Among the spectators surrounding the execution ground, Luo Chen spotted Luffy and the others. The entire Straw Hat Pirates crew was present. Luffy, Zoro, and the rest had changed into local Wano Country kimonos, their hair tied up in topknots. Carina was also wearing a purple kimono, her fair, smooth thighs visible through the slit in the hem.
Beside her, a boy with a samurai topknot reached out, intending to grab Carina's thigh.
Bang—
Carina slammed a fist onto the boy's head. "Stand up straight and think about how to save Toko and Shimotsuki Yasuie."
Momonosuke's face twisted in pain as he aggrievedly rubbed the top of his head. Nearby, Sanji and Brook looked on with delight. This pervy brat was always trying to take advantage of Carina, only to be taught a lesson by her every single time. Evidently, Carina was not fond of children.
Beside them, Kin'emon sighed and explained, "His Highness is simply worried about Lord Shimotsuki Yasuie; it was an unintentional act, please forgive him." At this moment, he believed Lord Momonosuke hadn't done it to be lecherous. It truly was an accident.
Carina didn't dwell on it. She fixed her gaze on the execution ground, pondering their next move. Saving them wasn't actually the difficult part. The hard part was how to escape. Once they acted, they would inevitably be exposed. At that point, it would likely draw Kaido's attention.
The Wano Country of today was different from two years ago. Many famous and powerful pirates of the New World had joined the ranks of the Beasts Pirates. Carina felt that, based on their crew's current strength, they were completely insufficient to face so many enemies.
Luffy rubbed his hands together, his expression serious. "No matter what, we have to save Toko and her father. If Kaido comes, leave him to me!" He had returned to Wano Country specifically to send Kaido flying. Since they had to save people now, he didn't care if his identity was revealed.
Usopp's eyes twitched. Recalling the scene from two years ago, he still felt a lingering fear. Could they really win now? Although they had grown much stronger through two years of cultivation, the shadow of Luffy being one-shotted by Kaido's club refused to fade.
"Begin the execution!"
Beside the execution platform, a samurai shouted at the top of his lungs. The soldiers standing before Shimotsuki Yasuie and Toko raised their spears, prepared to thrust. Just as Luffy and the others were about to rush out, a frantic female voice suddenly rang out from the distance.
"Stop! Lord Shogun, please show mercy!"
On the left side of the execution ground sat a high chair where the Shogun of Wano Country, Kurozumi Orochi, was perched. Beautiful women stood on either side of him, holding parasols and fanning him to keep him cool. Hearing the woman's cry, Kurozumi Orochi sat up straight and immediately shouted, "Hold it!"
The executioners halted their spears. In the distance, the crowd parted as a young woman of exceptional grace and beauty ran forward. She had long, elegant emerald hair and a stunningly beautiful face that was both charming and regal. Everyone present recognized her. The newcomer was none other than the number one beauty of Wano Country, the Oiran Komurasaki.
Kurozumi Orochi looked at her and asked, "Komurasaki, why are you pleading for these Kozuki remnants?"
Kozuki Hiyori took a deep breath, glanced at Toko, and said softly, "This child is my attendant. How could she be a Kozuki remnant?" She put on a pleading look. "I beg the Lord Shogun to investigate further..."
Kurozumi Orochi waved his hand, interrupting her. "It has already been confirmed. Toko is the adopted daughter of Shimotsuki Yasuie; she has confessed it herself. Komurasaki, you must have been kept in the dark. Do not plead for her any longer."
Although Kurozumi Orochi was extremely fond of Komurasaki, he wanted to completely annihilate the remnants of the Kozuki family even more. He had obtained his position as Shogun from the Kozuki family through schemes and the borrowed strength of Kaido. Coupled with Toki Kozuki's prophecy regarding the Nine Red Scabbards liberating Wano Country twenty years later, Kurozumi Orochi lived in daily anxiety that the Kozuki remnants would return to kill him in revenge. Today, having finally discovered four Kozuki remnants, he had to wipe them out entirely. Even with Komurasaki speaking up, it would be of no use.
Being rejected, Kozuki Hiyori bit her lip. She had considered this scenario on her way here, so she pivoted and said: "Then, could you let me say a final goodbye to Toko? I have always viewed her as my own sister. I beg for the Lord Shogun's magnanimity."
Regarding this request, Kurozumi Orochi thought for a moment and agreed. He didn't think Komurasaki had any other motives.
With this interlude, Luffy and the others held their positions for the time being, watching as Komurasaki walked into the execution ground and approached Toko. Momonosuke gripped Kin'emon's hand tightly, staring at Komurasaki, and whispered: "Kin'emon, she... she looks somewhat like my sister."
Even with a twenty-year age gap, Momonosuke still recognized his sister. Kin'emon was also shaken; it truly seemed to be her. But right now, he didn't dare say more, fearing he might expose Lady Hiyori's identity.
Kozuki Hiyori walked to Toko's side, whispering something with a face full of heartache. With one hand, she gently stroked Toko's hair, while the other moved within her sleeve. A small blade appeared in her hand. Using her body to block everyone's line of sight, her movements were tiny and hidden.
Suddenly, the ropes binding Toko snapped and fell to the ground. Kurozumi Orochi and the nearby soldiers were stunned, catching a glimpse of the blade flashing in Komurasaki's hand.
"Komurasaki, you... stop her!" Kurozumi Orochi reacted quickly, shouting in a rage.
The soldiers immediately charged forward to seize Komurasaki and Toko. Kozuki Hiyori reached into her robes, pulled out a pellet, and slammed it onto the ground. With a pop, a massive amount of dense smoke appeared, covering the entire execution ground.
In an instant, the area inside and outside the execution ground fell into chaos. The soldiers frantically searched for Komurasaki and Toko. The spectators outside sensed the danger and immediately fled in all directions in a panic.
Though Luffy and the others hadn't expected this, their reactions were fast. They immediately began searching for the figures of the Oiran Komurasaki and Toko. Momonosuke and Kin'emon no longer had any doubts. The Oiran Komurasaki who saved Toko had to be Kozuki Hiyori! In Wano Country, aside from someone of the Kozuki family, no one would dare defy Kurozumi Orochi to save a Kozuki retainer.
Kin'emon shouted loudly, "Lord Luffy, Lord Zoro, please, you must save Komurasaki!" Time was pressing; he had no time to explain her identity.
Sanji was the quickest to agree, his eyes turning into red hearts as he said excitedly, "Don't worry, I will definitely protect that beautiful lady!" He quickly activated his Observation Haki, searching for her silhouette within the smoke.
"ROAR—!"
A world-shaking roar that made everyone's hearts tremble rang out. A dragon shadow flickered in the sky as the massive head of an azure dragon peeked through the clouds and exhaled. A gale erupted, and the dense smoke covering the area was instantly blown away.
Kozuki Hiyori, who had just escaped into the crowd, turned pale. She looked back up at the sky. The massive body of the azure dragon blocked out the sun, casting a shadow over the execution ground.
"Kaido... how could he be here?!" Kozuki Hiyori's heart felt like dead ash. If it weren't for Kaido, she surely could have escaped in the chaos. She didn't care about exposing her identity as long as she saved Toko. But now, the smoke was gone, and with Kaido circling in the sky, there was nowhere to run.
Not far behind the azure dragon, a massive black pteranodon beat its wings, its claws clutching two stalwart figures. Behind the black pteranodon followed many more figures.
One of the Four Emperors, Charlotte Linlin, flew toward them atop a thundercloud, holding a flaming greatsword. Between the clouds in the sky, there were thin, hair-like threads connected. Doflamingo, draped in his pink feather coat, was leaping across the strings in the clouds, rushing through the air.
A bald old man with long golden hair, Shiki, stood atop a massive floating ship, a cigar in his mouth. Beside his ship were many other vessels. Every ship flew a pirate flag with a different design.
There were many children of the Big Mom Pirates, including Sweet Commanders like Katakuri. There was Edward Weevil, the man claiming to be Whitebeard's son. There was the former member of the Rocks Pirates, nicknamed "The Pirate Patriarch," Wang Zhi...
Aside from the numerous world-renowned pirates, there were nearly a hundred massive wooden ships. These giant wooden ships flew the flag of the Beasts Pirates. The decks of every single ship were densely packed with figures clad in animal skins, wielding weapons. Looking out, there were at least a thousand people on each ship. A hundred massive ships meant a force of over a hundred thousand.
In the distant sky ahead, numerous pirate ships covered the heavens and the earth. Over a hundred thousand pirates, no fewer than ten great pirates with bounties over five hundred million, and two of the Four Emperors.
This kind of lineup left Luffy and the others rooted to the spot.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]