Flower Capital, General Castle.
"Crash!"
A priceless vase shattered into pieces.
"Bastards! Bastards! Bastards!"
Orochi roared with a twisted expression, destroying everything in sight until not a single intact item remained in the room. Only then did he stop, panting heavily.
His rage burned uncontrollably.
"Those lowly peasants dare betray me!"
Just moments ago, he had learned about the pre-sale of properties in Ebisu Town City, with a flood of Flower Capital residents rushing to purchase homes there.
He could already foresee it—once Ebisu Town City was completed, the population of Flower Capital would inevitably plummet.
His worst fear had come true.
The Flower Capital was his most crucial stronghold, home to the noble families who supported him and the commoners who served them.
If the population declined too sharply, it could lead to the Flower Capital's decline, triggering a chain reaction of consequences.
And the one who stood to lose the most was him!
"Devil Muscle Man!"
Orochi's killing intent boiled over as Gurd's figure flashed through his mind.
From the moment the Hot Spring Shop opened, Orochi hadn't paid Gurd much attention. But now, Gurd had become the thorn in his side he most wanted to remove.
He had to admit—that man was a terrifyingly unpredictable opponent, especially when it came to making money. His methods were faster than outright robbery!
He owed fifty thousand gold!
Fukurokuju advised calmly, "Lord Orochi, it's not just the residents of Flower Capital—people from all over the land are rushing to Ebisu Town. This is already a foregone conclusion."
"Foregone conclusion?!"
Orochi glared at Fukurokuju.
Fukurokuju remained unfazed, meeting his gaze steadily.
It wasn't just commoners buying homes—the noble families were also flocking to Ebisu Town, forming the main force of buyers. Even he himself had secretly sent people there.
Only a fool would pass up easy money.
Even if he didn't care about the profits, his family certainly did. Missing this opportunity would mean losing out!
The rise of Ebisu Town City was now unstoppable. Trying to prevent it would be futile. The Orochi Shogun might disregard the people's sentiments, but he couldn't ignore the interests of the nobility.
If he lost their support, Orochi might not even be able to hold onto his position as Shogun. The stakes were clear.
After a long stare-down, Orochi snorted coldly.
He understood the gravity of the situation.
Fukurokuju smiled. "Don't fret, Lord Orochi. The priority now is suppressing the bandits. If that man wants men and money, we'll give them to him!"
"Once the suppression force reaches Kuri and clashes with the bandits, it wouldn't be unusual for a Headliner to die in the chaos, would it?"
"As for Ebisu Town, no matter how well it develops, with only Kaido's daughter holding it up, it'll eventually become prey in our jaws."
According to the Oniwabanshu's investigations, everything happening in Ebisu Town was orchestrated by Gurd. So, as long as Gurd was quietly eliminated, everything would return to normal.
"Guhahaha! You're absolutely right!"
Orochi's face brightened with delight.
"Fukurokuju, summon the nobles at once!"
"Understood."
The next morning, Hot Spring Club.
Four ninjas from the Oniwabanshu arrived at the Hot Spring Club. The leader, a bull-like man with dark skin, held a rank second only to Captain Fukurokuju in the Oniwabanshu.
"Lord Gurd, I am Da Black."
His voice was steady. "The four of us will follow your orders for this bandit suppression. Additionally, five hundred samurai await your command!"
"Excellent."
Gurd nodded with a smile.
Ebisu Town's efforts were starting to take effect, which meant they were undermining Orochi's foundations. No wonder Orochi was in such a hurry. However, sending four Oniwabanshu members was somewhat unexpected.
These ninjas were elites.
Though not overwhelmingly powerful, they at least had Headliner-level combat strength, making them quite effective against weaker opponents.
Sending them likely had ulterior motives.
Gurd didn't press the matter. Instead, he looked at the other three ninjas and asked with interest, "What are your names?"
"Wind Blade!"
"Thunder Blade!"
"Chiyo Girl!"
The three reported their names one after another.
Da Black said solemnly, "Lord Gurd, the bandit suppression cannot be delayed. The Shogun hopes you can set out immediately."
"Hold on a moment."
Gurd waved his hand leisurely and looked at Da Black with amusement. "I'd like to know—has the funding for the bandit suppression been prepared?"
"The Shogun is still gathering funds."
Da Black frowned.
Orochi Shogun had convened the noble families yesterday to discuss donations for the bandit suppression, personally contributing 100,000 gold. With the Shogun taking the lead, the nobles were naturally willing to chip in.
But raising funds took time!
Orochi Shogun, however, didn't want to wait, so he sent them ahead.
"No money?!"
Gurd's expression darkened as he slammed the table and stood up.
"Bastards! How can we suppress bandits without money?!"
"Bandit suppression is for the nation's stability, for protecting the nobles' interests! If the operation is delayed because of a lack of funds, those stingy bastards who refuse to pay are all criminals!"
"Da Black, send someone to tell those dragging their feet that we'll only have the motivation and confidence to head to Kuri once the money arrives!"
"Damn it, what a damn nuisance!"
He cursed without restraint.
Da Black and the other three broke out in cold sweat. Chiyo Girl, the most timid of them, turned pale, looking at Gurd as if he were a madman.
Clearly, he was cursing the Shogun.
This was the first time they'd seen someone demand money so shamelessly, as if the Shogun and the nobles owed him.
Did he have a death wish?!
"Hahaha, relax, everyone."
Gurd's anger vanished as he burst into laughter.
"We'll postpone the bandit suppression for now."
"You four have come a long way—you must be tired. Times like these call for relaxation, to adjust your physical and mental state."
"Alright, my treat today!"
"Ayachou, VIP seats for four!"
"Listen well—make sure our honored guests experience every service this establishment has to offer!"
As Gurd finished speaking, Ayachou entered the room with over a dozen attendants, greeting the four with bright smiles.
Da Black was at a loss.
"Lord Gurd, we—"
"Are you refusing my hospitality?"
Gurd's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with menace.
"W-we wouldn't dare!"
Da Black immediately backed down.
It wasn't time to turn hostile yet. Even if they were to assassinate him, they had to wait until the bandit suppression force clashed with the outlaws, pinning the blame on Ashura Doji.
"That's more like it."
Gurd patted Da Black's shoulder with a grin. "We're all brothers here—we should get along well, don't you think?"
"Y-you're absolutely right, my lord!"
Da Black nodded stiffly.
After dismissing the ninjas, Gurd plopped onto the sofa, his brow furrowed as he contemplated his next move.
"No reliable subordinates."
His biggest problem right now was the lack of capable underlings—he had to handle everything personally.
Though Green Worm and the others were reliable, their strength was too weak. As for Adie and those gang bosses, their abilities were decent, but their loyalty was questionable—they could only be used for odd jobs.
"If only Ulti and Page One were here."
Yamato, Ulti, Page One.
After much deliberation, his core support only consisted of the younger generation of the Beasts. The other high-ranking officers were all seasoned veterans—there was little chance they'd follow him.
Gurd gazed out the window.
By his estimate, Yamato should be back by now.
"Gurd, I'm back!"
Covered in dirt, Yamato burst into the room energetically, clutching a newspaper she had picked up from Ebisu Town's hidden port.
"Here, the news you wanted!"
"Thanks."
Gurd took the newspaper and eagerly flipped through it. When he spotted the information he was looking for, a smile spread across his face.
"Fire Fist" Ace!
The east wind he needed had arrived!
(End of Chapter)