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The Nine Who Will End Everything…
Inside the stone chamber, the atmosphere was heavy and silent. While listening to Franky's explanation, Rowen quietly swept his gaze across the others, all of whom remained wordless.
Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, Nami, Chopper, Franky, Brook, Robin.
Was this really referring to the original "Nine Red Scabbards"?
"…Also, within the Flower Capital, there are spies planted by Kin'emon and the others. I don't know exactly who they are, but last time we were able to escape successfully, this very ancient ruin we're hiding in now, it was thanks to him telling us."
Franky spoke solemnly: "If we're going to make a move, I think it'd be best to find him first and get the situation straight."
Rowen nodded at that.
"I see. I figured you wouldn't be so foolish as to launch an assault without even knowing the internal situation."
"We're not that stupid," Usopp muttered under his breath.
Just as Franky finished his explanation, noisy voices echoed from the passageway.
"Oi, curly-brow! Say that one more time if you dare?!"
"Tsk tsk, got mad already? Idiot moss-head… no wait, calling you an idiot is an insult to idiots. You're just a hopelessly lost moron."
"Bastard! You wanna fight?!"
"Gentlemen, this is hardly the time to fight!"
A familiar voice suddenly rang out. As the newcomers stepped into the stone chamber, Rowen instantly understood.
"Evening Shower… Kanjuro?"
"Hm? Who called me?"
The white-faced Kanjuro turned toward the voice. Noticing one particularly eye-catching figure in the room, he froze the moment he got a clear look. With a snap, he stood ramrod straight.
"A-Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon)l!!"
The memory of Dressrosa struck him like lightning. He vividly recalled Lord Pink Feather's uncertain fate and the brutal image of this man smashing him against the wall by the throat.
For pirates, this man was infamous for his cruelty. And now he was actually mingling with pirates…
"Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon)l, I can explain, "
"What's there to explain? Back then it was the Marines who abandoned you, wasn't it?" A small, elderly woman in tight-fitting ninja garb suddenly leapt forward, blocking Kanjuro.
"You're the one, aren't you? The man who used despicable means to kidnap the young lord and force Kin'emon to yield!"
"Oh?" Rowen rose with a cold smile and nodded. "That's me. Got a problem with it?"
"A vassal dies when their lord is humiliated! To do something so outrageous to the young lord, I--"
Whoosh!
Boom!!!
Before her words finished, lightning exploded through the room. With a heavy crash, Rowen's claw clamped down on something, driving it mercilessly into the ground.
Amidst the swirling smoke and dust, Rowen glanced at the elderly kunoichi, whose face had gone pale with fright, before lowering his gaze to what he held.
"You're in the way, Straw Hat."
Just a second before Rowen's strike, Luffy had burst into Second Gear, moving with explosive speed to shove the old woman aside. But he wasn't fast enough. Instead, he became her replacement and was caught by Rowen.
Even so, with his hand gripping Rowen's wrist, Luffy forced a grin.
"Heehee… our enemy should be Kaido, not each other, right?"
"…Fair point."
Rowen released him, then stepped out of the cratered pit, his gaze sharp as ice as it swept over Kanjuro and the old woman.
"…Sorry."
Kanjuro: "!!"
'What did I just hear?! That monster, the Soryu (Azure Dragon)… actually apologized?!
The Straw Hats were equally stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief. But Rowen ignored their shock. Rising fully, he continued coldly: "But if there's a next time, I'll still choose to abandon you… and not just you. Even Smoker, I'd do the same."
"That's the resolve of a Marine."
"N-no problem…" Kanjuro stiffly avoided his gaze, then let out a bitter smile with a shake of his head.
"Whether it's you or us, we're all doing what we believe is right. There's nothing to condemn."
"What's more surprising is that you're willing to join hands with lowly criminals like us. For that, I…"
Thud!
Before finishing, Kanjuro dropped to his knees in a deep bow.
"Many thanks!!"
Tears and snot streamed down Kanjuro's face as he lifted his head and shouted.
"Please, I beg you, help us, Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon)l!"
"In the last battle, we lost more than half our people, and everyone who survived was injured. Against the might of Kaido's coalition, everyone has fallen into despair… Otherwise, we wouldn't have even thought of going to Zou Island for reinforcements. The mink warriors were already slaughtered when Kaido invaded, less than one in ten survived. If this continues, even the old and the children will have to take the battlefield."
Sanji lit a cigarette and spoke heavily.
"That's how bad things are! If you hadn't appeared here by chance, I'm afraid we wouldn't have lasted much longer."
Sanji's words were just filling the air. If Kaido's coalition were that easy to deal with, Rowen wouldn't be the one standing in front of them, it would've been the entire Marine force, led by Akainu himself.
An overwhelming army would've swept through Wano Country.
Even the Marines and the World Government didn't dare make a reckless move against such a foe. How could the Straw Hats possibly stand against them?
Rowen turned his gaze toward the elderly kunoichi known as "Shin," and spoke calmly: "There won't be a next time. Understood?"
Having already tasted his killing intent earlier, and knowing the vast gap between them, the old woman nodded repeatedly, her back drenched in cold sweat.
"You… you agreed?" Kanjuro exclaimed in joy.
"If it benefits us as well, why wouldn't I agree? But there's one thing I need to make clear first…"
Before they could celebrate, Rowen curled his lips into a cold smile.
"To win this war, no one is beyond sacrifice. That is my one and only principle, and my sole demand of you… Can you accept that?"
No one is beyond sacrifice. Those words condensed the cruelty of war into a handful of syllables, carrying with them the choking stench of gunpowder and blood.
Hearing this, Kanjuro's face stiffened. He adjusted his clothing, then once again prostrated himself in a deep bow.
"Please! All of Wano's resistance forces await your command!"
Rowen nodded, then turned his gaze toward the Straw Hats.
Noticing his eyes, Luffy shook his groggy head, then grinned wide.
"You mean we're giving you our lives to use? Sounds fun!"
"If it was before, I definitely would've refused, because I'd always find another way to save everyone. But now…"
"Yosh! Take our lives and use them however you want, Thunder Oji San!"
"The captain's will is our will. No need to ask us one by one, right moss-head?"
"You talk too much, curly-brow!"
Rowen swept his eyes around the stone chamber, then smiled with satisfaction.
"Not bad! Weak in strength, but at least your morale is good."
Even a lousy hand, if played well, could turn the tables.
And besides, Rowen wasn't demanding much from them. He wasn't expecting them to defeat those three monsters directly, only to create opportunities and buy the Marines a chance to strike.
"Oh right, I nearly forgot the important part."
At that moment, Kanjuro stood up and said: "Just now, our men spotted Nibelung Lirisk leaving the city. They went to the abandoned Oden City, this is a heaven-sent opportunity!"
"They? Besides Lirisk, who else?"
If it were Orrick, Rowen wouldn't even bother paying attention.
"It seems it was the Flower Capital's… no, Wano's number one beauty, the oiran courtesan, Komurasaki."
"Komurasaki-chaaaan~~~~~"
Hearts burst from Sanji's eyes as he twisted and writhed on the spot, clearly recognizing the name.
"Good intel. If I remember right, even Kurozumi Orochi is pursuing Komurasaki, yes? Interesting."
A lonely man and woman in the wilderness… and the meddling of a supposed ally.
Rowen nodded. "Take me there. We might uncover something useful, perhaps even weaken the enemy from within."
"Oh, and this guy stays here."
Zoro: "..."
Why the hell am I the one excluded?!
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
(End of Chapter)
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New Novels- 1. One Piece- Maxed Out Conqueror's Haki!
2. One Piece- Master Of Devil Fruits
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