When the banquet finally ended,
Kurozumi Orochi was practically glowing with satisfaction.
He ordered attendants to prepare lavish rooms for Luo Xing and Queen,
then sent his men to "invite" notable figures from all six regions of Wano—
Kuri, Kibi, Udon, Ringo, Hakumai, and the Flower Capital itself.
Of course, "invite" was just a polite way of saying abduct.
Orochi had worn the title of shogun for more than a decade,
but the people's hatred for him had never faded.
Were it not for Kaido's shadow looming over Wano,
he'd have been overthrown long ago.
He even commanded that transponder snails be set up in every town and village.
In just two days, all of Wano's citizens would watch, through the image feed,
as his men consumed the Mutant Cells and displayed their newfound power.
Orochi could hardly contain himself that night—
he tossed and turned until dawn,
smiling like a man already drunk on his own illusion of godhood.
He wasn't the only one sleepless that night.
Deep in a dimly lit chamber, two shadows sat facing each other.
The gentle, demure courtesan Komurasaki was gone;
in her place stood Kozuki Hiyori—her eyes hard, her voice steady.
Across from her sat Kyoshiro, the so-called Madam Killer—
but in truth, the loyal retainer Denjiro.
"Denjiro," Hiyori said, anxiety creeping into her voice,
"you heard what that Beast Pirates prince said today.
He brought a hundred Mutant Cells!
If Orochi's men eat them, our revenge will never succeed!"
Denjiro frowned deeply, his brows furrowing in frustration.
"It's my fault," he admitted grimly.
"I wanted to pit Kaido and Orochi against each other—to make them tear each other apart.
But somehow… Kaido agreed to Orochi's request!
It doesn't make sense."
He shook his head.
"The messenger I sent spoke to Kaido arrogantly, demanding the Cells in Orochi's name.
With Kaido's temper, he should've killed him on the spot.
Why would he play along?"
Hiyori's expression softened slightly.
"Don't blame yourself. I agreed to that plan.
But what's done is done.
Right now, we need to stop Orochi and that so-called Beast Consort."
Denjiro's gaze sharpened.
"There's only one way."
"What way?" she asked.
"Steal the Mutant Cells."
Hiyori blinked.
"Steal them…"
It was risky—reckless, even.
But as she thought it through, she realized there was no better option.
"How?" she asked quietly.
Denjiro met her eyes, his tone heavy.
"You'll have to lure him in.
I'm sorry, Lady Hiyori… but I need you to use your beauty."
At that, realization dawned.
He wanted her to seduce Luo Xing—use her charms to get close, then steal the Mutant Cells.
Hiyori bit her lip.
She didn't want to.
She feared that man.
Because even now, she could still feel that chilling look from earlier in the day—
the one glance that had stripped her soul bare.
But then she remembered her father, Kozuki Oden,
remembered his death in the boiling oil,
remembered the years of torment her people had suffered.
Compared to that… her fear was meaningless.
"I'll do it," she said, determination flickering in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Luo Xing lounged comfortably in his newly assigned suite—
a room so ornate it reeked of Orochi's desperation to please.
Gold-trimmed screens, silk cushions, perfume burners…
even the sake cups were solid jade.
He let out a quiet chuckle.
"Orochi, Orochi…
you really went all out for me.
Fine then—
in two days, I'll repay your generosity…
with your head."
He was still smirking when his observation Haki stirred.
Someone was approaching—light, deliberate footsteps.
A faintly familiar aura.
"Kozuki Hiyori?" Luo Xing's eyes narrowed.
"Now what could she want with me?"
Knock knock knock.
He rose, face smooth, heartbeat steady, and opened the door.
"Komurasaki-san," he said with polite surprise,
"to what do I owe the pleasure of such a late-night visit?"
Komurasaki bowed gracefully, her demeanor calm but her heart pounding.
To her relief, Luo Xing's eyes weren't nearly as sharp as they'd been during the banquet.
She smiled sweetly, voice like honeyed sake.
"Please don't take offense, my lord.
I simply couldn't forget how commanding you looked today.
By chance, I acquired a fine bottle of wine…
and thought perhaps you'd share a drink with me."
A midnight drink between a courtesan and a man—
everyone knew what that meant.
And with her beauty, the curve of her lips, and that gentle lilt in her voice,
even an admiral might've melted.
But Luo Xing, knowing full well who she truly was, only found it amusing.
He played along, letting a feigned look of hunger cross his eyes.
"Ah… to be favored by such a beauty! I'm truly honored."
He caught her hands lightly, drawing her in,
and together they stepped into the room.
Komurasaki let herself be guided—half resistance, half surrender—
until they stood beside the bed.
"No rush, my lord," she whispered coyly.
"Let's drink first."
She filled two cups—one for him, one for herself—
her sleeves fluttering like silk banners.
Luo Xing's mind stayed clear as still water.
"There's something in that wine," he thought immediately.
"But let's see where this goes."
They raised their cups, arms crossing, and drank.
Komurasaki's cheeks flushed prettily.
She turned her gaze down, lips trembling in perfect imitation of shyness.
Luo Xing leaned closer, reaching toward her—
then suddenly pressed a hand to his forehead.
"Ugh… I feel… dizzy…"
He collapsed onto the bed with a heavy thud.
Komurasaki's lips curved into a victorious smirk.
"Hmph. So much for the 'brilliant' Beast Consort.
In the end, you're no different from every other fool blinded by a woman."
She turned away, moving quickly.
Opening his satchel, she began rifling through the contents.
Scrolls, tools, fragments of tech—
but no Mutant Cells.
"What…? Where is it?!" she whispered.
"Could it be… with Queen instead?"
Her brow furrowed.
It didn't make sense.
The Mutant Cells were Luo Xing's invention—
surely he would carry them himself.
Then—
A low chuckle behind her froze her in place.
"Looking for something, Lady Hiyori?"
Her blood ran cold.
She turned slowly—
and there he stood.
Luo Xing, perfectly awake, smiling faintly in the dim light.
"So," he said softly,
"the legendary courtesan of the Flower Capital
turns out to be Kozuki Oden's daughter.
You're here for the Mutant Cells, aren't you?
How unfortunate."
He tilted his head, eyes gleaming with mockery.
"I didn't bring any."
Komurasaki's mask shattered.
Her face went pale as porcelain.
The air between them grew thick—
with silence, with fear, with the weight of a secret she could no longer hide.
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