The corpse of Orochi was casually thrown aside. The retainers, still reeling from the shock of his death, suddenly felt the shadows beneath their feet twist into pitch-black spikes. The deadly spears surged upward, piercing their bodies in an instant.
Their lifeless corpses were hoisted into the air, blood raining down in a gruesome spectacle.
At this moment, the Kurozumi Clan, which had controlled Wano for years, was utterly annihilated, along with the forces of the Beasts Pirates supporting them.
This also meant that Wano, a land rich in seastone mines, had become an unclaimed territory.
Carl turned to Doflamingo and said, "Doflamingo, Wano is yours now."
"Nani?! Carl-sama, this...," Doflamingo's eyes widened behind his sunglasses, his tone faltering. Akainu and the others exchanged glances but did not react further.
On the way here, Carl had already revealed Doflamingo's heritage to Akainu and the others. They now knew that Doflamingo was a Celestial Dragon by birth.
Though cast out from Mary Geoise, one's lineage couldn't simply be erased. And with Carl as his formidable backer, returning to the Holy Land was far from impossible for Doflamingo.
With such a status, ruling over Wano was hardly an issue.
Carl chuckled. "Wano is best left in the hands of our own. By the way, Caesar is still in your custody, right? Bring him here. Udon still holds plenty of Beasts Pirates and seastone mines—ideal resources for his experiments."
Kizaru, standing in the back, clicked his tongue. "Giving away a country like Wano as a gift? And such a powerful nation at that. Truly extravagant."
Doflamingo swallowed hard. "Carl-sama, with the forces I currently command, managing two countries might be beyond my capability..."
Carl waved dismissively. "You don't need to worry about that. Recall Vergo to Dressrosa as a permanent overseer. You'll be stationed in Wano. I'll also send some Marines to support you. From now on, Wano will be one of our affiliated nations."
He paused, then added, "Oh, and make it public that Vergo is your subordinate. No need to keep that a secret anymore."
Hearing this, Kizaru shrugged with mock amusement. "I bet Fleet Admiral Sengoku will blow a gasket when he hears this."
Carl smirked. "No need to worry. Soon enough, these matters won't be his concern anymore."
"Hmm?"
Akainu and the others fixed their gaze on Carl. The former cautiously probed, "Carl, are you implying...?"
Carl turned, raising a hand dismissively. "It's time."
...
Wano, Amigasa Village
Kozuki Sukiyaki was carefully crafting a wooden doll. After escaping Orochi, his hatred had driven him to curse Orochi and Kaido, channeling his bitterness into making these dolls.
The mind of the Kozuki Clan often worked in ways beyond comprehension.
As a side note, Kin'emon and the others had long since been stewed with Kozuki Oden into a hotpot. With Oden left crippled, he no longer held Kaido's interest, nor could he protect his retainers.
Without the strength to support his lofty ideals, Oden was nothing more than a fool in Kaido's eyes.
Sukiyaki wiped the sweat off his brow. Just as he set the doll aside, a crisp childlike voice called out, "Grandpa, time to eat!"
A smile formed beneath Sukiyaki's tengu mask as he turned to see a young girl in a green kimono with purple hair. She held a bowl of barley rice, accompanied by a large dog resembling a stone lion.
The girl ran up and held out the bowl. Sukiyaki patted her head affectionately.
"Have you eaten, Tama?"
The girl, Tama, nodded with a bright smile, prompting Sukiyaki to take the bowl.
Before he could take a bite, a voice called out, "Kozuki Sukiyaki, you seem to be doing well."
Sukiyaki froze, his name long forgotten by others. He had assumed the identity of Tenguyama Hitetsu to hide his past.
With suspicion and wariness, he turned toward the source of the voice. His eyes widened as he recognized the man.
Ripping off his mask, Sukiyaki roared, "You're Admiral Black Dragon!"
Carl crossed his arms, smiling. "Oh? You know me? Looks like you haven't spent all your time making dolls."
Grinding his teeth in rage, Sukiyaki spat, "Of course I know you! You killed my grandson! If not for you, Oden wouldn't have lost to Kaido! Wano wouldn't be in this state!"
The sight of Sukiyaki's fury stunned Tama, who froze in place.
Carl glanced at the girl. His eyes narrowed as an invisible force swept through the air, rendering Tama unconscious. Her body slumped forward.
Before Sukiyaki could react, Carl had already moved, appearing beside Tama and catching her in his arms.
Carl had no interest in harming an innocent orphan whose only crime was surviving Orochi's tyranny.
But Sukiyaki mistook his intentions, shouting, "What are you going to do to Tama?!"
Slash!
Sukiyaki's head flew from his shoulders, his lifeless body collapsing as blood gushed forth.
Carl stared coldly at the blood pooling at his feet before flicking it away like a bothersome fly. He turned his attention to the dog, Komachiyo, which whimpered in fear.
Lifting the trembling creature by the scruff, Carl remarked, "From now on, you'll be called Golden Lion."
With Tama in one arm and Komachiyo in the other, Carl vanished into the shadows.
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