The top floor of Orochi Castle no longer held its former majesty. What remained was a chaotic battlefield scarred by violence and destruction.
The walls and pillars bore vicious sword marks and deep cracks like battle wounds. In the center of the devastated space, a prominent ice field stretched across the floor with crystalline beauty.
Dozens of ice sculptures stood frozen in various poses throughout the frozen expanse, their expressions captured in lifelike detail at the moment of their defeat.
Of the originally dense army of samurai and ninjas, only a handful of fortunate survivors who hadn't been blinded by the promise of 500 gold pieces could still stand and maintain any semblance of combat readiness.
They gripped their weapons with white knuckles, but their bodies trembled uncontrollably. Their fearful gazes remained locked on Yamato, who stood in the battlefield's center like an unstoppable war goddess.
"Hey there!"
Yamato casually shouldered her massive kanabo "Takeru" while placing her free hand on her hip, complaining with obvious dissatisfaction: "Why aren't any of you coming to fight me? I'm getting seriously impatient waiting here!"
Her tone carried the frustrated annoyance of someone denied proper entertainment.
There were barely any worthy opponents remaining. Only those few ninja leaders had possessed some interesting techniques, but they had fallen after just a few club swings.
The remaining samurai and ninjas exchanged desperate glances, their faces etched with internal struggle and mounting despair.
They desperately wanted to flee but feared the brutal purge that Kurozumi Orochi would unleash afterward.
Yet staying meant facing that monstrous girl who could instantly freeze people into decorative ice sculptures. Either choice felt like certain death.
Just as they wrestled with this impossible decision, steady footsteps echoed from the rear passage.
TAP... TAP... TAP...
The sound of approaching footsteps rang out like steady drumbeats, shattering the deathly silence that had settled over the battlefield.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the source, witnessing a strikingly handsome man leading Oniwabanshu captain Fukurokuju and a group of surviving samurai as they approached with leisurely confidence.
"Who is that person?"
"Why is our captain following behind him like a subordinate?"
The samurai and ninjas murmured among themselves with growing confusion.
The moment Yamato spotted who had arrived, her earlier impatience vanished completely from her mind.
"Kai, look at what I accomplished!"
Yamato bounced excitedly in place several times, waving her kanabo enthusiastically and pointing toward the ice field and its frozen sculptures.
Her tone overflowed with pride and the desire to show off her handiwork.
"Excellently done, Yamato." Kai approached her side and naturally extended his hand to pat her hair in genuine praise.
"Hehe!" Yamato, who moments before had resembled a battlefield demon, released a carefree, almost childish laugh.
After acknowledging Yamato's success, Kai turned to face the group of silent samurai and ninjas, calmly clapping his hands twice.
Fukurokuju immediately understood the signal. He stepped forward with ceremonial precision, raised high the severed head of Kurozumi Orochi that he had specifically retrieved, and announced loudly: "Kurozumi Orochi has been executed for his crimes! Kneel and surrender immediately!"
The Shogun is actually dead?
The samurai's and ninjas' initial reaction wasn't grief-stricken fury or passionate vows of vengeance, but rather a profound sigh of collective relief.
Thank the heavens above. They finally didn't have to continue fighting that terrifying monster.
Let whoever still wanted that cursed 500 gold bounty go and claim it themselves.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Like a cascading chain reaction, the metallic sounds of dropping weapons rose and fell throughout the space, connecting into one continuous symphony of surrender!
The samurai and ninjas all dropped to their knees in unison, pressing their foreheads to the cold stone floor while shouting together: "We willingly surrender ourselves!"
Observing the 'harmonious' scene that had unfolded before him, Kai nodded with complete satisfaction.
The overall strategic situation had been definitively settled.
The only person dissatisfied with this rapid conclusion was probably Yamato, who still craved more action and combat.
"Ah! Kai, you're being unfair! I wanted to fight Kurozumi Orochi personally too." Yamato pouted with obvious disappointment.
After all, he was Wano Country's Shogun. Defeating him in single combat would have felt far more satisfying than crushing these expendable foot soldiers.
Hearing her complaint, Kai couldn't help but laugh and shake his head with amusement: "Kurozumi Orochi isn't actually a strong fighter by any measure. In genuine combat, he probably wouldn't even match the Ulti siblings' capabilities."
"Really? Well then, forget about it entirely." Yamato pursed her lips, looking genuinely disappointed by this revelation.
After successfully pacifying Yamato's concerns, Kai decided not to delay their mission any further.
He accepted Kurozumi Orochi's severed head from Fukurokuju and strode purposefully toward the top floor's expansive balcony, which offered the finest view of the surrounding area.
From this elevated vantage point, the entire Flower Capital spread out below like a detailed map.
At this moment, the base of Orochi Castle was packed with countless people pressing together.
Nearly half of the Flower Capital's entire population had been drawn by the earlier dragon sighting, successive explosive sounds, and earth-shaking battle noises that had echoed across the district.
"Does anyone know what actually happened up there?"
"Someone's definitely causing serious trouble."
"That's obvious to everyone! The important question is: who exactly is causing this trouble?"
"I heard rumors that Kaido's daughter arrived, claiming she intends to depose Shogun Orochi."
"Really? If that's true, it would be absolutely wonderful!"
"This development might not actually be good news for us. At least Shogun Orochi is a local ruler."
"I honestly don't care who it is anymore. I just desperately wish the Shogun would face some real danger."
"Exactly! My feelings precisely!"
The citizens discussed the situation among themselves in hushed but excited tones, silently offering prayers that their oppressive ruler wouldn't emerge from this crisis safe and sound.
"SILENCE!"
Kai's voice boomed like thunder from atop Orochi Castle, carrying clearly throughout the entire crowded plaza below.
"Kurozumi Orochi has committed countless crimes, shown absolutely no remorse, refused to abdicate his position, and even resisted with violent force. He has now been executed for his transgressions!"
Kai raised Kurozumi Orochi's severed head high above his own and proclaimed loudly for all to witness.
"As the official representative of Guardian King Kaido, I hereby declare that in exactly three days, Wano Country will conduct elections to choose a new Shogun from among the various regional daimyo!"
After delivering his historic announcement, Kai paid no further attention to the boiling clamor and animated discussions erupting below, turning to return inside Orochi Castle.
Within the castle's interior, Yamato unfroze those ice sculptures at his subtle signal.
These former opponents had little to say for themselves and directly joined the growing surrender army without resistance.
Kurozumi Orochi had never possessed the leadership qualities necessary to inspire loyalty unto death.
Worth noting, Kyoshiro also emerged from his hiding place, leading the samurai of the Kyoshiro Family to likewise declare their submission to the new order.
Kai had no intention of exposing the man's true identity. A known spy was infinitely more useful than a dead one, after all.
Not to mention, he still held Kyoshiro's greatest weakness firmly in his hands: Komurasaki herself.
Kai issued his commands with cold efficiency: "Fukurokuju, display Kurozumi Orochi's corpse publicly for three full days. Also, publish detailed accounts of his crimes in the newspapers. I'll provide you with the specific content to include later."
"Yes, Lord Kai!" Fukurokuju bowed deeply and acknowledged the order with professional dedication.
Kai nodded with slight approval and continued his instructions: "Clean up and completely repair Orochi Castle. Most importantly, the main hall must be fully prepared for official meetings within three days. Also, immediately send notifications to all daimyo throughout Wano Country's regions, informing them to arrive at Orochi Castle in three days to participate in electing our new Shogun."
"Yes, Lord Kai!" Fukurokuju agreed once again with unwavering commitment.
"That concludes our immediate business." Kai turned toward Yamato, who appeared bored and was absently playing with the balcony railings, and beckoned to her: "Yamato, we should return to base now."
"Okay!" Yamato immediately responded with renewed cheerfulness.
Having accomplished their primary goal of eliminating Kurozumi Orochi, Orochi Castle no longer held any attraction for her restless spirit. She couldn't wait to return to the familiar surroundings of Onigashima.
Before departing, Kai's calculating gaze fell upon Komurasaki, and he offered her a warm smile: "Komurasaki, please come with me as well. Stop working as a courtesan and become my personal maid instead."
Both Komurasaki and the hidden Kyoshiro felt their expressions freeze simultaneously at this unexpected development.
Kai's invitation had caught them completely off guard.
Komurasaki's original plan involved working her way up from a low-level courtesan to eventually become Wano Country's most prestigious oiran.
This strategy would allow her to not only gather crucial intelligence from the upper social echelons but also extract ill-gotten wealth from corrupt merchants and redistribute it to the desperate poor. It was a perfect plan that killed two birds with one stone.
But now everything had changed dramatically.
What should she do in this impossible situation?
If she accepted Kai's offer, not only would all her careful preparations be wasted, but she would have little opportunity to accomplish meaningful work on Onigashima.
But if she refused his generous proposal?
Both roles involved serving powerful people. As a common-born girl, ignoring a friendly and influential figure who had shown her genuine kindness, while instead insisting on remaining a courtesan...
What would that make her? Someone addicted to the profession itself?