Brook and Charlotte Linlin eyed the convoy rolling past — grand wagons pulling smaller carts, loaded to the brim. This scene didn't fit Kuri's reputation for poverty. Where had all these wealthy families come from?
"Brook, are these refugees?"
Linlin frowned at the sight. The convoys were packed with boxes and bags like these people had brought out their entire household fortunes.
"Looks more like nobles fleeing trouble."
Brook had a pretty good guess — these were probably the richest clans in Kuri. But was the local leadership really letting these fat cats escape so easily?
Meanwhile, the three heads of Kuri's major underworld families — Hattori, Sarutobi, and Saemon — glanced nervously at the sky. Two powerful figures were hovering above, watching them. Were they about to strike?
Hattori made a subtle hand sign. Instantly, an archery squad assembled, black-tipped arrows notched and aimed at the two figures in the clouds.
Seastone arrows — deadly against Devil Fruit users. Even if the targets weren't users, those hardened tips could pierce through the toughest Haki defenses.
And that towering woman in the sky? No question — she had the aura of a Devil Fruit user. No need to second-guess.
"Linlin, watch out — Seastone arrows incoming!"
Brook drew the Shichiseiken in a flash, sending slashes of sword aura through the air. Beside him, the sun homie Prometheus flared with rage, spewing a wall of flame that incinerated the arrows mid-flight.
"Why are you attacking us?!"
Linlin roared, her Conqueror's Haki bursting outward in a violent shockwave. If they'd had allies nearby, they would've dropped too — she wasn't holding back.
"Another burst of Conqueror's Haki?! How many monsters are out here today?!"
First, that thunder-wielding beast, and now this giant woman spraying fireballs and crushing minds? The world had gone mad — powerhouses popping up one after another.
As their men collapsed one by one, the three clan heads felt cold sweat pour down their backs. They had clearly picked a fight with people way beyond their league. Their minds raced — how could they stay alive now?
By the time Linlin's rage subsided, less than a third of the convoy's people were still standing. Out of the thousand-strong group, maybe two or three hundred were still on their feet.
"O mighty warriors, please forgive us! Spare our lives! We were foolish to offend you. We're willing to hand over half our wealth as tribute — please, accept it!"
Hattori was the first to grovel. If they didn't act fast, they'd either be wiped out or looted clean. Better to bet on the mercy of these monsters and hope they had some shred of humanity.
"Yohoho... So, if your ambush had worked, we'd be dead. But now you want to trade half your fortune to save your skins? That's not gonna cut it!"
Brook's grin was sharp. He could see what kind of men these were — scum who switched sides at the first sign of danger. They wanted to surrender? Not that easy.
Behind him, a towering grim reaper made of pure soul energy materialized. Brook's soul intimidation pulsed outward, and another two hundred men collapsed like puppets with their strings cut. Fewer than sixty were left standing.
"Not just Conqueror's Haki… no, this is even colder… the chill of death itself!"
The three clan heads completely lost their nerve. The woman's Haki had been terrifying enough, but the skinny man on her shoulder? He radiated pure death. Even seasoned killers like them felt their knees shake.
"Mercy, great one! We'll do whatever you say — we'll become your loyal servants! Please, accept us!"
Hattori bawled his plea. Among the three, he was the strongest — around mid-tier swordsman level — but right now, even the thought of fighting back was laughable.
Against foes of equal strength, he'd have drawn his blade without hesitation. Even a daimyo standing in front of them wouldn't have scared these three from charging in.
But these two… they were on par with monsters like Shimotsuki Toramaru. Against that level of power, they wouldn't even dare to reach for their swords.
"Yohohoho! I like your instincts — quick to read the situation and even quicker to bend the knee. Now tell me who you are!"
Brook didn't exactly admire their cowardice, but he didn't look down on it either. In the end, survival came first — nothing shameful about that.
After all, if a no-name like him accidentally offended some big-shot, wouldn't he also try to cling to a powerful patron? If you can't beat 'em, join 'em — wasn't that the golden rule of survival in this world?
"I am Hattori Hachizō, elder of Kuri Castle's council. These two are also elders — Sarutobi Usuke and Saemon Nagi. If you have plans to take over Kuri, perhaps we can be of service, great one!"
Hattori slapped on a wide grin, desperate to sound useful. Maybe, just maybe, these two monsters could even defeat that lightning freak causing chaos everywhere.
"Yohohoho! So you're the big shots running Kuri behind the scenes, huh?"
Brook's eyes gleamed. Now it all made sense — these were the crime bosses who had bolted when Redfield showed up.
The three clan heads felt their hearts drop into their stomachs. That tone, that knowing grin… Could these two also be connected to the thunder-wielding monster?
"Great one… do you, by any chance, know a terrifying warrior who uses lightning?"
Hattori asked carefully, cursing his luck. How the hell did this land end up crawling with so many freakishly strong people?!
"Ah, that's my little friend. Oh — and here comes another of my little friends now!"
Brook chuckled, spotting the shadow of a floating island in the distance. No doubt about it — Golden Lion Shiki was on his way over.
"A flying island…? That demon who commands mountains and makes them soar through the sky?!"
Hattori and the others turned ghostly pale. Any flicker of resistance died right there.
"Please, mighty one, take us in! We swear loyalty! We'll obey your every command — just spare us!"
The three dropped to their knees, desperate. If they didn't pledge loyalty now, they'd either be slaughtered or stripped of everything. What future would they even have then?
"Yohohoho! Lucky for you that you surrendered quickly. If those two bloodthirsty maniacs showed up first, some of you would already be dead!"
Brook accepted their submission with a smile. The three crime bosses were drenched in sweat, their faces stiff with fear.
As the floating island drew closer, Shiki and Kozuki Oden could see the scene clearly — the once-proud crime families of Kuri groveling before Brook and Linlin, their men scattered and broken.
The sight told them everything: they were too late. There was no fight left to join.
Meanwhile, the Oden's retainers were shaken. They had just witnessed these outsiders subdue Kuri's chaos in mere moments — a feat Wano's samurai had failed to achieve for generations.
Their overwhelming power sent a chill down every warrior's spine. If these people turned their eyes toward the Flower Capital next… who could stop them? Not the shogun. Not even the four great daimyo combined.
And now, they had an army — Kuri's underworld and bandit clans had bent the knee, swelling their ranks overnight. Their force now looked strong enough to rival all of Wano itself....
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+188 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg