The sound of gunfire echoed over the skies of Flower Capital, plunging the citizens on the streets into utter chaos due to the sudden outbreak of battle.
At the temporary Marine base in Flower Capital, inside the office Denjiro and Ashura Doji keep hearing the continuous gunfire from the streets outside and could no longer remain seated.
They stood up, ready to leave.
"You'd better stay right where you are!"
Just as they rose, Sakazuki who had been standing with his back to the office door smoking a cigarette, suddenly turned around and said in a deep voice.
"If you dare step out of this office, not only will you die, but everyone connected to you will pay the price for this riot!"
"This must be a misunderstanding!" Denjiro took a step forward, his right hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist.
"If we don't intervene, this chaos will only continue!"
Crocodile abruptly stood up, his gaze fixed intently on Denjiro, whose hand was already on his sword hilt.
Crocodile raised his right hand and a miniature sandstorm began to swirl in his palm.
"Are you doubting the Marine's ability to handle this? Forget Flower Capital—even if the entire nation of Wano gets involved, I alone can handle it without needing Admiral Sakazuki to lift a finger!"
"Of course, that's assuming you want to see this country turned into a barren desert!"
Hearing this, Denjiro sharply turned his head fearlessly meeting Crocodile's gaze.
"Crocodile, are you threatening me?"
Crocodile grinned. "What if I am? Consider yourself lucky that you're still in a position to be threatened. If Fleet Admiral Orion were here, you wouldn't even have the right to sit in this room!"
Denjiro's pupils slightly contracted.
Although Wano's isolationist policies had kept much of the outside world's news from reaching the country, as the leader of Flower Capital underworld and one of the nine retainers of the Kozuki family, he naturally had some knowledge of events happening in the outside world.
Especially the Fleet Admiral Orion that Crocodile mentioned—not only had he risen to power through a bloody coup, but he had also forced the World Government to make compromises.
Most importantly, according to the intelligence Denjiro had gathered, after Kaido arrest, this new Fleet Admiral had immediately entered the New World and executed Kaido without hesitation.
If even one of the Four Emperors like Kaido could be killed so easily, what chance did a mere underworld boss from Wano have?
***
"Admiral Sakazuki!"
"Admiral Sakazuki!"
"Let me go! I need to see Admiral Sakazuki!"
At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from the street outside.
Turning toward the sound, they saw Kozuki Hiyori being stopped by the Marine soldiers on guard at the gate.
Other soldiers had raised their guns, aiming at her as she tried to force her way through the checkpoint.
"Lady Hiyori!"
Surprised that Kozuki Hiyori had arrived at such a time, Denjiro's expression changed slightly.
He quickly turned to Sakazuki, his eyes carrying a hint of pleading.
Outside the temporary base gates, Kozuki Hiyori now targeted by the Marine soldiers' guns, dared not to move forward recklessly.
She urgently called out "I am Kozuki Hiyori, princess of Wano! I demand to see Admiral Sakazuki!"
The two soldiers blocking her path cared little for her royal status.
Without hesitation, one of them raised his gun and aimed it at her, speaking in a deep voice.
"Princess of Wano Country? Drop your weapon immediately! We suspect you are involved in the riots in the Flower Capital!"
"I came here precisely for this matter!" Hiyori was truly desperate.
She looked up at the building across the street, which had been temporarily converted into a Marine base and raised her voice to shout.
"Admiral Sakazuki, I can stop this chaos! Please, let me in!"
Before her words could fade, the gate across the street suddenly swung open.
Moments later, Sakazuki emerged accompanied by two officers.
Before Hiyori could react, a large contingent of Marine soldiers appeared from around the corner of the street opposite her.
With synchronized footsteps growing louder as they approached, the hundreds-strong Marine unit quickly arrived at the gate and stood in formation before Sakazuki.
Clearly, Sakazuki had not come out because of Hiyori but because of this Marine unit.
"Reporting to Admiral Sakazuki, the chaos in the city has been largely contained. All individuals involved in the riots have been executed on the spot!"
"According to our investigation, this protest was not spontaneous but was incited by someone behind the scenes!"
As the officer finished his report, several bodies of executed samurai were dragged over by Marine soldiers.
Seeing this, the officer standing before Sakazuki continued.
"These individuals are all samurai from Wano Country and each of them bears a crescent moon mark on their ankle. Our investigation reveals that these samurai with the crescent moon mark are loyal to the Kozuki family!"
Hearing this, Sakazuki turned his head to look at Hiyori who was being held back by Marine soldiers on the other side and said curtly.
"Bring her over!"
"BOOM—"
Before the Marine soldiers could react, a loud explosion suddenly erupted from the building above.
In the next moment, a figure burst through the window and landed steadily in front of Hiyori.
It was Denjiro.
"Lady Hiyori, run!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Denjiro who had just landed in front of Hiyori, decisively drew his sword and held it horizontally in front of him.
"Denjiro!"
Hiyori eyes narrowed slightly in surprise at Denjiro sudden appearance, but her expression quickly turned resolute.
She took a step forward and said in a firm voice.
"If I leave now, all of you will die!"
Before her words could fade, she raised the black sword in her hand and slowly knelt on one knee, facing Sakazuki as she shouted.
"Admiral Sakazuki, it is true that these samurai who have been loyal to the Kozuki family for years are responsible for this! As the sole descendant of the Kozuki family, I will not evade responsibility! However, I hope you will give me a chance to explain and give Wano Country a chance!"
"Give Wano Country a chance?" Sakazuki slowly walked up to Hiyori, his overwhelming presence pressing down on her.
The kneeling Hiyori felt a suffocating pressure, while Denjiro standing beside her tensed up instantly, his palms sweating as he gripped the hilt of his sword.
After looking down at Hiyori for a moment, Sakazuki spoke in a voice devoid of any emotion.
"Although Kurozumi Orochi actions in Wano Country are indeed unforgivable, this country is also sick!"
"And sickness must be treated!"
After a brief pause, Sakazuki suddenly turned his head to look at Denjiro, a surge of killing intent emanating from him.
"Denjiro, didn't I warn you not to step out of that office?"
Before the words had even fully left his mouth, a burst of scorching energy erupted.
In the next second, a molten fist accompanied by a searing gust of wind slammed toward Denjiro.
Caught off guard by Sakazuki sudden attack, even though Denjiro had been on high alert he had no time to dodge.
At the critical moment, he could only raise his sword to block.
BOOM—
The collision sent waves of scorching energy radiating in all directions, unrestrained and devastating.
Hiyori who had been kneeling on one knee was sent flying by the shockwave, while Denjiro struck by the molten fist was hurled uncontrollably through the air, landing on the street a hundred meters away.
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