Inuarashi and Nekomamushi approached Lucifer, kneeling on one knee to pay their respects. "Thank you, Lord Lucifer, for fulfilling your promise."
"If it weren't for your assistance, we wouldn't have known when we could return to Wano Country and kill that despicable serpent," Inuarashi said with deep gratitude.
Inuarashi then turned to Denjiro and explained, "This is Lord Lucifer, the strongest man in the world right now!"
"Like Kaido, Lord Lucifer is also one of the Four Emperors, but his strength far surpasses Kaido's."
"Rest assured, Lord Lucifer is nothing like Kaido. He would never harm Wano Country."
"After defeating Kaido, the Ghost Pirates will help rebuild Wano and fulfill Lord Oden's last wish to open the country to the world."
Fearing that Denjiro might misunderstand Lucifer as another evil pirate, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi quickly explained Lucifer's origins and why they had pledged their loyalty to him.
"Really? You trust him completely?" Denjiro asked, skeptical.
"Of course! Lord Lucifer is worthy of our trust."
"In that case, let introduce soone to you," Denjiro said, gesturing towards the oiran, Komurasaki, seated in the back. She imdiately stepped forward.
"This is Lady Hiyori."
"Long ti no see, cats, dogs," Kozuki Hiyori said with a warm smile.
Inuarashi and Nekomamushi's eyes widened in shock. "You... you're Lady Hiyori?!"
mories of Kozuki Hiyori as a child ca rushing back. In the blink of an eye, over ten years had passed, and now she stood before them as a grown woman.
"Yes, it's . I've missed you both so much. It's been a long ti."
"Indeed, it has been far too long," they replied, their voices trembling with emotion.
"We're so sorry, Lady Hiyori. We failed to protect Lord Oden."
"Yes, as his retainers, we are truly incompetent!" Both Inuarashi and Nekomamushi knelt at her feet, overco with guilt and regret.
Despite the passage of ti, their loyalty to Kozuki Oden and his family remained unwavering. Not only them but countless samurai in Wano still held their allegiance to the Kozuki clan. As long as the Kozuki family showed themselves, these warriors would willingly lay down their lives for them.
Lucifer, watching this display of devotion, couldn't help but feel unimpressed. "I don't understand what kind of charm that Oden guy had," he muttered to himself.
To be honest, Lucifer didn't have much respect for Kozuki Oden. To him, Oden had made far too many foolish decisions in his life. For instance, when he was 15, Oden threatened a temple abbot, forcing himself into seclusion there while abducting won nightly to build a harem.
Lucifer found this behavior unforgivable.
"He kidnapped countless wives and daughters for himself. In my eyes, he was nothing more than a shaless scoundrel. Why do these Wano n still idolize him?" Lucifer wondered.
He concluded that the n of Wano must have peculiar tastes—like wearing taphorical "green hats."
"Lord Lucifer, is that how I should address you?" Kozuki Hiyori asked as she bowed deeply to him.
"Thank you for bringing the cats and dogs back to Wano. I fully understand who you are now."
"If you can truly protect this country and fulfill Wano's wish to open itself to the world, I, in the na of the Kozuki family, formally entrust the rule of this country to you."
Although Kaido and Orochi had seized control of Wano by force, they lacked legitimacy. As long as the Kozuki family formally handed over the ruling power to Lucifer, his claim to the throne would be righteous. The warriors of Wano would willingly follow him, and no one would dare rebel.
"Very well," Lucifer replied with a faint smile.
In truth, Lucifer didn't care much about so-called "righteousness" or "legitimacy." Like Kaido, he believed in the supremacy of strength. As long as one had absolute power, concepts like fa and justice were aningless.
If anyone dared to rebel, he would simply crush them.
After all, Wano was a small, isolated country. Its people were ignorant of the vast world beyond its borders. In a world where the strong devoured the weak, strength was the only truth.
Without absolute power, even with a righteous na, one was nothing more than an ant.
The sa was true of the current Kozuki family and Wano's rebel samurai. They had spent years hiding and plotting to overthrow Kaido, but Kaido never considered them a threat. If he so desired, Kaido could eliminate them all in a single day.
To Kaido, they were nothing more than a group of clowns, amusing distractions in his otherwise dull days.
"Blu blu blu! Blu blu blu!"
Suddenly, the sound of a Den Den Mushi rang out. Inuarashi retrieved a transponder snail from Orochi's clothes and handed it to Lucifer.
After connecting the call, Quinn's voice ca through the receiver. "Hey, Orochi, what's going on?"
"I got word that the Shogun's mansion was invaded. What's your status?"
Although Kurozumi Orochi was just a puppet ruler for the Beasts Pirates, he was still sowhat useful, so the crew kept an eye on him.
"The snake isn't here," Lucifer said calmly. "If you have sothing to say, tell ."
"Who the hell are you?" Quinn demanded.
"? I'm an old friend of your captain, Kaido," Lucifer replied with a smirk. "Tell him how much I've missed him since our last encounter on Cake Island."
"I've traveled thousands of miles to see him. Ask him to prepare so wine and food for my arrival."
"Y-You're Lucifer!" Quinn stamred, his voice shaking with fear.
Lucifer's words were clear, and Quinn would be a fool if he couldn't understand the underlying threat.
"It's . Are you Quinn?"
Lucifer asked with a playful smile. "Do you want to co over to my side?"
"It's not too late to surrender. If you do, I'll spare your life."
"Really? Oh no! Who would surrender to you?"
Quinn roared, his voice loud enough to make the phone snail spew spit. "Who do you think I am? I'm Quinn! How could I surrender without putting up a fight?"
"I—"
Boom!
Before Quinn could finish speaking, a loud explosion ca from the other end, abruptly cutting off the call.
Then, a familiar voice spoke up amidst the noise.
"Lucifer, brat, you've finally arrived!"
"What? Were you waiting for ?"
Lucifer asked, his tone dripping with mockery.
"Hahaha! Of course, I've been waiting for you!"
Kaido's deep laughter ca through, but it carried an undertone of rage and killing intent. "Lucifer, co to Onigashima. I'm waiting for you here!"
"I'll make Onigashima your grave and bury you there!"
Lucifer smirked coldly. "Anyone can talk big, Kaido. The question is, can you actually deliver?"
"Have you forgotten who ran from Cake Island last ti?"
Lucifer's voice turned sharp, laced with mockery.
"I heard Kaido of the Beasts has been trying to kill himself for years but never succeeded. And yet, when faced with , you ran. Didn't you always want to die? You had your chance. If you hadn't escaped last ti, you'd already be dead by my hands."
"Or are you afraid?" Lucifer taunted.
"Maybe your so-called suicides are just an act. The great Kaido—nothing but a coward, clinging to life?"
"Enough nonsense!" Kaido roared, his voice booming with fury. "It's not certain who'll win this ti!"
"Co to Onigashima! I'll be waiting for you there!"
With that, Kaido abruptly cut off the call.
Lucifer gave a dismissive smile and casually tossed the phone to the ground.
"The battle hasn't started yet, but Kaido's already fuming. How amusing."
"Captain Lucifer, shall we head to Onigashima next?"
Inuarashi and Nekomamushi asked, their voices filled with anticipation. The chance for revenge was right in front of them, and they could barely contain their eagerness.
"Not yet," Lucifer replied. "We'll wait until the army arrives."
Denjiro stepped forward.
"If you're going to war, please allow to join the fight. My n and the warriors of Wanokuni have been waiting for this day for years."
He continued, "Also, many of Wanokuni's samurai are imprisoned in the Rabbit Bowl Prison. If they can be freed, they'll make for valuable reinforcents."
"Lord Lucifer, what are your thoughts?" Denjiro asked, looking to Lucifer for approval.
Lucifer shrugged indifferently.
"Do whatever you want. It doesn't matter to ."
Although Wanokuni's samurai were strong, Lucifer knew they weren't essential for this war. The Ghost Pirates alone were more than capable of defeating the Beasts Pirates.
After contacting the Red Earl, Lucifer had already confird that the Ghost Pirates' large fleet had reached the outskirts of Wanokuni.
In just one more day, they would arrive.
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