On the streets of the Flower Capital, Sephiroth walked with his hands tucked into his kimono, his face sullen. Orochi's order forced him to cut off the possibility of rebellion. If he really destroyed the villages, he would forever be branded a villain in the eyes of the people of Wano. His reputation would be ruined, and recruiting subordinates would be very difficult.
"Indeed, developing power under someone else's nose is full of all sorts of variables," he thought. "I have to change my initial plan to steal this country."
"Boss, are you really going to destroy the villages outside the Flower Capital?" Kumagoro asked hesitantly.
Sephiroth just glanced at him without expression. Camel immediately hit the back of Kumagoro's head hard.
"Why are you asking so many questions?! Of course, the boss has his own plan! We, the subordinates, just have to obey!" Camel snapped.
Sephiroth pondered for a moment. "Camel, Kumagoro, gather all the brothers right now."
"Ready!" the two exclaimed and hurried away.
He knew that the next plan was very risky. If it leaked, the power he had just developed in Wano would be wiped out. However, Orochi had cornered him. He had to find a "ladder" to get over this wall.
In a large room in the Fengyue Pavilion, Sephiroth sat cross-legged, facing forty-five small leaders of the Miyamoto family. Camel and Kumagoro sat in front of him.
"Brothers," he began in a deep and serious voice, "you are all the people I trust the most. Today, I have something very important to tell you. Orochi asked me to destroy the villages outside the Flower Capital, destroy their homes, and leave them with no choice but to become slaves!"
Everyone's faces changed, from shock to anger. They began to curse Orochi.
"This cannot be allowed!" "Cruel Orochi!" "My home is outside the Flower Capital!"
"QUIET!" Sephiroth clapped his hands. The room fell silent.
"Ever since Kurozumi Orochi became shogun, he has brought suffering to the people. Who among you doesn't hate him? But, behind him, stands the monster Kaido. As long as Kaido lives, even if we kill Orochi, Wano will remain miserable!"
The words hit home. They remembered Kaido, the ghost that haunted their hearts.
"Orochi is forcing me to destroy those villages. If I refuse, Kaido will fight me. I'm not sure I can defeat Kaido, but I also don't want to hurt innocent people. Your families are also there. Now, I'm going to do something very dangerous! I ask, do you trust me?"
"Boss! We'll be with you and fight Kaido!" "We will support you!"
Seeing their spirit, Sephiroth smiled with relief. "Don't worry! As long as you keep your mouths shut, nothing will happen."
Dusk fell on Momokawa Village. Surrounded by mountains, this village of 600 people was almost isolated. They survived on well water and farming on the mountain, living in poverty.
Led by Sephiroth, more than 800 people surrounded the village. Sephiroth met the village head, an old man with gray hair. He explained his plan.
"Your Excellency Miyamoto, is everything you said true?" the old man asked.
"Completely true," Sephiroth replied.
"Then... I will believe in you!"
The old man gathered all the villagers. He explained, "Orochi wants to destroy our homes, wells, and fields! But Miyamoto Musashi is ready to take us to a new country where we can live prosperously!"
"Really? Where is that place?" the residents asked.
"Forget words! Let's see it for ourselves!" Sephiroth took out his long sword, closed his eyes for a moment, placed his clone on an empty island, then slashed the air. He carved a six-meter-tall portal.
Clang!
A strong wind blew. Two spatial doors opened, showing the beach on Angel Island in the Grand Line to everyone. They saw strange buildings and large vines above the clouds. On the other side, Gan Fall, Enel, and the island managers were already waiting.
The villagers were stunned, mumbling if it was the "Kingdom of Heaven."
"Hurry! This door won't last long!" Sephiroth urged, feeling his spirit weaken. Opening this portal consumed half of his energy reserves.
The desperate residents immediately entered the portal. Those who hesitated saw the peaceful island on the other side, then heard the beautiful sound of the "Golden Bell."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound came from the top of the large vine on Upper Yard. That enchanting sound attracted the people who were initially hesitant. They, too, stepped inside. Unknowingly, almost all the villagers had arrived on the other side.
"Hah~!" Sephiroth breathed a sigh of relief and closed the portal. He was almost at the end of his life reserves.
He turned to his subordinates. "Brothers, burn this village!"
Flames blazed, burning the empty village. Black smoke billowed high. Sephiroth muttered to himself, "Burning without killing anyone... is a bit unreasonable. Next time I'll have to throw in a few pirate corpses to make it look real!"
On Sky Island, Sephiroth transferred his consciousness to his clone. He gave orders to Gan Fall. "Arrange housing, food, and water for them. They must obey the laws here. If not, take the necessary measures."
"Understood!" Gan Fall nodded.
After giving the instructions, his clone flew to the temple and disappeared, turning back into a blood bat locked in an iron cage.
Conis and Lanky, the temple servants, were confused to see their god come and go without a trace, leaving only a bat that they had to take care of. Several years ago, they were saved by Sephiroth from pirates who were about to seize the Golden Bell. Since then, they had dedicated themselves to him.
To reduce trouble, Sephiroth had moved the Golden Bell tower to the top of the vine, moving Enel, Ohm, and others from Birka to guard the temple, while the Shandia guerrillas guarded the Golden Bell. He even left a special Den Den Mushi so they could contact him.