Chapter 117: The Future of the Mink Tribe!
[Zou - The Whale Forest Border - Night]
Duke Inuarashi felt he was trapped in a long, terrible dream.
In the dream, the Mokomo Dukedom was engulfed in flames. The sneers of powerful enemies mingled with the desperate wails of his tribesmen.
He saw Jack the Drought swinging his blades. He saw the members of his proud Musketeers Squad falling one after another into pools of blood, their fur matted and scorched.
Those familiar faces—Sicilian, Wanda—were frozen in silent accusation.
Why couldn't you protect us, Duke?
"No!"
With a roar, Inuarashi suddenly woke up from the darkness. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back, matting his fur.
He subconsciously reached for his waist, seeking his sword, but found nothing.
His heart tightened. The alertness of a warrior instantly tensed all his muscles. He prepared to fight with his bare claws.
But the next second, he saw his sheathed sword lying quietly beside him on a bed of soft moss.
Memories flooded back like a tide. The steel ship. The red-armored man. The defeat.
"This is bad!"
He flipped over and sat up abruptly, his sunglasses askew.
To his left, his nemesis, Master Nekomamushi, was doing the same. The massive cat Mink looked at him with the same expression of shock and uncertainty.
They exchanged glances. For the first time in years, there was no animosity, only shared fear.
Just in this tense silence, a clear voice rang out.
"Ah! Lord Inuarashi! Boss Nekomamushi! You're finally awake!"
Following the sound, both men were stunned.
There were no cages. There were no chains. There were no torture racks.
What greeted their eyes was actually... a joyous bonfire feast?
Tribesmen—Guardians and Musketeers alike—were sitting around a massive bonfire in small groups. They held various delicious, unidentifiable foods, eating with great relish. The smell of roasted meat and spices filled the air, replacing the scent of blood.
And Carrot, the trainee who had just spoken, was holding half a carrot that she was happily munching on.
Noticing Duke Inuarashi's stern gaze, Carrot's small face flushed. She subconsciously hid the carrot behind her back.
"Lord Inuarashi..." she explained softly. "Lord Suzaku and the others said they didn't come here to be our enemies. They gave us food. They said we... no longer have to squeeze onto Lord Zunesha's back and live such a hard life."
"Lord Suzaku?"
Inuarashi and Nekomamushi exchanged glances; their vigilance did not drop. Instead, it rose to its highest level.
They were not naive young rabbits like Carrot. They had sailed the seas with the Pirate King. They knew the cruelty of the world.
On this vast sea, what is always more terrifying than swords is the "goodwill" spoken by the strong.
The two did not respond. They silently walked through the crowd of feasting Minks, their shadows long in the firelight. They went straight to the other side of the bonfire, where the "invaders" were seated.
Their eyes first swept over the man who had utterly defeated them—Uchiha Madara.
The man was eating a rice ball. He did not even raise an eyelid, acting as if the two Kings of Zou were nothing more than irrelevant puffs of air.
Nekomamushi gave Inuarashi a look. You talk. I'll growl.
Inuarashi understood. He took a deep breath, suppressed the humiliation and resentment in his heart, and spoke in a deep, hoarse voice:
"Your strength is immense. We acknowledge our defeat."
He looked at the young man sitting in the center.
"Since you did not kill us, what exactly is your goal? Is it slavery? Tribute?"
Hearing this question, Suzaku put down the roasted meat in his hand. He wiped his fingers on a napkin.
He looked at the two unyielding leaders before him with interest. A playful smile suddenly curved his lips.
"Ahem... Since you asked so sincerely, I shall graciously tell you!"
He turned his head and winked at the Navigator beside him.
"Nami, tell them who we are. The full introduction."
Nami understood immediately. She puffed out her chest, her face filled with proud glory. She pointed at the jolly roger fluttering above the Pola.
"Listen up!" Nami announced loudly. "We are the Suzaku Pirates! The crew that destroyed Enies Lobby! The ones known as the 'Fifth Emperor' of the New World!"
"The Fifth Emperor?" Inuarashi frowned.
"The Suzaku Pirates?" Nekomamushi scratched his ear. "Never heard of 'em."
But Inuarashi seemed to recall something. His pupils suddenly contracted. His gaze pierced Suzaku like a sharp sword!
"Wait... The newspaper mentioned a rookie crew..."
Inuarashi stepped forward.
"'Drought' Jack of the Beasts Pirates... the Calamity who was hunting for Raizo... you killed him!"
This was not a question, but an affirmation.
"What?!" Nekomamushi suddenly widened his eyes. His pipe fell from his mouth. "That bastard Jack?! The Mammoth?! He was slaughtered by you guys?"
"Gahahaha!" Nekomamushi slapped his thigh. "That's wonderful news! That guy was a pain in the tail!"
"That's right," Suzaku admitted frankly. "He was rude, so my subordinate removed him."
He gestured to Akame, who was busy eating.
Suzaku enjoyed the starkly different reactions of the two leaders—the Dog's calculation and the Cat's joy. Then, he changed the subject.
"I know you have a deep, bloody grudge against the Beasts Pirates, but that is not the purpose of our visit. We didn't come here just to brag about killing Jack."
He paused. The fire crackled.
"Our goal is to 'liberate' Zunesha."
"Liberate Lord Zunesha?" Inuarashi frowned deeply. "What nonsense are you speaking? Lord Zunesha has walked these seas for a millennium. He is a god to us. How can you speak of 'liberation'?"
"Is that so?" Suzaku chuckled.
"Then do you know why this giant elephant has had to wander ceaselessly across the sea for thousands of years? Why he never stops? Why he never sleeps?"
"Why?"
It wasn't just the two leaders; even the Mink Tribe members around them, who were listening intently, showed curious expressions. They had lived on Zou all their lives, but they knew nothing of the Elephant's history.
Suzaku did not answer directly. Instead, he looked up at the stars.
"Long ago, Zunesha committed a grave mistake. He was punished by a master whose name is lost to time. He was commanded to walk forever, until the end of the world. He is a prisoner in his own body."
Suzaku spread his hands.
"My companion, Albedo, has communicated with him. She heard his voice. Therefore, we are here to end this meaningless punishment. We have given him permission to rest."
These words were like a giant stone thrown into a lake, stirring up massive waves in the hearts of all the Minks.
"There was... such a history?" Wanda whispered.
Watching their shocked expressions, the smile on Suzaku's face gradually faded.
It was replaced by an undeniable calm. A cold, transactional reality.
"So, starting today, Zunesha is our companion. He answers to us."
Suzaku leaned forward.
"And if you still wish to live upon his back... you must work for us."
He looked around, observing the Minks whose expressions had instantly changed from curiosity to fear.
"Of course, you can refuse. I won't force you."
He shrugged.
"But without the command of my companion, Zunesha... will no longer use his trunk to spray water over the island. He will no longer bring the 'Rain-zou' that filters the seawater and provides you with fish and fresh water."
Suzaku smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"What Zou Island will become without water... a dried husk in the middle of the ocean... I believe you understand better than I do."
"This is blackmail!"
"This is our homeland! There is no way we will leave!"
The fiery-tempered Nekomamushi immediately exploded. He stood up abruptly, his fur bristling with Electro. "I'll fight you right now!"
"Calm yourself, Cat!" Inuarashi pressed him down with a heavy hand.
The Dog King stared intently at Suzaku, reading no hint of jest in the man's calm eyes.
"Sure enough," Inuarashi muttered. "The change in Zunesha's mood earlier... the earthquake... it was caused by you. You have seized control of our world's foundation."
He took a deep breath.
"You first proposed a condition that we absolutely cannot accept... I presume there are other options? You are a conqueror, not a butcher."
"Indeed!" Suzaku nodded approvingly. "As expected of Duke Inuarashi, known for his wisdom."
His gaze sharpened. He spoke clearly, word by word:
"Option B: If you wish to stay, the Mink Tribe must swear allegiance to me from now on."
"In return, I will regard you as my companions. I will protect you from Kaido. Whether it is this land of Zou, or any territory I conquer in the future, it will be a home where you can live freely. You will be the vanguard of the Fifth Emperor."
Inuarashi was silent for a moment. The weight of the decision pressed on him.
After a long time, he spoke with difficulty: "We... already have someone we have sworn allegiance to. Our loyalty is not for sale."
"Oh?"
Suzaku feigned surprise, then smiled as if realizing something.
"Are you referring to Kozuki Oden? The Daimyo of Wano Country?"
He leaned back.
"The man who was played for a fool by Kaido and Orochi for five whole years? The 'Fool of a Lord'?"
"DON'T YOU DARE!"
Inuarashi and Nekomamushi roared in unison. Their eyes blazed with fury. To insult Oden was worse than insulting them.
"Don't speak of Lord Oden that way! He was a great man! He saved us!"
"Oh?" Suzaku was unmoved. He even leaned forward, his tone laced with cold mockery.
"Great? Maybe. But was he smart?"
"He danced naked in the streets to save hostages that were never going to be released. He let his enemies build weapon factories while he humiliated himself. He caused his retainers and citizens to lose faith in him."
Suzaku's voice was like a whip.
"He missed the only chance to fight Kaido when the Beast Pirates were weak. And in the end, he was boiled alive in oil. He died a tragic death, leaving his country in chains and his retainers running like dogs."
"Duke Inuarashi, tell me... isn't that foolish enough?"
"YOU...!" Nekomamushi lunged, but was held back by Inuarashi.
"Arguing about this is meaningless." Suzaku waved his hand, cutting off their rebuttal. His eyes became deep and commanding.
"I want the future of the entire Mink Tribe. Not the foolish loyalty of the two of you to a dead man."
He pointed at Carrot. He pointed at the children hiding behind the tents.
"He is already dead. Wano is burning. Kaido is hunting you. Aside from self-pity and hiding on a phantom island, what meaning does your allegiance hold? Will Oden's ghost save you from a Buster Call? Will he save you when Kaido returns?"
Inuarashi and Nekomamushi's faces instantly turned pale.
Suzaku's words were like the sharpest knife, brutally slicing open the reality they had refused to face for twenty years.
Yes, Lord Oden is gone... What are they fighting for?
For a vanished phantom? For a prophecy that might never come true?
Or for the living tribesmen right in front of them who need their protection?
Watching the two leaders struggling in agony, Suzaku said nothing more. He poured himself another cup of tea.
He had presented the choice. The Dead Past or the Living Future.
Now, it was up to them to decide the fate of the Mink Tribe.
The fire crackled. The wind rustled the leaves.
After a long time, which felt as vast as a century, Inuarashi slowly closed his eyes. His shoulders dropped.
When he opened them again, the anger was extinguished, leaving only endless exhaustion and resolve.
"...Fine."
Inuarashi's voice was a whisper.
"We agree."
"Duke?!" Nekomamushi gasped.
"For the future of the Mink Tribe," Inuarashi said firmly. "We cannot eat honor. We cannot drink loyalty."
He raised his head, meeting Suzaku's gaze. He didn't bow, but he acknowledged the authority.
"However, we will remain with our tribesmen! To see if you... truly regard us as companions, as you claim! If you betray us... we will bite your throat out, even if we die."
Suzaku smiled. A genuine smile.
"Deal."
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