Sukiyaki trembled uncontrollably under Luffy's unrelenting gaze. His cries of pain and terror were reduced to muffled whimpers as he struggled to suppress his sobs. Fear coursed through him, overtaking the agony of the countless cuts etched into his flesh.
Luffy glanced at Sukiyaki's bloodied arm, where more than ten precise cuts had left a marble-sized chunk of flesh missing. He shook his head in disappointnt.
"At this rate, my technique isn't good enough," Luffy muttered, his tone almost casual. "How am I supposed to make 10,000 cuts? I've already lost count. Forget it. Let's start over. This ti, I'll be more precise."
The devilish whisper sent a new wave of terror through Sukiyaki. His mind was consud by regret. The pain in his arms was excruciating, but the worst part was the thodical precision of Luffy's punishnt. Each piece of flesh cut from his body was imdiately cauterized by the heat of the lightning-infused blade, ensuring he wouldn't bleed out.
It was a tornt far worse than anything Sukiyaki had imagined, harsher even than the punishnts described in the folklore of hell.
"Mmm~Mmm~~~!" Sukiyaki sobbed, desperate to beg for rcy. His muffled cries only seed to irritate Luffy, who paused mid-cut and fixed him with an annoyed look.
"What is it now?" Luffy asked, exasperated. "You're ruining my concentration. I've lost count again."
Sukiyaki frantically nodded and shook his head, trying to convey his desperation. Seeing the pathetic display, Luffy sighed and slapped his own forehead. "Ah, my bad," he said with mock sincerity. "I forgot your mouth is blocked. No wonder you can't talk."
With a smirk, Luffy reached into Sukiyaki's mouth with his blade, yanking out the rag that had been stuffed there. A few of the shogun's teeth ca loose in the process, and his mouth filled with blood.
Sukiyaki scread, his voice finally free. "My lord, please! I don't want to die! I was wrong to repay kindness with enmity and kill the Marines. Please spare ! I'll give you whatever you want—my treasure, my title as shogun, anything! I even have a granddaughter, Hiyori, the most beautiful woman in Wano Country. She's yours if you want her. Just let live!"
His desperate cries echoed through the Flower Capital, transmitted via the Den Den Mushi in Luffy's hand. Every resident and warrior in the city heard Sukiyaki's pleas.
The response was imdiate. The citizens who had only recently celebrated Sukiyaki's return to power felt a wave of disgust. His words stripped away any remaining admiration they had for their shogun.
Though most knew they might act no differently in his position, they couldn't help but despise his cowardice. Sukiyaki's dignity as a leader was shattered.
Luffy's smirk widened as he listened to the pathetic cries. "So generous of you, Shogun," he said mockingly. He tapped Sukiyaki's cheek with the bloodstained wakizashi, leaving sars of crimson on his face. "But unfortunately for you, I'm not interested in your treasures or your title. I'm only here for your life."
Sukiyaki's face turned ashen. His fear morphed into fury, and he directed his anger at Denjiro. "That bastard Denjiro!" he snarled, his voice filled with venom. "Who gave him the right to call himself my son?!"
The venom in Sukiyaki's tone was palpable as he continued his tirade. "Denjiro, you lowborn dog! When did I ever acknowledge you as my son? Do you think bringing back that harlot from the brothel would earn my gratitude? If she weren't still useful, I'd have killed her long ago!"
His anger grew more unrestrained with each word. "And you! A savage with no na or lineage! How dare you dream of inheriting the Kozuki family's noble title or the position of shogun? You're delusional!"
Down on the battlefield, Denjiro showed no sign of moving to rescue Sukiyaki. The shogun's words ant little to him now.
Since Sukiyaki's supposed acknowledgnt of him as an adopted son, Denjiro's thoughts had shifted. He realized the opportunity before him—a chance to remove the frail old man from power and claim the position of shogun for himself.
In his mind, he rationalized his actions as being for the greater good. Lord Oden's dream was to open the borders of Wano and restore its honor, he thought. Sukiyaki isn't fit to lead us. Under my guidance, Wano can finally fulfill Oden's wishes.
His plan solidified. To ease any guilt, he decided he would marry Hiyori once he took power. It's not for personal gain—it's to honor Oden's legacy and ensure the Kozuki family's continuity.
==============================================
Support at [email protected]/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
Check out new Fanfic:
A Book of Ice and Fire / Ga of Thrones : Magic Network
Marvel : Mutant God
=============================================
Reviews
All reviews (0)