Bang!
The massive gunshot startled the villagers. No one noticed the pirate leader's momentary oddness, but Oguro had been watching him the whole time.
The pirate leader aimed the gun at Oguro and threatened, "Kid, tell your lackeys to drop their blades and surrender, now."
A traitor who betrayed his boss like this could not be spared. He would be broken limb by limb, his head cut off, made to die in agony so others would never dare rebel.
Oguro gave the pirate leader a cold look. Since the connection between these pirates and Lord Chagurot was confirmed, the rest would be easy.
"Ōura, Hanataro, finish this quickly."
No sooner had he spoken than the pirate leader felt a chill in his left hand. In the next instant a severed hand flew past him, still clutching the pistol. Blood sprayed from his naked wrist.
"If not for an order from the Soul King, your crime of offending him would be punishable by death." Yamada Hanataro placed his Zanpakutō, Hoemaru, at the pirate leader's throat, his voice icy.
The pirate leader froze. Just moments ago the two had been ten meters away. How had they suddenly appeared beside him? Feeling the cold edge at his neck, he dared not move and could only hope his crew would save him.
"Heh, only two people? If we capture that brat, we still win!" the pirate leader thought, glancing at his men.
That glance nearly peed him. Ōura moved like a phantom, stepping with Flash Step through the pirate ranks. Before they even saw what hit them, pirates were collapsing under his Zanpakutō.
Some panicked and fired, but they missed Ōura's sleeve and hit their own comrades instead. Blood blossomed under the blade. In less than two breaths, Ōura stood in the middle of the street and slowly sheathed his sword. Around him lay the corpses of dozens of pirates.
"What… what are you two?" the pirate leader stammered. Even the Marines in the branch couldn't match this skill.
Oguro smiled coldly. Though pulled from the White pool, Ōura was at least a proper 10th Division member. His combat ability rivaled that of a Marine officer. Hanataro was even more impressive even if he's not a fighter. A seat officer's strength was at least comparable to a Marine brigade commander.
"We serve under the Soul King. We are Shinigami." Hanataro said the words proudly.
Shinigami? The pirate leader did not expect such a title. But seeing Ōura take lives with ease, the name suddenly made sense.
Oguro approached and looked down at him. "Explain your dealings with Lord Chagurot."
The pirate leader trembled. How could this child from the town suddenly become the Soul King with two powerful swordsmen at his command? He could never imagine the truth.
With a little pressure from Hanataro, the pirate leader crumpled and confessed everything. "It was all Lord Chagurot's orders. Please—do what you will."
He collapsed to the ground, eyes bulging, his body shaking as if electrocuted. "You already know the truth. Decide his fate yourselves."
Oguro handed him over to the villagers. Enraged at the revelation, they would not let the murderer of their kin live. Within a minute, amid screams and shouts for vengeance, the pirate leader fell silent. The sight of his body is not for polite eyes.
After their fury cooled, Oguro made a sudden announcement.
"People of the town, Lord Chagurot colluded with pirates to plunder us. He is unworthy to be our lord. I decide this day to overthrow his rule over Paparoko Island. Who will stand with me?"
The crowd was stunned. Overthrow the lord? For ordinary people, it was unthinkable.
The old mayor stepped forward and pleaded, "Oguro, the pirates are gone. We are safe now. There is no need to take such risks."
Others murmured agreement. Clearly no one dared imagine rebellion. They had all seen how revolutionaries were branded criminals and driven to flee.
Oguro sneered. "Do you really think killing these pirates makes us safe?"
"Those pirates are gone, so we are safe," someone said quietly.
Oguro scoffed. "Even if these pirates are gone, won't Chagurot just send another group? He won't spend his money. He'll take it from your homes. Do you think he will give up this cash cow?"
The villagers' faces drained of color. Oguro's words were all too plausible.
He pressed on without giving them time to react. "Besides, you just killed the pirate leader he hired. Do you think the petty-minded lord will pretend nothing happened?"
That settled it. Many regretted their earlier eagerness to join the slaughter.
"We'll go!" a cluster of small voices rang out. Oguro's child recruits—his makeshift subordinates—stepped forward.
"Big Brother Oguro! We'll go with you! Lord Chagurot killed our parents. Why should he still rule this island? We won't accept it!"
Children spoke with the purest hate. Hearing those voices, remembering the dead, the adults' dormant courage finally flared.
"Hell yeah! Let's do it! If he refuses to let us live, why should he live?"
"Right! We're only fighting to survive. We did nothing wrong!"
A current of determination formed and surged toward Lord Chagurot's manor.
Inside the grand estate, Lord Chagurot was counting his ledger with a smile. "With this haul I can almost buy a higher noble title. I must thank those peasants."
To him, land and people were tools for profit. Life or death did not matter.
Boom!!
A sudden roar outside made Chagurot topple from his chair. "What… what's happening?"
A guard rushed in. "My lord, the villagers have stormed the gates to avenge their kin. There are over a hundred of them!"
"What? How dare those scum!" Chagurot raged. "Kill them all!"
He trusted his guards. For fear of death, he had bought them all firearms. Dealing with commoners would be easy.
Bang!
A shot rang out in the yard. Chagurot smirked. This would be over quickly. But a second later terrified screams erupted. Seconds later, the yard fell silent. The gunshot never sounded again.
Crash!
The study doors were forcibly smashed open.