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On the day of the Fire Festival, Wano Country welcomed its liveliest celebration, yet this time, the atmosphere in Flower Capital was exceptionally somber.
"Hurry up!"
"The execution is about to begin!"
"Damn it, he's still just a child!"
Kozuki Momonosuke, the last male heir of the Kozuki family. Once he died, it would mean the complete extinction of the Kozuki family's bloodline.
As for Princess Hiyori, whose whereabouts were unknown, in Wano Country's tradition, women could not inherit the family business.
Shogun's Castle, top floor.
Hyogoro came to find Shimotsuki Yasuie.
"Yasuie-dono, are we really not going to do anything?"
"Sigh."
Shimotsuki Yasuie sighed deeply, shaking his head bitterly.
He was merely a Shogun's proxy, governing Wano Country for the Beast Pirates. If he overstepped, he would not only harm himself but also Wano Country.
He was old and not afraid of death, but he could not, for his own selfish desires, force the people of Wano Country back to the days of starvation.
He had no choice.
Hyogoro's eyes were dim.
If he were younger, he might risk his life to fight, but now he was just an old man, frail and weak.
To have the life he had now, he owed much to Daichi-dono's kindness. Otherwise, he would probably have died in Prisoner Quarry by now.
"Yasuie-dono, someone wants to see you."
A servant came into the room and handed over an item representing the guest.
Yasuie took it and glanced at it, his expression instantly changing.
"Let him in."
"Yes!"
Soon, Kiku came into the room, and upon seeing Shimotsuki Yasuie, she immediately knelt down, her head touching the ground, tearfully pleading.
Last night, she did not make a move.
Those pirates were too strong. She couldn't break him out of prison. Now the only hope to save Momonosuke was Yasuie.
"Yasuie-dono, please save Momonosuke-sama!"
"Is that really you, Kiku?"
Yasuie looked at Kiku, feeling quite dazed.
Twenty years had passed, and Kiku's appearance hadn't changed at all.
After a long silence, Yasuie shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Kiku."
"Daikoku."
As his words fell, several ninjas instantly appeared in the room, surrounding Kiku and restraining her.
Kiku was stunned, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Yasuie ordered with a cold face.
"Send her to the interrogation room. I will interrogate her personally later."
"Yes!"
After the Oniwabanshu ninjas escorted Kiku away, Hyogoro finally spoke. "Is it necessary to go to such lengths?"
"If I don't do this, Kiku will die."
Yasuie picked up a wine glass and took a gulp.
If he didn't keep Kiku, she would definitely go to save Momonosuke, which would be certain death. Even if there was a one-in-ten-thousand chance of success, she would not be able to escape that man's grasp.
That man was a hundred times more terrifying than Kaido!
At this moment, below Shogun's Castle.
Four people were kneeling on the execution platform: Momonosuke and Kin'emon, as well as Shinobu, who had tried to break him out of prison last night, and Kanjuro.
Walls were erected around the execution ground, and outside were masses of people, even stretching as far as the eye could see.
They had come to witness the fall of Kozuki.
Just like twenty years ago, they witnessed Kozuki Oden's execution by boiling.
On the execution platform, the four knelt in a row.
Shinobu, her face covered in blood, whispered.
"Momonosuke-sama, and Kin'emon-dono and Kanjuro-dono, I will use my Ripe-Ripe Fruit ability to destroy the execution platform later. You must be prepared to escape!"
"Shinobu."
Kin'emon's eyes widened. He realized the enemy hadn't noticed Shinobu was a Devil Fruit user, so they hadn't restrained her with Seastone handcuffs. Shinobu could use her ability.
This was great!
He had been desperate, but he didn't expect there to be a glimmer of hope for survival. Even if he died, he would send Momonosuke-sama out.
Time quickly came to noon, and the sun was very dazzling.
The magistrate began to read out the crimes of Momonosuke and the others. Just as everyone's attention was drawn, Shinobu unleashed her ability.
"Ripe-Ripe Ninja Art: Withered Decay!"
It was as if decades had passed in an instant. The wooden execution platform rapidly withered and rotted, unable to bear the weight of the four.
"Boom!"
The execution platform collapsed, and dust rose everywhere.
This sudden scene startled everyone.
The magistrate roared.
"Quick, surround the execution platform! Don't let the prisoners escape!"
The samurai quickly advanced, surrounding the execution platform tightly.
"Catch them!"
"Yes!"
The samurai rushed into the dust.
"Waaahhhhh!"
Soon, screams rose and fell.
Law, standing behind the execution platform, frowned. He wasn't interested in executions, nor in political struggles, but if someone escaped, he would lose face.
But he didn't need to act. Kid's crew and Urouge's subordinates moved first.
"As long as we complete this mission, that man will give Kid a chance to challenge him. If we win, we can gain our freedom!"
Thinking of Daichi's promise, the Kid Pirates' eyes glowed red. Such a great figure should not deceive them.
The dust cleared.
Below the execution platform, Kin'emon and the two others held their swords, protecting Momonosuke in the center, surrounded by fallen samurai.
"Break through with me!"
Kin'emon roared, pulling hard with both hands, and his handcuffs snapped. Kanjuro next to him did the same.
Then the two charged side by side, cutting down all approaching samurai. They were getting closer and closer to the outer perimeter. As long as they could enter the crowd, they could hide and escape.
When Oden died, they had also broken through and fled for their lives in this manner.
"Beheading Whirlwind!"
"Puff!"
A ghost-like figure flipped over them both. Bloodlines simultaneously appeared below their necks, and blood splattered.
If it weren't for the intention to capture them alive, their necks would have been severed.
"Ugh!"
Kanjuro fell to the ground.
Kin'emon's pupils rolled back. He staggered two steps forward, his pupils gradually focused, and he actually managed to endure.
He couldn't fall!
"Foxfire Style!"
Kin'emon's sword burst into flames. Just as he was about to swing his sword, his vision suddenly blurred, and the arm holding the sword spun and flew into the sky.
"Punisher: Kamaa Sonic!"
"Ahhh!"
A scream echoed through the sky.
Killer's scythe spun in his hand, his gaze coldly fixed on Kin'emon. To deal with such trash, he didn't need to be serious at all.
Shinobu, holding Momonosuke, had her path blocked by the pirates. Seeing Kin'emon and Kanjuro defeated, the two despaired again.
Momonosuke cried, pleading. "Shinobu, use your Ripe-Ripe Fruit ability on me. I don't want to be a burden to you. I want to fight too."
"Momonosuke-sama, my Ripe-Ripe Fruit ability is irreversible. Don't worry, I will definitely get you out!"
"Shinobu!"
With death approaching, Momonosuke finally showed backbone for once.
Shinobu's expression flickered. She took out a pellet from between her buttocks and threw it to the ground.
"Smoke Screen Jutsu!"
White smoke billowed.
But relying solely on some smoke was not enough to escape from the layers of encirclement.
Soon, a tall man in his twenties emerged from the smoke, his appearance strikingly similar to Kozuki Oden, indicating his identity.
The aged Kozuki Momonosuke!
Momonosuke picked up his sword, his whole body trembling.
He felt a powerful force contained within his body, but this did not give him any sense of security. When he picked up the sword and faced the enemy, his heart was filled only with fear.
No, he had to fight!
He had to fight!
Kozuki Momonosuke gripped his sword tightly, his body gradually stopped trembling.
Just then.
The sky suddenly darkened, shadows enveloped the earth, and as the giant Azure Dragon appeared, everyone stopped their movements.
It was Kaido!
The Azure Dragon stared at Momonosuke, a red glow appearing in his mouth. The accumulated anger from Linlin reached its peak at this moment.
"Blast Breath!"
Flames pierced through the earth!
Kozuki Momonosuke, dead!