Time is like a wild donkey; once it starts running, it doesn't stop.
Three days passed in a flash.
Flower Capital.
On the giant plaza, a magnificent high platform was completed as scheduled.
Not only that, for this grand ceremony, Kaen specially brought Image Den Den Mushi from the Beasts Pirates, preparing to broadcast the entire process live.
In Kuri, Kibi, Udon, Ringo, and Bakei, wherever there were crowds, Kaen set up Projection Den Den Mushi for relay.
The crowd below was surging, shoulder to shoulder.
Denjiro's samurai troops were on high alert, striving to maintain the restless order.
On the high platform.
Kaen, Yamato, and the Daimyo from various regions attended in grand attire.
Yamato excitedly looked left and right: "Where is Hiyori? Has she not arrived yet?"
Kaen helplessly rubbed his forehead: "Soon, soon."
Heaven knows why Yamato was so excited after learning that Komurasaki was Kozuki Hiyori.
Even though they met almost every day before.
"That's naturally different, that's Oden's daughter!"
Yamato giggled.
Even though she no longer wanted to become Kozuki Oden, the appearance of Oden's daughter still gave her a strange feeling.
If it were her old self, she would probably have treated Komurasaki as her daughter.
"Who would have thought that the new Shogun of Wano Country would like Oden more than most of the country's citizens."
Kaen secretly shook his head, then turned to Fukurokuju and instructed: "It's time."
"Yes, Lord Kaen."
Fukurokuju respectfully nodded, took a few steps forward, and loudly announced: "The Sword Presentation Ceremony officially begins!"
It was still five minutes early, but since Lord Kaen spoke, it was naturally time; only the clock had a problem.
"They're here, they're here."
Someone in the crowd shouted.
Everyone turned their heads in unison.
They saw a beautiful young woman, accompanied by a tall Fishman, holding a long sword, slowly walking towards the stands.
"It's Enma! Lord Oden's sword, Enma!"
"And Kawamatsu, that's one of the Nine Red Scabbards, Kozuki Oden's most loyal subordinate!"
"And there's more, that young woman looks so much like Lady Kozuki Toki. It must be Princess Hiyori!"
...
The crowd below was abuzz with discussion, all confirming the identities of the two people and the sword.
Weapons Factory.
Tenguyama Hitetsu, who had been organized to watch the live broadcast of the Sword Presentation Ceremony, felt a pang in his heart, his old eyes filled with tears, muttering: "Hiyori...it really is you..."
Mount Tou, at the foot of the mountain village.
Ashura Doji, who had learned the news early, hid in the shadows, watching the live broadcast with the villagers.
Seeing Kawamatsu's appearance, even though he was prepared, his heart still skipped a beat.
"Has the situation reached this point?"
Udon Quarry.
The prisoners were rare to have half a day off to watch the live broadcast, but they'd rather not have this break.
"This must be fake!" someone cried out in despair.
More people's faces were ashen, and the sound of sobbing from shattered beliefs spread.
Hyogoro's face was ashen, a sense of powerlessness sweeping over his entire body; he no longer knew if his persistence had any meaning.
"Hahahahaha, Kaen is truly something. Killing people and crushing their spirits!"
Queen initially slapped his thigh and laughed wildly, but when the camera zoomed in on Kozuki Hiyori's face, his laughter abruptly stopped:
"How could it be her, how could it be her! My Komurasaki!"
The perspective returned to Flower Capital.
On the stage, Kaen secretly nodded.
This time, the stooges did a great job.
That's right, those who first confirmed the identities of Kozuki Hiyori and them were disguised ninjas.
After all, besides the famous sword Enma, Kozuki Hiyori really didn't have any special tokens to prove her identity.
Fortunately, there was Kawamatsu, whose appearance was unique in Wano Country, otherwise the evidence would be even weaker.
Just as Kozuki Hiyori and the other person were about to approach the crowd, two loud shouts suddenly rang out.
"Death to the national traitor!"
"Die, Kozuki Hiyori, who betrayed the country!"
A group of disgraced samurai, carrying swords, rushed out from a corner, heading straight for Kozuki Hiyori.
"Princess, be careful!" Kawamatsu reacted instantly, drawing his sword and shielding Kozuki Hiyori behind him.
The clash of metal exploded, and he, alone with his sword, forcefully blocked all the incoming blades!
On the high platform, Kaen suddenly stood up, looking at the chaos below, a cold sneer on his lips: "It seems I've been too gentle these past few days."
As his words fell, the sky, which had been clear, instantly lost its color, and dark clouds surged.
"Kawamatsu, take Hiyori and step back!" Kaen's voice, suppressing his anger, rang out.
Kawamatsu didn't understand why, but he still pulled Hiyori and made a small jump, leaping away from the battlefield.
Just as they moved aside.
"Thunder!" Kaen's voice softly sounded.
Crackling—!!!
More than a dozen bolts of lightning tore through the sky, striking down, and under Kaen's precise guidance of Observation Haki, they fiercely pierced every samurai who had erupted!
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!"
The samurai immediately let out screams of utter misery.
Soon, they one by one fell silent, their bodies charred black, emitting a nauseating smell of burnt flesh.
"Denjiro, clean up the mess." Kaen's cold voice entered Denjiro's ears.
"Yes!"
Denjiro dared not delay, immediately ordering his subordinates to clean up the scene.
Kaen casually waved his hand, and the thunderclouds in the sky retreated like a tide, sunlight once again spilling onto the plaza, as if the apocalyptic scene just now was merely a dream.
"Lord Kaen, mighty and awe-inspiring!!"
The Bakei Daimyo was the first to recover from the shock, shouting with a trembling voice.
The other Daimyo awoke as if from a dream, secretly cursing this scoundrel for stealing credit too quickly, but on their lips, they hastily followed: "That's right, this is simply a miracle!"
"Enough." Kaen interrupted their meaningless praises, turning to Fukurokuju: "Continue."
"Understood."
Fukurokuju took the order, directing his subordinates to continue the ceremony.
Below the stage.
Kozuki Hiyori and the other person continued the ceremony.
The samurai came and went in a hurry, but they did not interfere with the ceremony's progress.
The crowd quickly restored order under the guidance of the samurai troops, clearing a path for Kozuki Hiyori and Kawamatsu.
Hiyori took a deep breath, holding Enma, and ascended the high platform step by step.
She slowly came before Yamato.
Yamato tried hard to keep a straight face, attempting to maintain the Shogun's dignity, but the curiosity and excitement in her eyes almost overflowed.
"I am Kozuki Hiyori, daughter of Kozuki Oden."
Hiyori's voice was clear and solemn, echoing through the silent plaza, "Moved by the benevolent reputation of Shogun Yamato, I have specifically come to present my father's treasured sword, Enma, as a sign of my submission."
"Hmm~"
Yamato lightly coughed a few times, suppressing the curiosity in her heart, and according to Kaen's script, responded in a deep voice: "As long as you sincerely accept my rule, then you will be an ordinary citizen of my Wano Country, able to live here in peace."
After speaking, Yamato took the scabbard of Enma, raised it high, displaying it before the Image Den Den Mushi's lens, her gaze like a torch, solemnly declaring:
"I, Yamato, swear in the name of the Shogun of Wano Country! As long as the remaining Kozuki loyalists sincerely repent and submit, I will forgive all past transgressions!"
