torment them for amusement, and countless prisoners had died tragically because of it.
Queen's performance stage.
Vice Warden Dobon stepped forward and reported in a deep voice, "Babanuki-sama, 1000 prisoners have been assembled."
"Understood."
Babanuki commanded with a gloomy face, "Prepare the ships. I'm going to transport these prisoners to Hakumai."
"Send them to Hakumai?"
Dobon's forehead dripped with sweat as he bravely spoke, "Babanuki-sama, sending so many prisoners at once might affect the work at the mine."
"This is an order from above. We just need to follow it!"
Babanuki replied coldly.
He, of course, knew that the mine's work would be problematic, but to save his own life, he had no choice but to help cover up the truth.
"Go quickly!"
"Yes!"
Dobon dared not ask further and quickly left.
Babanuki breathed a sigh of relief, turned, and went to the preparation room behind the stage, humbly approaching Daichi.
"Daichi-sama, what you requested has been done. I will personally escort these prisoners to Hakumai later."
"Good, thank you."
Daichi nodded slightly, playing with a flintlock pistol in his hand, and said, "Prepare some swords and firearms for me as well, enough for 500 people."
"Understood."
Babanuki breathed a sigh of relief.
He was truly afraid that Daichi would make another outrageous request. If it was just weapons, he had as many as he needed.
He now only wanted to send away this troublemaker in front of him.
"Oh, right, Babanuki."
Daichi put down the gun and looked at Babanuki with a smile.
"Hyogoro is with you, isn't he?"
"Grandpa Hyo?!"
Babanuki's heart skipped a beat.
Daichi nodded with a smile, "Yes, that Grandpa Hyo. Send him with the prisoner group as well."
"This..."
Babanuki's expression turned ugly.
Damn it, this troublemaker could want anyone, but he just had to want Grandpa Hyo, the most special prisoner in the mine.
If he lost Grandpa Hyo, Queen-sama wouldn't let him off!
Daichi raised an eyebrow, lifted the gun in his hand again, and aimed it at Babanuki, seemingly casually.
"Is there a problem?"
"N-no problem!"
Babanuki stammered in response.
It's over, he's dead!
Wooooooh, you utterly hateful Demon Muscle Man, when Queen-sama returns from his expedition, he will definitely not let you off!
Daichi's expression darkened.
"Why aren't you going yet!"
"Yes, Daichi-sama!"
Half a day later, a thousand prisoners were transported to Ebisu Town, and the massive display nearly scared the residents of Ebisu Town to death.
The village chief's grass hut.
The four bosses knelt on one knee before Hyogoro, who had become a short old man, weeping uncontrollably with excitement.
"Boss Hyogoro, I never thought I would have the chance to reunite with you in this life. It's truly wonderful that you are safe and sound."
"You guys..."
Hyogoro was in a daze.
Even at this moment, he still didn't understand what had happened. He only knew that he got on a ship and was then sent here.
He never dreamed that he would see his four former subordinates here.
"Did you save me?"
"How could we have such great ability?"
The four men smiled bitterly and moved aside, revealing Daichi drinking tea behind them.
"It was Daichi-sama."
"Pirate?"
Hyogoro was stunned.
Looking at the other party's clothes and the horned skull logo printed on his clothes, he was clearly a member of the Beast Pirates.
What's going on?
Did Cho and the others join the pirates?!
Hyogoro looked at Cho, the most clever of the four, and eagerly pressed, "Cho, what exactly is going on!"
"Old man Hyo, it's like this..."
Cho hesitated for a moment, then explained in detail how she had to work for the pirates for five years in exchange for his chance to live.
Hyogoro was silent for a long time, then sighed deeply.
"You've been through so much."
"What are you saying, old man? We're truly so happy to see you again. Forget just five years, it would be worth it even if we exchanged our lives!"
The four responded in a rush.
In the underworld, the most important things are loyalty and honor. The kindness Hyogoro showed them back then could never be repaid in a lifetime.
The reunion brought joy, but they still had to face reality. Their fate was now entirely in the hands of the pirate drinking tea.
Hyogoro came before Daichi.
He was now short and frail, no longer the formidable Hyogoro of yesteryear, unable to even control his own destiny.
Hyogoro lowered his head.
"Thank you, sir."
"Thank me? I think you misunderstood."
Daichi put down his teacup and looked at Hyogoro with no expression, "Hyogoro, I have no intention of giving you freedom. I brought you out simply to make these gang thugs willingly work for me."
"..."
Hyogoro was speechless.
He knew very well that the Beast Pirates would not let him go. After all, with his influence, he could easily gather rebels from all over, posing a great threat to the Beast Pirates.
"Speaking of which."
Daichi changed the subject, slowly took a sip of tea, and casually said, "It's not impossible to truly let you go."
"What?!"
Hyogoro was very composed and was not swayed by Daichi's words, but the four bosses behind him were not so calm.
The four immediately stepped forward excitedly.
"Daichi-sama, can you really let Boss Hyogoro go?"
"Of course. Your boss's life is not important to me. Besides, even if I let Hyogoro go, it wouldn't pose a threat to the Beast Pirates."
Daichi stated the facts.
Wano Country was not like it was twenty years ago, nor was there Kozuki Oden who could contend with Kaido. Even if Hyogoro gathered the Kozuki remnants, it would at most be a small nuisance.
It wouldn't cause much trouble.
Daichi looked at the four.
"But why should I let him go?"
"..."
The four stood frozen, as if doused with cold water.
But soon, they reacted.
The four exchanged glances and at the same time knelt on the ground, bowing their heads in plea, "Daichi-sama, as long as you are willing to let Old man Hyo go, our four lives will be yours from now on, we will not break our word!"
"How touching."
A smile finally appeared on Daichi's face.
Hyogoro was extremely worried, pulling hard at the four, and couldn't help but curse, "Foolish, get up now!"
"Old man Hyo, this is our wish, please don't interfere!"
The four kept their heads down, their foreheads pressed tightly against the ground.
They knew full well they were making a deal with the devil, but they had no other bargaining chips. They could only bet everything they had.
Their lives were insignificant, but Old man Hyo was not only their benefactor but also the last hope for the samurai of Wano Country.
"Clap clap clap!"
Daichi clapped softly.
Just meeting Hyogoro wouldn't make these bosses wholeheartedly work for him. A greater temptation was needed.
He didn't want to be suddenly backstabbed.
"You... sigh!"
Hyogoro looked at Daichi, a chill running down his spine.
The pirate in front of him was completely different from Kaido. His methods of manipulating people's hearts were ten or even a hundred times more terrifying than Kaido's!