บท 6: Chapter 6: Orochi: Go Kill Kaido??!
The next morning, with only one day left before Kozuki Oden's execution, the atmosphere in Edie's Research Institute was tense and somber.
In the guest room on the second floor, Toki awoke with a start. Her first instinct was to check on her children, Momonosuke and Hiyori. The two of them lay sleeping peacefully, though their brows were creased with unease. She wanted to reach out and comfort them, but she hesitated, fearful of waking them.
Her left wrist was bound by a seastone shackle, a smaller and less restrictive version than usual, designed to minimize interference with her movements while still causing a notable weakness. Toki's heart ached as she thought about the possibility of sending her children to the future. The only way to achieve this was by gaining Edie's trust, and she was prepared to do anything, even if it meant becoming a test subject herself.
Resolute and driven by her love for her children, Toki quietly dressed in her patched coat. The coat, though mended repeatedly over the years, was a stark contrast to the fine clothing one might expect from a daimyo's wife. She made her way downstairs with a mixture of hope and anxiety.
As she descended, she could hear sounds coming from the living room—voices, the clinking of glass, and the faint hum of activity. Each step felt heavy with the weight of her situation, and she braced herself for whatever awaited her in the space below.
"Dr. Edie?"
Entering the living room, Toki was taken aback to find not Edie, but a woman dressed in a pink jumpsuit with a hood. The intruder, a ninja, had apparently entered through the window.
"Are you a ninja from Wano?" Toki asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
The ninja, who introduced herself as A-nin, gasped upon hearing Toki's voice. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned to face the daimyo's wife.
"Master Toki! I'm here to save you!"
"Save me?" Toki echoed, her heart racing with a mixture of hope and skepticism.
"Yes!" A-nin hurriedly explained, her voice choked with emotion. "My name is A-nin. I fought alongside Lord Oden in the battle against Kaido just the day before yesterday."
Toki's eyes widened slightly. The Imperial Court Ninjas had long served the Kozuki family, but under Kurozumi Orochi's rule, they had rebelled. This unexpected help from a rebel ninja was both surprising and intriguing.
Toki's thoughts raced to two key events. First, her husband, Kozuki Oden, had mentioned a sudden decision to attack Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi, only to be ambushed by the Beasts Pirates, as if the enemy had known their plans in advance. Second, the previous night, Edie had come to Kuri, revealing his abilities and intentions. This had raised suspicions about spies infiltrating her husband's ranks, even among his most trusted retainers.
Toki studied A-nin closely, searching for any sign of deception. "A-nin, you say you participated in the battle the day before yesterday. Were you not captured?"
A-nin's face showed a flicker of relief and desperation. "After our defeat, Lord Oden pretended not to know me. The pirates let me go under the pretense of being a stray."
Seeing Toki's hesitation, A-nin's voice grew more urgent. "Please, Master Toki, you must believe me. I am truly here to help you."
Toki instinctively took a step back, fear gripping her.
The Imperial Court Ninjas, once loyal to the Kozuki family, had betrayed them under Kurozumi Orochi's rule. Was this woman, A-nin, another agent of Orochi's deception? Considering Orochi's previous display of greed and his possible ploy to use a female ninja to trick her, Toki's mistrust was understandable. The possibility that this could be a trap by orochi or a test from Edie himself was unsettling.
"I'm sorry," Toki said, her voice trembling. "I'm fine here. Please leave!"
Her apprehension was clear. She couldn't afford to trust anyone right now; staying in place with Edie was the safest option. The doctor's motives, though questionable, were at least predictable, and being with him provided some measure of security.
"Master Toki..." A-nin's voice was filled with growing desperation.
"Don't come any closer! If you do, I'll shout for Mr. Edie!" Toki stammered, her resolve hardening.
As if to underscore her warning, footsteps echoed from downstairs. A-nin's face paled in alarm. With a swift decision, she said, "Master Toki, I will leave now. But I promise, I will find a way to rescue you!"
The loyal ninja swiftly climbed back through the window, pulling it shut behind her as she made her escape.
Toki let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
"You've missed a good opportunity," came Edie's teasing voice from behind, a half-smile playing on his lips.
"Do you think I lied to you?" Edie asked, a teasing edge to his voice.
Toki hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
"No..." she finally murmured.
Edie, with a touch of mischief, continued, "There is indeed a spy hidden among Kozuki Oden's retainers. Would you like to know who it is?"
His tone held a hint of amusement, and he seemed to enjoy playing with her apprehension.
Toki remained silent, struggling to find words.
"The spy's name is Kurozumi Kanjuro. He has been caught and will be executed alongside Kozuki Oden tomorrow."
Edie revealed with a nonchalant demeanor.
He knew that Toki was perceptive enough to doubt the truth of his words. Kurozumi Kanjuro—a Paramecia user with the ability to create drawings that come to life—was known for his usually honest demeanor and his unmistakable red hair. Toki recalled the image of Kanjuro in her mind, trying to reconcile the idea of him being a spy. The notion seemed far-fetched, especially given his reputation.
Why would Edie reveal this? What could he gain by sharing such information?
Toki's thoughts raced, but doubt lingered in her mind.
"I'm just teasing you," Edie said with a dismissive wave. "Come with me. We need to draw some blood for the research."
He led her toward the laboratory, his tone shifting back to his professional manner.
As for the ninja named A-nin, Edie had already detected her approach with his Observation Haki.
On the other side of the Flower Capital, in the medical ward...
The doctor stared in disbelief at the figure before him. "It's unbelievable... such a serious injury..."
He examined "Kurozumi Higurashi," who had miraculously transformed from a state of near-death to one where she could walk with relative ease.
"Ahem... I'm already fine," Shen Hou said, her voice weak but determined as she prepared to leave the hospital.
The doctor watched in stunned silence as Shen Hou, despite her frail appearance, managed to leave the ward stubbornly.
Standing alone in the now-empty room, the doctor was left questioning his own abilities. Had his medical skills truly improved to the point where he could perform such miracles? Was it really possible that he had saved someone from the brink of death?
The thought lingered, mixing with a sense of confusion and amazement.
Shenhou strode through the bustling streets of the Flower Capital, her destination set on the Shogun's Castle. The square in front of the castle was abuzz with activity as workers constructed an execution platform. The chosen method of execution was brutal: those condemned would be thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil and cooked alive. Though the execution was scheduled for the following day, a fire was already burning beneath the cauldron this morning, the smell of smoke filling the air.
Amidst the crowd gathered to witness the grim spectacle, no one paid much attention to Shenhou, who appeared as a frail old woman with a deathly pallor.
"My prototype?" Shenhou mused to herself. As an artificial human, she was devoid of typical human emotions, yet the thought of witnessing Kozuki Oden's final moments stirred something akin to a peculiar sense of detachment. It felt like watching a reflection of herself meet its end.
Shaking off her thoughts, Shenhou focused on her mission and walked purposefully toward the Shogun's Castle. Her journey was uneventful, and she soon found herself in the presence of Kurozumi Orochi.
In the dimly lit room, Kurozumi Orochi lounged casually, while behind him, an old man sat in a corner, playing a somber tune on his shamisen. The old man, initially with eyes shut, suddenly opened them upon seeing Shenhou.
"You... are you not dead?" the old man asked with a mix of surprise and resignation.
"Ehehehe... I can't die, cough, cough, cough," Shenhou replied, her voice strained as she coughed up blood, staining her handkerchief red.
"You're going to die," the old man said solemnly.
The old man's name was Kurozumi Semimaru, a user of the Barrier-Barrier Fruit and Kurozumi Orochi's personal guard. Orochi frowned, his expression darkening. "Old woman, if you're not recuperating in the hospital, what are you doing here?"
"Ehehehe... So what if I'm not resting? If I had interfered in the battle between Kaido and Kozuki Oden, Kaido would have surely killed me," Shenhou said as she took a seat before Orochi. She pointed a withered finger at him. "Before I die, I have one last thing to tell you. Clear the room."
Orochi immediately waved his hand, dismissing the surrounding performers and geishas, who quickly left the room, bowing as they went.
In moments, only Shenhou, Kurozumi Orochi, and Semimaru remained.
"Guhehehe... Old woman, what is it you want to say?" Orochi asked, his smile widening with a sense of triumph. With Kozuki Oden's impending death, his own position as shogun was secured, and he saw no further use for Shenhou.
"Kaido wants to kill me because I interfered in the fight and helped him," Shenhou said, her voice barely a whisper as she coughed up more blood. She moved her trembling finger closer to Orochi's face. "If he ever gets in a bad mood or drunk, he might come after both of you."
"Ehehehe... Listen closely, Orochi. Once Kozuki Oden is dead, you should turn your attention to Kaido. Kaido... is no longer useful!"
Orochi's expression shifted to one of shock and confusion. "Me? Go kill Kaido?"
He stared at Shenhou, struggling to comprehend her words. The suggestion seemed absurd, and the gravity of the situation was beginning to sink in.
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