Since Ashura Doji's escape, Kurozumi Orochi had doubled the number of troops stationed at the Shogun's Castle. Every five steps stood a samurai, every ten steps a guard. This tight security showed how great his fear was of the remnants of the Kozuki Clan.
Led by Fukurokuju, the trio of Sephiroth, Camel, and Kumagoro crossed the layers of guards and arrived at the door of the audience hall. Camel and Kumagoro walked a little slowly, their shoulders trembling under the weight of a large wooden box.
Inside, Orochi, wearing a yellow kimono, was already seated on his throne. As soon as he saw Sephiroth, a malicious smile appeared on his face. He immediately raised his fan, covering his cunning face.
"Miyamoto, you seem to be highly esteemed these days!" he sneered.
"Ah, not at all! This is all thanks to the general," Sephiroth replied with a friendly smile, hiding the hatred in his heart. He exchanged some meaningless pleasantries with Orochi for a while.
After the conversation, Orochi's eyes narrowed. "I heard... your Miyamoto family has recently grown to more than 2,000 people?" His tone was full of meaning.
"Yes," Sephiroth nodded. The exact number was 2,786, but he didn't need to lie. Fukurokuju would surely find out the approximate number soon. If he refused, it would only cause suspicion.
"...Under this general, there are 5,000 samurai and 5,000 ninja guards. Your Miyamoto family, it only took two or three months to grow from three people to more than two thousand. I have to say... Miyamoto Musashi's methods are extraordinary!"
A hint of fear flashed in Orochi's eyes. He was a very suspicious person. His initial promise to make Sephiroth the boss of the underworld was just an intention to entice him. He thought Sephiroth was just a strong and reckless man, especially after hearing from his grain officer, Kojiro, that Sephiroth fought with Ashura Doji and didn't know how to be adaptable.
However, in just a few months, Sephiroth had managed to become the strongest underworld force in the Flower Capital. This power and his methods surprised Orochi. He knew that if he didn't suppress Sephiroth now, the man would become one of the daimyo. If he sought protection from Kaido, his position as shogun would be threatened. After all, this man even defeated Ashura Doji, one of the Nine Red Scabbards.
Feeling the emotional change in Orochi, Sephiroth's heart twitched. His plan to "steal" the country had just begun. He could not make a mistake.
He put on a cheerful smile. "Hahaha! That's all thanks to the General's blessing. Camel, Kumagoro, show the general my sincerity!"
"Yes!" the two exclaimed. They brought the large wooden box in front of Orochi and opened it.
The contents of the box were a pile of cake-shaped gold ingots.
Sephiroth got up and bowed deeply. "General-sama, I, Miyamoto Musashi, am a grateful person! I am in this position because of your help. The brothers on the streets submit to me because they know that you are the one who supports me. From now on, be it money, troops, or women, as long as General-sama commands, we, the Miyamoto family, will do our best!"
These words from Sephiroth, strangely, were mostly the truth. Orochi's tyrannical rule had turned Wano into a hell where the people starved. With the promise of food and protection, the loyalty of the subordinates he recruited from outside the city was very high.
"Hahaha! Good! Good! Miyamoto, you understand the situation very well!" Orochi patted Sephiroth's shoulder hard. His hesitation disappeared. However, he needed proof.
His eyes rolled. "Miyamoto, there is something very important that I must entrust to you!" He smiled maliciously. "Recently, Kaido told me that the slave laborers are being disposed of too quickly, and his weapon factories need to be expanded. Therefore, I want you to destroy the villages outside the Flower Capital, one by one, and leave those common people with no other choice but to work in the factories. Do you understand?"
"Understood! General-sama, just leave it to me!" Sephiroth nodded lightly, as if obedient.
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