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"Plan?"
Auguro, hiding in the shadows, was instantly intrigued. He had initially thought this was just a simple power struggle between the princes, but now it seemed far more complicated!
The ram-horned CP0 agent chuckled, speaking in a low voice, "No rush! There's a saying, you can't rush things! We need to stoke the fires for them a bit more!"
"For now, continue to keep a high profile. Do not respond to the other princes' alliance; simply treat them as clowns!"
"Yes, Master!"
After a few instructions, the three CP0 agents left with a box of money. Harris and his men also departed, plunging the farmstead into silence.
Auguro and the others revealed themselves and regrouped.
"What do you all think?" Auguro asked after sharing the intelligence.
Robin frowned slightly.
"We still can't discern CP0's true objective. We probably need to stay a couple more days."
Auguro did not object and checked into a hotel in the capital. The Shadow Dragon Guards had already purchased the hotel, so there was no fear of their movements being exposed.
The next day, Auguro went for a walk on the streets and found the atmosphere very oppressive. Patrol guards were passing by one team after another, almost outnumbering the pedestrians!
Inside a small tavern, several men dressed as laborers huddled together, whispering.
"I heard the First Prince has allied with the Fourth and Fifth Princes, preparing to jointly drive the Third Prince out of the capital!"
Another worried man said, "Since a week ago, troop after troop of the Royal Army has entered the capital. If a real fight breaks out, what will happen to us?"
When gods fight, mortals suffer! If they, the working class, died in the princes' infighting, their deaths would be meaningless!
"Sigh! That's why the wealthy all fled early, leaving only us commoners!" one man whispered self-mockingly.
"Besides, where can we run to? Since last year, the Kingdom has done nothing but raise taxes! Many nearby farmlands have been abandoned, all forced by taxes."
"Hmph! The old King was no good, and these princes don't care about our lives either! Why hasn't someone just destroyed such a rotten nation!"
A chorus of complaints followed. Auguro knew there was nothing more to hear, paid his bill, and left.
On the street, Auguro fell into contemplation. Something wasn't right!
This nation was seriously strange!
Although the old King was seriously ill, he wasn't completely bedridden and incapable of managing things. He shouldn't be casually allowing troops into the capital. What was that if not outright rebellion?
The only explanation was that the old King was deliberately allowing the situation to escalate!
But why? Even if he wanted to select an heir through a succession struggle, he should keep the influence contained within a small area. Otherwise, if an all-out battle broke out, no one could contain the damage!
"A really weird nation!"
Unable to figure it out, Auguro could only grumble inwardly.
"Flowers! Freshly cultivated Furant flowers!"
Just then, a street vendor started hawking flowers. The Furant Kingdom, famous as an agricultural nation, was also known as the Kingdom of Flowers and Rice Fragrance.
Flowers, as one of the two pillars of the national economy, were everywhere. Even the tavern table he had just left was decorated with fresh flowers.
Auguro looked around, and a bunch of purple tulips caught his eye. The color was rich, and the fragrance was intoxicating—a rare find elsewhere!
Auguro bought a few bouquets, intending to give them to the women. He sniffed lightly; the lingering fragrance was invigorating. It truly was a rare variety!
Back at the hotel, the women had also returned from gathering intelligence. They were delighted to receive the flowers from Auguro. Robin smiled her thanks, while the others sent kisses. Kalifa also received a bouquet, her face instantly flushing.
"Lord Soul King, is this..."
The words "sexual harassment" were caught in her throat and fiercely suppressed by the quickly recovering Kalifa.
"Th-thank you, Lord Soul King!" Kalifa thanked him, her face crimson.
Auguro didn't mind, asking them to summarize the information they had collected. Most of the intel was similar to what Auguro already knew, except for one unique piece Robin had overheard.
"It is said that someone saw CP0 in the Royal Palace. They had a meeting with the old King, and it lasted quite a while."
"The Princes all believe the old King has made a deal with the World Government to support the Third Prince. That's why they are so desperate to move their forces into the capital."
Auguro mused, "Setting aside that the Furant Kingdom is not a member state of the World Government, and CP0 has no authority to interfere here. Even within a World Government member state, CP0 cannot intervene in the succession of the throne! That's taboo!"
If your CP0 can influence the royal succession, then is this Kingdom mine, or the World Government's?
World Government member states are not vassals!
Their status is supposed to be equal!
Stepping back, even if the World Government truly wanted to interfere with a Kingdom's succession, they would never have CP0 operate so openly.
This leaves an obvious weak spot!
If this got out, CP0 would certainly be questioned by all member states at the next World Conference. It might even lead to their dissolution!
"In that case, CP0's true objective seems more like deliberately escalating the tension!"
Kalifa, as an intelligence operative, quickly noticed the anomaly.
The group discussed the issue for a long time but couldn't reach a conclusion. Finally, Yoruichi said, "Why worry so much? Won't we know everything once they make their move?"
Yoruichi was confident that with her strength, even if the CP0 agents tried to turn the world upside down, they wouldn't escape her grasp!
The group agreed, deciding to stop agonizing over the problem.
Only Auguro felt that something was amiss, though he couldn't put his finger on it. In the end, he decided to drop it for now.
It was now close to dinner time. Several waiters brought in the Furant Kingdom's unique flower beverage and fried rice. The liquid in the glasses was a clear, emerald green, emitting a faint glow against the light—quite beautiful. The fried rice was seasoned with special spices, giving it a rich but not greasy aroma.
"Tsk! The Furant Kingdom has really mastered the use of their flowers and rice!"
Auguro smiled, taking a sip of the drink. The sweet, lingering taste was unforgettable. Everyone praised the meal.
Soon, the waiters came in to clear the table. Auguro stood up to leave. As he passed one of the waiters, his Observation Haki sounded an alert.
Without hesitation, Auguro drew his Zanpakutō and blocked behind him.
Clang!
A dagger was firmly blocked by the Zanpakutō. The waiter's face was filled with ferocity, and he roared, "You intruders, who dare to destroy the peace of the Kingdom, you will all die!"
The next second, the other waiters all pulled out weapons and stabbed toward the people nearest to them.
Chapter 97: War Erupts
"Damn it! Enemy attack! Alert! Get on alert!" Kalifa exclaimed in shock, frantically calling her subordinates. This was happening in their own base!
The Lord Soul King had been ambushed! If she didn't handle this properly, she might have to apologize with her life!
In her panic, Kalifa forgot that none of the people present were weak. How could these ordinary waiters be their opponents!
Seeing a waiter charge again, Auguro simply kicked him in the chest.
Bang!
The dining table was flipped over, and the waiter instantly passed out. The other waiters were easily subdued.
However, even with their hands and feet restrained, these waiters struggled almost maniacally. Their eyes glowed with a strange red light, like senseless beasts.
"Kalifa, it seems your movements were detected a long time ago!" Auguro said, his expression grave. These guys were clearly under someone's control!
Kalifa's face was pale with shame. The hunter was hunted today. She immediately knelt on one knee.
"Lord Soul King, please evacuate now! I will find out who is behind this and make them pay the price!" She rarely led an operation, and yet such a massive blunder had occurred. She wanted to rip the skin off the mastermind.
Auguro slowly said, "I'm afraid it's too late to retreat!"
Kalifa was stunned. Her Observation Haki immediately spread out, and her face instantly grew even paler. The restaurant was already densely surrounded by people, completely encircling the entire hotel.
Before anyone could react, the air around them flickered, and a faint white mist began to diffuse inside the restaurant. In this white mist, Auguro felt an immense heaviness in his limbs; even moving slightly was strenuous.
"This is... a Devil Fruit ability!"
Auguro was startled. When did they get hit? My Observation Haki didn't give any warning!
Bang!
The door was crashed open, and a group of ruthless thugs wielding swords and knives stormed in, their eyes bloodshot as they glared fiercely at Auguro and the others.
"Kill!"
Someone shouted, and the word ignited the scene like a fuse falling into a powder keg.
Boom!
Auguro punched the enemy charging at him, sending him flying. The man suffered three broken ribs, yet still stood up and charged at Auguro again, seemingly feeling no pain!
Crack!
A whip violently lashed the man, sending him flying once more. Kalifa stood in front of Auguro, her beautiful eyes blazing with fury.
"You bastards! Watch me deal with you!"
Swoosh!
Her long whip wrapped around the man's neck like lightning. With a snap, the man's head jerked, and he instantly fell to the ground, lifeless.
"Slaughter them all!" Kalifa roared at the remaining Shadow Dragon Guards.
The Shadow Dragon Guards drew their weapons, charging into the crowd with rampant killing intent.
"Wait! Leave survivors!" Auguro ordered in a low voice.
However, the Shadow Dragon Guards completely ignored him and continued their attack, every move aimed at killing!
Bang!
Auguro used Shunpo to reach the front of the battle line, kicking several Shadow Dragon Guards back.
"Are you all crazy? Didn't you hear me?"
Auguro frowned, looking at the stunned faces of his subordinates.
Kalifa spoke frankly, "Lord Soul King! They dared to offend you! They are guilty of an unforgivable death penalty! I must ensure they are completely eliminated!"
"No! Something's wrong!"
Auguro immediately sensed the abnormality. Kalifa was not usually this bloodthirsty. Especially after an inexplicable ambush, she should be focused on leaving survivors, not killing everyone!
Most importantly, the attackers were too weak! The two men he had just engaged with were even weaker than the most common Marine soldier!
Was it a joke for people like them to attack a formal intelligence organization?
With numerous questions swirling, Auguro shouted sternly, "No killing! Leave them alive!"
Yet, despite Auguro's command, the Shadow Dragon Guards continued to fight fiercely, completely disregarding his orders.
Auguro even noticed that Yoruichi and the others had started using lethal force!
"Damn it! You won't listen to me, will you?"
A white light surged in Auguro's eyes, and terrifying Spiritual Pressure mixed with Conqueror's Haki erupted like a volcanic blast.
Boom!
Everyone felt as if a giant stone grinder was crushing through their heads. Both the attacking enemies and the Shadow Dragon Guards instantly collapsed, eyes rolled back, falling to the ground.
Kalifa was among them!
Stimulated by the Spiritual Pressure, the eyes of Yoruichi and the others instantly cleared.
"We were just... being controlled!"
Yoruichi's face was grim. She, a Captain-level Soul Reaper, had also fallen prey to it—what a massive humiliation!
"It's not quite control, more like being heavily influenced," Auguro consoled them. Because of their Spiritual Pressure, Soul Reapers had strong mental fortitude and high resistance to mind-altering Devil Fruit abilities.
In fact, if they had reacted themselves, they could have easily broken free of the influence using their Spiritual Pressure, without Auguro's help.
The group walked outside the hotel. The streets were also packed with people. At the same time, Auguro sniffed a faint floral scent.
"So that's it!"
Auguro finally realized how they had been affected! The new species of flower, the flower drink, and the special fried rice. Individually, none of the items were problematic. But together, it was different!
The floral fragrance, mixed with the drink and the spices, created a special kind of narcotic. This was how it bypassed his Observation Haki detection. The narcotic itself wasn't strong, and normally, the person consuming it wouldn't notice anything.
But once the mastermind activated their ability, the narcotic became the breakthrough point. It helped the culprit quickly influence or even control a person's mind.
Auguro and his crew, having been here for a short time and protected by their Spiritual Pressure, were only lightly affected. The people on the street, however, were residents of the capital and had clearly been controlled for a long time!
"Oh! Truly worthy of Sith Auguro, whom even the World Government defers to! What terrifying judgment and execution!"
Just then, a voice rang out, seemingly coming from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint the speaker's location.
Auguro snorted. "Playing tricks!"
His Observation Haki instantly spread out like radar waves.
The next second, Auguro opened his eyes and sneered, "Found you!"
Swoosh!
Auguro immediately shot into the air, flying toward the enemy's location.
The Royal Palace was now engulfed in blood and fire. The troops that had been covertly mobilized by the princes over the past week were now the center of the riot.
Harris stood on a high point of the palace, shouting, "Kill them all! The throne must be mine!"
As the fighting spread, the battlefield was no longer confined to the palace. Civilian homes began to collapse, and innocent residents started to die.