Chapter 1184: Is That It?

“I… I don’t understand what you mean! If you want the position of General, just take it, I won’t fight you for it!”

“Hehehe… you still don’t understand, my foolish brother. I’ve never wanted the position of General! I just want an ordinary life.”

Kozuki Hiyori also held some resentment towards Kozuki Toki, but it all shifted to Momonosuke. She didn’t understand why it had to be 20 years.

Since Kozuki Toki’s ability can traverse time as a group, why not bring the whole family to a future centuries away?

Back then, she wasn’t oblivious. The Hundred Beasts had been friendly towards Wano Kuni since then, while Kurozumi Orochi was always causing trouble.

Although it was hindsight, she analyzed the situation. If the entire Kozuki Family disappeared, neither the Hundred Beasts nor Kurozumi would be considered legitimate.

Some Daimyo families might fight for power, but ultimately, none could defeat the Hundred Beasts. It would still end up this way.

Reuniting the family in the distant future would have been nice, but both Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Toki held a special obsession with the year 1522.

For those present, there was good news: in the short term, there was no need to worry about Momonosuke dying prematurely.

But this was also bad news; seeing Hiyori’s expression, it seemed Momonosuke would not have a happy life ahead.

While the false General pondered how to deal with his brother, the true princess of Wano Kuni, as Kawamatsu and Kikunojo guessed, was watching this from another layer of Ghost Island.

“Miss Yamato, should you intervene? Letting her act so recklessly isn’t good.”

“I won’t. You’re just trying to trick me. My adoptive father said that if I don’t do anything, nothing will be affected. Don’t try to deceive me.”

Among the Hundred Beasts, perhaps only Queen could truly understand Kozuki Hiyori. Only he could comprehend that feeling of not daring to provoke anyone.

Initially, Queen called Yamato over, hoping she’d make a decision, but she ended up sitting with popcorn, watching the drama unfold on the screen, offering no opinions from start to finish.

“But, Miss, aren’t you afraid she’ll cause trouble?”

“Not at all, we’re in Wano Kuni. How much trouble can a little brat cause? But he really is so cowardly, nothing like Kozuki Oden.”

Kaidou’s ideology somewhat influenced Yamato. Weakness is a primal sin. She hated this notion, but had to admit it holds true in this cruel world.

If she were any weaker, Kaidou might have driven her insane.

Queen’s plan was doomed from the start. If things continued this way, Yamato’s intellectual assault on Kaidou might extend to Queen, since Yamato and Queen wouldn’t physically fight, but would let the other attract the heat instead.

“Besides, honestly, it’s quite ordinary, nothing shocking, not as interesting as those novels.”

“No.. novels?”

“Yeah, written by Robin, something about a revenge story of a fallen princess. When it comes to scheming, Robin is way more devious.”

During her leisure time, Robin had some hobbies, like writing peculiar articles.

In Yamato’s view, regarding scheming, Robin could outsmart Kozuki Hiyori any day.

And indeed, this was true. Robin’s abilities were a comprehensive outclassing of Hiyori’s, even on the original timeline. The information Robin gathered in a few days far exceeded what Kozuki Hiyori had in 20 years.

Previously, Kozuki Hiyori also had a General’s official position beside her, originally held by King. But since some restrictions loosened, King rarely took this position.

Yamato was considering finding a position for Robin. This seemed like a suitable spot, not much work, and fitting for her.

Before Queen could inquire about the details of Robin’s writings, a slightly panicked voice suddenly spoke up from the side.

“Ma.. Master Queen! Latest intel, two people have flown away from Wano Kuni!”

They only knew Queen was there, unaware that Yamato was present too. Due to the urgency of the information, he didn’t notice Yamato hidden by Queen, but Yamato herself didn’t care about such matters, whereas Queen was startled.

“What did you say?! Where’s the Air Cavalry? Are they useless, letting someone slip away under their noses?!”

“No.. no, Master Queen, someone blocked them…”

“Who? Who in Wano Kuni can stop the entire Air Cavalry? Let me confront that bastard!”

“Wahaha, good, I like your attitude.”

Just as the words finished, Kaidou walked in, holding his head. In that instant, Yamato switched from a lazy watching mode to a battle-ready state, and Queen also pieced some things together.

“Brother Kaidou… are you saying?”

“Ah, it’s me. After finishing, I just saw them about to take off, so I casually stopped them.”

Upon hearing this, Queen’s neck suddenly transformed, extending like a beast towards the underling, ghost-like.

“You fool, do you not prioritize important intel when reporting? You should start with the relevant info! Can’t you just say Brother Kaidou stopped them?!”

…

If Queen didn’t know that Yamato had only a few direct subordinates and given the suddenness of the situation, he would’ve suspected that this underling was planted by Yamato to sabotage him.

While Queen reprimanded the underling, Yamato also had a question in her heart.

“Father, those people also came from 20 years ago, right? Why did you let them leave?”

“Because I’m bored.”

“Bo… bored?”

“Yeah, it’s the same people fighting day in and day out. Even I can get tired of repetitive battles.

Those guys have probably gone to find external help, hopefully they can bring back some interesting folks to add some excitement to this dull life.”

The reason is quite capricious, very Kaidou-like; Yamato couldn’t find a point to argue, but somehow it felt wrong.

“Won’t causing trouble make your father unhappy?”

“Hmph ha ha ha, Yamato, you’ve got it wrong. This is their last chance. Deliberately letting those two out, when they bring back reinforcements, I can actually weed out all those with ulterior motives.

I’ve given them enough chances, if anyone doesn’t know what’s good for them, they’ll just be cleaned out together.

Letting them live and enjoy all this is already your father’s kindheartedness.

But I’m a pirate, not as easygoing as your father. Sometimes, opportunities have been given, but whether they can seize them is their own affair.”

It seemed like Kaidou was teaching Yamato, but suddenly he turned around and placed his hand on Queen’s shoulder.

Queen’s plan to sneak away was hence shattered.

“Queen, where do you think you’re going?”

“Uh… I’m going to deal with the aftermath for you.”

“No need, I happen to want to meet you, no time like the present, let’s do it now.

And you, Yamato, don’t even think about running away, you’re up next.”

Accompanied by an air of despair, Queen was dragged away by Kaidou, even leaving a notification for Yamato. Only the subordinate who had just transmitted the message was left standing there in a daze.

As for who the people Kaidou intentionally freed are, we need to trace back a bit.

…

Some time ago, right after Kozuki Hiyori had just left the Flower Capital Palace, there was new progress in the search in Kuri.

Hotei confirmed the identities of several individuals, and quickly conveyed the wanted information through the public screens distributed in Kuri.

Kanjuro and Raizo’s features were too distinct, and coupled with Kuri’s rapid lockdown actions, it wasn’t long before someone spotted their whereabouts.

“Here! The group is in the alley behind!”

“They ran west! Right next to the Udon noodle shop!” ℯ𝐥.𝒄ℴ𝓶

No matter where they went, as soon as they were seen, shouts would immediately erupt. Eventually, the three of them were cornered in a dead-end alley, with the adjacent lanes and rooftops packed with people eager for credit, even Hotei was no exception.

“It’s really you guys, isn’t it? Haven’t seen you in 20 years, please come with me for a rest.”

Hotei courteously raised his sword, intending to invite them on a trip to the prison.

“Darn… how did these people find us?”

“Kinemon, Kanjuro, go assist Lord Momonosuke, I’ll hold them off, there seems to be trouble with Lord Momonosuke.”

Raizo pulled out several scrolls from behind, resolutely preparing to hold the rear.

“You three, there’s no need to worry anymore, Momonosuke has already been captured, otherwise how would we know you all have appeared? It seems you don’t plan to cooperate, attack, capture them!”

Under Hotei’s orders, the Shinsengumi members immediately surrounded them. Kinemon and Kanjuro knocked down the first ones who rushed in, their strength was quite superior to the ordinary Shinsengumi, but it didn’t make much difference.

As soon as they felled one, more would come charging forward.

“Foxfire Style: Karyu Issen!”

“Scrolling Technique: Fire Release!”

Flames ignited on Kinemon’s blade as he slashed toward the samurai ahead.

Raizo released the flames stored within his scrolls; he was a Paramecia-type: Scroll-Scroll Fruit user, but Raizo was unaware that he’d consumed a Devil Fruit.

Due to the limitations of Wano Kuni, he considered the fruit’s powers to be his own ninja technique awakening, calling it “Ninja Technique: Rolling Technique.”

Simply put, it allows him to create scrolls that absorb and release others’ attacks.

Kanjuro’s movements were less pronounced, but still defended their rear, while also reminding his companions.

“Don’t fight head-on, we need to assist Lord Momonosuke! We must rescue him!”

“Then hurry up, leave this to me! Ninja Technique: Smoke Escape Technique!”

Raizo slammed a smoke bomb onto the ground, shrouding the alley in thick smoke; Wano Kuni’s ninjutsu had always been like this, only using the technique’s name to cover up the essence of using tools.

Just as Raizo planned to retreat under the cover of the smoke bomb, Hotei threw out a bone stick, dispersing the smoke in the alley directly….