Rustle~
Amidst the faint sound of footsteps, a man wearing a Great Tengu Mask appeared in the bamboo forest.
"Who exactly are you?" Tenguyama Hitetsu asked warily.
"Luo Xia!"
"What? You're—"
Behind the mask, Tenguyama Hitetsu's pupils constricted sharply.
Having hidden in the village of Amigasa, he often ventured out to gather information.
Recently, an unfamiliar name had been circulating throughout Wano Country.
Luo Xia!!!
The monstrous newcomer brought back by Kaido of the Beasts over a month ago.
A man of unparalleled strength, surpassing even the Three Disasters of the Beasts Pirates.
Now in charge of the Udon Mining Field, under his leadership, Udon had undergone a series of thorough reforms, ensuring that every prisoner there could eat their fill.
He had even proposed a Performance Bonus policy to support prisoners' families and personally ensured its implementation.
Not long ago, Tenguyama Hitetsu had visited Bargain Town and heard from the people that Luo Xia had personally come to offer aid...
But Tenguyama Hitetsu never imagined he would encounter such a figure here.
What was his purpose?
Did he know my true identity...? Is he here for me?
As the former shogun of Wano Country, Kozuki Sukiyaki couldn't help but tense up.
"Heh."
Luo Xia chuckled lightly, sensing Kozuki Sukiyaki's nervousness.
Of course, Luo Xia was well aware of Tenguyama Hitetsu's true identity.
But today, he hadn't come to capture the former shogun.
"Master Hitetsu, this big brother is nice! He gave me a yummy apple~ Do you want some?" The little girl held out an apple she had taken a few bites from.
"Master isn't hungry. Since the big brother gave it to you, you should keep it."
Tenguyama Hitetsu spoke gently, then took a deep breath and knelt before Luo Xia.
"Lord Luo Xia, I have heard of your benevolence. I truly cannot thank you enough!"
As the former shogun of Wano Country, he had always blamed himself for the state of his homeland. He longed to change it but lacked the power, forced to watch helplessly.
Though Luo Xia was a member of the Beast Pirates, his policies had genuinely benefited Wano Country, accomplishing what Kozuki Sukiyaki could not. He deserved this bow.
"Catch!" Luo Xia casually tossed a bundle of food to Tenguyama Hitetsu. "This is for your village. From now on, you can collect supplies weekly in Bargain Town!"
"This..."
"Also, I'm taking this child with me." Luo Xia pointed at the little girl.
"No!" Tenguyama Hitetsu blurted out instinctively, then immediately regretted his tone. "Tama is only two years old. Her parents entrusted her to me before they were taken to Udon. I..."
"I'm taking her to see her parents. Are you sure you want to stop me?" Luo Xia narrowed his eyes.
Cold sweat instantly drenched Tenguyama Hitetsu's body.
"Eh? Big brother, can you really take me to see Mommy and Daddy?" Tama exclaimed joyfully. "I wanna go~ I wanna go~ Master, please let me go~"
In the end, Tenguyama Hitetsu nodded in agreement.
"Let's go."
Luo Xia placed the little girl on his right shoulder, grabbed the long-haired pup Komachiyo with his left hand, and strode away.
...
At this very moment.
Beneath the Flower Capital, in the town of Ebisu.
This was another impoverished slum similar to Bargain Town, where people survived by scavenging through the Flower Capital's trash.
Yet today, a Grain Treasure Ship had arrived here as well.
"Listen up, you bunch of paupers. My Lord Xia Xia is kind-hearted..."
Ulti stood with hands on her hips, lecturing the residents of Ebisu Town about the new regulations in Udon.
"Got it? The food you're getting is all thanks to Lord Xia Xia's generosity. Now shout 'Long live Lord Xia Xia!'"
"Long live Lord Xia Xia~"
Old Kang, a middle-aged man with a blue afro, led the cheering.
"Long live Lord Xia Xia~"
The entire town echoed the chant.
"That's more like it!"
Ulti nodded in satisfaction.
"Mission accomplished. When I get back, I'll make sure Lord Xia Xia rewards me properly~ hehehe~"
Unlike her useless younger brother Page One who cried for help after getting beaten, Ulti had always been a capable girl.
Earlier when she went to the Flower Capital farms to demand food, she'd also faced resistance. But Ulti simply plowed through all opposition until no one dared stand in her way.
...
...
Flower Capital.
Shogun Orochi's residence.
"Who dares cause trouble in my territory? Kyoshiro, go cut them down!"
The grotesque-looking shogun Kurozumi Orochi roared angrily.
"As you command, Lord Shogun~"
Kyoshiro, the current yakuza boss of Flower Capital, opened his sleepy eyes with sudden sharpness.
"Please calm yourself, Lord Orochi. The one who caused the disturbance at the farms was Lady Ulti from Oni Island!"
Fukurokuju, the hammer-headed leader of the Orochi Secret Service, reported.
"What? Ulti?"
Orochi was shocked—he certainly recognized Oni Island's iron-headed princess.
"Forget about her then. But why would she leave Oni Island to cause trouble at my farms?"
"Well... my agents report Lady Ulti is currently in Ebisu Town, distributing the seized food to the residents there."
"WHAT?!!" Orochi shot to his feet, eyes bulging like bells.
"What madness has possessed that wretched girl? Giving my food to those lowly peasants—what does she gain from this?"
"Regarding that... you may have heard, Lord Orochi, that Udon is no longer under Queen's management but..."
"Ah yes, I heard. Some newcomer Kaido brought over a month ago. Monstrously strong, even defeated Queen—serves him right!" Orochi sneered.
"That would be Lord Luo Xia. After taking over Udon, he implemented several reforms..." Fukurokuju detailed the changes. "This incident today likely won't be isolated. It may become routine."
CRASH!
Orochi smashed his sake cup against the floor, face contorted with rage.
"That bastard... unforgivable! Not a single grain of my food will go to those damned peasants again!"
Evening, at Kyoshiro's residence.
"Denjiro, has something happened in the Flower Capital?"
Komurasaki, not yet an oiran, asked nervously.
"Lady Hiyori, it all started in Udon..."
The sleepy Kyoshiro—Red Scabbard Denjiro—explained recent events.
"Luo Xia... who is he? What's his purpose in all this?" Komurasaki murmured. "Regardless, we should accelerate our plans. Denjiro, make me an oiran. I'm ready."
...
...
8:00 PM.
The Udon Weapon Factory was brightly lit.
All the guards and craftsmen were working overtime, the constant hum of machinery filling the air.
"Move it, you lot! Whether I get promoted to Shinuchi depends on how fast you work. Anyone slacking off, heh..." A Beasts guard captain sneered coldly.
"Sir, my wife's illness can't wait any longer. Please, show mercy and find her a doctor!"
A frail man knelt before the Beasts captain, a woman beside him pale-faced and coughing up blood.
"Keh keh keh, just letting you
eat is already an act of mercy. As long as you're not dead, keep working."
As the Beasts guard raised his whip, ready to strike, a suffocating pressure suddenly descended, freezing him in place.
"Mom... Dad... Waaah~"
..