Vlad, who casually handled a troublemaker attempting something from behind, didn't care much about it. After all, it was just an insignificant extra. If it weren't for needing someone to ask for directions, Vlad wouldn't have intervened. It was just his luck that he happened to see him about to be killed, just as he was looking for someone to ask.
Of course, later, if it weren't for exposing the fact that he, a foreigner, was mingling in a country that immensely disliked outsiders, Vlad honestly wouldn't have bothered with that guy. It was meaningless, just someone less than a small fry. Who would go out of their way to deal with such a person if it wasn't necessary?
"Foreigner!!! What is your purpose here!!!" The samurai, whose limbs Vlad had casually broken, lay on the ground, showing no signs of submission. It seemed as if the broken limbs caused him no pain, and he questioned Vlad righteously indignant.
"This is a land of samurai! Don't expect to do as you please here!!!" The man, who had just attempted to kill to test his sword, now portrayed himself as a justice warrior, a hero unafraid and uncompromising in the face of a fierce enemy, which was quite disgusting.
"What are you imagining?" Vlad stood before him and said, "I just wanted to ask for directions!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!!!" The samurai laughed, "I am a true samurai; don't expect me to tell you anything!"
It was strange indeed. Although he was a murderous maniac with no bottom line, he was also a man loyal to his duties. Even knowing that death awaited him, he could still laugh boldly, which was bizarre.
"I want to know about a place." Vlad asked, "Tell me, samurai, where is it!"
"Kuri, where is it!!"
"Kuri?" The samurai was stunned, his expression changed, "What? Did you say Kuri? So, you came for that lord?"
"You're after that lord?"
"Don't think I'll tell you!" The samurai's expression suddenly changed, and an unusual determination appeared on his face, "If it's about that lord, don't expect me to reveal a word!!!"
"Oh." Vlad raised his eyebrows, smiling, "So you know, that's good! I was worried that it would be troublesome if you didn't know. I'd have to find another guy to ask! But since you know, that's great! Tell me!"
"Tell me, where is Kuri!!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha!"
"Foolish man!" The samurai laughed wildly, "Do you think I will tell you? Do you think I will?"
"Well, you are impossible to like!" Vlad said, lifting his right hand and extending his index finger. A little platinum flame flickered at his fingertip.
"Let me show you the methods I use for interrogation."
"Ssh!" A small flame shot directly from Vlad's fingertip, piercing the samurai's calf like a beam.
"Uh!!" The samurai frowned slightly, "You think such an attack can—"
"Boom!!!" "Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!"
Just as the samurai was about to speak mockingly, the flame erupted on his calf, engulfing it in fierce flames, the most intense pain exploding instantaneously.
And more horrifying, the flames spread up his leg bit by bit.
"Aaaaahhhhhhh!!!" No longer able to utter harsh words, the once-resolute man could only wail in agony.
"Enjoy it!" Vlad laughed with his arms crossed, "Because of the need for secrecy and my increasingly strong opponents, I haven't used this move in a long time. Although it's useless against the strong, it will let you enjoy it thoroughly!"
"YIIIIAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!" The samurai screamed in terror.
"Hold on a little longer, my friend." Vlad laughed, "Don't give up too soon! I specifically controlled the temperature and speed of the flames; at least let me watch a little longer."
"Aaaaahhhhhhh!!!" The samurai now only had the strength to scream. If not countered with Armament Haki, Vlad's flames could directly adhere to flesh and burn like flesh-burrowing maggots.
"So," Vlad smiled leisurely, "can you speak now?"
...
"Oh! So it's here! Finally found it, after much effort!" The seemingly stubborn samurai didn't last long under Vlad's flames. After the fire devoured his lower body, he tearfully told Vlad everything he knew, and then Vlad mercifully turned him to ashes.
"Oh! So it's here! Finally found it, after much effort!" The stubborn samurai didn't last long under Vlad's flames. After the fire devoured his lower body, he tearfully told Vlad everything he knew, and then Vlad mercifully reduced him to ashes.
It wasn't even dawn, and Vlad had already flown over Kuri. Wano Country is a little small, being just an island nation, and it is smaller in area than Alabasta. With Vlad's speed, crossing the country wouldn't take long.
"It doesn't look like anything special!" Kuri is a place name, not some secret realm. In reality, it's nothing special, similar to other places in Wano Country, not very large—its area is just about the size of a few medium-sized towns, surrounding a small city including a few villages. It's vastly different from the towns Vlad has seen.
However, this place is where Vlad aimed to find his target in Wano Country, as mentioned earlier. However, nominally, Wano territory, under the jurisdiction of the Shogun, has the local Daimyo as the supreme leader.
The family that has governed this region for countless generations is unlike any other Daimyo family in Wano Country; their history far exceeds the usual lifespan of Daimyo families. This family, full of mystery and history, is named Kozuki. The family ruling over the Kuri region of Wano Country is the Kozuki family, whose crest is a bird with spread wings.
This Kozuki is the Kozuki of Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Momonosuke.