"What?"
Oguro froze.
He hadn't sensed how the man vanished at all.
He spread his Observation Haki in an instant and finally caught Freud's presence on a rooftop far away.
Standing next to him were two other people.
"Tch… another Devil Fruit user?" Oguro muttered under his breath, irritation rising in his chest.
If he guessed right, one of those two had to be some kind of space-type Devil Fruit user who pulled Freud away at the last second.
Otherwise his Observation Haki couldn't have missed it so completely.
"You think you can get away just like that? Aren't you underestimating me a little too much?"
A cold gleam flashed in Oguro's eyes as he prepared to pursue them.
But the last of the three suddenly lifted both hands. A semi-transparent barrier appeared in front of the trio.
The barrier shimmered softly, and all three of them vanished from Oguro's sight.
"Is that… camouflage?"
Oguro sent his Observation Haki sweeping toward them.
But at that moment, the civilians filling the streets let out crazed roars as their auras surged violently.
Those chaotic clusters of aura tangled together, making it impossible for Oguro to pinpoint the trio's exact location.
"Damn bastard!"
Oguro cursed without holding back.
That scum Freud had forced all the civilians' physical potential to explode at once just to hinder tracking.
Their strength skyrocketed temporarily, but at the cost of permanent damage!
"Lord Soul King, what should we do?"
Yoruichi and the others stared at the city descending into madness. Their faces were tense and grim.
Oguro replied, "Yoruichi, use Bakudo to restrain them first. Freud thinks he has Furant Kingdom in his pocket… today I'm going to show him he's building castles in the air."
Even the World Government backs down when it sees me… and a Devil Fruit user wants to turn the world upside down?
Yoruichi nodded and immediately began chanting.
"Heaven and earth, cast into a cage. The world's shadow, where no bare feet may walk a thousand miles. Coil, bind, devour. All living things are halted… Bakudo:91, Black Swamp!"
(Original spell, not canon.)
A droplet of inky black liquid slipped from Yoruichi's fingertip and hit the ground. It spread in an instant, painting the earth pitch-black.
The next second, the darkened ground softened into a swamp. Everyone standing on it sank instantly until the mire reached their thighs.
A few people who possessed great strength tried to break free. Thick black tendrils erupted from the swamp and wrapped around them, dragging them deeper into the mire.
With just one technique, half a district was swallowed. The riot collapsed almost instantly.
Whoosh.
At that moment, Oguro finally sensed three auras slipping out of the Bakudo's range, racing toward the royal palace at extreme speed.
"Found you… still trying to run?"
Oguro unleashed Shunpo to its limit. His body blurred into a streak of light as he shot toward Freud and the others.
The moment he reached the palace, he saw several princes ganging up on 3rd Prince Harris.
Harris had spears and blades sticking out of him everywhere. His whole body was drenched in blood.
The only reason he was still on his feet was Floyd's Devil Fruit keeping him going.
When they saw Oguro, the princes all roared, "You're another one of the third prince's helpers? Go die!"
They rushed him with frantic battle cries.
Oguro flicked his right hand. "Bakudo:62 Hundred-Step Fence."
Dozens of silver-gray rods shot forward, piercing through their bodies and pinning them firmly to the ground.
"See? This is why you shouldn't have gotten in my way."
Freud stepped out from inside the palace.
Oguro turned and saw that beside Floyd stood an old man dressed in regal finery with a crown on his head.
The King of Furant Kingdom.
"What now? You know you can't beat me, so you're planning to use a hostage?" Oguro sneered.
If that was Freud's plan, he was going to be disappointed.
But Freud simply wagged a finger and grinned.
"I'm just here to put an end to this little farce."
He snapped his fingers.
The people Oguro had restrained trembled and their eyes cleared.
"W-why are we here?" The eldest prince and the others stared around them, horrified.
When they saw the state of the palace… and the state of the city… they began shaking uncontrollably.
"You unfilial brats! How dare you start a rebellion and even murder your own younger brother!"
The King suddenly stepped forward and roared.
Only then did the princes notice Harris lying in the courtyard, covered in blood, utterly dead now that Freud's power was gone.
The princes were shocked. Cold sweat poured down their backs.
They had… vague memories of what happened.
They had killed Harris themselves.
Meanwhile the civilians near the palace, led by a few "concerned citizens," poured into the courtyard.
Hearing the King's accusation, uproar broke out instantly.
Sibling murder was despised no matter what world you were in.
The King continued shouting, "I declare all of you stripped of your royal status! The successor of Furant Kingdom shall be my second son… Furant Freud!"
…What?
That bastard was a prince?
Oguro's mind blanked for a moment.
This plot twist was bigger than expected.
"I support it!"
A civilian suddenly shouted with feverish excitement.
"When the princes were busy fighting each other, only the second prince helped us!"
"If he becomes king, he'll definitely be a good king!"
"That's right!"
"I agree!"
"Support His Highness the Second Prince!"
Freud's long-term setup among the civilians had finally paid off.
He stepped forward with a heartfelt expression and addressed the crowd.
"Thank you all for your support. I swear… I will make sure every one of you lives a truly happy life. Starting today… all unreasonable taxes will be abolished."
"Oooohhhh! Long live the Second Prince!"
The courtyard erupted into thunderous cheers.
Oguro's expression darkened.
If this man became king… Furant Kingdom really would be finished.
However, before Oguro could step in…
A figure suddenly appeared beside Floyd.
Shave.
The next moment, Oguro saw the eldest prince's twisted face as he drove a blade into Freud's chest.
He roared, "A discarded son like you thinks you can take my throne?!"
Freud stared at him in disbelief and collapsed limply.
The eldest prince spun around and glared at the stunned King.
"And you, you old bastard! I served this kingdom faithfully for years, and you chose a piece of trash who abandoned the kingdom! You don't deserve to be my father!"
The blade fell. The King clutched his neck and fell beside Freud.
"He killed the King and the Second Prince!"
"Kill him! Avenge the Second Prince!"
In an instant, the riot reached its absolute peak.