"I refuse!"
"Fine, then you'll... what did you say?"
Kai was stunned. He hadn't misheard, had he?
Komurasaki held up the artificial Azure Dragon fruit and placed it in front of Kai, then performed a standard dogeza.
"Lord Kai, at this point, I no longer wish to deceive you."
Komurasaki raised her head with tears glistening in her eyes: "My real name is Kozuki Hiyori, daughter of Kozuki Oden."
"Sigh..."
Kai let out a long sigh and shook his head: "Silly girl, did you think I didn't know? You really underestimate me."
What?!
Lord Kai had known all along?
Komurasaki's heart skipped a beat, her beautiful eyes instantly widening like saucers.
"Then why..."
She was the daughter of Kozuki. By all rights, she should be the Beast Pirates' most wanted criminal.
"Your identity is worthless to me."
Kai explained: "The one who's been hunting you throughout Wano Country and fearing you is Kurozumi Orochi, not Kaido."
This was the truth.
As long as someone could contribute to Kaido's dream and that great future war, Kaido couldn't care less about their background.
Even with Kid and Luffy, who had opposed him multiple times, Kaido's first thought was still to recruit them, not to eliminate them all.
In this regard, Kaido's magnanimity was comparable to Whitebeard's.
"Is that so?"
Thinking carefully, Komurasaki realized it was true. There were no wanted posters for the Kozuki clan and their retainers on Onigashima, indicating Kaido didn't really care about them.
After Kai came to power, even the Oniwaban and samurai forces had stopped hunting them and turned to maintaining public order instead.
Kaido seemed to have no reaction to this either.
Kai asked: "Komurasaki, why are you confessing today? You could have completely concealed this from me and eaten the Devil Fruit first. Whether to escape Onigashima or prepare for Momonosuke's future return, either would have been an excellent choice for you."
"Perhaps, but I can no longer deceive someone who treats me sincerely."
Komurasaki smiled sadly: "Lord Kai, now that you know my identity, Hiyori is willing to accept any consequences."
Since Kai knew of her mother Kozuki Toki's prophecy, there was naturally no reason to spare the Kozuki clan.
"When the world grows dim and the moon shows her face, she will bear the scars of time and hold fast till dawn. Though the moon seeks blessed light across the sky, nine shadows will come to shine and bring the sunrise."
Kai recited Kozuki Toki's prophecy and said disdainfully: "Perhaps your brother can return in ten years, but only failure awaits him!"
"Impossible!" Komurasaki blurted out.
Rather than directly arguing, Kai changed his approach: "What do you think of Wano Country now?"
Komurasaki fell silent.
To be fair, under Kai's rule, the people's lives in Wano Country were even somewhat better than during her father's time.
Though factory work was hard, one person's wages were enough to support a family of four.
The samurai and yakuza who used to loiter and cause trouble in the streets had been dealt with by Kai's iron-fisted rule and sent directly to labor camps.
The people's lives might not be completely secure, but they could be called peaceful and prosperous.
Regarding food, with Yamato's vigorous land development and Kai's weather control, the land had welcomed its first harvest.
On harvest day, Wano Country was filled with laughter
None of this had been achievable during the Kozuki clan's rule.and joy everywhere, almost like the arrival of the Fire Festival.
When Denjiro told her this information, his expression was both joyful and unwilling.
Joyful because after sending away Kurozumi Orochi, Wano Country had finally welcomed a wise ruler who gave the people stable lives.
This was exactly what they had hoped for.
Unwilling because the one who accomplished all this wasn't them, but the Beast Pirates, whom they had always considered a symbol of tyranny.
The image of Kozuki in people's hearts was gradually being replaced by Kai and Yamato.
Kai pressed: "Do you think the people of Wano Country now would still expect Kozuki? Expect an eight-year-old shogun to rule them?"
If Momonosuke appeared now, there might still be a chance.
Undeniably, the Kozuki clan, having ruled Wano Country for hundreds of years, remained a symbol of legitimacy in people's hearts.
But his appearance would be ten years later.
Kai was confident he could completely eliminate Kozuki's prestige within these ten years.
The people weren't blindly loyal fools. Once accustomed to the good days Kai and Yamato brought them, they would actually have doubts when faced with the returning Kozuki clan.
The Beast Pirates ruled just fine. Why change shoguns?
What if life became worse?
From ancient times to now, no well-fed people have ever actively embraced change.
Faced with Kai's pressing questions, Komurasaki felt weak in her limbs, already having the answer in her heart.
The Kozuki clan might never return.
"So, Lord Kai, is that why you didn't bother capturing us?"
"Yes, as long as you don't jump out and disrupt my plans, I can't be bothered to deal with you."
Kai spoke frankly: "Like Kyoshiro. I've always known his identity, but since he can be useful to me, why would I expose everything and waste a talented person?"
Kyoshiro was like many spies throughout history: exceptionally capable.
After assigning him the work of catching criminals and maintaining order, whether from his true feelings or to please Kai, Kyoshiro worked with incredible enthusiasm, leaving early and returning late every day, voluntarily working overtime.
And all Kai gave in return was a few words of praise plus a normal salary.
Such a useful workhorse. Wasn't it great to exploit him for free?
Seeing Kai's expression of having made a huge profit, Komurasaki smiled bitterly, recalling Denjiro's increasingly heavy dark circles.
She wondered what his expression would be when he learned all this.
"There's also Ashura Doji hiding on Atama Mountain, Shimotsuki Yasuie hiding in Ebisu Town..."
Under Komurasaki's horrified gaze, Kai revealed a string of names and locations of Kozuki remnants.
"Now you understand my attitude toward Kozuki."
Komurasaki nodded silently, then suddenly prostrated herself: "Lord Kai, forgive my presumption. Since you don't care about us as losers, could you please pardon the prisoners in Udon? For this, I'm willing to give anything!
I'm willing to serve you for life, never leaving, following you in life and death!"
"Ha! You've got quite the imagination, taking everything, aren't you?" Kai laughed despite his annoyance.
Who's really losing out in this deal!
"No, that's not it!"
Komurasaki's face reddened as she waved her hands frantically. She suddenly realized that even without this deal, she was already serving Kai.
She seemed to be pushing her luck a bit.
"Lord Kai, my father's sword Enma is in my possession. I'm willing to give it to you, only asking for better treatment for the prisoners in Udon."
Komurasaki brought out her final bargaining chip.
"Enma?" Kai stroked his chin thoughtfully.
As one of the 21 Great Grade swords, it would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted. Though he didn't use swords himself, having it as a display piece would be nice.
After all, it was just improving the prisoners' treatment somewhat.