Outside the Shogun's Mansion, the Azure Dragon roared, shaking the tens of thousands in the parade to the ground, and all kinds of fearful cries rang out.
Inside the mansion, Caelan sat steady as a rock, not panicking in the slightest.
Nojiko, Hina, and Ain sat around him. Chiyo poured tea and massaged his shoulders, and Hiyori stood nearby.
"Listen, what a racket."
Caelan sat in a large chair in the hall with a sarcastic look on his face.
He took no action against the crowd outside, but Kaido, transformed into a mount, had scared them half to death.
A team like that still wanted to pressure him?
"It is really unbearable. The leader was frightened, and he still talks about the Kozuki family's legitimacy? Tsk."
Hina used her Observation Haki to sense and felt disdain for Momonosuke's performance.
"Caelan, our people are here. This is the will of all Wano. They do not want you to rule this country.
"Even if you threaten them with Kaido, that intention will not change at all.
"Return Wano to the Kozuki family, make me your wife, and everything will be fine."
Hiyori could not hide her joy.
Listen, the people outside were all shouting the Kozuki family's name. The people still supported them.
With so many opposing Caelan, it was time for him to yield.
Let Momonosuke become shogun of Wano, and history would be rewritten.
Remove the binding from her neck and make her the highest-status wife.
Caelan only gave her a cold glance. He leaned back in his chair, unconcerned.
Hiyori's smile froze. She looked at Caelan in disbelief.
How could this be? Caelan had no scruples at all.
That was a procession of tens of thousands. Even though she could not see it from inside, she knew Kin'emon and the others' plan.
She knew how grand the parade was. All across Wano, those who believed in Kozuki Oden would show up. Not just tens of thousands. As long as she explained Oden's deeds clearly, there would be countless voices cheering for the Kozuki family.
Caelan stood and looked toward the gate. "The noise outside is enough. It is time to end this."
Hiyori shrank back instinctively.
The past few days had made her realize how terrifying Caelan was. If he got even a little angry, his presence alone struck like thunder.
She stood in silence as he walked past her, leaving the hall.
"How terrible. Is he really going to kill all those people?"
Hiyori watched Caelan leave with unease.
The joy she had felt from the parade's noise vanished, and she remembered what Caelan had said before.
[Since the Kozuki family is the master of Wano, after I kill them, Wano will be mine.]
Caelan's tone had been casual when he said this, and she thought he was just speaking offhand.
But thinking of it now, she felt the killing intent within it. The Kozuki family had already received a death notice.
…
Outside the Shogun's Mansion.
Most of the procession of ten thousand had been so frightened by the Azure Dragon that they could not control themselves.
"It's so scary. That dragon is terrifying."
Some were frightened out of their wits by the roar and screamed in terror.
"Let's go, let's go."
"There's a dragon blocking the way, and inside is the one who brought punishment two days ago. We cannot win."
Some timid people who were not devoted admirers of Kozuki Oden already wanted to leave the parade.
But it was impossible.
Their retreat routes were completely blocked by the four thousand samurai.
When asked to make way, the samurai only said there were too many people and they could not move.
So, whether willing or not, everyone had to stay.
At this time, Kin'emon's plan showed its brilliance.
He let those who believed in Kozuki Oden walk in front, with the four thousand samurai behind.
Even if something unexpected happened, the people could be in the front, and their own strength would take less damage.
However, when those people regretted their choice and wanted to retreat, they were blocked by the samurai and could not leave.
"Everyone keep shouting. That dragon is just for show, it does not dare touch us."
Kin'emon stood beside Momonosuke, shouting into a megaphone.
The first to act were the four thousand samurai, who began shouting again.
"Return Wano to the Kozuki family. This is the Kozuki family's land."
"The former lord, Kozuki Oden, endured humiliation for years to save the people. He is Wano's hero."
"Oden's son, Kozuki Momonosuke, is heaven-sent and will become the greatest shogun of Wano."
The samurai shouted at the top of their lungs, emphasizing their justice again and again.
Under their influence, the people who had been terrified also began shouting.
They did not know what they were shouting, they just followed the samurai to relieve their fear.
They shouted on, just as loudly as when they had come.
But only they knew how guilty and fearful they felt inside.
"Young master, stand up and keep shouting to Caelan."
Kin'emon supported the trembling Momonosuke and spoke encouragingly.
"Look, so many people are shouting with you."
"They are all your subjects, all your strength."
Raizo and Kikunojo cheered him on.
Looking at Momonosuke, who did not dare move forward, their hearts could only be described as utterly disappointed.
It had been Momonosuke who insisted on taking back Wano from Caelan without delay. Even their suggestion to wait for the right time had been rejected by him.
But when it came time to act, he turned weak again.
Yet the plan was already in motion and could not be stopped.
They could only coax Momonosuke so he would not embarrass himself too much.
"With so many people here, he won't dare touch me.
"With so many people here, he won't dare touch me."
With Kin'emon and the others' encouragement, Momonosuke kept hypnotizing himself.
After repeating it several times, he finally mustered the courage and stood again.
"Caelan, if you are a man, come out and face me and give Wano back."
Momonosuke closed his eyes and shouted toward the mansion gate regardless of anything.
After shouting, he felt an extreme thrill, as if he had truly become the leader of this march of tens of thousands.
He regained his confidence, opened his eyes, and looked toward the gate of the Shogun's Mansion.
A tall figure slowly walked out.
"You are the ones who want me to hand over Wano?"
Caelan looked at the tens of thousands at the door and smiled, terrifying and calm.
His voice, enhanced by magic, spread throughout the square, just as it had above the Flower Capital.
As the sound entered their ears, fear rose from the depths of their hearts and spread uncontrollably through their bodies.
The parade, which had just become agitated, fell silent again, even more frightened than at the Azure Dragon's roar.
Momonosuke, who had just gained confidence, turned pale and collapsed onto the platform, a faint warmth running down his trouser legs.
(To be continued.)