When Sherwin arrived at Harbor on the Master Cycle, he suddenly realized there was no need to have Shermie Meow help him search for Orochi location.
Because...
At Itomugi Harbor, a tall figure with the physical proportions of a short, stubby wreck was currently barking orders in a frantic rage, commanding a group of servants to haul treasures and supplies onto a luxurious ship docked at the pier.
Even with death looming, he still couldn't bear to leave these worldly possessions behind...
It certainly fit the character of Orochi that Sherwin remembered from the manga.
However...
"To think that a fool like this could actually steal Wano from your father. In a way, Kozuki Oden truly was remarkable," Sherwin said, turning his head toward hiyori on the back seat, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"...I have no words to offer in response," hiyori replied gloomily, biting her lip and lowering her head.
Compared to Sherwin, who had "only seen him once," hiyori—who had been stringing Orochi along in her role as an oiran—knew better than anyone just how vile and stupid the man was.
In truth, hiyori herself couldn't understand why the father she remembered as brilliant and mighty had lost to someone like Orochi, a man who seemed to embody every flaw imaginable.
Of course, she could argue that Kozuki Oden had lost to Kaido, but that was merely self-deception. Orochi ability to bring in Kaido and form an alliance was, in its own way, a display of his own capability...
What hiyori didn't know, however, was that whether it was the alliance with Kaido or the theft of the Shogun throne, it had all been orchestrated by Kurozumi Higurashi, that old hag who had also been part of the Rocks Pirates.
Aside from tricking Kozuki Oden out of his money, Orochi really was nothing more than a useless waste.
"Komurasaki?!"
Sherwin and the others hadn't bothered to lower their voices. In this environment of endless white snow, the flamboyant design of the Master Cycle Zero was also incredibly eye-catching, so it naturally drew the attention of the grumbling Orochi.
The moment he spotted the figure of "Courtesan Komurasaki," whom he had been yearning for day and night, he rushed toward them with a heart full of joy.
"Gu-hehehe! You escaped from the hands of that traitor Kyoshiro?!"
"...Didn't you say you defied this guy orders and he was planning to kill you?"
Sherwin pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling somewhat speechless, then pointed at the shouting Kurozumi Orochi running toward them and looked at Hiyori Kozuki in confusion.
"Kurozumi Orochi is exactly that kind of person—fickle, sinister, and treacherous..."
Hiyori spoke with a cold face, but she quickly recalled Sherwin earlier teasing, and suddenly lost the motivation to even bother despising Kurozumi Orochi.
"Hey! Are you the one who brought Komurasaki to the Shogun? Since you saved Komurasaki, the Shogun will allow you to take the position previously held by that traitor Kyoshiro and become the Shogun guard! Why haven't you knelt down to show your gratitude?!"
Clearly, besides being greedy and lecherous, Kurozumi Orochi judgment doesn't seem to be very good either... even though he was someone who once managed to completely fool both Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Sukiyaki.
Or perhaps the matchmaking mechanism of the pirate world is equally excellent, and Kurozumi Orochi just happened to encounter a pair of opponents as equally matched as the Kozuki father and son...
Well, considering Oden outrageous actions back then, the second possibility seems a bit higher.
The distracted Sherwin paid no mind to the idiot in front of him, but the two Felynes staying on his shoulders were unhappy.
"Sherwin, Klee Meow doesn't like this big head!"
The little Ragdoll pursed her lips, gently tugging at Sherwin ear and muttering.
Shermie Meow even extended a paw and flicked a bolt of lightning toward Kurozumi Orochi. "Who wants to be the bodyguard of an idiot like you!"
"Agh—!"
Kurozumi Orochi was electrocuted by Shermie Meow, jumping up and letting out a miserable scream.
However, compared to being attacked, what made him even more terrified was...
"M-Mink Tribe! You are the Kozuki remnants!!!" With a look of horror, Kurozumi Orochi pointed at the Felynes on Sherwin shoulders. As he retreated rapidly, he began to shout at the top of his lungs, "Men! Men! Someone come quickly and protect me!"
Some of the people who were moving cargo at the pier stopped what they were doing, picked up their weapons, and quickly rushed to Kurozumi Orochi side to protect him.
Sherwin twitched the corner of his mouth.
Even at this stage, there were still so many people choosing to remain loyal to Kurozumi Orochi. It seemed Kozuki Oden wasn't as popular as the manga portrayed him to be...
The main reason these people still gathered around Kurozumi Orochi was their confidence in Kaido, the "Guardian Deity."
Furthermore, much like Fukurokuju and the members of the Oniwabanshu who defected at the first opportunity, most of these people resided in the Flower Capital, the political center of Wano, and didn't view Oden through the same thick lens of admiration as others.
Adding to that, Kozuki Oden had foolishly spent five years performing his naked dance, so there were many who felt disappointed in him, even after word spread that he had done it to ensure the safety of others.
But...
Even so, what did Kozuki Oden actually end up protecting in the end?
It would have been better to fight Kaido to a "shattered jade" finish from the very beginning.
This was also one of the primary reasons why so many samurai lost heart once Sherwin evaluation of Oden began to spread.
Although Sherwin resisted the urge to continue teasing Kozuki Hiyori about her father, he still asked with "ill intent," "Do you want to reveal your identity to them? Perhaps once they know who you are, they will surrender immediately."
"There is no need..." Kozuki Hiyori, unaware of Sherwin mischievous streak, shook her head. "These people have often used Orochi name to prey upon the villagers. They... deserve to die!"
Sherwin clicked his tongue in slight regret at missing out on a good show, but at the same time, he greatly admired Hiyori resolve. Thus, he stopped wasting time and reached out to pat Shermie Meow small head. "Then I'll leave it to you~ Oh, and remember to leave Orochi alive."
"Understood, Meow~"
(=ω=)
Shermie Meow rubbed against Sherwin palm, then turned into a bolt of "Chain Lightning," circling rapidly through the crowd and instantly knocking down Kurozumi Orochi group of guards.
"Waaaaaaah!!!"
Orochi, who had just breathed a sigh of relief because his subordinates were protecting him, fell into a panic again. He collapsed to the ground, using both his hands and feet to scramble backward.
"Don't, don't kill me! I'll give you money! All the treasures on the ship are yours! Let me go! Usurping the position of Shogun wasn't my original intention! Kaido forced me to do it!"
But Shermie Meow didn't care what he said several more bolts of lightning struck his body, and then...
After trembling all over from the electricity, Orochi tongue lolled out, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground without a sound.
Sherwin: "..."
Shermie Meow: "..."
So he planning to feign death? I was wondering why he didn't even make a single move to resist.
Sherwin was speechless for a moment, then tilted his head toward Shermie Meow. "Keep shocking him."
"Crackling—"
"Waaaaaaah!!!"
Orochi clearly didn't have that kind of endurance. As soon as Shermie Meow lightning landed on him, he couldn't keep up the act anymore.
By this point, Orochi also knew that continuing to act cowardly was useless, so he decisively activated his fruit ability, intending to resist.
"I'll eat you!!!"
Transforming into the Yamata no Orochi, Kurozumi Orochi roared, opening his mouths wide to bite at Sherwin and Shermie Meow.
"Wow! It Orochimaru Technique meow!"
(=`=)
Klee Meow was excited for a moment, but then she quickly frowned.
"But... the Yamata no Orochi he turned into is so ugly, and it not even white, meow..."
Compared to Orochimaru high-fashion Yamata no Jutsu, the Yamata no Orochi transformed by Kurozumi Orochi was a bit hard to describe. Not to mention the head that carried Kurozumi Orochi own features, the other seven heads didn't look very bright either.
It was hard to tell if it was influenced by Kurozumi Orochi himself or if the fruit was just naturally that ugly.
It over...
Hearing Klee Meow words, Sherwin felt a sudden chill in his heart.
Since even Klee Meow despised it, would he still be able to obtain the Yamata fruit?
Sherwin didn't hold much hope anymore.
But there was another way to compensate... Haibara Meow had already mastered the complete artificial Devil Fruit technology!
Sherwin decisively pulled out a Sea Prism Stone chain and threw it at Kurozumi Orochi. Tangled in the chain, Kurozumi Orochi instantly lost all his strength, rapidly reverting from his Yamata form back into a human, falling to the ground with a thud less than half a meter away from Sherwin.
Next, Sherwin pulled out a syringe about ten centimeters long and as thick as a thumb. Under Kurozumi Orochi terrified gaze, he located a vein and stabbed it in fiercely.