Kanjuro stared at Bullet in disbelief.
"My name is Bullet. Looks like you just escaped from Wano and haven't heard a thing. I sailed on the Roger Pirates' ship." Bullet shrugged casually.
He then turned to Redfield. "And you're wrong about one thing. Kozuki Oden and I never got along. If not for the captain and first mate, I'd have beaten that man senseless. Always acting righteous and pretending to be pure-hearted."
"Don't speak about my father like that!" Momonosuke yelled from Kin'emon's arms, glare burning with anger.
"Your father? Kozuki Oden's son?" Bullet frowned. "At your age? Impossible. You should be a grown man. So you're a fake."
He stepped forward, murderous will erupting from him, thick and suffocating like a battlefield drenched in blood.
"You dare pretend to be Kozuki Oden's son? Even if I didn't like Oden, I won't tolerate imposters. Don't blame me for crushing you."
Even Bullet, reckless as he was, understood what awaited them in Wano. The name Kozuki Oden still held enormous influence among its people. The Roger Pirates had seen firsthand how Oden commanded respect during their visit.
Issho had already declared these survivors a threat. Bullet trusted that judgment. Issho and Redfield balanced brains and strength. Bullet himself was simple—hit what needed to be hit.
Momonosuke shook violently, terror flooding his face.
"Sir! We really are Kozuki Oden-sama's retainers! Please, for Oden-sama's sake, let us go!" Kanjuro fell to his knees, forehead touching the deck.
The murderous pressure froze their limbs. It felt like stepping into Oden's battlefield again, the same killing intent Kaido unleashed when the two clashed.
Kin'emon stared at Bullet's silhouette, heart pounding. Then he remembered the name—Douglas Bullet. Oden had spoken of him. A monster, a battle fanatic born for destruction.
"You're Douglas Bullet… the Demon Heir?" Kin'emon muttered.
Bullet smirked. "If you've heard of me, then you know what Oden used to call me. A battle maniac. A reckless brute."
Kin'emon bowed deeply. "Bullet-sama… please. For Oden-sama's sake, let us live."
Bullet's lips curled into a hungry grin, predatory and cold.
Seeing that expression, Kin'emon's face darkened. He understood. Their fate was sealed.
Kaito chuckled softly. "Enough. Stop playing with them. Send them on their way."
"Why?!" Momonosuke roared through clenched teeth. "We've never wronged you! We don't even know you!"
Kaito stepped forward, grin widening. "Since you're Oden's son, I'll tell you. I'm going to Wano, I plan to delete kaido, then take Wano for myself. Your Kozuki clan has too much influence. I won't allow a second voice in my territory."
His expression turned cold. "As a gift, I'll personally send you off."
A sudden burst of suction tore through the air. Momonosuke was ripped from Kin'emon's grasp and pulled into Ayanami Kaito's hand.
"Young master!" Kin'emon, Raizo, and Kanjuro immediately charged forward, weapons drawn.
"Clowns," Redfield muttered.
With a flick of his wrist, a swarm of blood-red bats erupted from his hand, circling the three retainers and attacking in a flurry of teeth and wings.
"Damn it!" Kin'emon swung desperately, slashing at the bats, but more kept coming. Their bites grew deeper, venom spreading through muscle and bone.
"Their fangs… they're poisoned!" Kin'emon shouted, biting his own tongue to stay conscious.
Raizo staggered, equally pale. Kanjuro was nearly collapsed already.
"Looks like Momonosuke and the others are finished… I must escape." Kanjuro, trembling, pulled out his brush. While barely resisting the bats, he sketched a powerful eagle with frantic strokes.
In a breath, the painting came alive.
Kanjuro leapt onto it, commanding it skyward.
Redfield and Bullet watched him ascend with detached amusement.
"Hah… hah…" High above, Kanjuro exhaled in relief.
Then—
Fwoom.
A razor-sharp slash shot upward, cleaving the eagle clean in half.
Kanjuro plummeted but twisted his body, aligning himself to fall away from Kaito's crew. If he landed far enough, he could still run.
But reality was cruel.
A shadow engulfed him.
A storm of bats swarmed from the sky, tearing, biting, dragging him down. He had no strength left to resist. They dropped him onto Kaito's ship, unconscious.
On deck, Kin'emon and Raizo lay lifeless, drained dry by Redfield's bats. Momonosuke, trapped in Kaito's grip, stared at him with bloodshot eyes full of hatred.
"I don't like that look," Kaito said plainly. "Since you're going to join your father, I won't waste more time."
With effortless strength, Ayanami Kaito snapped Momonosuke's neck.
He felt no guilt. In the original history he knew, Momonosuke hid behind his age while groping every woman he could—Nami, Robin, and other females.
"We're taking Wano," Kaito said quietly. "And this… is justice for the world."
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