Chương 31: CHAPTER 31

Kozuki Hiyori trotted with small, deliberate steps. The land of Wano was far from peaceful; even the bustling Flower Capital was frequently plagued by thieves and unrest.

She turned a corner and entered a dimly lit alley. Suddenly, her footsteps halted, and her pupils widened sharply.

Under the pale glow of the moonlight, a tall figure stood at the alley's end.

That figure was familiar—too familiar. She had seen it not long ago.

"Alastor... it's him. Why is he here?!"

Hiyori's face turned ashen, her delicate hands clenched tightly within her sleeves. She had no desire to face this man again.

Calm down, Hiyori. Don't panic. You are no longer Kozuki Hiyori; you are Oiran Komurasaki. Even Orochi is enchanted by you. This man has no reason to harm you, she reassured herself, forcing composure.

Years of playing the role of a courtesan had honed her resolve. She adjusted her posture, stepped forward, and bowed gracefully.

"Lord Alastor, what a surprise to see you again so soon. What brings you here?" she asked in a gentle tone, masking her unease.

Alastor observed her with keen interest, noting her alertness and poise in the face of danger.

"Waiting for you," he replied with a faint smile.

Hiyori's heart leapt into her throat. Her mouth felt dry as she forced a strained smile.

"Wait... waiting for me? Surely you jest, my lord. I am but a lowly geisha, unworthy of your notice."

"You're no ordinary geisha," Alastor said, stepping closer.

The closer he approached, the more tension gripped Hiyori. She wanted to retreat, but fear of revealing her anxiety kept her rooted.

Stopping less than a meter away, Alastor inhaled deeply, savoring the faint fragrance lingering in the air. A sly smirk tugged at his lips.

"Exquisite. You are the oiran—the most beautiful woman in all of Wano."

Hiyori's smile faltered. "Beauty is but a fleeting title, my lord. I am merely a weak woman. Surely a man of your stature would not be swayed by such trivialities."

"Is that so?" Alastor's expression turned serious.

"I am a man, after all," he said. "My dream is simple: to enjoy fine wine and the company of beautiful women. I must admit, your dance earlier left me utterly captivated."

Hiyori remained silent, unsure of his sincerity. If he spoke the truth, she feared he might attempt to take her by force. If he lied, the uncertainty was far more terrifying.

The alley fell into an eerie silence.

Just as Hiyori considered questioning his intent, Alastor's hand suddenly tilted her chin upward, forcing her to meet his piercing gaze. His deep, resonant voice cut through the stillness like a blade.

"Miss Hiyori, you wouldn't want the secret of your true identity—Kozuki Oden's daughter—to be revealed, would you?"

Her heart sank.

Now, she understood the meaning behind his mocking glances earlier.

This man had known all along. He knew she was Kozuki Oden's daughter.

A wave of fear washed over her, leaving her trembling and cold. Her lips lost their color, her entire body frozen as his fingers held her chin in place.

"You have two choices," Alastor continued, his tone calm yet menacing. "The first: obey me and help me eliminate the remnants of the Kozuki clan. I will keep your identity a secret and ensure your survival."

"And the second?"

A fiery defiance rose within Hiyori, extinguishing her fear.

She gritted her teeth and spat, "I'll choose the second. Kill me if you wish—I've endured enough these past years! Soon, you, Orochi, Kaido, and all your goons will face justice!"

Closing her eyes, she raised her head, baring her slender neck like a swan resigned to its fate.

Alastor's fingers trailed from her chin to her neck, his touch both cold and calculated. Her skin was impossibly smooth, as though untouched by hardship.

It would take only the slightest pressure to end her life.

Yet, he refrained. Leaning closer, he whispered into her ear—a low, chilling voice only the two of them could hear:

"I never said the second option was death. No... your future may be far worse than that."

Hiyori's body shuddered involuntarily as her eyes flew open.

Before she could respond, an angry shout rang out from above.

"Bastard! Release Her Highness Hiyori at once!"

The cry was accompanied by the glint of steel as a sword slashed toward Alastor's wrist.

Alastor's eyes flickered, but the corner of his mouth curled up slightly, as if he had anticipated this.

"So, Denjiro finally shows himself."

As the fierce sword slash approached, Alastor calmly raised his hand to intercept it.

Clang!

The blade struck his palm, but instead of severing flesh, it met resistance akin to steel. It left only a shallow wound, with a faint trace of blood oozing from the cut.

[The host receives slight damage. Defense +3.]

"As expected of Denjiro, one of the strongest among the Nine Red Scabbards. Your strength is indeed impressive."

Alastor's current defense was as high as 1,550 points, rivaling the resilience of ancient zoan users. To injure him required someone with significant power.

Denjiro leapt from the roof, landing gracefully. His sharp gaze fell on Alastor's palm.

"What a tough shell you have. It suits a member of the Beast Pirates perfectly."

Alastor remained composed, offering a slight nod. "Thank you for the compliment."

Denjiro's expression darkened, his voice laced with murderous intent.

"When I saw you earlier with the convoy, I knew you were trouble. Thankfully, I hurried back after securing that shipment of food."

He tightened his grip on his sword. "I don't care how you learned about my identity or Miss Hiyori's. It doesn't matter anymore. Either you die here, or I do!"

Without hesitation, Denjiro charged forward, blade gleaming with intent, shouting back at Hiyori:

"Miss Hiyori, run!"

Hiyori's eyes widened in realization. Watching Denjiro close the distance, her gaze shifted to Alastor, whose chilling smirk sent a shiver down her spine.

She suddenly understood.

The reason Alastor had cornered her wasn't to harm her—but to lure Denjiro out.

He already knew that Denjiro, under the alias Kyoshiro, had infiltrated Orochi's ranks and was secretly guarding her. She had been nothing more than bait in his trap.

Hiyori felt a wave of cold dread wash over her. The depth of Alastor's calculation was staggering.

"No! Denjiro, don't come! He's targeting you!" she cried out with all her might.

Denjiro's reply was resolute. "I am a retainer of Lord Oden! I'll lay down my life to protect you!"

The blade was upon Alastor.

But the man stood unmoving, his sneer deepening. "If you're so loyal to Kozuki Oden, then perhaps it's time you joined him in the afterlife."

In an instant, the cursed blade Sandai Kitetsu was unsheathed.

A malevolent aura burst forth, manifesting into the shape of a ferocious black bear that swatted Denjiro away.

Denjiro landed heavily, his eyes narrowing in shock.

"That's… the Sandai Kitetsu! How did you get your hands on that sword?"

The cursed swords of the Kitetsu series were closely tied to the Kozuki clan. For instance, Kozuki Sukiyaki himself had forged the Sandai Kitetsu. As far as Denjiro knew, the Sandai Kitetsu had always been safeguarded by the royal family.

If it was now in Alastor's possession, it meant he had either captured or killed a significant figure of the Kozuki clan.

Alastor shrugged nonchalantly. "A sword chooses its master. Why would it remain with someone unworthy?"

Denjiro's grip on his blade tightened, his body trembling with fury. His eyes glinted with a dangerous light as his expression twisted in rage.

"You've completely enraged me," he said through gritted teeth.

"I've endured over ten years of this hell. Ever since Lord Oden's death, I've been consumed by fury—a monster born of anger."

Denjiro's voice grew louder, his words laced with venom.

"Don't think your title as a Flying Six or that hardened shell of yours can protect you. Compared to my wrath, those are nothing!"

His aura surged, no longer restrained.

Among the Nine Red Scabbards, Denjiro's strength was formidable—arguably second only to Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, and Ashura Doji. In the past, he had even cleaved a warship of the Beast Pirates in two.

"Denjiro…"

Hiyori stared at him, her faith in his strength unwavering. Over the years, Denjiro had never failed her.

Yet the memory of Alastor's calculating smirk and the cruel precision of his plans filled her with dread.

She pressed her lips tightly together, silently praying for Denjiro's victory.

Denjiro moved, his blade now enveloped in the flowing aura of Ryuo—the advanced form of Haki that bypassed external defenses to strike the body within.

Alastor, who had faced Ryuo before against the Mountain Bandit leader Ashura Doji, was eager to refine his understanding of it. He didn't resist the attack but observed closely.

As Denjiro's blade struck, the Ryuo energy bypassed Alastor's clothes entirely, cutting directly into his body. Though the physical force of the strike pushed him back several steps, his expression remained calm.

"So, this is Ryuo," he muttered, analyzing the energy. "Still a bit crude compared to Kaido's mastery, but not bad."