radicalducati Chapter 1738 Return the Head
Chapter 1738 Return the Head
Three men and one woman, four bloodied and unseeing heads, were laid bare on the execution platform.
This incredibly impactful scene, broadcast via Den Den Mushi (a type of electric scooter), brought an indescribable visual shock and psychological impact to countless viewers in distant seas.
For most outsiders who are unfamiliar with the inner workings of Wano Country and the past of the Kozuki family, they have no idea what identities and stories lie behind these four faces.
In Kurozumi Orochi's eyes, these were nothing more than the remains of defeated opponents.
Those who were outmatched and had their heads chopped off by him are not worthy of being remembered by the world; they are only fit to be used as tools for him to demonstrate his victory and torment his enemies.
He looked triumphantly at the people on the Moby Dick who were connected to Kozuki Oden, their faces showing expressions of utter grief, and felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
This twisted pleasure was essential for his survival.
Sengoku hadn't anticipated that these two unexpected guests, especially Kurozumi Orochi's cruel performance, would be such a huge blow to Kozuki Hiyori, who possessed the strange Byakugan.
This also dealt a severe blow to the morale and prestige of the Whitebeard Pirates, which was an unexpected gain.
Having enjoyed the mournful looks of his enemies enough, Kurozumi Orochi seemed satisfied.
He raised a short, stubby leg and unceremoniously stepped on one of the heads, the head of Denjiro, who had been an undercover agent the longest and deepest infiltrated, and was the most loyal to the Kozuki family.
He turned to the cold-faced Fleet Admiral Sengoku, a fake smile mixed with obsequiousness plastered on his face: "Fleet Admiral, these four heads are a token of sincerity from Kurozumi Orochi and Wano Country to the Navy."
"I have only one purpose in coming here. I will never interfere with your important matter of executing the Pirate King's son. I only want the woman in front of Whitebeard."
He emphasized, "As the ruler of a country, I am not one of those lowly pirates. Cooperation between the country and the navy is something we can discuss, don't you think?"
Orochi's words didn't surprise Sengoku too much.
From the moment he appeared, his words and actions were provocative, and his intentions toward that woman who rolled her eyes were already quite obvious.
Wano Country, though not a member state of the World Government, is located in the latter half of the Grand Line. It is a resource-rich country, especially rich in Seastone, and a samurai nation with a strong martial spirit. Its mid-level combat power is abundant, and its strategic position and potential value are far superior to those of ordinary member states.
However, Wano Country has a neighbor that can't be moved. How will Kurozumi Orochi handle his relationship with Kaido?
But this is a problem that General Kurotan himself should be troubled by.
The Navy is too far from Wano Country to effectively intervene. In the face of the absolute power of the Four Emperors, the so-called alliance is often no different from a piece of waste paper, at most just a verbal agreement of mutual exploitation.
Sengoku pondered for a moment, his sharp gaze scrutinizing Kurozumi Orochi, then sweeping over the grief-stricken and furious Whitebeard and his crew in the distance, quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
"it is good."
Sengoku spoke in a deep voice, "You can cooperate with the Navy for the time being. If you want to take away the woman next to Whitebeard, that's fine too."
"But we can't let you have all the benefits. We need one of those two white-eyed marines. That's the navy's bottom line."
Although Sengoku didn't know what secrets the Byakugan held, the fact that Orochi and the forces behind him had traveled so far to demand it meant that the Byakugan was of extraordinary value, even mentioned by the heavens.
If the other party wants it, the navy is naturally interested as well.
It is only fair if it is divided equally or at least one share is received.
If both pairs are taken by the other, the navy always feels like they're losing out.
The black charcoal snake's eyes darted around, as if it were truly deep in thought.
A moment later, he actually nodded and agreed!
"can."
Kurozumi Orochi spoke simply, his face revealing little emotion.
The bare minimum Madara gave him was to bring back a Byakugan.
Perhaps the effect of a pair of white eyes is not much different from that of a single white eye? It'll be enough to report back.
Splitting the money equally with the Navy is a bit painful, but it's within an acceptable range.
On this battlefield under the spotlight, the Shogun of Wano Country and the Fleet Admiral of the Navy easily made a cold deal involving human lives with just a few words.
"Bastard!"
"What do you take Hiyori for? Merchandise?!"
The Moby Dick was filled with rage. Before the fighting even started, the other side was already talking about dividing the spoils, leaving Kozuki Hiyori and Whitebeard in a bad light.
"Warring States!" Edward Newgate's voice, like a thunderclap, boomed, drowning out all the noise.
He held a massive Murakumogiri in his hand, his towering figure radiating a terrifying aura as imposing as a mountain, his eyes as cold as ice.
His words were deliberate and unwavering, filled with an unyielding resolve: "I will save Ace, and I will never hand Hiyori over to you, unless you step over my dead body!"
He never imagined that the Navy would stoop so low as to cooperate with a notorious traitor like Kurozumi Orochi, which trampled on some of his bottom lines.
Kurozumi Orochi was satisfied with the result and stopped arguing with the Fleet Admiral.
He turned to Whitebeard, a sickeningly fake smile on his face: "Whitebeard, don't be angry."
He shrugged and said in a flippant tone, “Although your sworn brother Kozuki Oden was tricked into being boiled to death by me, and his wife Lady Toki was burned alive without my help, I have no grudge against you. I have no interest in your old life. I am only interested in Kozuki Hiyori’s eyes.”
He pointed to the four heads that once belonged to the Red Scabbards at his feet and said casually, "This is a small gift for you."
"I will have the remaining Nine Red Scabbards go down and reunite as soon as possible, which can be considered a small reward for Kanjuro's loyalty."
Having said that, Orochi raised his short leg and kicked Denjiro's head away like a football.
Without pausing, he swiftly kicked three more heads, sending the other three heads flying.
Four blood-stained parabolas sliced through the bloody air, flying precisely toward the direction of the Moby Dick.
The angle of the black charcoal snake's kick was both tricky and powerful, seemingly calculated with precision regarding distance and trajectory, to avoid its head being intercepted midway or landing on other battlefields.
"asshole!"
"Catch!"
Nekomamushi, Inuarashi, and Raizo, their eyes blazing with fury, immediately leaped off the ship without hesitation.
The three of them exerted all their strength, narrowly escaping through the air, each catching a flying head and holding it tightly in their arms as if it were the most precious treasure in the world. When they landed, they staggered a few steps, tears welling up in their eyes once again.
Denjiro's head was deliberately kicked towards Hiyori Kozuki's direction by Orochi, tumbling and landing on the edge of the Moby Dick's deck, stopping right at Hiyori's feet.
Hiyori looked down at the familiar yet unfamiliar face at her feet.
In Denjiro's wide eyes, there seemed to still be lingering resentment and regret. The blood had congealed, leaving glaring marks on his pale skin.
"Lord Denjiro..." Hiyori Kozuki murmured, biting her lower lip hard with her teeth. Soon, the sweet, metallic taste of iron filled her mouth, and she bit her lip until it bled.
Without Denjiro, Hiyori Kozuki might have perished in that fire many years ago, along with her mother.
Her later knowledge and wisdom largely came from Denjiro's teachings and example.
He was her benefactor, her teacher, and her most loyal retainer, playing many important roles in her life.
He had once strongly opposed Hiyori Kozuki's attempt to impersonate the courtesan Komurasaki to get close to Orochi, but she insisted on it herself, so he had no choice but to give up and instead do his best to pave the way for her and protect her in secret.
Unexpectedly, their reunion after faking their death turned out to be a tragic and permanent separation.
Could it be that Mei Hua Kui betrayed everyone?
Did she expose the contact point, leading to the destruction of Denjiro and his group?
But further investigation at this point is futile.
Those who remained in Wano Country, loyal to the Kozuki family's power, were almost completely wiped out.
Danzo continued to kill people in Wano Country, using the bloodiest and most violent methods to intimidate everyone.
Cut off the heads of these Kozuki sympathizers, hang them on the city walls as a warning to everyone entering and leaving the Flower Capital: this is the consequence of opposing General Kurozumi Orochi.
After this battle, Orochi's reign of terror in Wano Country will only become more firmly entrenched.