Chapter 1188: No Turning Back, Lost Trust

The hospital corridor was extremely noisy. When a large-scale sudden event happens, despite the hospital’s usual preparedness, the concerns and complaints of the family and the cries of the patients make the place chaotic.

At times like these, it’s also time to raise your voice because talking peacefully won’t be heard at all.

“Lucky!”

Chansey’s shout rang from one side, as a Chansey carrying a hammer the same size as itself cleared a path through the corridor, quieting the noisy crowd.

Though the sight of a nurse swinging a hammer was odd, it actually seemed quite reasonable here, where pirates stationed in other areas are sent based on their injuries.

The rules outside are looser than those inside Ghost Island. If emotions aren’t controlled, Chansey might help physically.

As for whether it scared people, the hammer was painted with pink paint and has a distinct red cross, which isn’t scary at all.

Amidst the chaos, there was some order, although it seemed chaotic, everything in the Pokemon Center proceeded methodically.

The complaints of the injured varied too.

Some were glad they weren’t at home; some lamented the things lost at home; others were comforting the wounded. But everyone shared a common point: they all condemned the person who set the fire.

Even Momonosuke was the same; after all, he had been missing for 20 years. Why not disappear forever? His presence or absence makes no difference to Wano Kuni.

These people had no nostalgia for Momonosuke, only felt he disrupted their peaceful and beautiful lives. Hotei successfully diverted the residents’ negative emotions in this way.

In his depiction, no one felt that the Shinsengumi’s ineffectiveness led to this incident; everyone thought Momonosuke’s appearance caused it.

However, these words became extremely annoying to Denjiro.

Through inquiries, Denjiro already knew what happened specifically in Kuri. He didn’t expect Kanjuro and Kinemon to set a fire to smoothly leave Wano Kuni.

Wano Kuni already lacks loyalty to the Kozuki Family, accurately speaking, loyalty to Kozuki Momonosuke. An escapee of 20 years can only say grandiose words.

Even without these events, Momonosuke will find it incredibly difficult to gather people’s hearts, let alone after causing this situation.

But for Denjiro, the troubles aren’t just limited to that. He is powerless to change anything around Momonosuke, now in a situation akin to a clay Buddha crossing a river, unable to protect himself.

Denjiro came here to treat his wounds, which was Kozuki Hiyori’s intention, but it doesn’t mean she isn’t pursuing prior incidents.

Denjiro’s actions have already caused Kozuki Hiyori to lose trust in him. When he came here, he was accompanied by Kawamatsu and Kikunojo, but in a blink, their figures disappeared, replaced by Greninja.

Although Greninja is nominally the leader of Hiyori’s Imperial Court Guards, who are her direct armament, this organization was originally the General’s bodyguard head.

Aside from ensuring the General’s safety, they also covertly eliminate enemies, theoretically the most reliable people for the General.

But Greninja is different. Besides leading many Kouga Style Ninjas, he holds a transcendent status within the palace.

Due to Arceus’s order to temporarily follow Kozuki Hiyori’s command, Greninja helps her handle some matters.

Kozuki Hiyori is aware of these circumstances. Though asking Greninja to do something for her, Greninja would not refuse, it amounts to putting surveillance in the bedroom, making herself uncomfortable.

Therefore, she does not proactively seek Greninja for help very often. Now she actually contacted Greninja, clearly stating that her Household Attendants have become untrustworthy.

Not only targeting Denjiro, but Kikunojo and Kawamatsu were also affected.

“Why are you here?”

“Of course, at your General’s request. She’s concerned about your health, asking me to see if you’re receiving proper treatment and telling you to rest well. Don’t worry about other things; your role will be handed to someone else.

Do you understand what this means, right?

Previously thought you were a smart person, didn’t expect you to act foolishly at such times.”

While the Household Attendants didn’t have much power, mainly directing people within the palace and gathering some information, now, Kozuki Hiyori has stripped Denjiro of this power.

Unlike Momonosuke who disappeared for 20 years, she still has some old affection for Denjiro who stayed by her side for 20 years, although no longer trustworthy, she hasn’t done anything further.

“What exactly do you want?”

“This naive rhetoric has no answer value. Such minor roles aren’t worth our attention. Instead of asking me, you should guess what your General wants now?

Don’t blame me for not warning you; your General has mentioned if you show any strange behavior, she suggested I eliminate you directly.”

A small Water Shuriken grazed Denjiro’s forehead, leaving a few strands of hair falling.

“Let’s go, that little injury has dragged on long enough; your General has prepared a nice room for your retirement.”

“Where are Inuarashi and Nekomamushi?”

Denjiro didn’t know that Raizo hadn’t escaped, and was only concerned about Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, who were captured together with Momonosuke.

“Wait for your General. Whatever she wants to say, she will naturally tell you.”

“…”

….

Denjiro still had a doctor to treat his wounds, but Raizo didn’t. He was only slightly bandaged before being thrown into the Udon Mine, and soon after, Momonosuke became his cellmate.

Besides that, Kozuki Hiyori didn’t take any other actions, seemingly waiting for something, and Inuarashi and Nekomamushi received different treatment because of their race.

The Fur Race has autonomy, which is also based on the Hundred Beasts’ rules, but if something happens, they handle it internally.

There is no autonomous region for the Fur Race in Wano Kuni. Most of the Fur Race are accustomed to living in Zou, and Wano Kuni is merely a tourist area for them, at most having a special “embassy.”

If Setsuna were here, such matters would generally be thrown directly to her, but now she’s not around, and even Zeraora is over in Zou today.

In the end, they could only rely on a respected Fur Race elder who could maintain order to handle the situation.

Besides Setsuna, the only one left was Duke Hichugiskhan.

Not long ago, in a hot spring in Hakumai, Duke Hichugiskhan was enjoying his retirement life, exchanging insights with Kuzan, who was also retired, by his side.

Previously, Duke Hichugiskhan had no interaction with Kuzan, but within half an hour, they became good brothers.

They reached a consensus in their unique location—working is too tiring, and it’s great to retire and take it easy.

Just as Duke Hichugiskhan finished saying how relaxed he was recently, trouble arrived.

“I mean… this isn’t a hospital or a fire station, how can there be trouble here?”

There seems to be a mystical aspect to it. Some things are just strange, especially in some typically busy departments, where it’s even considered taboo to say it’s quiet. On those days, they might end up working overtime until dawn.

…

When Duke Hichugiskhan arrived here, he still had some hair rollers on his head; he had just been getting his hair done. If he took them off, those few hours would have been a waste, so he simply brought them along.

“You guys… Inuarashi, Nekomamushi? Weren’t you missing?”

Duke Hichugiskhan’s exceptional memory still remembered the two of them. Back then, even Setsuna didn’t know where they had gone, and it ended up being concluded as a disappearance.

“What exactly did you do?”

Queen’s muscle relaxant had already worn off. Inuarashi was fine, sitting quietly to the side, but Nekomamushi had handcuffs on, with Pedro watching him by his side.

In the original timeline, Pedro was considered Nekomamushi’s subordinate because of living in the Whale Forest, but it’s different now. Due to the age difference, Nekomamushi, who was sent to the future by Kozuki Toki, didn’t recognize Pedro.

“Senior Duke Hichugiskhan, those two…..”

Carrot jumped onto a nearby stool, grabbed Duke Hichugiskhan’s horns with both hands, and whispered into his ear, “For some reason, they suddenly appeared in Kuri and attacked Miaona and Wolf…”

The size difference within the Fur Race is still quite noticeable. There are small ones like Carrot and large ones like Duke Hichugiskhan. At Duke Hichugiskhan’s current age, it’s a bit difficult for him to bend over.

“Are those two little ones okay?”

“They’re fine, but… I heard that Nekomamushi didn’t get along well with the Duke before. If the Duke knows about this…”

Listening to Carrot’s report, Duke Hichugiskhan felt his headache worsening. He had finally retired, yet he still had to handle such troublesome matters.

“Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, do you know what you’ve done?”

“We just wanted to protect our lord’s child, Duke Hichugiskhan. Why are you here? Why are there so many of the Fur Race here? This place is occupied by the Hundred Beasts.”

“Protect your lord’s child? Is that your reason for trying to harm your kin’s children?!”

Hearing Inuarashi’s reason, Duke Hichugiskhan felt furious. The Fur Race population is already small. No matter when, the rights of the kin are above those of outsiders, not to mention that these two children are the Duke’s offspring.

Inuarashi and Nekomamushi’s reason was completely unacceptable to him.

“Duke Hichugiskhan, doesn’t Zou have a brotherly alliance with the Kozuki Clan?”

“So, in your view, are the children of your kin more important than the children of your brother’s family?” 𝖋𝙧ⅇ

Duke Hichugiskhan initially intended to reprimand them, but his ears caught a loud elephant trumpet.

Besides Zunesha, no other elephant can make such a sound, and this sound also means that the principal has returned….