Outside the window, the cannon fire suddenly intensified.
The explosions bloomed like crimson flowers, their light filtering through the thin paper doors and casting Yamato's silhouette against the wall.
The shadows of her demon horns appeared particularly menacing in the glow, yet her expression remained as devout as a pilgrim's, radiant with a sacred and solemn light—a testament to her unwavering pursuit of the future and her beliefs.
Komurasaki was deeply moved by this passionate and solemn atmosphere, and she slowly stepped forward to stand beside Yamato.
"Brother, please let us fulfill our father's legacy together!" Her voice trembled with emotion, her kimono sleeves soaked with tears that glimmered under the lamplight, yet they couldn't conceal the hopeful light in her eyes.
She bowed her head slightly, her hands clasped before her knees. Her delicate frame now seemed to contain boundless strength.
Denjiro swiftly drew his katana, the sharp blade gleaming coldly under the light as he pointed it toward the ceiling.
"To welcome the prophesied child, I'd gladly face death ten thousand times!"
Momonosuke's throat tightened as he looked at his fervent companions, his heart filled with conflicting emotions.
He suddenly realized that this lie had spiraled out of control like a runaway horse, galloping wildly beyond recall.
What had begun as a desperate measure in a moment of crisis had now become a stone cast into a lake, sending ripples that swept everyone into this frenzy.
Yet, the outcome was ultimately positive.
In these turbulent and perilous times, this falsehood had become a lifeline, offering hope and strength to all.
It was like a beam of light in the darkness, illuminating their path forward and reuniting hearts that had begun to drift apart.
He took a deep breath, the sound sharp and clear in the quiet room.
"We..." His voice was barely audible, yet it resonated clearly in the hushed silence.
"Let us... welcome the new era of the Land of Wano together."
Yamato sprang to her feet, the chains on her kanabo clattering like war drums breaking the brief stillness.
"Well said!" She threw an arm around Momonosuke's shoulder, her strong grip making him tremble slightly. She completely failed to notice his instantly pale face, her eyes filled only with longing and anticipation for the future.
"With the prophesied child's assistance, opening the country is within reach!"
Kin'emon timely raised his teacup high. "For the Kozuki family! For the prophesied child!" His gaze swept over Momonosuke, carrying a hint of approval.
This hastily fabricated lie unexpectedly united hearts, bringing order to the originally chaotic situation and giving everyone a common goal and direction.
Amid the deafening cheers, no one noticed Izo murmuring under his breath, his eyes shimmering with an inexplicable light.
"The prophesied child... Yes, Lord Ron is the prophesied child!"
Just then—
Boom!
A loud explosion sounded as Momonosuke's castle-form burst open again. His previously recovered face turned even paler as he struggled to turn his head, pleading.
"Please... don't come any closer... I beg you..."
Then his head lolled to the side as he fainted from the pain.
Seeing this, Yamato was utterly stunned, immediately leaping back in shock while frantically waving her hands.
"Ah, sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to!"
Everyone: ... 'The young master's dick exploded again.'
...
The Shogun's Decree
In the conference hall,
After desperate rescue efforts, Momonosuke finally woke up. Though his face remained somewhat pale, he could at least stand and speak.
At this moment, Momonosuke sat upright in the main seat, gradually shedding his childish immaturity and displaying a composure beyond his years.
But anyone could tell it was an act.
The brand-new shogun haori shimmered with intricate dark patterns under the morning light.
With Yamato and the Red Scabbards' unwavering support, even though Momonosuke still appeared as a child, he now wielded the supreme authority of the shogun.
He slightly raised his head, his gaze firm as he scanned the people below.
"De... Denjiro!" Momonosuke attempted to speak, his voice initially trembling with childish uncertainty but quickly steadying.
His expression grew serious, completely different from his usual timid demeanor.
Standing up, his small hands tightly gripping the armrests, he stared intently at Denjiro and declared solemnly, "Immediately contact all remaining Red Scabbards in the Land of Wano! Have them come to the Flower Capital at top speed!"
At this moment, Momonosuke thought about how with the Eternal Divine Kingdom as their powerful backing—an unshakable support behind them—he suddenly felt confident.
He deeply understood that in these rapidly changing circumstances, every second counted. "The campaign against the Beasts Pirates has already begun! We must race against time! Any further delay, and we might miss our last chance to join the battle!"
Though Momonosuke's voice remained childish, it carried immense power, echoing through the conference hall and deeply moving everyone present.
Hearing this, Denjiro dropped to one knee, a long-absent sharp smile curling at his lips.
That smile contained twenty years of latent endurance and frustration, finally seeing an opportunity to reemerge and display their skills.
His eyes blazing with fervent light, he stated firmly, "As you command!"
With that, he turned, his robes fluttering and stirring a breeze—the Red Scabbard who had long concealed his edge finally shining brilliantly once more.
In less than an hour, urgent secret messages spread throughout the nation through covert channels.
Every Red Scabbard who received the secret letter sensed the urgency and immediately set aside their tasks, rushing toward the Flower Capital.
Upon his return, Denjiro frowned deeply, a trace of worry evident on his face.
He turned to Momonosuke and said respectfully, "Among the Red Scabbards confirmed to be in the Land of Wano, aside from us, only Kikunojo, Ashura Doji, and Kawamatsu remain. However..."
He paused, as if struggling to continue.
"Kawamatsu has been missing for who knows how long—he's likely dead," Kozuki Hiyori, formerly known as Komurasaki, added with concern. She lowered her head slightly, her eyes reflecting sorrow and helplessness.
"No one has seen him since the prison break incident. We've searched everywhere but found no trace. I fear the worst."
Just as silence fell over the group, Yamato suddenly burst into loud laughter, the sound jarring in the quiet meeting hall and drawing puzzled glances from everyone.
"Hahaha! You're worried about Kawamatsu?" she exclaimed triumphantly. "I already sent someone to rescue him! By my calculations, he should be on his way back now!"
All eyes turned to her in astonishment. Kin'emon's eyes widened, his jaw dropping in disbelief. Denjiro's pipe clattered to the floor again, but he paid no attention, staring dumbfounded at Yamato.
"Lord Yamato... no, Lady Yamato!" Kin'emon stammered, his voice trembling with emotion. "When did you... Why didn't you tell us?"
Yamato waved a hand dismissively, as if it were a trivial matter.
"Just a couple of days ago, I made a deal with Who'swho to rescue Kawamatsu from Udon prison," she said with a sly wink.
"That guy's reliable—he's recently grown powerful enough to become a Fourth Calamity. Saving one person is no problem for him!"
"This... Thank you, Lady Yamato. Thank you so much," Hiyori's voice quivered slightly, the emotions she had suppressed for so long finally finding release.
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