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Chapter 181 Prologue to Wanokuni
The candles flickered, and in the dusty secret room, Kozuki's remaining retainers who had been in exile for many years gathered again.
After lurking and investigating, Momonosuke, Kin'emon, Raizo, Kikunosuke and others finally successfully met up with Kozuki Hiyori and Denjiro.
In the secret room, the faint light of the oil lamp flickered, outlining familiar yet long-lost faces.
There was still a flush of excitement on the faces of Momonosuke, Kin'emon, Raizo, and Kikunojo, and the warmth of the reunion had not yet dissipated.
Kin'emon, however, could no longer contain himself and suddenly stood up, his blood boiling:
"Everyone! Now that Kaido has been defeated, we only need to seize this opportunity to start the plan of restoring our country!"
He slammed his palm on the table and looked at everyone with a fiery gaze, especially Momonosuke who was sitting at the main seat:
"Let the common people and the samurai know that His Majesty Momosuke has returned safely, and that the flames of the Kozuki family are still blazing—they will surely rise up in rebellion!"
"Overthrowing the remnants of the Kurozumi clan and rebuilding our nation's foundation is just around the corner!"
Raizo also said excitedly: "Yes! The people have suffered from Kaido for a long time, and everyone wants to kill Kurozumi the snake! As long as the fire of hope is ignited, the restoration of the country is in sight!"
Momonosuke clenched his fists, his face flushed with excitement, as if he finally felt that the gears of fate were turning back on track and he felt the weight of the "King".
"I...I am willing to lead the fight, shoulder to shoulder with all of you, and once again, stand for the name of Kozuki!"
Several responses were heard in the secret room, and the atmosphere was about to become more tense.
But at this moment, Denjiro remained silent with his brows lowered, and Kozuki Hiyori's eyes were dim, his fingertips rubbing the hem of his clothes lightly, without saying a word.
Kin'emon noticed something was wrong and frowned at Hiyori: "Your Highness... why don't you say anything? Now is the best opportunity!"
Hiyori's expression was as gentle as usual, but there was an indescribable gloom in her eyes. She just whispered softly:
"…It's not that I don't want to." Her voice was almost whispered, "It's just that it's useless."
Kin'emon was startled: "Your Highness...what do you mean?"
Denjiro finally spoke, his tone restrained but revealing a hint of fatigue:
"Kaido was indeed defeated."
He paused, his eyes complicated: "But in the Flower City... there is no movement at all."
"Yamato has been running around the Flower Capital for two whole days."
"She dropped the name Kaido, donned the mask of Kozuki, and, posing as an enemy, walked the streets, calling on the people to rise up and join forces with Marine to defeat the remaining Orochi."
"But her screams...are like lighting a fire in a graveyard."
Momonosuke's expression froze instantly: "How, how could it be..."
"We also thought that once the young master returned and Kaido was defeated, the people would awaken."
Denjiro shook his head slowly, "But in fact, we didn't see anything."
"People watched with indifference. Some avoided her shadow, while others said, 'Don't cause trouble.'"
"Some people also said, 'It's better for Kaido to die and not disturb our lives.'"
Hiyori whispered, "She was eventually taken away by the remnants of the Kurozumi family... and no one dared to stop her."
Lei Zang opened his mouth and said, "Have you tried to call on them?"
"I've tried." Denjiro didn't say much, but his expression said it all.
Hiyori whispered, "Sometimes...if you don't say it out loud, you might still be able to imagine that this land is still waiting for you."
"But once you shout out your hope, you look back and realize that no one is really listening."
"Sir!" A Genin flashed out from the shadows of the secret passage, kneeling on one knee and stirring up a fine cloud of dust.
Denjiro leaned over to listen, and his pupils under the fox mask suddenly contracted.
"The Flower City reopens its 'Hundred Flowers Banquet' tonight."
As he turned, his furisode drew a sharp arc, and his voice trembled with suppressed emotion, "Kurozumi Orochi wants to host a banquet for the Marine Admiral."
Kin'emon slammed the counter and said, "This thief! Kaido's body is still cold..."
"etc!"
The scales of Kawamatsu shone coldly in the candlelight. "He's hosting the Marine Admiral who defeated Kaido?"
The secret room suddenly became quiet.
Kojuro's rouge was crushed into blood-colored powder at her fingertips, falling on Momonosuke's trembling clothes.
Ashura suddenly burst into laughter, his wine jug smashing against the wall, splashing amber wine. "Great! Let's show Marine how we've been treated like pigs and dogs for the past twenty years!"
Raizo paused mid-hand seal. "But if Marine accepts bribes..."
"Won't."
Denjiro looked at the silent Momonosuke, the candlelight casting a flickering light in his dragon eyes. Madara, "Where the Rogge Admiral goes, he never accepts surrender."
Momonosuke dug his nails into his palms, and blood dripped onto the Kozuki family crest. "Then let Orochi host the banquet."
"We want all the guests to see it,"
"Who is the real abscess of Wanokuni?"
The secret room fell into silence again.
Outside Guizhu Lane in the Flower City, a hunchbacked old man sat quietly under the eaves of a dilapidated teahouse.
Wearing a ragged cloak and with an old zither at his waist, he lowered his head to sip tea, but his eyes passed through the red lanterns on the street and looked at the teahouses, restaurants and geisha houses that were still in operation.
People come and go, all laughing and talking.
It was as if there had never been Kaido, there had never been Orochi, there had never been Kozuki.
He did not appear in the secret room, but he heard rumors all over the streets.
He once shouldered the heavy truth for the king, the father, and the country.
Now, he is Tenguyama Hichetsu, a hermit under a mask.
But he knew in his heart: the real problem has never been whether the enemy falls.
But the question is, is there anyone in this country worth saving?
He looked up at the night sky, his eyes showing no excitement, only complexity and coldness.
"Maybe...Kozuki shouldn't have come back."
Wanokuni·Flower City·Outside the Shogun's Palace
With the deafening sound of drums and music and the lighting of thousands of paper lanterns, the "General's Welcoming Ceremony", a once-in-a-century event, was grandly held in the Flower City.
The streets were lined with tributes and singing girls, with banners fluttering and drums beating.
And when two figures slowly descended from the sky, the whole city seemed to hold its breath.
A man with a silver-white cloak fluttering in the wind, a stern expression and eyes like an eagle, was Admiral Rogge of Xuanlin.
The other man carried a mace on his shoulder, his fangs slightly exposed and his blood as strong as a mountain. It was Rhett, one of the "Three Men of Discipline".
On the high seat of the Shogun's mansion, Kurozumi Orochi put on the most gorgeous gold-threaded gown, with a smile on her face and a sharp, piercing voice:
"Oh my, the two Marines have come all the way here, bringing glory to the entire Wanokuni—"
He clapped his hands, and the band immediately played a welcoming song. Servants filed in, presenting gold, silver, and jewelry all over the floor. Several gorgeously dressed geishas knelt before Rogge:
"Please accept this small gift from Wanokuni, Marine-sama..."
However, Rogge did not respond from beginning to end, but only glanced coldly at the piles of wealth and beauties on the ground.
The atmosphere was extremely cold and stiff.
The smile on Kurozumi Orochi's face froze instantly, his skin twitching slightly, but he dared not utter a single word, and could only maintain a stiff smile: "Haha... haha... Your Excellency dislikes extravagance, truly a man of high moral character..."
Lei Te sat down on the low couch and grabbed a bunch of grilled dumplings nonchalantly: "Boss, don't be too nervous. I spent a lot of money on it."
Rogge didn't reply, but looked around.
The expressions of the onlookers were dull.
The "common people" who should have cheered and welcomed the event to the sound of the drums were now just clapping mechanically and were forced to stand in line by the samurai of the Shogunate, with indifference on their faces.
The eyes are empty and the slogans are hypocritical.
"Are these your 'people'?" Rogge said in a cold tone.
Kurozumi Orochi immediately bowed: "Yes, yes, you have all been disciplined by me for many years and have behaved well!"
"Now that they've finally witnessed the power of 'justice,' they... they're practically bursting with gratitude!"
Rogge glanced around and noticed a series of figures quickly blending into the crowd behind a roof.
"The mouse has come out of the hole." He murmured.
But he did not say anything to stop him, but let him blend into the group.
Kurozumi Orochi sensed the atmosphere was getting tense, and quickly waved his hands with a dry laugh:
"Since you have come from afar, let me present you with a 'special gift'."
He clapped his hands, and a figure, escorted by two warriors, was forcibly brought into the center of the main hall.
She was a woman with long hair and wearing tattered warrior armor. Her hands were bound with seastone chains and her steps were unsteady.
"Kaido no Onna."
Kurozumi Orochi deliberately stretched out his voice, "The last remnant of the Beasts Pirates—Yamato."
"She once attempted to incite the people to rebellion and tried to join forces with the Marine to deal with me... Hehe, fortunately, my loyal and brave subordinates captured her alive."
Rhett raised an eyebrow and looked at Rogge suspiciously.
Yamato stood in front of the candlelight, head lowered, covered in blood, his hair on his forehead unable to hide the pair of eyes that had long lost their luster.
She didn't struggle or scream, and even the expression on her face was almost blank.
Like a walking corpse.
"Is this the 'gift' you want to give me?" Rogge's voice was so calm that it was almost cold.
Kurozumi Orochi quickly bowed his head: "That's right, that's right - I know that what you are doing is just. I am taking the remaining evildoers as hostages to show my loyalty..."
Before he finished speaking, a "click" sound suddenly came from the air.
Lei Te picked up the mace, narrowed his eyes and smiled:
"Boss, do you want to kill him? I actually...can't help it anymore."
Rogge, however, stretched out his hand to block it gently, and looked at Yamato calmly: "Are you Kaido's daughter?"
Yamato slowly raised her head, and at that moment, she seemed to want to say something.
But his lips and teeth trembled, and in the end he only answered softly:
"I once thought I was a warrior... but now, I can't even believe it anymore."
The air was silent for a moment.