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The evidence was ironclad; no matter how she tried, there was no way to talk herself out of it. Komurasaki never expected that Lirisk would have investigated her so thoroughly. This wasn't something done in a day or two.
This man wasn't just cold, he was deeply calculating!
"Anything else you want to explain?" Hearing Lirisk's question, Komurasaki gave a bitter smile.
What could she say? That she was like a pirate, hiding her treasure in some cave?
In this world, just like anywhere else, the mainstream way to keep money was in a bank, unless you were dirt poor and had no spare change at all… Besides, pirates didn't hoard Belly, but storable valuables like gold.
If someone checked into where her wealth had gone, it simply wouldn't stand up.
"Much thanks for the trouble, Miss Komurasaki," Lirisk said flatly. "On one hand, you swindle and play games with the generals, on the other, you funnel the hard-earned money to rebels… A woman's strength, truly worthy of respect."
He sat down on a stone and added calmly: "Next, we just wait. I'm certain they'll show up."
"No… they won't!" Suddenly, Komurasaki stood, her face resolute.
Lirisk frowned in silence. "What do you mean?"
"I admit it. I've been secretly supporting the resistance. I started many years ago. But there's one thing none of you know."
Seeing his frown deepen, Komurasaki smiled with pride.
"Even the resistance itself doesn't know who their secret benefactor is!"
Crack…
Lirisk's fingers clenched, his knuckles creaking.
"You… what did you just say?!"
"You said it was because your house controls Wano Country's banking system that you were able to investigate me, right? Then tell me, do you think the battered, broken Resisters could possibly manage such a thing?!"
The answer was obvious. Naturally, impossible.
Wano's banks were Orrick's most important financial lifeline. He would never allow outsiders to meddle. With the Resisters' strength, there was no way they could investigate internal ledgers.
But because of that, they would never be able to uncover Komurasaki's secret role. She would remain hidden forever, until her death.
"You… damn… bitch!"
Lirisk's aura erupted, killing intent flashing in his ice-cold eyes.
"This is the resolve of the weak, Celestial Dragon!"
Komurasaki met his gaze without fear. Her ornate robes shimmered in the setting sun, making her look like a firebrand about to burn out, tragic yet magnificent.
"We who have nothing left to lose don't care about our lives! If you want it, take it! But the wicked… have been played!"
Lirisk's face darkened. He never expected to stumble into a pitfall here.
If Komurasaki's identity was hidden, the Resisters would at most think of it as an opportunity to move independently. They wouldn't suspect more. And given the strength Lirisk had already shown, even if they hated him to death, they wouldn't dare act.
But if…
Rustle, rustle!
"Who's there?!"
The bushes shook. Lirisk's vicious glare snapped in that direction as he barked.
"What you just said, is it true, Komurasaki?"
"Lord Kanjuro!" Komurasaki gasped, covering her mouth in shock. "Why are you here?"
Kanjuro stepped out of the brush, his right hand gripping tightly the brush that was both his pen and his weapon, his eyes locked on Lirisk.
"All these years… it was you helping everyone, wasn't it?"
"I…"
Komurasaki faltered. She never imagined she'd run into someone she knew, here of all places.
But this wasn't the time to be distracted.
"Run, Lord Kanjuro! You're no match for him!"
Lirisk's terrifying power had already been displayed in their last battle. Even with their full forces, they hadn't been able to withstand him. How could Kanjuro possibly face him alone?
"No. We're here too!"
At that moment, Luffy burst out of the brush with Sanji at his side. Luffy pushed his straw hat back to hang from his neck, stretching his body as he cracked his knuckles.
"You're the one who told us about the secret passage, right, Komurasaki?"
"I… no… You all need to go back!"
Komurasaki stomped her feet in panic. One after another, the very people she'd risked everything to save kept appearing. Just what was going on?!
"Go back? I'll never go back. Not even in death…" Sanji flicked his cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it underfoot.
"How could I possibly ignore a lady's tears? If Zeff found out, he'd break my legs… Besides, you're our benefactor."
"Wicked Demonic Phoenix Kick!"
He suddenly spun in place, his right leg engulfed in blazing orange flames. Turning his head, he declared:
"Wait for me, Miss Komurasaki! I'm coming to save you!"
"Grill Shoot!"
"Hmph, what a fool who never learns!"
Sanji's dash was blindingly fast, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye, but Lirisk was even faster, his gaze razor-sharp.
"This is a feint! His real goal is to snatch her away, while Straw Hat and Kanjuro attack to buy time!"
Keeping his attention on the battlefield as a whole, Lirisk instantly saw through Sanji's intent once he noticed Luffy and Kanjuro's movements.
"In that case…"
Shuā!
"What?!"
Sanji's face twisted in shock as Lirisk suddenly pivoted and lunged at Komurasaki.
"Damn it! He saw through me?!"
Rokushiki · Shigan · Hexagram!
Scales covered Lirisk's hand, completing a partial transformation. Combined with Armament Haki, his fingers turned into blades sharp enough to slice through anything.
"Danger!"
Sanji clenched his teeth and burst forward with explosive force, reaching Komurasaki in an instant.
Shhhk! Shhhk-shhhk!
Five silver-white streaks ripped through the air, carving into his body, but that wasn't the end.
Shuā!
A massive tail swept out from his blind spot, smashing across Sanji's chest and completing the Hexagram strike.
"Wughwaaah!!"
Blood gushed from his mouth as Sanji was hurled backward by the devastating blow.
"Sanji-san!!" Komurasaki screamed, dashing forward to catch him. Blood streamed from her pierced hands, but she bit down hard and refused to let go.
Bang! Boom-rumble!
The two of them crashed into the unyielding walls of Oden City, smoke and dust billowing around them.
"This… is the true essence of a feint, Straw Hat crew."
"Sanji!!" Luffy shouted desperately. In the next moment, Lirisk lunged at him. At the last instant, Luffy grabbed his own head and yanked it sideways, stretching far beyond normal limits, narrowly dodging the decapitating strike.
"Get out of my way!" Kanjuro swung his giant brush downward, trying to force Lirisk back. But with a casual raise of his palm, Lirisk blocked the attack with ease.
Seeing this, Kanjuro called out: "Be careful, Luffy Dono! Don't forget, his specialty is close-quarters combat! Sanji Dono, if you're still alive, take Lady Komurasaki and leave! We'll hold him off!"
"Cough… cough… not yet!"
From within the smoke, Sanji's voice rang out, weak, yet unyielding. Blood soaked the front of his body, but he hoisted Komurasaki onto his shoulder.
"Trying to run? Not that easy!" Lirisk snarled, turning back toward them.
In the dense forest battlefield, where space was tight and terrain complex, a martial arts master like him had the perfect stage to display terrifying speed and agility. Luffy tried to counterattack, but Lirisk slipped past effortlessly, leaving Luffy's fist to slam into a tree trunk.
"Now's the time…"
The kunoichi, who had been watching quietly from the shadows, leapt out and yanked a cord.
"Manzai Senbon Hell!"
A storm of poisoned needles shot out from every direction, enveloping Lirisk in a deadly rain. Ninja never fought head-on, they set traps and struck from the shadows. All her preparations had led to this one chance, to buy Sanji time.
But she overlooked one thing…
"Half-Beastification!"
With nowhere to dodge in midair, Lirisk's body suddenly swelled, covered in a gleaming green carapace.
Ding-ding-dang-dang!
The needles clattered uselessly off his armor. Unharmed, Lirisk burst free from the storm and brought his palm crashing down toward Sanji.
"You dare oppose me with such tricks? Pathetic!"
"Oh? Then what about me?"
Suddenly, a towering figure appeared in front of Lirisk. Dressed head to toe in black, concealed beneath a heavy cloak, his movement left behind afterimages, like a ghostly apparition.
"You are…?"
Lirisk frowned. For some reason, this man felt strangely familiar. But there was no time to dwell on it, he hardened his Haki and threw a counterpunch.
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion ripped outward, shockwaves tearing through the battlefield. Lirisk's eyes widened in disbelief as he was blasted back, roaring furiously: "Damn it!!"
"You've fallen for it again, Lirisk…"
This wasn't just an ordinary strike; it was one of Rowen's signature techniques: [Thunder God · Octa-Cannon]!
And this was no half-measure, it was the fully charged Fourth Fist, its destructive power multiplied severalfold!
"This is the true essence of a feint." Rowen sneered, driving his thunderous fist forward.
(End of Chapter)
Hey Guys I have picked up 2 new Fanfiction
New Novels- 1. One Piece- Maxed Out Conqueror's Haki!
2. One Piece- Master Of Devil Fruits
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