GarudaTranslation
patreon
[OP Marine Officer Luffy] Chapter 331- 335
🕑 Added 2025-01-22 01:00:01 +0000 UTCChapter 331: A Storm of Wrath
"I understand. I won't do anything reckless. Thank you for your help, Violet, Olivia, and Kalifa."
Yamato's voice was filled with despair as she turned away, her gaze distant. Without waiting for a response, she walked back to her room, each step heavier than the last.
"Is she... going to be okay?" Koala asked hesitantly, her brow furrowed as she watched Yamato’s retreating figure. The worry in her voice was evident.
Olivia shook her head, letting out a helpless sigh. "Just let her calm down for now. She needs time to process everything. Imagine being told that the Revolutionary Army is no better than the Celestial Dragons—a group that burns, kills, and loots without mercy. Would you be able to accept that easily?"
Koala shivered at Olivia's blunt words, her arms instinctively wrapping around herself. "No way! Don’t talk about us like that, Da-Mei!" Her protest was almost childish, a mix of disbelief and defiance.
Olivia looked at her with a faint smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. She turned to Ain and asked, "Should we inform Luffy about this? And more importantly, what’s our next step?"
Ain, who had been quiet until now, seemed to suppress her emotions. Her lips tightened as she nodded apologetically to Olivia, then reached for the Den Den Mushi. After dialing, she waited, her hand trembling slightly.
“...Ain?” came Luffy’s familiar voice from the other end of the line. “What’s going on?”
Ain closed her eyes for a brief moment, steadying herself. “Captain,” she began softly, recounting in detail everything Violet had witnessed. Her voice remained calm, but the weight of her words was suffocating.
On the other side, Luffy fell silent. The Den Den Mushi didn’t make a sound, but the tension was palpable. Ain and Koala exchanged uneasy glances as they waited.
Minutes passed before Luffy finally spoke, his tone darker than they’d ever heard. "I’ve changed my mind," he said, his voice laced with anger. "Killing him outright would be too easy. I’ll capture him alive and let him suffer. He’ll pay for what he’s done!"
His declaration sent chills down Ain’s spine, but neither she nor the others objected. They knew better than to argue. Ain responded simply, “Understood.”
After the call ended, Ain turned to the group, her face serious. “The plan remains unchanged. Our next destination is the Flower Capital. Let’s move!”
Meanwhile, Luffy’s expression had turned grim. His fists were clenched, and the air around him seemed to vibrate with tension. The other officers—Darius, Dev, and several others—watched him warily.
A Marine lieutenant stationed in the Flower Capital stood nearby, his face pale and filled with regret. "It’s all my fault..." he muttered, his voice trembling. Tears welled up in his eyes. "I should’ve brought Colonel Ogg and the others’ bodies with me when we retreated. I failed them... I failed you, Vice Admiral Luffy."
Luffy’s piercing gaze landed on the lieutenant, silencing him. “Enough,” he said coldly, his voice commanding. “We’re heading there now—Those who master the Moonwalk, follow me!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Luffy propelled himself into the sky, his body moving with incredible speed. Without hesitation, Darius, Dev, and Macaron followed, their determination matching his. Behind them, a few other officers struggled to keep pace, their Moonwalk techniques still unrefined.
The rest, unable to follow through the air, clenched their fists in frustration and quickly organized the troops to continue on foot.
Luffy, however, was already far ahead, his focus solely on the Flower Capital. As he approached, his sharp eyes spotted a horrifying sight: more than a dozen Marine corpses tied to wooden stakes at the city gate. The sight made his blood boil.
He descended swiftly, landing in front of the stakes without hesitation. Ignoring the startled cries of the guards nearby, he began untying the bodies, his movements gentle despite his fury.
"Enemy attack! Kill him!" The shout came from one of the samurai guarding the gate. Seeing Luffy’s Marine attire, they immediately assumed he was an intruder and charged at him with their swords raised.
Luffy didn’t even glance in their direction. The samurai’ blades came down with ferocious speed—only to meet an invisible barrier of lightning that crackled to life around him. In an instant, the samurai were engulfed in a flash of electric blue, their screams cut short as their bodies were reduced to charred husks.
The stench of burnt flesh filled the air, but Luffy remained unfazed. He carefully untied the remaining bodies, his hands trembling slightly as he laid them down side by side. Though he didn’t recognize most of them, their uniforms and badges told him all he needed to know. Among them was Colonel Ogg, whose courage in battle had been well-known.
Kneeling before the fallen soldiers, Luffy adjusted their uniforms, his face somber. “You didn’t deserve this,” he whispered. “Please wait a little longer. I promise the one who did this to you won’t escape justice.”
By the time Darius and the others arrived, the gruesome scene had pushed their emotions to the breaking point. The sight of their comrades’ desecrated bodies filled them with rage.
“Vice Admiral!” Darius called out, his voice hoarse. “We—”
“You’ll stay here,” Luffy interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Guard their bodies. Make sure they’re treated with the respect they deserve. Leave the rest to me.”
As he finished speaking, a shadow loomed overhead, casting a dark veil over the area. The sunlight was blotted out as a massive airship descended from above, its engines roaring ominously.
Chapter 332: Zoro got lost again
The stillness of the Flower Capital shattered as a colossal ship descended from the skies. Painted in a striking blue-and-white pattern and adorned with a seagull emblem, the imposing vessel loomed over the city, casting an ominous shadow.
Darius and his companions stared in stunned silence. The sight of the airship sent a ripple of shock through their ranks. For a moment, none of them could speak, their eyes locked on the massive ship above.
“Vice Admiral Luffy…” Darius muttered, lowering his head as if searching for guidance, only to realize that Luffy had vanished. He hadn’t noticed when their leader had left, but it was clear that he was no longer among them.
Gulping nervously, Darius turned to Dev and the others, his expression hardening. “Don’t panic! That ship is the Vice Admiral ship. Protect the bodies of our fallen comrades at all costs. We must ensure they remain unharmed.”
“Yes, sir!” his subordinates chorused, their voices resolute despite the unease that gripped them.
The arrival of the Stormbreaker did not go unnoticed. Residents of the Flower Capital, unaccustomed to such advanced technology, were thrown into chaos. Many had never even imagined machines of this magnitude. Panic swept through the streets as people scrambled for safety, their frightened cries filling the air.
As the Stormbreaker descended to a manageable height, its engines hummed before stabilizing. The hatch opened, releasing a wave of figures who leapt from the ship with precision, using Moonwalk to scatter across the city. The scene was surreal, and Darius and his group couldn’t believe their eyes.
“Are those... all Marines?” Dev whispered in disbelief as he counted the figures soaring through the air. “How is that even possible?”
Darius, too, was struck speechless. Among the many Marines stationed in Wano, fewer than twenty had mastered one or more of the Six Powers. Yet here were hundreds, perhaps thousands, effortlessly executing Moonwalk. The sheer scale of their competence left him in awe. This was the true strength of Vice Admiral Luffy’s guerrilla unit.
Above the sky of Flower Capital, a commanding voice rang out. “Disperse! Avoid harming civilians, but arrest anyone who resists!” Cook’s authoritative tone left no room for hesitation.
The moment he finished speaking, Cook transformed mid-air, his body contorting into the Carnotaurus form. His massive figure smashed into the streets of the Flower Capital with an earth-shaking impact, sending plumes of dust and debris skyward.
“ROAR!” His bellow echoed like thunder, a primal sound that sent waves of fear through the samurai and townsfolk alike. Smoke swirled around him, but the force of his roar cleared it instantly, revealing the terrifying figure of the ancient beast.
The samurai who had rushed to investigate stopped in their tracks. Their faces paled, and some dropped their weapons in terror. But among them, one leader stepped forward, his fear masked by a grim determination.
“Do not falter! His Highness, the Shogun, is watching over us! Follow me!” he shouted, raising his blade high. With a battle cry, he charged at Cook, his courage inspiring a handful of samurai to follow.
Cook tilted his massive head, his reptilian eyes narrowing as he watched the pitiful attempt. With a flick of his tail, he sent the leader flying backward. The man crashed into his comrades, scattering them like leaves in a storm. More than a dozen fell, groaning in pain.
Cook snorted disdainfully, his voice booming. “ROAR! Lay down your weapons and surrender, or—”
“We surrender!” one of the would-be samurai interrupted, dropping his blade as his knees buckled. The rest quickly followed, throwing down their weapons and kneeling in submission.
Cook blinked in mild surprise before letting out a huff. “Good choice. Stay there and don’t move. I don’t have time to deal with prisoners right now.”
The defeated men nodded frantically, too terrified to do anything else. With a final glance, Cook stomped away, his massive legs shaking the ground with each step as he headed toward his next target.
Across the Flower Capital, chaos reigned. The disorganized forces of Kozuki and his allies—comprising hastily assembled ronin and thugs—were no match for the Guerilla squad. Within moments, large pockets of resistance had been crushed. Surrender and retreat became the dominant strategies among the Shogun’s forces.
At a small house on the edge of the city, Denjiro had been deep in discussion with his fellow retainers when the commotion outside reached his ears. Bursting through the door, he looked up and froze at the sight of the massive ship dominating the skyline. His heart sank, and sweat beaded on his brow.
“This… this is bad,” Denjiro muttered, his voice shaky. He clenched his fists, but his usual confidence was nowhere to be found.
The retainers who had followed him outside were equally shaken. Fear etched itself onto their faces as they stared at the Marines descending upon the city.
“It’s hopeless,” one of them said, his voice barely above a whisper. “We can’t win against this. We need to retreat—take the Shogun and flee while we still can!”
Several others murmured their agreement, their loyalty to the Kozuki family faltering in the face of overwhelming odds. A few even abandoned the group entirely, rushing back to their homes to gather belongings and escape the city.
Denjiro gritted his teeth, torn between his duty and the grim reality before him. His instincts screamed at him to protect the Shogun, to flee and regroup. But the shame of abandoning the Flower Capital gnawed at him.
As he debated his next move, a strange sight caught his eye. A Marine with green hair and three swords strapped to his waist approached. The man’s face was calm, even casual, as if he were strolling through a park rather than a battlefield. His eyes scanned the unfamiliar streets with mild frustration.
“Hey,you with the blue hair” Zoro called out, his voice breaking the tense silence. “I’m looking for someone. Where’s the Shogun’s residence?” He asks for once again he had lost his way.
Chapter 333: 3 Minute? I still got it
After Zoro’s blunt declaration, the tall Amazon warrior Aphelandra smirked. Her amused voice rang out behind him, drawing the attention of her fellow samurai.
“Oh my goodness, the captain is lost again. He could’ve reached the shogun castle if he had just followed our instructions.”
Zoro froze in his tracks, his body stiffening as her words struck a nerve. He turned slowly, his face flushed with embarrassment, and yelled back, “Shut up! Who said I was lost? I was following your directions exactly! It’s your fault for pointing me the wrong way!”
Aphelandra, towering over Zoro at nearly three times his height, raised her hands in mock surrender, her grin widening. “The captain’s at it again,” she said, addressing the other Amazon samurai. “Why can’t he just admit that he’s hopeless when it comes to directions? Men really are strange creatures.”
Her words drew hearty laughter from the rest of the team. Kikyo, Margaret, and several other Kuja warrior joined in without reservation, their laughter echoing in the air.
Zoro’s anger boiled over, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his Wado Ichimonji. The grinding of his teeth was audible as he fought to keep his temper in check. His pride wouldn’t let him let this slide.
Across from them, Denjiro and his retainers watched the scene unfold with growing irritation. The casual banter and laughter among Zoro’s group made their blood boil. The Flower Capital was in chaos, and here were these strangers treating it like a joke.
Denjiro’s piercing triangular eyes locked onto Zoro and his companions. His gaze radiated pure hostility, his murderous intent practically tangible.
Zoro noticed the shift immediately. Dropping his argument with the Amazons, he turned his attention to Denjiro, his expression hardening. “What’s with that look?” he asked, his voice sharp. “You want to fight? If I beat you, will you finally tell me where to find the shogun?”
Denjiro sneered. “Silence! A lowly swordsman like you has no right to meet the shogun.”
With that, he drew his sword, the blade gleaming in the sunlight. Addressing his retainers, he barked, “Everyone, join me! Capture these fools. With them as hostages, we can ensure His Highness’s safe escape from the city.”
The retainers nodded in unison, drawing their weapons and stepping forward with menacing intent.
Zoro’s lips curled into a feral grin. “Finally, some action.” He drew all three of his swords, his movements fluid and deliberate. Biting down on the Wado Ichimonji, he called back to his companions, “The one with blue hair is mine. Don’t even think about stealing him from me!”
Without waiting for a response, Zoro charged forward, his swords gleaming like streaks of silver in the light.
“Santoryu : Oni Giri!”
Denjiro met Zoro’s attack head-on, swinging his blade with practiced precision. “A three-sword style? How ridiculous,” he scoffed. “Let me show you the true power of a samurai.”
The clash of their blades sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Sparks flew as steel met steel, and the ground beneath them cracked from the force of their strikes. The intensity of their duel quickly drew the attention of everyone nearby.
As the leaders of both sides engaged in a fierce battle, their subordinates wasted no time joining the fray. The retainers and the Kuja clashed in a chaotic melee, their contrasting styles creating a spectacle of skill and ferocity.
One of Denjiro’s retainers, a wiry man with a sly expression, ogled the scantily clad Kuja warrior with a lecherous grin. “Hey, hey, what’s with these women?” he jeered. “Dressed more provocatively than the girls in the red-light district. Are they trying to seduce us into submission?”
His crude remark elicited laughter from the other retainers, who exchanged knowing looks as they eyed the Kuja with disdain.
The Kuja, however, were far from amused. Years of training under the likes of Hancock and Ain had taught them to recognize and deal with such disrespect swiftly.
Kikyo, the former captain of the Kuja Guard, stepped forward, her expression cold and unyielding. Without a word, she notched an arrow and drew her bowstring, imbuing the projectile with the power of Haki.
The mocking retainer didn’t even flinch. Seeing her armed with what he considered an inferior weapon, he sneered and raised his sword to deflect the incoming arrow.
But his confidence was his undoing. The arrow shattered his blade effortlessly and drove straight into his chest. The man staggered back, clutching at the wound as blood poured from his mouth. “Ryuo…” he murmured, his voice barely audible before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
The other retainers froze, their laughter dying in their throats. The sight of their fallen comrade and the realization of the Amazons’ strength left them pale and shaken.
The Kuja warrior, however, showed no mercy. Their eyes burned with determination as they advanced, proving to the retainers that they had severely underestimated their opponents.
Chaos reigned across the Flower Capital as the guerrilla forces and the city’s defenders clashed. The once-bustling streets became a battlefield, with each side fighting for dominance.
Meanwhile, in the heart of the Flower Capital, Kozuki Sukiyaki, the city’s ruler, had just concluded a rather intimate encounter. Adjusting his ornate kimono, he let out a satisfied sigh. “Three minutes,” he muttered to himself. “Not bad for someone of my age. My blade hasn’t dulled yet.”
The woman lying on beside him showed no outward reaction to his self-praise, but the corners of her mouth twitched. Internally, she seethed with contempt. Three minutes? That’s all? This pathetic old man can’t even last long enough to break a sweat.
Chapter 334:Trash, I Don’t Feel Anything!
Though she cursed in her heart, the courtesan forced a smile, suppressing her frustration. She needed to flatter the shogun, the generous spender, even if the situation was utterly humiliating.
“Shogun, you’re incredible. I feel so good that I can’t even get up,” she said with feigned exhaustion, curling up in the quilt. “I’m terribly sorry if I failed to serve you well.”
Her tone, coupled with her weary demeanor, stroked Sukiyaki’s ego as a man. He puffed up with pride and let out a hearty laugh.
“No problem, no problem! This shogun is very satisfied with your service. You’re quite remarkable!” he boasted. “Stay here from now on. I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of. Money won’t be an issue.”
The courtesan’s eyes lit up instantly. Just three minutes of effort, and I get a stable, high-paying job? It felt like a gift from heaven, and she couldn’t suppress her happiness.
“Thank you, Shogun! I’ll serve you faithfully and stay by your side whenever you need me,” she replied, her voice dripping with gratitude.
Sukiyaki beamed, his self-satisfaction soaring to new heights. Physically and mentally content, he adjusted his kimono and stood, preparing to leave. “It’s been years since I’ve enjoyed such a satisfying session,” he murmured to himself, basking in his delusion of grandeur.
As he opened the door and stepped out, the smile on his face froze. Before he could react, a cold blade pressed against his neck. The sharp edge cut into his skin, and blood trickled down, staining his collar.
The courtesan, still lounging in bed and watching Sukiyaki leave, froze at the sight. Her face turned pale, and a scream escaped her lips.
“Ah—!!”
“Shut up!” barked a cold voice.
Terrified, the courtesan clamped her hands over her mouth, too frightened to make another sound. Her body trembled as she watched the unfolding scene in horror.
Luffy, holding the blade against Sukiyaki’s neck, ignored her entirely. His gaze was fixed on the quivering shogun. With a tone of contempt, he sneered, “Shogun, you’re in such high spirits. The enemy has already infiltrated the city, and yet you have the audacity to indulge yourself with a courtesan. No wonder your family has fallen so far.”
Before Sukiyaki could stammer a response, Luffy kicked him back into the room. The shogun stumbled, falling to the floor with a yelp of pain.
“Ah! W-who are you? How dare you—”
“Shut your mouth!” Luffy interrupted, his patience wearing thin. He stabbed Sukiyaki’s shoulder with the tip of his blade, sending a jolt of electricity coursing through his body.
The shogun screamed, his body convulsing as he foamed at the mouth. The prostitute, now fully aware of the danger, scrambled into a corner of the room, clutching the quilt tightly. She crawled as far away as possible, her fear palpable.
Luffy, noticing her movements, glanced at her briefly. He stopped the electrical discharge and withdrew his blade. His tone was sharp but lacked malice as he addressed her.
“What do you think of this guy’s performance?” he asked, gesturing toward Sukiyaki. “Be honest.”
The courtesan hesitated, her fear warring with the resentment bubbling in her heart. She cast a cautious glance at Luffy’s face, trying to gauge his intentions. Finally, she spoke, her voice trembling but laced with bitterness.
“Sir, to be honest… this man is a complete waste. From the moment we started, we exchanged barely five or six sentences, and then he collapsed. It was over before I could feel anything at all.”
Her courage grew as she vented her frustration. “I’ve been in this line of work for six or seven years, and I’ve never encountered anyone as pathetic as him. If he weren’t the shogun, I’d have kicked him out long ago to avoid sullying my reputation.”
Though Sukiyaki’s body was numb from the electric shock, his hearing remained intact. The words hit him like a sledgehammer. His face twisted in rage as he glared at the prostitute, his dignity shredded.
The courtesan, emboldened by her outburst, noticed his glare. She scoffed, her temper flaring.
“What are you looking at, old man? With something as pitifully short as yours, you dare imitate others and hire prostitutes? What a joke!” she snapped. “The so-called famous Kozuki family… even the last shogun, Kurozumi Orochi, lasted longer than you!”
Her final jab was too much for Sukiyaki. His face turned a deep shade of red, and blood spurted from his mouth as he struggled to process the humiliation. The insult about Orochi cut deeper than any blade, leaving him teetering on the edge of unconsciousness.
Luffy, watching the scene unfold, smirked. He drove his sword into Sukiyaki’s thigh, snapping the shogun back to reality with a howl of pain.
Ignoring Sukiyaki’s cries, Luffy turned to the prostitute, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise.
“I didn’t expect you’d had dealings with Orochi. You’ve been through quite a bit, haven’t you?”
The courtesan smiled awkwardly, trying to downplay her past. “You jest, sir. I’m just a weak woman with a little bit of charm. I’ve had no choice but to rely on it to survive. Pleasing powerful men is the only way I’ve managed to scrape by. Even so, I’ve been beaten, scolded, and treated like dirt. No one looks at me with respect—not the powerful, not ordinary people.”
Her voice trailed off as she lowered her head, her bitterness evident. Luffy listened in silence, nodding slightly. He hadn’t expected her to be so forthright, and her performance exceeded his expectations.
“Fair enough,” he said. “You’ve done well. I won’t make things difficult for you.”
Luffy glanced at the trembling woman and gestured toward the door. “You can go now. It’s chaotic outside, so watch your step. And do me a favor—spread the word about the shogun’s heroic three minutes. Let everyone hear about it.”
Chapter 335: Oden: I Have Another Mother? [Picture]
After Luffy finished speaking, he pulled a small bag of gold coins from his pocket—the local currency of Wano—and casually tossed it to the courtesan.
Startled, the woman caught the bag mid-air, her practiced fingers recognizing the weight and the metallic clinking sound within. Without even looking, she knew it was filled with coins. A wide smile broke across her face as she bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
“Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!” she said, her voice overflowing with joy.
Quickly slipping into the kimono that lay crumpled on the tatami mat, she prepared to leave. But just as she reached the doorway, she hesitated. Turning back, she approached Luffy with a respectful bow and reached into her sleeve, producing a finely embroidered handkerchief.
“Sir, this is the address of my izakaya on Flower Street,” she said, handing him the delicate fabric. “You’re welcome to visit anytime. The first session is on the house~”
Not waiting for a response, she bowed again and darted out of the room, her steps quick and light.
Luffy glanced at the handkerchief in his hand, the faint scent of flowers wafting up. His face twisted in disbelief. Wow, is this how courtesan in Wano Country operate? Truly shameless.
Shaking his head, he tucked the handkerchief into his pocket. “Cook will probably find some use for this,” he muttered to himself before turning his attention back to Sukiyaki.
The shogun had used the distraction to produce a hidden wakizashi from his robes. Gritting his teeth, he braced himself for a final, desperate attack. But before he could act, Luffy raised his blade.
A surge of electricity coursed through Seiryu, the blade in Luffy’s hand, and into Sukiyaki’s body. The shogun convulsed violently, the weapon falling from his grasp as his limbs betrayed him.
“Don’t think I’ll let you die so easily, old man,” Luffy growled, his tone cold. “The 271 Marines you killed are waiting for justice, and I plan to deliver it.”
With a swift motion, Luffy snatched the wakizashi from Sukiyaki’s limp hand. His next actions were swift and decisive. The sharp edge of his blade moved with precision, slicing through Sukiyaki’s lower body. The shogun’s scream was choked by the electric shocks still coursing through him.
By the time Luffy was finished, a small, pitiful piece of flesh fell to the floor. He smirked in disdain. “Looks like Kozuki Oden just gained a mother and lost a father.”
Sukiyaki’s bulging eyes reflected pure horror as he realized what had just happened. His shock was so overwhelming that he fainted, his body slumping onto the tatami.
Luffy knelt down, the air around him crackling as he used the residual heat from his lightning to cauterize the wound. “Can’t have you bleeding out before I’m done with you,” he muttered.
With the shogun incapacitated, Luffy hauled Sukiyaki’s limp form over his shoulder. With a few powerful leaps, he ascended to the Shogun’s Tower, the tallest structure in the Flower Capital.
Thunder boomed overhead, and rain began to pour. On a distant street, Nami stood amidst the chaos, dark clouds swirling above her. The samurai of Wano had tried to take her down, but they were no match for her newfound abilities. As the user of the Logia-Type Cloud-Cloud Fruit, Nami no longer relied on tools to summon storms. She wielded thunderclouds with ease, her mastery unmatched.
“Looks like that’s the last of them,” she said, surveying the unconscious bodies littering the street. With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the storm clouds and prepared to move to the next battlefield.
Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi tucked into her belt crackled to life. It wasn’t just hers—Ain, Hina, Cook, Sanji, Binz, and every Marine in the Flower Capital heard the same transmission.
Luffy’s voice rang out, amplified through the magnetic fields he controlled. “Listen up, bastards of the Kozuki family! I’m only here for the real culprit. Lay down your weapons and surrender now. If you don’t surrender within three minutes, I’ll send you straight to whatever gods you worship.”
The broadcast spread across the Flower Capital, reaching every corner of the city. Samurai, ronin, and civilians alike paused, their confusion evident. Many looked around in disbelief, unsure of the source of the voice.
On another battlefield, Zoro and Denjiro clashed fiercely. Their blades sparked with each strike, the ground around them scarred by their relentless duel. As Luffy’s message reached their ears, Denjiro faltered, his attention momentarily shifting.
“Who dares to demoralize my men during a battle?!” Denjiro roared, his eyes scanning the area for the source of the disturbance.
His gaze traveled upward, and his expression froze. On the Shogun’s Tower, silhouetted against the stormy sky, Luffy stood tall. Beside him was Sukiyaki, tied to a wooden cross with his arms outstretched. The shogun’s face was bruised, and a filthy rag stuffed into his mouth muffled his protests.
Denjiro’s sword lowered as the weight of the scene hit him. “Your Highness... the shogun... what is this?!”
Zoro, puzzled by Denjiro’s reaction, removed the Wado Ichimonji from his mouth and turned to see what had captured his opponent’s attention. Around them, samurai and Kuja warrior alike stopped their fighting, their gazes drawn to the dramatic scene atop the tower.
In the streets, the residents of the Flower Capital stared up in shock. The once-proud shogun, displayed like a criminal, had shattered their understanding of authority. Panic rippled through the crowd as whispers spread.
“What is he doing? Does he plan to—?”
No one dared finish the thought. The implications were too terrifying.
Luffy, standing firm on the tower’s roof, glanced at the watch on his wrist. He didn’t move or speak, simply waiting for the promised three minutes to pass.
On the ground, the samurai of the Kozuki family exchanged nervous glances. Their morale, already shaky, began to crumble under the weight of the spectacle.
