The Beast Bath House stood as one of Onigashima's most luxurious amenities, particularly the All-Star exclusive hot spring pool where Kai now found himself in complete relaxation.
A soft towel draped over his head while his arms stretched comfortably along the pool's edge. The warm spring water enveloped his entire body like countless gentle hands providing a therapeutic massage.
"Absolutely refreshing!"
Kai released a long, satisfied breath as the fatigue and soreness from his earlier battle with Queen dissipated completely in this moment of pure bliss.
"Minami, apply a bit more pressure. I can handle it perfectly."
"Yes, Lord Kai."
Minami, wearing a light silk bathrobe, increased the intensity of her shoulder massage with practiced skill.
Komurasaki, dressed in an identically styled bathrobe, carefully balanced a massive tray filled with delicious food and refreshing drinks as she gracefully waded through the warm water.
The wet fabric clung perfectly to Komurasaki's elegant form, accentuating her graceful and refined figure with artistic precision.
Thank you for your artistic vision, Oda-sensei. None of the beauties in One Piece possess anything less than stunning figures.
Kai openly admired Komurasaki's approach, his eyes filled with genuine appreciation for such natural beauty.
He certainly hadn't come to the pirate world to live like a monk.
Komurasaki felt slightly nervous under Kai's appreciative gaze, a delicate blush creeping across her lovely face.
But her body responded honestly, subtly adjusting her posture to better accommodate his line of sight.
"Lord Kai, please enjoy this meal."
Komurasaki delicately picked up a piece of premium tuna sushi with her right hand while supporting it gracefully from below with her left, bringing it directly to Kai's lips.
"Mmm, absolutely delicious." Kai consumed it in one smooth bite, nodding with obvious satisfaction.
While savoring the sushi, he also playfully sucked on Komurasaki's snow-white fingertips.
"Ah! Lord Kai, you're being quite mischievous." Komurasaki released a sweet, melodic hum.
That warm sensation made her heart flutter with involuntary excitement.
Observing Komurasaki's charming expression, Kai pulled her slender waist closer and laughed with pure joy. "Hahahaha!"
A man's highest pursuits were nothing more than wielding power over the world when awake and resting on a beauty's lap when intoxicated.
Just as this romantic pair was sharing their intimate moment, an unexpected interruption arrived with perfect timing.
"Kai, here I come!"
A white figure descended from above in the dramatic style of an Olympic diving team member.
SPLASH!
An enormous amount of water erupted upward, providing all three people an impromptu shower.
"Yamato, you absolute idiot! Look what you did to my food!"
Kai wiped water from his face and cursed with exasperation: "And although this is technically my exclusive hot spring pool, since I'm currently here, it functions as a men's bath, understand!"
"What's the big problem? Minami and Komurasaki are here too, aren't they?" Yamato emerged from the water and approached Kai's side with an unrepentant grin.
"They're completely different! They're my personal maids. It would be perfectly fine even if we shared sleeping quarters." Kai chuckled with obvious mischief.
Both Komurasaki and Minami bashfully lowered their heads in embarrassment.
"I can do that too. We're close friends, after all."
Yamato waved her hand carelessly, immediately creating massive ripples throughout the hot spring pool.
"Ah, this situation... forget it entirely."
Kai didn't have time to provide Yamato with a comprehensive biology lesson at this moment.
Anyway, Yamato wasn't like those complicated identity groups from other places. Now she had returned to embracing her identity as a daughter, just with some concepts that hadn't been properly corrected yet.
No matter. He possessed plenty of time to guide her properly.
Speaking of physical compatibility, just in terms of body proportions, Yamato, who stood thirty centimeters taller than him, was more naturally suited to his height.
Like the 1.7-meter Komurasaki, standing by his side made her appear almost too delicate and dependent.
However, this didn't seem to matter much in the pirate world's diverse landscape.
Back in the day, the Pirate King's right-hand man Rayleigh could handle relationships with female giants, so now Kai managing smaller companions wasn't problematic either.
Not to mention, this world even featured races like the Tontatta tribe, proving that size differences rarely presented insurmountable obstacles.
Although the carefully prepared food was completely ruined because of Yamato's dramatic entrance, the three beauties before him provided an equally satisfying feast for the eyes.
Even Minami, whose beauty was slightly less striking than Yamato and Komurasaki's, could still be considered elegantly attractive.
After enjoying their budget version of romantic water play, Kai's group concluded their hot spring excursion.
Before departing, Kai specifically kept Minami and Komurasaki behind to instill some proper feminine behavioral concepts in Yamato.
While Kai was luxuriating in the good life, news of Kurozumi Orochi's demise created tremendous waves throughout Wano Country.
"Extra! Extra! Shogun Orochi has fallen!"
Raggedly dressed newsboys with patched clothing ran barefoot through the streets and alleys of Wano Country, vigorously waving freshly printed newspapers.
They couldn't help but work with such enthusiasm. When major news broke, newspapers sold at their absolute best.
Whether they'd eat substantial meals or thin gruel over the coming days depended entirely on this crucial moment.
Sure enough, news of Orochi's death immediately captured every citizen's attention.
"Give me a copy right now!"
A well-dressed wealthy merchant anxiously threw down a silver coin. Without waiting for change, he snatched the newspaper and scanned it with desperate speed.
On the newspaper's front page, Orochi's severed head was displayed prominently.
"Orochi is genuinely dead? That worthless waste! There goes my hundred gold bribe!"
Some people gnashed their teeth in frustration, while others wept with overwhelming joy.
"Heaven has eyes! That bastard Orochi finally received his well-deserved comeuppance. Son, you can rest in peace now."
A plainly dressed elderly couple embraced and cried together.
For a brief time, paper became the most precious commodity in Wano Country.
In Kuri's Mount Atama region, at the Atama Thieves' hidden stronghold, urgent news was arriving.
"Boss, absolutely massive news!" A man dressed as a masterless ronin waved the newspaper frantically and ran toward his leader.
Shutenmaru, distinguished by his fluffy pink curly hair, scolded with authority: "Kawauchi, what have I consistently taught you? Remain calm when situations develop. This represents the cultivation a qualified samurai should maintain."
"Boss, but this is..."
Just as Kawauchi was about to explain the situation, Shutenmaru interrupted firmly: "Take deep breaths and calm yourself down first."
Kawauchi had no choice but to comply with his leader's instructions.
After several moments, the now-calmed Kawauchi handed the newspaper to Shutenmaru and provided a concise report: "The Beast Pirates and Kurozumi Orochi experienced internal conflict. Orochi was executed by Kaido's daughter."
"What! Kurozumi Orochi is actually dead?"
Shutenmaru felt dumbfounded, suddenly standing upright. For a moment, he wondered if Lady Toki's prophesied day had finally arrived.
"Kawauchi, why didn't you communicate such monumentally important news immediately!"
"Boss, I attempted to..." Kawauchi appeared genuinely aggrieved.
"Forget it completely. Exercise more caution in the future." Shutenmaru waved his hand dismissively and snatched the newspaper from Kawauchi, browsing through its contents.
In the newspaper, under Kai's careful direction, Yamato naturally embodied everything great, glorious, and morally correct, while Kurozumi Orochi was portrayed as the living embodiment of every negative aspect in the world. Crimes of assault, pillaging, murder, and arson were all attributed to his rule.
Most importantly, this wasn't Kai fabricating accusations, but actual crimes Kurozumi Orochi had genuinely committed. As his trusted confidant, Fukurokuju understood these transgressions better than anyone.
Otherwise, Kai couldn't have compiled Kurozumi Orochi's extensive criminal record so efficiently.
Along with this character assassination, Kaido's public image also received some strategic beautification.
Claims such as how Lord Guardian King established weapon factories to increase Wano Country's foreign trade income, that the pollution and worker exploitation were all Kurozumi Orochi's arbitrary decisions, and that the Guardian King himself had attempted to dissuade him, but Orochi as Shogun simply refused to listen...
In summary, the Guardian King's intentions had been virtuous; it was simply that Orochi had executed policies incorrectly.
"Complete and utter nonsense!" Shutenmaru felt furious at these lies.
Others might remain ignorant, but didn't he understand Kaido's true nature perfectly?
Expecting him to genuinely care for ordinary people was like expecting miraculous food to fall from the sky.
After his initial rage subsided, this formerly hot-tempered man was forced to sit back down.
So what if he knew the absolute truth? Unable to defeat Kaido in combat, everything remained empty rhetoric. All he could accomplish was caring for his loyal brothers and accumulating strength while waiting for the prophesied day to finally arrive.
What proved most frightening wasn't even the Beast Pirates' overwhelming military might.
Shutenmaru keenly noticed a previously unknown name: Kai.
In the newspaper, Kai appeared as merely a tool assisting Yamato in eliminating Kurozumi Orochi, but Shutenmaru, who had dealt with the Beast Pirates for many years, sensed something deeply unsettling.
During the previous ten years, the Beast Pirates had never attempted to improve their public image.
Was this coincidence or deliberate strategy?
If the latter proved true, that would be absolutely terrifying.
It would mean the Beast Pirates were no longer temporary occupiers but intended to establish permanent roots in Wano Country.
The difficulty of eventual elimination would prove vastly different.
If this trend continued, in ten years, would the deceived people of Wano Country still recognize the Kozuki clan's legitimacy?
Kawauchi stepped forward at the appropriate moment to offer comfort: "Boss, regardless of everything else, Kurozumi Orochi is dead. That's always positive news."
"You're absolutely right. Let's hold a celebration banquet tonight."
Shutenmaru forced a smile onto his features. As a leader, he couldn't display dejection to his followers.
Three days later, at Orochi Castle (now rightfully called Shogun Castle), the situation had changed dramatically.
After three days of nonstop cleaning and comprehensive repair work, Shogun Castle had largely recovered its former grandeur.
Before noon arrived, daimyo from various regions had already assembled with their samurai and loyal retainers.
With the selection of Wano Country's new Shogun at stake, they couldn't afford anything less than complete proactivity.
Originally, Wano Country's Shogun position had always been held exclusively by the Kozuki clan, but Kurozumi Orochi's cunning schemes had shattered this ancient tradition.
Now, with the Kozuki clan eliminated and the Kurozumi clan lacking any successors, the Shogun position should naturally be elected from among the five regional daimyo.
For this opportunity, the five daimyo had spent these three days forming strategic alliances, making frequent political moves, and frantically campaigning while simultaneously badmouthing rival daimyo.
They also understood perfectly that Wano Country's true ruler remained the Beast Pirates and Guardian King Kaido himself.
But so what? As long as they could achieve the Shogun position, what was wrong with serving as Kaido's loyal subordinates?
In the main hall, Yamato had been forced by Kai to assume the primary seat.
Yamato, who naturally loved moving around freely, felt extremely uncomfortable, as though ants were crawling across her entire body.
"Kai, I'm so tired of this!" Yamato pouted with obvious frustration.
SMACK!
Kai slapped Yamato's restless foot and spoke sternly: "Don't fidget around. Just endure through this crucial period."
The nearby Oniwabanshu members focused their gazes downward, attempting to minimize their presence to avoid disturbing their masters' interaction.
Fukurokuju entered the hall and knelt on one knee respectfully: "Lord Kai, Lord Yamato, all regional daimyo have arrived as requested."
"Excellent. Allow them entry." Kai spoke with calm authority, showing no embarrassment about issuing orders on Yamato's behalf.
Fukurokuju expressed no surprise and departed to carry out the directive.
If Guardian King Kaido was the power behind Wano Country, then Lord Kai was clearly the strategist behind Shogun Yamato.
Soon, Fukurokuju led a distinguished group into the hall.
The five leading daimyo immediately focused on Yamato in the main seat and the subservient Oniwabanshu positioned behind her upon entering.
Why was a pirate occupying the primary seat?
Why did those Oniwabanshu members appear so completely subservient?
The five daimyo immediately developed terrible premonitions.
"Everyone, please be seated comfortably."
Kai observed the daimyo's expressions and sneered internally.
Today represented a carefully orchestrated political trap.
After the five daimyo had taken their designated positions, Kai straightforwardly introduced Yamato: "As the saying goes, a country cannot exist without a ruler for a single day, a family cannot function without a master for a day.
Today we've invited you all here to elect Wano's new Shogun. The candidate nominated by Guardian King Kaido is Miss Yamato. Please cast your votes."
Yamato followed Kai's careful instructions, maintaining a serious expression and sitting perfectly straight, attempting to project proper dignity.
Observing Yamato's obviously unnatural posture, Daimyo Suzugo tentatively inquired: "Are there other candidates for consideration?"
Kai smiled with deceptive calm: "No. There exists only one candidate the Beast Pirates are willing to recognize: Miss Yamato."
The five daimyo's expressions changed simultaneously.
Such arrogance! They weren't even attempting to disguise their manipulation!
At minimum, they could have presented a token candidate for appearance's sake!
The hot-tempered Shimotsuki Daimyo immediately slammed the table and rose angrily: "With only one candidate, how do you expect us to make any choice? Do we possess any real options?"
"Of course you do." Kai's expression remained perfectly calm: "You can choose to refuse participation."
"I refu..."
Before Shimotsuki Daimyo could complete his declaration, Kibi Daimyo, who maintained a positive relationship with him, quickly covered his mouth and smiled awkwardly: "His mind isn't functioning properly today. He misspoke just now."
"Poor mental health requires immediate treatment."
Kai turned to address Fukurokuju with a pleasant smile: "I believe we should grant Shimotsuki Daimyo medical leave. As for his daimyo position, let's transfer it to... him."
Kai casually pointed toward a samurai official positioned behind Shimotsuki Daimyo, who displayed an obviously fawning expression.
"Thank you for this incredible promotion, Lord Kai. I am Nomura Ichiro, and I swear absolute loyalty unto death to Shogun Yamato."
The samurai wasn't stunned by this sudden windfall. He immediately stepped forward to pledge loyalty to Yamato, fearing that any hesitation might cause the daimyo position to vanish.
The samurai who had accompanied the various daimyo felt envious, jealous, and resentful.
Becoming a daimyo was so simple? Why didn't Lord Kai select me instead?
Shimotsuki Daimyo's eyes became bloodshot with rage. His daimyo position had cost him three thousand gold in bribes to Kurozumi Orochi.
In such a brief moment, his position had simply disappeared?
Kibi Daimyo recognized the dangerous situation and quickly whispered urgently: "Abandon this resistance. You cannot fight against overwhelming power. I'm only helping you this once. If you want to cause more trouble, I won't intervene again."
Speaking softly, Kibi Daimyo gestured with his eyes for Shimotsuki to notice the samurai guards positioned behind him.
Apart from the original samurai of Shogun Castle, even the guards they had personally brought were now gazing eagerly at Shimotsuki Daimyo.
They were hoping he would lose control again so they could overthrow their superior and seek their own advancement.
Shimotsuki Daimyo's heated emotions instantly cooled. Without anyone else restraining him, he obediently stepped back from his position.
Kai felt no surprise. The daimyo with genuine backbone had either perished or fled during the upheaval ten years ago. What real courage could those who served as daimyo under Kurozumi Orochi's regime possibly possess?
After Shimotsuki Daimyo's outburst, the remaining four daimyo instantly understood the situation with crystal clarity.
Kai and Yamato had already secured control over the Oniwabanshu and patrol forces, Wano Country's two most powerful military organizations. No matter how they struggled, resistance would prove completely futile.
"We pledge our complete loyalty to Shogun Yamato!"
The daimyo respectfully prostrated themselves before their new lord, offering their absolute submission and loyalty.