This was, without question, the most despair-filled day in the lives of both Kōzuki Hiyori and Kyoshiro.
How had it come to this? How could Lady Hiyori's identity have been exposed? It was unthinkable. In all of Wano, the only person who knew that the esteemed courtesan Komurasaki was actually Lady Hiyori was him.
But none of that mattered now.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead, blood ran down his back, and his entire body was paralyzed as Who's-Who restrained him like a lifeless doll. Kyoshiro couldn't move a finger. He could only stare at the now-awake Kōzuki Hiyori with eyes filled with anguish and regret.
Across from him, Hiyori's gaze mirrored his despair. Her expression was pale and hollow, as though all hope had been torn from her in a single breath.
Orochi stood amidst the scene, completely baffled. His eyes darted between the captive Kyoshiro and the unmistakable figure of Kōzuki Hiyori, very much alive. Panic overtook his features as he shouted, voice rising in confusion and dread.
"Oi, Kaido, what… what the hell is going on?!"
He spun toward Kyoshiro, his trusted guard, clinging to a sliver of hope.
"Kyoshiro, what are you doing? Don't tell me… you've betrayed me too?!"
Only one voice answered, the one seated above all others, Kaido.
"You're mistaken, Orochi. This samurai was never loyal to you, so there's nothing to betray."
Orochi stood frozen in place. But Kaido didn't stop there.
"Samurai… should I call you Kyoshiro? Or would Denjirō be more appropriate? One of Oden's retainers and a member of the Nine Red Scabbards?"
If learning that Komurasaki was Oden's daughter had merely shaken Orochi, this revelation shattered him entirely. His knees gave out, and he crumpled to the ground.
"Den… Denjirō…?"
Even Fukurokuju was struck speechless.
Queen, having finally pieced everything together, stared at the scene with widened eyes, but the shock only made his grin widen.
"Oi oi~ Orochi, you're way too lucky to still be breathing. Your bedmate was Oden's daughter, and your personal guard was one of his vassals~! Surviving that's nothing short of a miracle."
Queen's words pierced deep. Orochi's face lost all color. Cold sweat soaked through his robes as he trembled, lips twitching in disbelief. But after the shock faded, fury surged.
What kind of twisted nightmare was this?
For years, the very names of Kōzuki Oden's daughter and retainers had plagued Orochi like a curse. Even in sleep, he was haunted by their memory. The thought that they had been so close, right beside him, for all these years without his knowing, unforgivable!
Rage ignited every nerve in his body. Orochi staggered to his feet, drew his blade, and charged straight at Kyoshiro, ready to cut him down where he stood.
"You traitorous scum!"
But just before the blade could strike, Who's-Who caught it effortlessly with one hand.
"You bastard! Let go! I'll kill him!"
Who's-Who didn't move. His grip remained tight, and his expression unmoved. He wasn't Orochi's servant. He answered to only one man.
Realizing he couldn't wrest his blade free, Orochi turned his rage toward Kaido.
"Kaido! What the hell is the meaning of this?!"
Kaido met Orochi's fury with a calm, calculating stare.
"Orochi, don't you think this is the perfect opportunity?"
The words caught Orochi off guard. His anger faltered. He didn't understand, but something in Kaido's tone compelled him to listen. After all, Kaido had just exposed everything, the identities of both Oden's daughter and his retainer.
"For years, we've hunted Oden's remaining retainers and the samurai who still resist us. Yet they've always evaded capture. But now… a perfect lure has fallen into our hands."
Orochi's eyes lit up with sudden understanding.
Meanwhile, Hiyori and Denjirō looked up in unison. Their hearts sank. As Kaido's plan became clear, they stared at him as if looking into the face of the devil.
"Kaido, you mean-"
"What do you think of this plan? One month from now, we execute Oden's daughter and his retainer publicly on Onigashima. What do you suppose those loyal samurai will do when they hear of it?"
Orochi's excitement exploded.
"They'll definitely try to rescue these two! And when they do, we can trap them all at once and wipe them out!"
"Exactly!"
Kaido replied.
"And who better to make the announcement than you, the Shōgun of Wano?"
A twisted grin crept across Orochi's face, his eyes gleaming with malice.
"Don't worry, Kaido. I'll make sure this news spreads to every last village and mountain in Wano! But… isn't a whole month a bit too long? I can barely wait~!"
"We need to give those samurai time. Only when they're fully committed can we crush them completely. Besides, I won't be in Wano for the next month."
The room fell silent. Orochi's smile twitched, his expression shifting quickly to concern.
"Why? If you're not here, and those samurai attack?"
"Relax. That's exactly why I'm leaving. If I stay, they'll never make a move. But once they hear I've left Wano, they'll think they have a chance. That's when they'll show themselves."
Orochi's face lit up again as understanding dawned. He clapped his hands together, full of glee.
"You're absolutely right! Those cowards wouldn't lift a finger while you're here. But the moment you're gone… that's when they'll crawl out of hiding!"
Across the room, Hiyori and Denjirō looked on with silent horror. There was no hope in their eyes now, only dread.
Kaido turned toward Black Maria and Who's-Who, issuing his orders without pause.
"Maria, Oden's daughter is yours. Who's-Who, Denjirō belongs to you. Keep them alive. That's all I ask."
Black Maria sighed in relief when she realized Kaido didn't seem personally interested in Hiyori. But her smile quickly turned cruel.
"Don't worry, Lord Kaido. I'll make sure she gets a proper education."
Kaido gave a small nod before looking to the gleeful snake that was Orochi.
"Alright. King will coordinate the rest with you. Go make your preparations."
Orochi bowed eagerly, practically vibrating with anticipation.
"Understood! I'll return immediately. This time, not a single one of those cursed retainers will escape!"
With that, Orochi and Fukurokuju departed. Black Maria and Who's-Who took Hiyori and Denjirō away, dragging them deeper into the darkness of Onigashima.
Kaido then turned his attention to the rest of his crew. His voice dropped into a slow, commanding tone.
"King, you'll handle the execution. Follow my instructions. I only care about the outcome."
"Hm. Leave it to me, big brother."
Kaido gave King a rare look of approval. He trusted him without hesitation. His eyes then swept across the room, landing on the Tobiroppo and the rest of the All-Stars.
"This operation will be known as the 'Wano Purge Plan.' Don't underestimate the samurai, as they're far more dangerous than they appear. Treat this as a test, not only of your fighting strength but your coordination, information-gathering, and overall leadership. Unless you're facing someone absolutely beyond your capabilities, I won't intervene. I want results."
His words carried a weight that silenced the entire room. The tension in the air thickened as the Tobiroppo and the All-Stars straightened their backs, their posture sharp with resolve.
"Leave it to us, Lord Kaido!!!"
"We won't fail you!"
"They're just samurai. They'll crumble like the rest!"
Kaido gave a satisfied nod.
"Good. Then I'll sit back and enjoy the show… warararaa!"
His thunderous laughter echoed throughout the chamber as his body began to shift. With a flash of power, he transformed into his towering azure dragon form, coils twisting and surging upward.
This time, he didn't fly in secret.
Kaido burst through the roof and soared high into the skies, his massive body on full display for all of Wano to see. The people watched in fear and awe as the great dragon vanished beyond the clouds.
He had no intention of wasting this time.
As someone who had transmigrated into this world, it would be foolish not to use his knowledge of the future. He already had several targets in mind.
The ancient blueprints of Pluton. The Road Poneglyphs. The artificial Devil Fruits developed from his own lineage. And specific unique individuals with powerful abilities.
He would claim anything useful before anyone else. With his current strength, nothing could stop him.