HST: Chapter 286/287

Chapter 286: People, Can’t Waste!

The Flower Capital, the Shogun's Mansion.

Yamakaji and Momonga hurried in to meet Caelan and report on their work over the past two days.

"Commander, with the 1,000 men who came to support us from Dressrosa, we have completely brought the situation in Wano under control."

"Except for Kuri where the situation is unclear, the other regions have clearly submitted."

"Currently, people in various places are relatively calm, there is not much resistance, and most of them have a good attitude toward us."

Yamakaji reported respectfully.

With the support of 1,000 troops and three elite vice admirals, they had effectively taken over Wano.

Most people held a favorable view of them.

After all, the previous Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido were outright villains.

Weapons factories were built all over the country, farmland was polluted, and food was poisoned.

In comparison, the Neo Navy was unquestionably a strong and legitimate authority.

Only the Flower Capital, Orochi's base camp, a city that had not been ruined by Kaido and Orochi, retained some loyalty to them.

"That's the good news. What about the bad?"

Caelan asked calmly.

He had already eliminated the Beasts Pirates and the Kurozumi family, so this outcome was completely understandable.

If it were only this good news, there would have been no need for Yamakaji and Momonga to come together.

"We discovered that forces from all over Wano are converging on the Flower Capital. There are about four to five thousand samurai, and they seem to be preparing something big."

"There are also people publicizing the deeds of the Kozuki family, claiming that the victory over the Beasts Pirates was entirely due to the Kozuki family, inciting the public to oppose you and the Neo Navy."

Momonga himself was confused as he spoke.

How could anyone see this as the Kozuki family's achievement? Eighteen years ago, the Kozuki family was nearly wiped out by Kaido.

It was clearly thanks to Caelan that Wano was liberated from Kaido and Orochi.

Many people still believed it, simply because the Kozuki family had long been Wano's hereditary shoguns.

They did not want outsiders to rule Wano. They only wanted the shogunate to sit above them.

"This is normal. Have you found out who is behind it?"

Caelan nodded slightly.

Ever since Hiyori was sent up as an RPG, he knew the Kozuki loyalists could no longer sit still.

Speaking of Yamato, there had been no trace of him yet, and no one knew where he had gone.

"These instigators are very tight-lipped. We arrested more than twenty people, but only two confessed."

Yamakaji frowned and said, "They said they were ordered by the Nine Red Scabbards to restore the position of shogun to the young master, Kozuki Momonosuke."

He really could not understand why these remnants of the previous dynasty were still dreaming.

"Hmm? Kozuki Momonosuke, has anyone actually seen him?"

Caelan was a little surprised.

This name should not have appeared at this point in time.

Momonosuke and Kin'emon should have been sent by Kozuki Toki to the year 1522 of the Sea Circle Calendar, which was two years later.

Their early appearance meant either someone was pretending to be Momonosuke, or some unexpected event had occurred.

"The samurai saw Momonosuke with their own eyes." Yamakaji did not understand why Caelan was surprised by the name and continued, "According to them, he is Oden's son. It has been eighteen years, yet he still looks like a runny-nosed, lecherous kid."

In fact, according to the samurai, it was precisely because they saw that their lord was such a disappointment that they confessed so easily.

The moment he saw Momonosuke, the samurai's faith, which he had held onto for eighteen years, collapsed. He was completely stunned.

He felt like an idiot for waiting eighteen years for this.

"Good. I see."

A smile appeared on Caelan's lips.

The snotty-nosed, lecherous kid was undoubtedly Momonosuke.

Although he did not know how Momonosuke had arrived two years early, this was a good thing. It saved him from having to wait two years before acting.

Moreover, he was very curious why Momonosuke had appeared early.

Was there something wrong with Kozuki Toki, or was there another reason?

"According to our intelligence, all these people will arrive at the Flower Capital the day after tomorrow, including 2,000 misled civilians and 4,000 samurai loyal to the Kozuki family."

"Should we act against them in advance to prevent too much impact?"

Momonga and Yamakaji sought instructions.

These six thousand people alone could significantly impact the Flower Capital.

If the Kozuki family misled more people, all of Wano would be shaken.

"Do not act prematurely. Let them enter the Flower Capital. The more the better."

"Those hiding in the shadows should be caught in one fell swoop. I think Kaido and Orochi were too lenient back then and did not wipe them out."

Caelan's voice turned cold.

There were bandits hiding in Kuri, samurai blending in with the common folk, and all kinds of admirers.

Rather than letting them hide and cause trouble, it would be better to let them gather and resolve it all at once.

"…"

It seemed those people were in serious trouble this time.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 287: The Chaos Begins, Too Embarrassing

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and the people in the Flower Capital clearly felt the streets were more crowded, as if many people had appeared out of nowhere.

And this was not their illusion.

In two days, four thousand samurai of the Kozuki family and two thousand misled people had entered the Flower Capital. Since they had no fixed residence, they were naturally conspicuous.

"This operation went really smoothly, without any obstacles at all."

Kin'emon looked at the army's deployment and finally felt relieved.

"Yeah, the Neo Navy didn't stop it, and Caelan made no moves, as if they knew nothing."

Denjiro sighed.

It all went so smoothly, so smoothly that it made him uneasy.

"Perhaps Caelan is so complacent that he completely ignored the potential threat. Or perhaps Hiyori used her beauty to restrain him and kept him from acting."

Raizo made a guess.

"That is possible. With Hiyori being the most beautiful woman in Wano, she must have bewitched Caelan."

When Denjiro heard Raizo's guess, the uneasiness in his heart faded.

He had sent Hiyori and Chiyo to the Shogun's Mansion, and the two had never left since. It was really possible that Caelan was so captivated day and night that he ignored their actions.

"No matter what, our people are in place. As soon as the time comes, we will start the parade immediately," Kin'emon said in a deep voice.

Their people were already in position, and as long as they could stir up the emotions of the people in the Flower Capital, the plan would be close to success.

"Is the young master ready?"

Raizo asked worriedly.

He was really afraid that Momonosuke would back down at such a critical moment.

If that happened, all their preparations would be in vain.

"I'm ready now. I've put on my majestic warrior uniform. I really look like a general."

Kikunojo said with considerable pride.

He had done the makeup for Momonosuke, and only today did Momonosuke look like a general.

"Today, I will take back the Wano that belongs to me!"

Momonosuke, with a shaved forehead and pigtailed hair, walked out of the room.

He was only 1.3 meters tall, wearing a pink samurai costume, with a fifty-centimeter dagger at his waist, and he walked with a domineering manner.

Only the occasional snot coming from his nose made him look a little funny.

"Young master, you will have to stand up and walk toward the Shogun's Mansion amid the cheers of thousands. You must be imposing," Kin'emon warned carefully.

"Don't worry, I will take back the position of shogun of Wano with honor."

Momonosuke said confidently.

Today was the day he would become famous, and Wano would welcome its greatest shogun, Momonosuke.

"Okay, let's go."

Kin'emon carried Momonosuke to an open-air platform and had four samurai carry him.

Only in this way could Momonosuke look taller and more majestic.

When they looked up, it was already noon.

"Set off."

Kin'emon gave the order.

With his command, the six thousand who had prepared took action.

Two thousand who believed in Kozuki Oden walked in front, shouting about Oden's deeds.

Four thousand samurai followed behind the people. The platform where Momonosuke stood was guarded in the center, and on both sides of the platform were Kin'emon, Raizo, and the others.

A huge group of more than six thousand gathered on the street and headed toward the Shogun's Mansion where Caelan was.

"Return Wano to the Kozuki family!"

"Return Wano. The son of Kozuki Oden will return to the position of shogun!"

"Return it to Wano…"

The mighty procession continued to advance, and the sound spread through the Flower Capital.

Countless people leaned over to look at the huge group.

Some looked on in fear and tried to avoid the crowd.

The scene of Caelan riding a dragon into the sky and destroying hundreds of samurai two days ago was still vivid in their minds.

"They are looking for death."

"What if they anger the gods and bring punishment again?"

Most people in the Flower Capital knelt at their doors, the same as they had two days ago.

Of course, they were not kneeling for Momonosuke and his group, they were kneeling for Caelan.

They prayed, they were fearful, and they did not want divine punishment because of the Kozuki family.

However, there were still some who joined the Kozuki family's parade.

Some were extremely dissatisfied with Caelan, while others believed the law could not punish everyone.

The group marched noisily through the streets and finally arrived at the gate of the Shogun's Mansion.

They were about to continue shouting when they saw a six-hundred-meter-long green dragon hovering in the sky above the mansion. The loud slogans fell silent.

The platform carrying Momonosuke was brought to the front of the group, facing the gate of the Shogun's Mansion.

"Caelan, I… I want you to return the country of Wa…!"

Momonosuke stammered.

Before he could finish, a dragon's roar cut him off.

"Roar!"

The Azure Dragon roared, and huge sound waves stirred the air.

In an instant, the marching group of nearly ten thousand fell to their knees, with only a few strong ones left standing.

"Wah!"

Momonosuke's face turned pale and he collapsed onto the platform.

(To be continued.)