"...I... I don't understand what you mean! If you want the Shogun's position, then just take it, I won't fight you for it!"
"Hehehe, you still don't get it, my foolish brother. I never wanted this position of Shogun! I only ever wanted an ordinary life."
Kozuki Hiyori didn't have any resentment toward Kozuki Toki, it had simply all been shifted onto Momonosuke. She couldn't understand why it had to be exactly twenty years.
Since Kozuki Toki's ability could send groups through time, why didn't she take the whole family several hundred years into the future together?
She didn't forget everything that had happened at that time. From back then, the Beasts Pirates have been friendly towards Wano Country, whereas Kurozumi Orochi has always been causing trouble.
Although it was hindsight, she had analyzed the situation back then. If the entire Kozuki family disappeared, then neither the Beasts Pirates nor the Kurozumi would count as legitimate.
Perhaps the families of several Daimyo would have competed for power, but in the end none of them could have possibly won against the Beasts Pirates, and things would still turn out this way.
If the whole family had gone several hundred years into the future and reunited together, that would have been fine. But whether it was Kozuki Oden or Kozuki Toki, they both had a special obsession with the year 1522.
For those present, there was one piece of good news: they didn't have to worry about Momonosuke dying a violent death in the short term.
But at the same time, this was also worse news: judging by Hiyori's attitude, Momonosuke would not be living happily afterward.
While the false Shogun was thinking about how to deal with her older brother, the true princess of Wano Country was, just as Kawamatsu and Kikunojo had guessed, watching from another floor of Onigashima.
"Miss Yamato, shouldn't you consider stepping in? Letting her run wild like this isn't very good."
"I won't. You're trying to trick me again. Dad said that if I don't do anything, then nothing will be affected. Don't think you can fool me."
Among the entire Beasts Pirates, the one who could probably understand Kozuki Hiyori the most was Queen; only he could relate to that feeling of not being able to provoke anyone.
Originally, Queen had called Yamato over in hopes that she would make the decision, but Yamato, having learned to give up and do nothing just like Hiyori, watched the show from in front of the screen with popcorn in hand and didn't offer any opinions from beginning to end.
"But young miss, aren't you worried she might cause some trouble?"
"Not worried. This is Wano Country. What kind of trouble can a kid cause? But he really is a coward, nothing like Kozuki Oden."
Kaido's thinking had, to some extent, influenced Yamato as well. Weakness itself was a sin. She hated this logic, but she had no choice but to admit that in this cruel world, the phrase was very fitting.
If she had been any weaker, Kaido might have tortured her into madness.
Queen's plan came to a premature end. At this rate, Yamato's "intelligence Special Attack" against Kaido might extend to Queen too. After all, Yamato and Queen wouldn't fight each other; they would just use the other to draw enemy fire.
"And honestly, this is just so-so, nothing shocking. It's not even as interesting as a novel."
"A... novel?"
"Yeah, one Robin wrote. Something like a 'Revenge of the Fallen Princess.' When it comes to being scheming, Robin is much better."
In her spare time, Robin also had some daily hobbies, such as writing strange little stories.
In Yamato's eyes, when it came to scheming, Robin could toy with Kozuki Hiyori to death.
And in fact, that was true. Robin's abilities completely crushed Hiyori's on every level. Even in the original timeline, the intelligence Robin gathered in just a few days far surpassed what Kozuki Hiyori had managed in twenty years.
Previously, there was a position called Shogun's Attaché next to Kozuki Hiyori. This role was originally held by King, but after some restrictions were relaxed, King no longer served in this capacity.
Yamato intended to find a position for Robin, and this one seemed suitable; the workload wasn't heavy, and it fit her well.
Before Queen could ask Robin for details about her writing, a slightly flustered voice suddenly came from the side.
"Lord Q-Queen! Latest intel, two people have flown out of Wano Country!"
They only knew Queen was here; they didn't know Yamato was too. Since the information was urgent, the subordinate hadn't noticed Yamato being blocked by Queen. But Yamato herself didn't care about such things anyway; rather, it was Queen who was startled.
"What did you say?! What about the air cavalry? Are they useless trash, letting people slip away right under their noses?!"
"N-no, Lord Queen, someone stopped them."
"Who? Who in Wano Country could stop the entire air cavalry? Take me to meet that b*stard!"
"Worororo, good, I like this attitude."
The moment the words fell, Kaido came in from outside clutching his head. In that instant, Yamato switched from lazy spectator mode straight into combat readiness, while Queen also pieced some things together.
"Boss Kaido… don't tell me—"
"Yeah, it was me. After it was over, I just happened to see them about to take off, so I stopped them casually."
Hearing this, Queen's neck suddenly transformed into beast form and stretched long, his face appearing before the subordinate like a ghost.
"You b*stard! Don't you know how to prioritize when reporting intel?! Why didn't you start with the important part?! You could've just said Boss Kaido stopped them!"
If Queen didn't know that Yamato's direct subordinates were only a handful, and that this was a sudden incident, he might've suspected the subordinate was planted by Yamato to sabotage him.
As he scolded the underling, a question also arose in Yamato's mind.
"Father, those people also came from twenty years ago, right? Why did you let them leave?"
"Because I was bored."
"B-bored?"
"Yeah. Day after day it's always fighting the same few people. Even I find the repetitive battles dull.
Those guys must be going to find reinforcements, right? Hopefully they bring back some interesting ones to spice up this boring life."
It was a selfish reason, very typical of Kaido. Yamato couldn't think of any counterargument, but it still didn't feel right to her.
"If it causes trouble, won't Dad be unhappy?"
"Worororo, Yamato, you've got it wrong. This is their last chance. Letting two of them escape on purpose, when they return with reinforcements, we'll be able to drag out all those harboring disloyalty.
I've already given them enough chances. If they still don't know their place, then I'll just wipe them out together.
Letting them live and enjoy all this is already your Dad's mercy.
But I'm a pirate. I'm not as good-natured as your Dad. Sometimes the chance has already been given, but whether they can seize it, that's up to them."
It sounded like he was lecturing Yamato, but Kaido suddenly turned around and clapped a hand down on Queen's shoulder.
And with that, Queen's plan to sneak away immediately collapsed.
"Queen, where do you think you're going?"
"Uh… I was going to take care of the aftermath for you."
"No need. I just happen to want a word with you too. No time like the present, let's do it now.
And you, Yamato, don't think you can run. You're next."
Accompanied by an air of despair, Queen was dragged out by Kaido, who even left a reminder for Yamato. Only the subordinate who had just delivered the message remained standing there in a daze.
As for the identity of the troublemakers that Kaido had deliberately let go of, we need to trace back a little.
Some time earlier, right when Kozuki Hiyori had just left the Flower Capital's palace, the search in Kuri had made new progress.
After confirming the identities of several people, Hotei quickly relayed their wanted notices through the public display screens spread across Kuri.
Kanjuro and Raizo's features were far too distinctive. Coupled with Kuri's swift lockdown, it didn't take long before someone discovered their traces.
"Over here! That group is in the alley behind!"
"They ran west! Right next to the udon shop!"
No matter where they went, as soon as someone caught sight of them, shouts immediately followed. In the end, the three of them were cornered in a dead-end alley. The side streets and rooftops were crammed with people eager to earn contributions, and even Hotei was among them.
"So it really is you few. Haven't seen you in twenty years. Please come with me for a little rest."
Hotei held his sword with utmost politeness, intending to invite them on a trip to prison.
"Damn it… how did these people find us?"
"Kin'emon, Kanjuro, you two go assist Lord Momonosuke. I'll hold them off. Something seems to have happened over there."
Raizo pulled out several scrolls from his back, resolutely preparing to cover their retreat.
"No need to worry, you three. Momonosuke has already been captured. Otherwise, how would we have known you'd appeared? Looks like you don't plan on cooperating. Seize them!"
At Hotei's command, the members of the Shinsengumi rushed forward. Kin'emon and Kanjuro knocked down the people who were the first to charge; they were indeed far stronger than ordinary Shinsengumi. But it was useless.
For every enemy they knocked down, more would come surging in.
"Foxfire Style: Flame-Willow Flash!"
"Scroll-Scroll Jutsu: Fire Escape!"
Flames blazed along Kin'emon's blade as he cut toward the samurai before him.
Meanwhile, Raizo unleashed the fire stored within his scrolls. He was the Devil Fruit user of the Paramecia-type Scroll-Scroll Fruit, but Raizo himself didn't even realize he had eaten a Devil Fruit.
Because of Wano Country's limitations, he believed the fruit's powers were simply his awakened ninjutsu, calling it "Ninpo: Scroll-Scroll Jutsu."
Put simply, it allowed him to create scrolls that could absorb and then release others' attacks.
Kanjuro's movements weren't as flashy, but he still guarded their rear while reminding his companions:
"Don't get bogged down in fighting! Lord Momonosuke needs our aid! We have to rescue him!"
"Then let's hurry! Leave this to me! Ninpo: Smoke Escape Technique.!"
Raizo slammed a smoke bomb to the ground, and thick smoke instantly engulfed the whole alley. That was the nature of Wano Country's "ninjutsu", mere tools disguised under ninjutsu names.
Just as Raizo intended to use the cover of smoke to retreat, Hotei hurled out a bone club, instantly scattering the smoke throughout the alley.
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