As Michael's most steadfast supporter, Yamato's political awareness was beyond reproach.
Whenever she accompanied Michael on inspections to various strongholds, she always led from the front, charging ahead of everyone else.
Whether it was fighting enemies or helping locals with infrastructure projects.
In fact, over the past few years, infrastructure projects had become her primary focus.
So when Yamato referred to herself as "Worker Grandpa," she truly embodied the role.
To be born and to live.
Why should hardworking, earnest people be ruled by so-called "nobles" with rotten hearts and minds, who only know schemes and treachery?
Whether it was Kurozumi Higurashi before her or her own biological father Kaido—to the current Yamato, they were all the same...
They were all parts of the world that the future seas no longer needed.
If not for her remaining rationality, knowing that Kurozumi Higurashi still had to live a while longer, this strike wouldn't have just knocked her to the ground—it would have smashed her skull to pieces.
"W-wait, those demon horns and white hair... Aren't you Yamato? We've met before!"
"Of course I remember you, Kurozumi Higurashi. You colluded with my biological father to invade Wano, incited Kurozumi Orochi's revenge, and worked with Kaido... You were even the one who turned Wano into a weapons factory!" Yamato looked down at Kurozumi Higurashi with disdain.
"You should have died long ago... The mercy I showed just now wasn't out of kindness—it's because you deserve some suffering before you die."
With that, she raised her spiked club, A-Ken, and casually shattered both of Kurozumi Higurashi's legs.
Though Kurozumi Higurashi was still strong for her age... against Yamato, who had just entered her prime, she was no different from an ant.
The sickening sound of bones breaking mingled with screams.
But the person who pushed open the door wasn't a member of the Overseas Trade Promotion Association drawn by the noise.
"Ah, yes, it's nothing. President Higurashi just stubbed her little toe on the table corner..." Momonosuke, about to enter, waved away the concerned staff who had rushed over.
"Nothing serious."
If anyone else had said this, the staff might have at least glanced inside to be sure.
But Momonosuke was the son of Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Toki, the heir to the shogunate of Wano...
So they left, reassured.
"President Higurashi, you really kept us in the dark," Momonosuke crouched down, his expression blank as he stared at Kurozumi Higurashi.
"Or should I say, Kurozumi Higurashi? I remember what you looked like back then..."
"Kozuki Momonosuke... If you're here, does that mean those two fools, Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Toki, already know about me?"
Hearing his parents called "fools," Momonosuke's face darkened.
But before he could retort, Kozuki Hiyori had already stepped back, taken a running start, and charged forward.
The girl who knew nothing of combat coldly and stiffly delivered a self-taught soccer kick straight to Kurozumi Higurashi's head.
If Michael had seen this, he would've sworn Randy Orton possessed her.
That textbook hospital-grade kick was truly unmatched.
After taking Yamato's club strike and having both legs shattered, the ninety-something-year-old Kurozumi Higurashi finally lost consciousness despite her unyielding will for revenge.
Kozuki Hiyori panted heavily as she looked at the unconscious Higurashi, only now feeling the violent electrical signals transmitting from her foot that had just kicked his skull...
The sensation was called "pain."
After all, the skull is the hardest bone in every person's body.
Those unskilled in fighting who suddenly strike a skull with such force would most likely injure themselves too.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
"AHHHHH! My foot!"
Hiyori collapsed ungracefully to the ground, clutching her small foot as tears streamed down her face.
As if she wasn't the one who'd just delivered that head-exploding kick moments ago.
Yamato quickly reached out, picking Hiyori up and placing her on a nearby sofa.
"Damn, is that really my sister?" Momonosuke gasped sharply.
He had to admit, Hiyori's display had shocked him.
That expression was exactly like their mother's when she was being stern.
Momonosuke couldn't help but think...
Perhaps Hiyori was actually the most suitable heir for the shogunate?
As for Wano never having had a female shogun in its history... that didn't matter.
They did have an absurdly formidable grandfather after all.
"No doubt, your sister's kick was truly mighty and majestic," Jack remarked, looking at the unconscious Higurashi with a disdainful smile.
"Scum like this would've been sent to the guillotine long ago in countries liberated by our Revolutionary Army... yet she managed to live this long in your Wano."
Momonosuke had no rebuttal to Jack's mocking tone.
The facts spoke for themselves.
If Wano's great families had truly eradicated their enemies root and stem back then, instead of hypocritically sparing remnants after defeating the Kurozumi clan...
Perhaps Kaido would never have invaded and enslaved them.
After all, many countries could serve as weapons factories.
Without Kurozumi Higurashi working as an inside agent, Kaido likely wouldn't have targeted Wano first...
The samurai's existence and the united isolationist policy made it notoriously difficult to conquer.
Simply put, this was all the consequence of Wano's great families' own past mistakes.
A sun that cannot rise, a dusk that refuses to fall.
Neither purely good nor thoroughly evil.
They'd simply reaped what they sowed.
...
After the meeting concluded, Michael didn't head straight to the Overseas Trade Promotion Council.
Instead, he sought out Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Toki privately.
He then explained everything about the mission he'd assigned to Yamato and Jack.
Expecting some questions from the couple, he was surprised when they nodded in perfect unison.
"So that's what happened!"
"Wait, were you two even listening? I just sent people to capture your most capable subordinate right now!"
"But Michael, you must have your reasons!" Kozuki Oden's grin was the picture of someone whose mind had never been tainted by knowledge.
"After all, you managed to drive Kaido out of Wano Country years ago with just a letter!"
"Of course I'll stand firmly by your side... Father."
Michael's lips twitched slightly.
For Wano to encounter you two... truly a blessing earned over eight lifetimes.
"Alright, Yamato and Jack should be done by now... Why don't you come see for yourselves whether my judgment was mistaken?"
With that, he strode out confidently.
Toki glanced at Michael, then turned back to Oden.
"You... actually trust Father this much?"
"That sword of his—though its form has changed—still carries a faintly familiar aura... Roger's 'Ace'," Kozuki Oden replied with a smile.
"This is the man Roger entrusted everything to! How could I not believe in him?"
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