Jack may be reckless, but he's not too stupid; he sometimes even advises Brother Kaido to stay calm.
Since the Calamities and Brother Kaido are fighting, it makes no sense to defeat these people now. It's better to wait for Brother Kaido to win and then gather these people into the Beast Pirates.
There's nothing wrong with this; Weevil, for instance, is a good fit for them!
"Wano Country belongs to the Kozuki Clan; what does your Governor plan to do?"
Nekomamushi sensed something was off. He focused on the main point he heard, which was "the Calamities want to conquer Wano Country."
Dealing with just Kaido was not enough, and now they have to add another Calamity?
"Of course, it's to bring Wano Country under our control and complete the unification of the first half of the New World."
Pedro said, "We believe this is a good thing."
Inuarashi angrily responded, "The Kozuki Clan has had a friendship with our Fur Race for generations. You surrendered to the Calamities for the safety of the entire clan. But invading Wano Country...you previously said it was for friendship to deal with Kaido! Now you disregard that friendship?"
Shishilian was silent for a moment, closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, the determination was visible in his red eyes affected by the Moon Lion state:
"The Kozuki Clan is the Kozuki Clan, Kaido is Kaido, and Wano Country is Wano Country! We are the Governor's subordinates! We are the Norton Clan's household servants!"
"You've changed! The you I knew wasn't like this, what did Sage instill in you?" Inuarashi shouted.
"It's the era that's changed! Duke!"
Shishilian roared back with the same volume, "We're just standing on different sides! You follow the Kozuki, we follow the Norton, it's no different! We don't have to cling to those vague future prophecies or risk the entire clan's lives to defend something as ephemeral as the Kozuki! We have a better future!"
"Look!"
Even in the expanded body of the Moon Lion form, his clothes suffered little damage. Compared to the past, his clothes seemed more luxurious and valuable. He extended a paw, showing Inuarashi the jewelry on his wrist.
"All of this we looted! Look at the jewelry on my hand! Look at the gold around my neck! As long as we give half to the Governor, the rest is entirely ours!"
"We can leave Zou, freely sail the seas, enter the land of the Bald People, enjoy the conveniences they offer, and through plundering, amass great wealth to obtain better goods to make Zou even better!"
"Zou now is no longer the same as it used to be. We have capitalized on those ruins and rebuilt better walls. Whether treehouses or other dwellings, everything has changed! Even the Bald People have come to live with us, bringing better skills and goods!"
"Those Fur Race who do not participate in battle can still live well because we now also have tourists, and just from tourism income alone, everyone can live comfortably."
"No need to wait for the Elephant Lord to gift food, no need to wash clothes until they're white or pass on clothes for decades! We have everything! Just as the Governor said..."
"This wide sea should have tracks of our existence!"
"You've completely changed! I don't recognize you as the King of Daylight!" Inuarashi shouted.
"Although my title was conferred by you, you no longer have authority, the King of Daylight and the King of Night are titles given by the Governor, we don't need your acknowledgment."
Shishilian shouted, "The future of the Daylight Fur Race is placed on my shoulders by the Governor! Duke, this is the last time I call you Duke, leave! Wano Country is not a place you can involve yourselves in!"
"I am a vassal of the Kozuki!" Inuarashi shouted, "No one can rule Wano Country except the Kozuki!"
"Kurozumi has ruled for twenty years."
Shishilian looked deeply at Inuarashi and sighed, "Looks like words are useless now."
Sparkle!
The Knight's Sword in his hands burst into an electric glow, "In that case, let you and the Kozuki be buried together in Wano Country!"
Kozuki...
Not long ago, they were willing to die for the Kozuki, even if it meant the death of their whole race.
But in the time since the Governor arrived, they have completely changed.
During those frequent trips to O'hara, after hearing the Governor's plans, they had felt uneasy about opposing the Kozuki, but they had already pledged loyalty to the Governor.
On one side was friendship, on the other a promise, righteousness and loyalty, they always had to choose one.
"If you're so uneasy, pledge loyalty to Sage as household servants, just like the Demon Race. After all, you are not true vassals of the Kozuki, only Nekomamushi and Inuarashi are vassals. And if you all pledge your loyalty to Sage, your loyalty and righteousness will blossom under Sage's leadership."
Lily's words echoed in their ears.
And so the entire Fur Race pledged loyalty to the Governor, becoming household servants like the Demon Race.
As household servants, all they have to do is follow orders, just as they followed Inuarashi and Nekomamushi in dealing with the Kozuki.
Friendship still exists, but loyalty...
Is more important!
The Kozuki's benevolence was but a dream, one thought to Sage, and the world opens up.
For the sake of the entire Fur Race, abandoning old and stupid rules reflects adherence to the times!
Shishilian now feels no unease.
The Governor was even more delighted, hosting a banquet, patting him and Pedro on the shoulders, saying that even if a super Fur Race appeared, he wouldn't destroy Zou, nor was there any so-called Destruction God directing his actions.
As long as he lived, the Fur Race could safely sail within his territory.
As for when Sage dies...
In Shishilian's eyes, in the future, the Fur Race must, generation after generation, risk everything for the Norton Clan!
Their numbers are far greater than the Demon Race!
Whoosh!
Shishilian straightened his knees and charged forward. As he moved, Giovanni also drew his Knight's Sword and moved to the left, with Concelot holding two swords moving to the right. The three of them were like white streaks of light, all rushing towards Inuarashi, their attacks creating a thunderous Breaking the Sky, unstoppable!
A single Fur Race member is certainly no match for the renowned Inuarashi, but three Fur Race members are another story.
They're all in Moon Lion Form; the gap can't be that significant!
"Inu Kaze!"
Inuarashi spun around, moving not only the sword in his hand but also his other claw and both feet, generating electric shocks and thunder to block all three attacks.
Sizzle!
With just one spin, Inuarashi repelled the three guys, his body flashing forward in this moment, attacking Shishilian.
"Oden's One-Sword Style..."
He retracted his Knight's Rapier, making a thrusting motion like a thunderbolt, rapidly stabbing towards Shishilian.
"Inu Slash Power Arrow!"
"Lion-Breaking Rock Sword!!"
Clang!!
This rapid strike not only missed Shishilian but was met with an equally powerful thrust from him, the tips of the swords and the Haki on them clashing and creating a gap.
"Inuarashi!"
Shishilian shouted, "How can a dog ever beat a lion! Kozuki's loyal dog can't compare to Norton's mighty lion!!"
In the contest of will, he won't lose!
Whoosh!
Two gusts of wind blasted from Inuarashi's left and right, Giovanni, of the Zebra Fur Race, charged with a speed like lightning that tore through the sky, thrusting his sword with one strike.
Meanwhile, Concelot, of the Fox Fur Race, was more agile and deceitful, maneuvering swiftly to Shishilian's other side, crossing two swords and striking fiercely.
Screech!!
Three blood splatters erupted from both sides of Inuarashi, causing him to grit his teeth and spill blood, while this sudden strike also gave Shishilian an opening, his sword tip breaking through Inuarashi's sword and piercing his throat fiercely!
Thud!
Meanwhile, at the time Inuarashi was engaged, Nekomamushi was also in combat, held against his chest by Roddy of the Wild Bull Fur Race, while Black Buck of the Gorilla Fur Race seized the opportunity to grab him from behind, trapping his shoulders.
"Cats can't compare to leopards either!"
Pedro appeared from the side of Nekomamushi, his Long Sword sparking with thunder, slicing into Nekomamushi from the left side to the right waist, penetrating deeply.
"Pedro! You!"
Nekomamushi spat out a mouthful of blood, glaring at Pedro, just as the wind blew his orange hair covering his right eye, revealing a complete, vertically slit pupil.
"Your eye?" Nekomamushi widened his eyes, "And your life aura..."
"The Governor is truly a master of the pinnacle, even life can be extended!"
Pedro said coldly, "Boss Nekomamushi, I respect you a lot, but if you don't go, we'll have to take you out! After all, Kozuki's pet cat can't compare to Norton's wounded leopard! In this round, we won!"
Just like Shishilian, although feeling guilty, they had no choice but to act for loyalty!
He gained much from Sage.
The Soul-Soul Fruit doesn't have the power to return life, and even if it did, Big Mom wouldn't remember a small character like him at the moment of death, where everything becomes irreversible.
In this respect, Sage had misspoke.
Yet it wasn't exactly misspeaking.
He used a technique called 'Secret Hole·Mind Platform', forcibly extending his remaining life.
It was said this move was used to torture people, making them suffer prolonged illusions and pain, but it seems to have changed, merely extending his remaining life.
Though the cost was Governor's three-day period of weakness.
Combined with the healing abilities of Little People Race's Mansherry and Hogback's surgical modifications, not only was his right eye fitted with a real leopard's eye, but his physique and internal organs were also enhanced, forcibly extending his life.
It wasn't as much as the fifty years initially taken, but Governor estimated he extended his life by at least twenty years.
Of course, it wasn't without cost.
Just the surgical materials consumed nearly 3 billion Belly, not including the manpower and resources required for search.
For a promise made back then, Pedro had already sold his life to Sage.
The new King of Night would not betray the loyalty to the Governor for old friendships!
They now need to prove to the Governor...
Kozuki's loyal dogs and pet cats are nothing compared to Norton's mighty lions and wounded leopards!