Just as the members of the Beasts Pirates were immersed in the sorrowful and indignant atmosphere of mining to protect their chastity, a series of light and flattering footsteps broke the heavy silence.
Lord Admiral! Lord Natural Disaster! This truly is a great, unprecedented battle!
Orochi crawled out from the ruins of a collapsed pavilion in the distance.
As the nominal Shogun of Wano Country, where was his usual prestige now?
His luxurious brocade robe was covered in dust, mixed with an unidentified yellow stain. His originally wretched round face was piled with nauseating wrinkles, emitting a sour stench.
After witnessing Kaido being beaten and Onigashima being split open, the only thought in Shogun Orochi's mind was—to live.
Completely ignoring Kaido's murderous gaze, Orochi threw himself at Kane's feet. With extremely practiced movements, he stuck out his rear and attempted to wipe and kiss Kane's leather shoes.
These barbaric pirates of the Beasts Pirates should have been purged long ago! Lord Kane! You are too heroic! My admiration for you is like the surging waters of a great river... I am willing to be your dog! Truly! Please let me manage the Flower Capital, I guarantee I will send you even more tributes every year!
Yamato covered her nose in disgust.
Lord Kane, this big-headed uncle is so ugly, and he smells really bad.
Kane lowered his head slightly, looking down at the man writhing like a maggot at his feet.
Defecting to me? Kane's tone was flat.
Yes! Just say the word, and I will be your most loyal hound in Wano Country! What Kozuki Clan, what Oden's orphans—if my Lord is unhappy, I will immediately sink them all to the bottom of the sea!
Orochi was in a hurry to show his loyalty, completely unaware that King behind him had already gripped his sword hilt.
Kane frowned in disgust.
He extended his foot and lightly kicked Orochi's fat chin.
First, you are too ugly. Second... Kane squatted down and pointed at the factory in the distance that was billowing smoke, Kaido can provide me with weapons, Sea Stone, and the world's best security services. And you, besides wasting food and making noise, what value do you have?
Orochi froze, the flattery on his face stiffening.
One last thing. A flicker of sinister amusement flashed in Kane's eyes. My auditor's wife seems to very much want you... to go down and accompany her son.
Before Orochi could react, he saw Kane slowly lift his foot.
Lord, spare me! I can give you money! I have lots of gold! I...
Crack—!
The dull sound of bones snapping instantly cut off Orochi's pleas for mercy.
Then came the second limb.
The third.
Aaaaaahhh—!!!
Shrill wails echoed through the sky as Orochi's limbs were instantly crushed into a mixture of flesh and bone fragments by Kane with an extremely even amount of force.
With a face like yours, even being a dog is disgusting. Kaido, take your people and get to Udon.
Kane dragged Orochi's crippled body like a dead dog, walking toward the sea without looking back.
Since I need to win over the people, the stage for this execution must be changed.
...
The next morning, Flower Capital.
In front of the once-magnificent Shogun's residence, a massive high platform had been erected.
It was surrounded by sallow and emaciated commoners, their eyes filled with confusion and years of accumulated fear.
Kozuki Oden was still tirelessly dancing in a mud pit not far away, seemingly oblivious to everything around him.
On the platform, Orochi was hung on a cross like a lump of rotten mud.
And in the very center of the platform...
Kane wore his coat of justice, the two large characters particularly dazzling under the sunlight.
Kozuki Toki stood in a corner of the platform, holding Hiyori.
She looked at the numb and suffering masses below, then at the man beside her who made her tremble with awe; her heart was a whirlwind of emotions.
Kane pressed his hand down toward the crowd, and the boisterous square instantly fell silent.
His voice, carried by the wind, was clearly delivered into the ears of everyone in the Flower Capital.
People of Wano Country! My name is Kane, a Marine Admiral. In my homeland, justice cannot be tainted. In my eyes, evil must be eradicated!
Kane pointed at Orochi on the cross, his tone suddenly becoming compassionate and sorrowful.
This man. He stole this country. He poisoned the water. He made your fathers laborers and left your children without milk! He is the true instigator of this tragedy!
The commoners below began to stir.
The hatred suppressed for years was completely ignited by Kane's few words at this moment.
Kill him! Kill... Kill him!!!
The shouts went from weak to earth-shattering, finally converging into a terrifying wave.
Everyone, quiet down.
Kane wore an extremely pained expression.
Originally, as a Marine, I should not interfere in the internal affairs of another country. But last night, I had a dream. I dreamed of that unfortunate, prematurely deceased young prince—Momonosuke. He took my hand and said to me through tears: Admiral Uncle, please save my home.
Standing in the corner, Kozuki Toki's delicate body trembled, and tears flowed uncontrollably.
For that departed child. For the dignity of this land. I, Kane, today represent the Marine and Absolute Justice to execute this sinner!
Kane drew Zangetsu.
The black blade flickered with a cold, sharp glint under the sun, devoid of any warmth.
He did not end it with a single stroke.
He walked over and sliced Orochi's flesh piece by piece. Every stroke precisely avoided vital points but elicited Orochi's agonizing screams.
This cut is for the fathers who died in the mines. This cut is for the newborns who starved to death. This cut is for the souls of the Kozuki Clan.
While Kane performed, he scanned the surroundings through the corner of his eye.
He noticed that with every stroke he landed, the commoners below erupted in wild cheers.
And on the system panel in his mind, the discipline points were jumping frantically.
Killing someone is just a matter of a moment.
But with this method, he not only harvested reputation but also completely established his status in Wano Country through this cruel performance.
The final cut.
Kane's gaze became incredibly sharp.
For the dawn of Wano Country!
Swish!
A black crescent moon flashed by.
Orochi's fat head soared into the sky, drawing a blood-colored arc in the air before heavily hitting the ground.
The entire venue was dead silent for a second.
Then, cheers loud enough to overturn the heavens erupted!
Countless commoners knelt on the ground, kowtowing frantically toward the figure on the platform.
In their eyes, this man was not a Marine.
He was a savior who descended from the heavens to answer all their prayers!
Kozuki Toki also knelt down.
The look in her eyes as she watched Kane, besides gratitude, already carried a hint of morbid worship.
[Ding! Detected that the Host has publicly executed the key original character, Orochi.]
[Through moral kidnapping and psychological dimension reduction strikes, the ownership of Wano Country has been usurped.]
[Greatly subverting the world's trajectory, obtained discipline points: 400,000!]
Kane sheathed his long sword and slowly closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention.
He sneered in his heart.
The dawn of Wano Country?
No, this was just Kane's personal daybreak.
Since the coordinates of Pluton were already in hand and the factories had been taken over...
How should the next game be played to be more interesting?
Kane looked toward the distant sea, in the direction of Marineford.
I wonder if old man Kong will have a stroke if he sees me bringing back a Beasts Princess as a Marine.
He chuckled, stepped down from the platform, and naturally put his arm around the shaken Kozuki Toki.
Madam, the wind is getting strong. Let's go back inside and talk about... the reconstruction of Wano Country.
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