"You're saying that yakuza boss from the Flower Capital, Hyogoro, wants to see me, and he's brought a Devil Fruit?" Kaido addressed the samurai who had come to report.
"Yes, Lord Kaido. Hyogoro is currently outside the palace. Will you see him?" the samurai asked respectfully.
"Wororororo! Since he's come with sincerity in hand, it would be a shame not to meet him, wouldn't it? Let him in," Kaido instructed the samurai.
"Yes, sir!" The samurai bowed respectfully to Kaido, then quickly exited the great hall.
"Big Brother Kaido, that Hyogoro probably wants to see Sukiyaki," King said to Kaido.
"Most likely. But I only agreed for him to see me. As for wanting to see Sukiyaki, that's naturally impossible. The more critical the moment, the less room for error," Kaido stated directly.
"Mhm. Big Brother Kaido, if Hyogoro becomes too difficult to handle later, perhaps I could just have Sukiyaki die a little earlier," King nodded.
"That works too," Kaido said after a moment's thought.
"Big Brother Kaido, the construction on Onigashima is complete. Queen and the others are there now, preparing to hold a Fire Festival in a couple of days to celebrate the establishment of the Beasts Pirates' main base," King informed Kaido.
"Wororororo! It's time for a proper celebration. After all, the entire crew has been busy with the plan for half a year. It's time for everyone to let loose. By then, the Devil Fruits we've collected should be ready to distribute. The sooner they eat them, the sooner their strength grows. Our goal was never just a single country like Wano. Wano is merely a starting point," Kaido declared upon hearing this.
The samurai soon escorted Hyogoro into the great hall.
The yakuza boss of the Flower Capital looked composed, holding an exquisite wooden box in his hands.
"Wororororo! Hyogoro, I heard you wanted to see me?" Kaido said to Hyogoro.
Hyogoro replied neither arrogantly nor humbly, "Lord Kaido, I have come for two reasons. First, to exchange this Devil Fruit for the bounty on behalf of my subordinate. Second, to ask for a favor from you."
With that, Hyogoro handed the wooden box directly to the samurai beside him.
The samurai took the box and respectfully placed it on the table before Kaido, thoughtfully opening the lid so Kaido could see its contents.
"Oh?!" Kaido, who had been somewhat indifferent, fixed his gaze on the Devil Fruit inside the box for several long moments.
While Kaido might not recognize other Devil Fruits, he had a fairly deep impression of the powerful, special ones that appeared in the original story. Especially the one before him now. He remembered it vividly. This was the very Devil Fruit that Kurozumi Orochi, whom King had killed just days ago, had eaten: the Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: Yamata no Orochi.
"Lord Kaido, do you recognize this Devil Fruit?" Hyogoro asked, noticing Kaido's expression.
"You could say that. I've seen it once before. I must say, Hyogoro, your luck is quite good. I'll take this Devil Fruit. Later, take Hyogoro to the finance office to collect Two Hundred Platinum," Kaido said, addressing the nearby samurai.
"Yes, sir," the samurai replied softly.
"It seems this Devil Fruit is quite special, for Lord Kaido to offer double the price," Hyogoro remarked.
"It is relatively special. This Devil Fruit counts among the more powerful ones of all Devil Fruits," Kaido said offhandedly.
"With the first matter settled, I now wish to request an audience with Shogun Sukiyaki," Hyogoro's voice echoed in the spacious hall.
Kaido propped his chin on one hand, the other resting casually on the armrest. Hearing this, he didn't even lift an eyelid. "No."
"Lord Kaido," Hyogoro took a step forward, raising his voice slightly. "I merely wish to see the Shogun of Wano Country. Is even that not permitted?" He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "Could it be you truly have some unspeakable secret?"
"I said no, and that's final," Kaido waved his hand impatiently, finally looking at Hyogoro. "Sukiyaki's health has been deteriorating lately. He needs quiet rest."
"What?!" Hyogoro's expression changed drastically upon hearing this, his hands unconsciously clenching. "If that's the case, then it's all the more reason for me to visit and pay my respects to the Shogun!"
Kaido suddenly sneered, his large frame leaning forward slightly. "Hyogoro, who do you think you are? Thinking you can see whoever you want?" A dangerous light flickered in his eyes. "I know what you're thinking. You suspect me, don't you?"
"Lord Kaido, what you're saying..." Hyogoro was momentarily at a loss for words, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
"Am I wrong?" Kaido stated bluntly. Then he leaned back in his chair again, revealing a meaningful smile. "However... if you agree to one condition, letting you see Sukiyaki is not impossible."
"What condition?" Hyogoro asked warily, his right hand unconsciously moving to rest on the hilt of his sword at his waist.
Kaido toyed with the sake gourd in his hand, speaking unhurriedly. "I've always admired your strength. The current Oniwabanshu are a bunch of useless trash. Ever since becoming Guardian Deity King, I've wanted to thoroughly reform them." He paused, his gaze piercing as he stared at Hyogoro. "My condition is simple—after seeing Sukiyaki, you and your men will join the Oniwabanshu and pledge your loyalty to me."
A look of realization dawned on Hyogoro's face, a wry smile touching the corner of his mouth. "I see. Lord Kaido has taken a liking to my influence."
"So? If you agree, I'll arrange for someone to take you to Sukiyaki immediately," Kaido said, shooting a glance at King standing nearby. King understood and silently withdrew from the hall.
Silence fell in the great hall, broken only by the occasional whisper of the wind through the cherry blossom trees.
Hyogoro frowned deeply, an internal battle raging within him. After a long while, he finally spoke. "I can agree, but only on my own behalf. I have no right to make decisions for my subordinates."
"Wororororo!" Kaido suddenly burst into laughter, the sound making the hall tremble slightly. "What a loyal boss! I accept. But if your men are willing to follow of their own accord, you must bring them as well."
"Agreed," Hyogoro responded gravely, his voice carrying a certain weight.
Kaido nodded in satisfaction and instructed the samurai standing by. "Take Hyogoro to see Sukiyaki."
"As you command." The samurai bowed and made a gesture of invitation. Hyogoro gave Kaido one last look, then turned and followed the samurai out of the hall.
Hyogoro followed the samurai toward a courtyard in the rear of the palace grounds.
"Why would Lord Sukiyaki be living in such a remote place?" Hyogoro asked the guiding samurai. Kaido now resided in the rebuilt central hall of the palace, while Sukiyaki lived in the rear courtyards, which inevitably puzzled Hyogoro.
"Ah, Lord Sukiyaki... Ever since the Kurozumi rebellion, he has been tormented by illness, unable to sleep through the night, only managing to rest a little during the day. But even the slightest noise would disturb his rest. For this reason, Lord Sukiyaki volunteered to move to a courtyard far from any disturbance. Lord Kaido specifically assigned all of the palace's doctors there so Lord Sukiyaki could recuperate in peace," the samurai explained to Hyogoro.
"I see," Hyogoro said, understanding dawning on him.
"It's terrible! Lord Sukiyaki's condition has worsened!" Just then, a voice suddenly came from the courtyard ahead.
Hearing this, Hyogoro didn't wait for the samurai to lead the way any further. He broke into a sprint and rushed into the courtyard.
One look at Sukiyaki's current state, and even someone with no medical knowledge like Hyogoro could tell he didn't have long to live.
Sukiyaki had completely changed. His entire body was unnaturally pale, his skin dry and stiff, his face sunken and gaunt. Compared to a few days ago, his physical condition had clearly deteriorated far too much.
If the previous Sukiyaki had looked like a seriously ill patient, the man lying here now was as weak as someone on the brink of death. The vitality was rapidly draining from him, making one deeply concerned for his state.
"Lord Sukiyaki!" Hyogoro hurried to the bedside, his voice tinged with urgency.
The room was thick with the smell of medicine. Several doctors bustled about in a flurry. "Quick, go get Lord Kaido! Lord Sukiyaki's condition is critical!" the lead doctor shouted. Then, as if receiving some cue, they all began making excuses and filed out of the room. In an instant, the large sickroom held only Hyogoro and the fading Sukiyaki.
Hyogoro leaned down, lowering his voice. "Lord Sukiyaki, can you still hear me?"
The old man on the sickbed struggled to open his cloudy eyes. His gaze wandered unfocused for a while before finally settling on Hyogoro's face. "Cough... It's... Hyogoro..." Sukiyaki's voice was as faint as a thread, each word seeming to cost him immense effort.
"It's me," Hyogoro leaned closer, his voice dropping even lower. "There's no one else here now. Please tell me the truth—does your current condition have anything to do with Lord Kaido?"
Sukiyaki's chest heaved violently. After a long pause, he spoke haltingly. "No... nothing... Hyogoro... I know... you've always... had doubts about Kaido... but all of this... is the Kurozumi... the Kurozumi clan's scheme..."
Hearing these words, the last trace of doubt in Hyogoro's eyes vanished. He nodded heavily and grasped Sukiyaki's withered hand.
"Hy... Hyogoro... I'm afraid... I won't last much longer..." Sukiyaki suddenly gripped Hyogoro's sleeve tightly, with a strength astonishing for a dying man.
"Lord Sukiyaki, please don't say that..." Hyogoro's voice choked. He couldn't bring himself to utter any more hollow words of comfort.
An unusual vitality suddenly flashed in the old man's eyes, and his voice became clearer. "After I die... There will surely be people in Wano... who oppose Kaido's rule... I hope... You can help him... maintain the country's stability... Don't let innocent people... be dragged into war..."
Looking at Sukiyaki's state of sudden, brief lucidity—a final rallying—Hyogoro nodded solemnly. "I promise you, Lord Sukiyaki."
"Cough—!" Sukiyaki suddenly coughed violently. A large mouthful of black blood gushed forth, splattering starkly against the white bedding.
"Lord Sukiyaki!" The doctors who had just left rushed back in at that very moment, scrambling to administer emergency treatment. But all efforts were futile. The flame of the old man's life was visibly extinguishing.
Hyogoro stepped back, watching the doctors' futile busywork.
In less than a moment, Sukiyaki completely lost all signs of life.
The obituary announcing the death of Wano Country's Shogun, Kozuki Sukiyaki, spread swiftly from the Flower Capital. Soon, the entire country received the news.
***
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