Pirate: It’s not a phantom beast, it’s a phantom god!

Chapter 356 BLACK SHIP
"Ah Bing, what's going on on the streets today?"

"Why can't I see a single vendor?"

Inside a grand courtyard in Ebisu, Hanako, a woman dressed in a gorgeous kimono asked a question as she took off her wooden clogs.

Although the woman was over middle-aged, she still wore heavy makeup, a gold hairpin in her hair, and a jade pipe in her hand. Her delicate features revealed her youthful charm.

Of course, for some of the older people in Wano Country, this person's 'charm' is indeed unforgettable in every sense.

Whether it's her beauty or her knife.

"Huh? You're back."

Upon hearing the voice, the man called 'Abing' emerged from the inner quarters—none other than the renowned swordsman 'Hana no Hyōgor', famous throughout Huadu and even Wano Country.

"Whoo~"

Taking the beautifully packaged box of pastries from the other person, Hyogoro took a drag of his cigarette and said unhappily:
"Today is the day those pirates enter the city. Orochi has ordered the entire front street of the city to be cleared out, and no one in the town is allowed to walk on the street without orders."

"Pirates...thieves at sea, huh?"

The middle-aged woman arranged the wooden clogs, then knelt on a soft cushion and began to make matcha.

"Oden was able to leave Wano Country by joining pirates back then, wasn't he?"

"Xiao Jin and the others are still full of complaints about his sudden departure."

"Ha ha!"

"After all, he is Kozuki Oden. No one can stop that man from doing what he wants."

"Well, that makes sense, after all, that was little Oden~"

……

The bamboo whisk is rapidly swirling in the tea bowl, turning the green tea powder into a smooth tea soup.

When countless fine bubbles appeared on the surface of the tea, the woman stopped what she was doing and instead opened the pastries that Heigoro had just placed on the low table.

"Try it, I brought it back from Jiuli."

"Oh? Meatballs?"

"Those guys, Kin'emon, are really thoughtful."

He picked up a string of three-colored dumplings and put it in his mouth, praising it.

"Yes, the retainers left behind by Oden are all good kids, especially that one named Denjiro, who is very meticulous in his work. Kuri is now being managed very well by them."

Thinking of how those hooligans, bandits, and orphans of yesteryear, under Oden's influence, have now become capable samurai, the two men smiled as they held their tea.

"Haha~ Back then, that brat Kin'emon almost ruined the flower. I was ready to skin him alive."

"I never imagined he'd become such a qualified samurai... Responsibility really does make a man grow!"

Picking up another string of three-colored dumplings, Hyogoro recalled the "Mountain God Incident" that had shocked the entire Wano Country years ago, and a hint of nostalgia appeared on his face.

That major event, which nearly destroyed a quarter of the capital, can be said to be the beginning of Kozuki Oden's legendary story.

After that, he was banished from the Flower Capital by the Shogun and traveled all the way to Wano Country. He defeated Kanjuro, the scalp-cutting monster of Nozomi, and subdued Raizo, the former Oniwabanshu 'mountain bandit' of Udon... He even subdued Ashura Doji, the strongest monster in Kuri, and brought him under his command.

Kuri, once known as a 'lawless zone' and a 'tumor' in Wano Country, was completely changed by the arrival of that man.

From a terrifying 'hell' to a 'village' where people can live in peace.

[I never expected a bunch of troublemakers to end up together like this!]
[As expected of the heir to the Kozuki family, truly remarkable, Oden.]
Recalling the past, Hyogoro couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion... but the middle-aged woman who had just returned from Kuri said with some concern:
"However, it seems that Orochi wants to make a move against [Kuri]. I heard from Xiao Jin and the others that recently, warriors from the General's Mansion have been going there to ask for an increase in the taxes supplied to the General's Mansion."

"Humph!"

"That Orochi guy was definitely up to no good!"

"It seems he's not satisfied with just being the acting shogun and is already itching to take action against Oden's territory."

Upon hearing this, Hyogoro's expression gradually turned serious. With subordinates all over Wano Country, he was naturally aware of Orochi's recent schemes.

In fact, similar situations were occurring not only in Kuri, but also in other parts of Wano Country. With the arrival of the beasts, Orochi's actions became increasingly undisguised.

In particular, the recent 'that incident' gave him an opportunity to make a fuss.

[Um……]
[Orochi... and the Beasts Pirates, right?]
[Oden, you'd better come back soon. Otherwise, Wano Country...]
……

General's Mansion.

"Mwahahaha!"

"Fukurokuju, have all the daimyo arrived?"

Inside the luxurious main hall, Orochi was embracing two beautiful geishas and laughing wildly.

He was in a very good mood. Some time ago, he used the beasts to kill all the samurai who were obviously plotting a rebellion, and even threw their bodies back to the daimyo.

According to reports from the Mikaigumi samurai, the daimyo turned pale when they saw the headless corpses of their subordinates.

In the culture of Wano Country, if a person loses their head, their soul will be trapped in their body forever and will never be able to reincarnate.

Therefore, even if those samurai acted on their own initiative, and even if they were furious at Orochi's ruthless actions, when Orochi threatened to take the heads of their own samurai, the daimyo of each village, as their lords, had to step forward and retrieve the heads of their own samurai.

Otherwise, the loyalty of the other samurai and nobles under his command would waver. "Reporting to Lord Orochi, except for the people from Kuri, all the daimyo from the other villages are already waiting in the side hall to watch the ceremony."

"Ok?"

"It's [Jiuli] again..."

Upon hearing the name, the giant snake viciously bit the grape it had stuffed into its mouth.

"Hmph! I don't need to worry about those thugs like Kin'emon. I will deal with these remnants of Oden sooner or later."

"So the Kang family actually came this time too..."

Hakumai and Kuri are the only two villages where no samurai participated in this rebellion. Theoretically, Shimotsuki Yasuie, as a daimyo, has no reason to give Orochi face.

But he still came to the Flower Capital with the other daimyo...

……

"Heh~ I didn't expect you to come. Your samurai's heads should still be on their necks, right?"

In the detached courtyard of the general's mansion, the daimyo summoned from various villages were gathered together, discussing what the great serpent was planning.

With purple hair and a striking resemblance to a certain unborn three-sword style swordsman, Shimotsuki Ushimaru, the daimyo of [Ringo], poured a cup of sake and handed it to the Yasuie.

He and the Kang family were both descendants of the Frost Moon clan, so his attitude was somewhat casual.

"Um……"

Kang Jia, whose large head only made him appear more imposing due to his serious and resolute face, took his hand out of his sleeve, accepted the wine glass offered to him, but did not drink it.

This meticulous man likes to use the reflection of the wine in his glass to observe whether there is anything wrong with him.

“I also bear some responsibility for the fact that your samurai acted on their own this time.”

"If I had reminded you earlier, you wouldn't be in such a difficult situation today."

After saying this, Kang Jia drank the sake in his cup in one gulp as an apology to everyone.

"Hahahaha!"

"You're still the same old you!"

"Guru Guru~"

Upon hearing Kang's words, Shimotsuki Niuwan burst into laughter, then picked up the sake jug and began chugging it down his throat.

"what!"

The wine jug, which was more than half full, was drunk clean in the blink of an eye, and then the empty jug was slammed hard onto the low table!

"What does this have to do with you? It's clearly us who are useless. As daimyo, we can't even control the samurai under our command."

"This is truly appalling!"

"Beef balls..."

"What Daimyo Shimotsuki said is right. This is our incompetence and dereliction of duty as daimyo, and it has nothing to do with you."

With Noh makeup on her face, the somewhat chubby daimyo Fugetsu Onigiri also chimed in.

“You had absolutely no need to get involved in this, Kang family.”

Even the somewhat thin [Udon] daimyo Ugetsu Tempura offered her advice.

"Um……"

Shimotsuki Yasuie looked at the three people in front of him and shook his head.

"I didn't come here entirely for Orochi, but I also wanted to see the so-called Beast Pirates."

"From their sporadic appearances in the past, it can be seen that those pirates are not as simple as the sea thieves we imagined."

When the topic turned to beasts, the Kang family's expression gradually became serious.

"Orochi values ​​that pirate crew so much, so the other party must have enough strength that Orochi can rely on."

The landing point for all the beasts was actually at Blade Martial Port in the Kang family's territory, and the preparations that Jin had made to welcome them these past few days had not been kept from him...

Based on the massive resource allocation, the Kang family had roughly guessed the terrifying size of the beasts.

"Orochi is untrustworthy, and those pirates are even more unpredictable dangers. As the daimyo of each village, we must do our best to protect Wano Country before Oden returns."

"Gentlemen, prepare yourselves."

With a deep sigh, the Kang family member spoke in a serious tone unlike any other:
"A storm may be coming."

……

Click!

A thunderclap boomed in broad daylight over Huadu, shattering the oppressive silence that had suffocated everyone.

At the end of 1496 in the Sea Calendar, the Beasts Pirates officially landed in Wano Country, bringing unprecedented... changes to this isolated country.

(End of this chapter)