252 One Piece: My Name is Jack

News of the Kozuki clan's captured remnants spread like wildfire throughout Wano, thanks to the Beast Pirates' aggressive propaganda.

For days, thunder rumbled incessantly across the land. Even now, some people still clung to a sliver of hope for the Kozuki clan.

But hope, like those who held it, was destined to perish.

By the final two days, the storm had subsided.

After thousands had been slaughtered, no one dared to sympathize with the Kozuki name anymore.

Bakura Town—home to the families of samurai who had pledged allegiance to the Beast Pirates. Previously, Orochi had stationed some of his men here, including Wano's top sumo wrestler, Urashima, a noble and one of Orochi's officers.

However, under Jack's orders, Holdem challenged Urashima to a "friendly match" and crippled him using his lion's devastating bite. Seeing Jack's intent, Orochi refrained from further interference in Bakura Town's affairs.

Now, the town was swarming with people.

For the past twenty years, the legend of the Kozuki clan had lingered. But to the younger generation—raised on the Beast Pirates' rewritten history—this legend was nothing more than a stain on Wano's past.

To them, Kaido was the nation's savior, and Oden was its greatest traitor.

And now, with the "legend" proven real, their fury ignited.

Pebbles flew through the air, pelting the prisoners tied to the execution scaffolds. Kin'emon clenched his fists, wanting to speak, but in the end, he simply trembled and shut his eyes.

"Kikunojo! Kikunojo!"

"Kiku! Kiku!"

Nearby, Raizo called out worriedly. Ever since their capture and reunion, Kikunojo had remained silent, as if haunted by something unspeakable. Even now, on the brink of death, she refused to utter a word.

Jack glanced at Master, who looked invigorated, then at Rim, who was pale as a sheet. He sighed.

"So it's finally bloomed..."

"Jack-sama, it's not really the season for flowers to bloom, is it...?"

Jack lowered his gaze to a familiar subordinate and asked indifferently,

"Who are you again?"

"Jack-sama! It's me, Shinei!"

"Scram. Someone else stand behind me."

"That guy! You, come over here!"

"Jack-sama, my name's Wardfuckle!"

...

"Shinei, never mind, you come back."

"Make way! Make way!"

"The Shogun is here!"

Shouts rang through the crowd as Kurozumi Orochi arrived on horseback, and the gathered spectators hastily parted to let him through.

"Hahahaha! The lingering ghosts of the Kozuki clan?"

"If you didn't die twenty years ago, then die now!"

Laughing, Orochi drew his bow and loosed an arrow straight at Kin'emon.

CLANG!

A spiked club intercepted the arrow mid-flight. Jack, his expression cold, locked eyes with Orochi.

"Did I say you could kill them yet?"

"Who do you think you are?"

"Are you forgetting your place?"

Jack's voice was calm, but his words cut deep.

"Kaido-sama isn't here, and yet you dare act on your own?"

"You...!" Orochi's face twisted in rage. "Damn you!"

Seeing Jack's emotionless stare, he clenched his fists but ultimately backed down.

Compared to Kaido, Jack treated him far worse—speaking to him with blatant disrespect and resorting to violence without warning. If Jack hadn't been in charge of Kuri, Orochi wouldn't tolerate even a second in his presence.

Suddenly, the sky darkened as a massive dragon descended from above. As Kaido landed and transformed back into his human form, the crowd erupted in cheers.

"Kaido-sama! Kaido-sama!"

Basking in their adulation, Kaido grinned.

Orochi, however, stormed up to him, seething. "Kaido! Now that you're here, can we finally execute these pests?!"

Kaido's eyes narrowed, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. But in his excitement, Orochi failed to notice. Behind him, Fukurokuju stiffened in alarm.

Unlike the drunken, hedonistic Orochi, Fukurokuju understood Wano's true state of affairs.

Ever since Jack rewrote the school curriculum over a decade ago, Orochi's influence had steadily waned, while Kaido's had only grown.

At first, Orochi resisted, but he lacked the resolve to challenge Kaido directly. From that moment, Fukurokuju knew Wano had already fallen into Kaido's hands.

Now, Orochi was still technically the Shogun, but all military power lay with the Beast Pirates. Even among the Oniwabanshu, some had already defected to Jack.

His rule was nothing more than an illusion.

Fukurokuju had long realized that Kaido merely tolerated Orochi for symbolic purposes. If Orochi failed to understand that... he would die.

Kaido ignored Orochi's whining and instead strode toward the execution platform.

"Kill them! Kill them already!"

Orochi's impatient cries grated on Kaido's nerves.

"Oh, right... Kurozumi Kanjuro."

Kaido smirked and turned to the farthest prisoner. "It's time to drop the act. Your mission is over."

Orochi sneered. "That one—he's the spy I planted in the Kozuki clan! Let him go!"

"What?! Kanjuro, you—?!"

"You bastard!"

BANG!

Splatter!

Blood sprayed across Kin'emon's face as Kanjuro's head exploded like a crushed melon. His rage evaporated in an instant.

"KANJURO!!"

"Kaido! What the hell are you doing?!"

Orochi's voice was a mix of shock and fury. But before he could react, Kaido raised his club.

"You talk too much."

CRACK!

A sickening crunch echoed as Kaido's club smashed into Orochi's skull, silencing him forever.

"Shogun-sama!"

The Oniwabanshu hesitated, then slowly turned to Jack. Fukurokuju, however, wasted no time. He immediately fell to his knees.

"The Oniwabanshu pledge allegiance to Kaido-sama! From this moment, we serve the Beast Pirates!"

For a brief moment, silence hung over the execution grounds.

Then, the crowd erupted.

"Kaido-sama! Kaido-sama!"

"Wororororo! Wororororo!"

Kaido threw back his head and laughed heartily.

"Proceed with the execution!"