"Lord Kai, I'm willing to submit!"
Naturally, Denjiro's choice was unsurprising.
The moment his identity was exposed by Kai, he only had two choices: death or life.
Kai's expression remained indifferent: "Then work hard."
Whether it was loyal submission or deceptive compliance, for the ten years before Momonosuke's return, Denjiro would be his faithful enforcer.
As for what happens in ten years?
By then, even if the Nine Red Scabbards gathered to rebel against him, it would be nothing more than a minor irritation.
Kai had that confidence.
"Someone come!" Kai clapped his hands lightly.
"What are your orders, my lord?" Fukurokuju entered and bowed respectfully.
"In three days, I want to hold a grand sword dedication ceremony in the Flower Capital."
Kai gestured toward Komurasaki: "Komurasaki, also known as Kozuki Hiyori, will represent the Kozuki family in presenting Oden's sword, Enma."
What? Komurasaki was the Kozuki princess that Kurozumi Orochi had been obsessing over?
Fukurokuju couldn't hide the surprise on his face but soon felt a surge of pride.
Worthy of Lord Kai! He had so quickly accomplished what Kurozumi Orochi couldn't do in ten years!
Fukurokuju's tone couldn't hide his fervor: "I will spare no effort in organizing this."
"Good, you may go."
Kai waved to dismiss Fukurokuju, then turned to Komurasaki: "You don't need to attend to me today. Show Kawamatsu around Wano Country."
Komurasaki said gratefully: "Thank you, Lord Kai."
As Kai was about to leave, Denjiro urgently called out: "Lord Kai, who is the traitor?"
"Kanjuro. Full name Kurozumi Kanjuro. Orochi helped him avenge his parents' deaths, and he's followed him ever since. Here, I even have intelligence written in Kanjuro's own hand."
Kai paused and pulled out a piece of paper from his chest, tossing it to Denjiro.
He had to thank Fukurokuju for this. He had been the one handling intelligence back then and had kept the original.
"It's him! It's Kanjuro's handwriting."
Looking at the familiar words on the yellowed paper, Denjiro's eyes reddened, his teeth grinding audibly.
The usually good-tempered Kawamatsu couldn't help gripping his sword hilt, wishing Kanjuro was right there so he could cut him to pieces.
"Damn it! Why was he the one who followed the young master to the future!"
Denjiro howled to the heavens, his heart filled with anger and urgency.
If Kanjuro launched a sneak attack, Momonosuke would be in danger.
As the two fell into anxious emotions, Komurasaki remained calm and spoke: "We must trust Kinemon, Kikunojo, and Raizo. They'll definitely be able to protect my brother."
"With Kurozumi Orochi dead, Kanjuro may not continue to serve him loyally."
Under Komurasaki's comfort, the two gradually calmed down.
No matter what, Kanjuro would only appear in ten years. There was no point in worrying now.
Looking at it another way, if Kanjuro hadn't followed Momonosuke but stayed behind, the three of them would probably have been captured by Kurozumi Orochi long ago.
It could be considered a blessing in disguise.
Komurasaki changed the subject: "Kawamatsu, let me show you around the Flower Capital."
"Extra! Extra!"
"The Kozuki princess has reappeared in the world! In three days at the sword dedication ceremony, she will submit to Shogun Yamato on behalf of the Kozuki clan!"
Newsboys ran barefoot through the streets and alleys, shouting attention-grabbing headlines.
The Kozuki princess?!
These four words were like a boulder thrown into a lake, immediately causing huge waves throughout Wano Country.
Especially after learning that the Kozuki princess would present Oden's sword to Shogun Yamato, the people were all stunned.
"Has the Kozuki... really become a thing of the past?"
"That's fine. Shogun Yamato is such a good person! She even helped my brother-in-law's family open two acres of wasteland!"
"Yes, although Shogun Yamato's tax rate isn't low, without the yakuza's exploitation, life is actually better!"
If the people mostly welcomed Yamato's rule, then the masterless samurai hiding in the shadows despised Yamato deeply.
"Bastard! Bearing Kozuki blood, not thinking of revenge, but actually kneeling to surrender to the enemy?!"
In a dim chamber, a samurai with a chonmage hairstyle slammed the fresh newspaper on the table, filled with hatred.
His eyes were red as he roared angrily: "What does she take us samurai who are loyal to the Kozuki for!"
Flickering candlelight illuminated over a dozen faces seated around the small table.
These samurai dressed simply, even wearing patches, their faces now all iron-gray, as if covered with frost.
Since Kai had taken control of Wano Country, a series of new policies had been hammered down, with the most painful being the complete elimination of samurai privileges.
Without comparison, there's no harm.
Under the rule of the Kozuki clan and Kurozumi Orochi, these samurai could not only accept tributes from commoners, but even killing a commoner in the street wasn't a big deal.
But now...
Forget killing! They even had to pay for things they bought. If they didn't pay, the security brigade (the samurai force led by Denjiro) would arrest them and send them to Udon for reform.
For samurai to live peacefully, they had to work.
They had never suffered such hardship!
"Kozuki Hiyori is a national traitor!" one person squeezed out between gritted teeth.
"That's right! A traitor!"
The samurai's low roars resonated in the cramped space.
A voice suppressing madness spoke: "Brothers, in three days, let's go together! Execute the traitor! How about it?"
Suddenly, deathly silence enveloped the chamber, leaving only heavy breathing.
However, this silence lasted only an instant...
"Good!"
"Execute the traitor!"
Frenzied roars erupted!
Under the dim candlelight, those twisted faces had approached madness.
In the Flower Capital...
Kawamatsu looked around at the people who showed no fear or tension, just going about their business, and suddenly felt desolate.
When Kurozumi Orochi was shogun, the people had all longed for the Kozuki.
That vigorous vitality, that scene of all things competing to grow, was still before his eyes.
After just three short years, had everything changed like this?
"Kawamatsu, this is also why I gave up resistance."
Komurasaki smiled bitterly: "Lord Kai isn't Kurozumi Orochi. Although he exploits the people, he has indeed given them better lives, even better than what my father achieved."
Kawamatsu fell silent.
At this moment, several old women wearing red armbands walked down the street.
Each held flyers, going door to door to promote the sword dedication ceremony, fearing people wouldn't want to spend money on newspapers.
Kawamatsu didn't understand: "Who are they?"
Komurasaki explained: "This is a new system Lord Kai invented called the Residents' Committee, specifically for managing the people. They usually announce policies and mediate neighborhood disputes."
Kawamatsu was stunned: "Isn't that what the yakuza used to do?"
Although Wano Country had various administrative officials to assist the shogun in governance, grassroots organization was lacking.
The nobles couldn't be bothered with commoners' lives. As long as they could collect taxes.
They even occasionally oppressed the people.
Power doesn't disappear; it only transfers.
Thus, various yakuza bosses emerged.
Besides collecting various fees from the people, they also took on grassroots governance functions.
They had considerable prestige in daily life.
Naturally, Kai wouldn't just watch outsiders steal food from his bowl.
The residents' committees came into being accordingly.