Redfield picked up the local Wano snail device. He'd seen Shakky and Antonio buy these before — a communication gadget unique to Wano. It worked similarly to a Den Den Mushi, though a bit more primitive.
In Wano, there were two types of these snails: the "lead snails" and the "smart snails." The smart snails were portable — about the size of two fingers pressed together — but they had a serious flaw. Their transmission waves were too weak. Every message first had to reach a nearby lead snail, which then relayed it further. Kind of like the early days of telephones, where you had to connect through a switchboard before reaching the person you wanted.
That meant if someone controlled the lead snail, they effectively controlled all communications in that area — a critical weakness.
Before Redfield could even ask how to use the thing, the smart snail raised its little head on its own. A stranger's voice crackled through.
"Honored thunder warrior, I am Fukujin Kishoten, acting lord of Kuri Castle and temporary administrator of the city. May I ask why you've attacked our stronghold?"
"Kuri as a whole has been leased to us by the shogun's office — so that includes your Kuri Castle. This territory belongs to the Hell Pirates now!"
"I wonder… would your forces be willing to follow the shogun's commands going forward?"
"Depends on the captain's decision."
"If we submit to your captain, could you shield us from the shogunate's oppression?"
"What's this? You're looking to surrender? Only those who truly join us — heart and soul — will get our protection. We can see right through false loyalty. So tell me… are you serious about switching sides?"
"I hope your words hold true. Please enter Kuri Castle and take command. I also humbly ask that you protect the Fukujin and Chiyaryu clans."
The call ended, and sure enough, the castle's north gate creaked open. Redfield and Hyougoro were both taken aback by this Kishoten's swift response.
"Redfield-sama," Hyougoro said quickly, "these Fukujin and Chiyaryu families… decades ago, they backed the Kurozumi clan's coup attempt. After failing, they fled here to Kuri."
"So this is them seeking shelter, is it?"
Redfield smirked. He knew Brook had his eyes on more than just Kuri. And as for the shogunate's forces? He wasn't afraid of them kicking up a fuss. Gathering up a few disgraced families wouldn't cause much trouble — they couldn't make big waves.
He ordered his hired samurai to march into Kuri Castle. Hyougoro brought along his yakuza men and the thugs he'd recruited from the rundown towns. Only after they'd gone in did Redfield himself enter.
Inside, he caught sight of the leader — a man with an absurdly long skull, like he belonged to some rare tribe.
"Redfield-sama, that's just how the Fukujin family looks. Their heads tend to be... elongated," Hyougoro explained quietly beside him.
Fukujin Kishoten stepped forward with great respect, bowing low as he greeted Redfield. The aura this thunder warrior gave off, he thought, rivaled even Wano's strongest samurai, Shimotsuki Toramaru.
"My lord, the other families in Kuri Castle have already fled east. My Fukujin clan and the Chiyaryu clan pledge ourselves to you!"
"Trying to use me to overthrow the Kozuki clan, huh? I like the way you think."
Redfield leaned in and whispered into Kishoten's ear, amused by the man's ambitions. This kind of traitor fit perfectly with the Hell Pirates' interests.
Along the way, he'd grown annoyed with Wano's samurai, whose loyalty to the Kozuki clan made them hard to subdue. But these families — enemies of the Kozuki — would make excellent pawns to set the example.
Kishoten stiffened, shocked that Redfield could see right through him so easily. So this was what he meant by "seeing through false hearts"... Kishoten bent even lower in submission.
"Enough talk. Take us to the council chamber. Summon the remaining bosses of the underworld clans — I want them all gathered. And open the gates to let in our other two squads!"
Redfield strode into the government hall, ready to sort out Kuri's power structure. The useful ones, he'd recruit. The disloyal? They'd be crushed — then hauled off to work the mines.
Meanwhile, the southern and western gates, having received the snail signal, let in Newgate of Mount Atama and Shiki from Bakura Town. Shiki, the Golden Lion, simply flew in directly.
Before long, Redfield, Newgate, and Shiki had all gathered in the castle's great hall.
"Tch! And here I was told Kuri was Wano's most chaotic land!" Shiki grumbled, annoyed. "Didn't even get to warm up — they surrendered too damn fast!"
Kozuki Oden cursed, visibly frustrated. Kishoten, on the other hand, tensed at the sight of the shogun's son and his retainers. A mess of conflicting emotions surged inside him.
The five samurai of the Oniwabanshu glared at the traitorous Fukujin and Chiyaryu clans, their eyes full of disdain and scorn.
"All those families ran off, and you lot are just standing around? Well?! Get after them, damn it!"
Shiki wasn't about to bother with managing Kuri's affairs. He dashed off solo, springing atop his flying island to give chase. Oden and Newgate followed suit, leaping onto the floating rock with him.
Meanwhile, Ashura Jakun and Ashura Pengan, leaders of the Ashura clan, stood frozen. Uncertain what to do, they stayed put alongside the Fukujin and Chiyaryu families, awaiting Redfield's orders.
"Keep your men in line. Wait for our captain to arrive. Anyone who dares stir up trouble… will be sent straight to the mines!"
Redfield unleashed a burst of his Haki, his kingly will crashing over the gathered yakuza and mountain bandits like a storm.
Another one… another king's Haki user?!
Jakun and Pengan exchanged glances, their resolve hardening. This man… he might be even stronger than Golden Lion Shiki.
Kishoten and the Chiyaryu patriarch remembered well how Redfield had wiped out the Seastone archer squads with that same overwhelming Haki. That, more than anything, was why they'd chosen to surrender. If even his officers carried such power, how terrifying must their true leader be?
Redfield could sense their shifting thoughts and was quietly pleased. His Haki's intimidation worked better than expected. Brook didn't have king's Haki, true — but his soul-based terror was even more dreadful in its own way.
...
Far to the east, near Kuri's outer gate, convoy after convoy of retreating yakuza families sped away, only to come face-to-face with a giant woman floating atop dark clouds.
The old-school Wano samurai in the group froze in fear, thinking they'd stumbled upon a wrathful deity. Some ignorant thugs dropped to their knees and started praying.
But the more seasoned yakuza bosses stared grimly at the two figures standing atop the clouds.
This giant woman's aura… it was monstrous. Every bit as oppressive as their living nightmare, Shimotsuki Toramaru. Yet again, they'd run into someone with the terrifying might of a thunder warrior.
-----------
+188 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg