As he spoke, his knees slammed heavily onto the Dragon's back with a dull thud—a deep bow of apology to his late Lord, Oden.
Tears mixed with blood dripped onto the Dragon's scales, the red liquid slowly tracing the patterns of the scales.
The pain was incredibly heavy, like a thousand-pound rock crushing Kin'emon's heart.
Kanjuro was not just a friend who shared his daily life and deadly battles, but one of the most important members of the Nine Red Scabbards.
Memories of fighting side by side played in his mind like a movie.
They had supported each other in battle, made promises on the edge of death, and sworn to fight for the Kozuki family to the very end.
Yet now, it had all been a carefully planned lie!
Their past laughter and shared anger had become the sharpest blades, tearing wildly at his broken heart.
"Lord Ron!" Kin'emon suddenly turned to Ron.
He dropped to his knees and hit his forehead against the Dragon's back with a heavy thud.
In this deeply loyal and firm way, he shared his promise:
"I swear I will catch that traitor Kanjuro with my own hands and bring him to your judgment!"
His voice was as solid as rock.
His eyes showed pure determination—a deep hatred for the traitor and a strong loyalty to justice.
Ron gave him a look.
"Do not thank me yet."
Slowly, he pulled White Moon from his waist.
The blade shined with a dark light under the sun, glowing like the stare of death itself, bringing fear to everyone who saw it.
"If you do not obey me later, you will still die."
Kin'emon: "..."
Just as Ron raised his sword, getting ready to attack in the direction Kanjuro ran, a chilling voice suddenly rang out.
The voice was like a snow flower blooming on top of an iceberg—calm but carrying a freezing cold.
"Ron, leave this man for me to kill."
Izo had somehow already stepped up to the edge of the Dragon's back.
He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his black clothes blowing sharply in the sea breeze.
His thin fingers gently brushed over the flintlock gun at his waist, his eyes shining with an icy need to kill.
"Very well." Ron gave a small nod, silently agreeing to Izo's request.
Right after he spoke, Izo's body turned into a blinding flash of lightning, instantly ripping through the sky!
The lightning looked like a silver dragon, roaring as it chased after Kanjuro.
It left behind a faint burned trail in the air, as if space itself was being torn apart by the massive power.
In the distance, Kanjuro was still caught up in the joy of his escape.
An ugly smile was stuck on his face as he planned his next act of revenge.
He seemed to already picture himself building the perfect stage performance, freely letting out years of hidden anger and frustration.
Yet, the wheels of fate had quietly begun to turn without him knowing.
Suddenly, he felt a chill run down his spine, a strong feeling of danger rising inside him.
He whipped his head around—
Bang!
A gunshot echoed through the sky, shattering the peaceful sea like a horn announcing death.
The bullet shot forward like a meteor, carrying a feeling of total destruction.
Instantly, a bloody hole appeared in Kanjuro's chest.
Blood poured out like a fountain, staining the clothes on his chest.
His eyes went wide in pure shock, filled with fear and confusion, as he saw Izo's cold, serious face now terrifyingly close.
That face looked like a demon from hell, completely empty of any pity or hesitation.
"This shot is for Lord Oden." Izo's voice was scary and calm, just stating a simple fact, yet it made Kanjuro feel deep defeat.
His words cut like a sharp blade, stabbing into the last tiny bit of guilt buried deep inside Kanjuro's heart.
"This shot is for twenty years of lies."
A second bullet instantly followed, shooting right through Kanjuro's heart.
Blood sprayed from his back as his body began to sway out of control.
Kanjuro's eyes showed endless regret and pain.
Maybe only in his final moments did he realize the terrible results his actions had brought.
Though if he were to speak for himself, it was probably regret for failing to put on a perfect performance!
"One final shot..." Izo's body dropped down right next to the falling Kanjuro.
The gun barrel pointed perfectly steady at his head, his stare completely locked on.
"...is for everyone you betrayed."
Bang!
A third bullet fired without mercy.
Kanjuro's head jerked slightly before his entire body dropped incredibly fast, like a kite with its string cut.
Izo smoothly flipped in mid-air and landed on top of the reforming lightning, which flashed and danced beneath his feet.
Meanwhile, Kanjuro's dead body spun through the air like a broken puppet before crashing into the rough waves below.
He was swallowed by the angry sea in the blink of an eye.
Kin'emon and Momonosuke stood frozen on the Dragon's back, looking like two lifeless wooden statues.
Their eyes were empty, and their faces were blank.
They were so shocked by what they had just seen that they completely lost the ability to react.
Their bodies were totally stiff, just standing there like frozen statues.
Ron slightly raised an eyebrow, a quick flash of cold distance showing in his eyes.
His movements were completely calm and unbothered as he slowly put his long sword back into its case.
With a soft "clang" from the metal sliding home, he brought this whole joke to a quick end.
"Clean and neat."
Izo returned to the Dragon's back.
His body looked a bit ghostly in the sea breeze, but he still gave off a strong, unbreakable feeling.
"A traitor deserves an ending like this." His voice carried an icy finalness, full of deep disrespect for the betrayer.
The sea wind howled past like an angry beast, tearing across the ocean waves.
Carrying the salty smell of seawater, it swept through the area, washing away every last trace of Kanjuro.
The betrayal and evil plans that once existed were all swallowed up by this cruel sea wind, disappearing into nothing.
Yet, the pain brought by this betrayal remained like scars burned deeply into their souls, forever stuck in their hearts.
It was a terrible pain, a mix of pure anger and sadness over broken trust.
It hung over everyone like a heavy shadow, lingering and hard to clear away.
Ron's stare swept back and forth among the three of them, studying the deepest thoughts in each person's heart.
His eyes finally landed on the shaking Momonosuke, a flash of disgust showing in his eyes.
The disgust burned like real flames, dancing in his stare.
"This brat..."