One Piece: From the God Valley Era

"Oh~" Acnoya held a sake bowl in one hand and stroked his chin with the other, smiling slightly: "You actually dared to come out. As expected of Sukiyaki, you really have guts."

At this moment, he sensed an aura similar to that of Oden.

It will be Kozuki Sukiyaki, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

After Kozuki Sukiyaki ran away, he didn't actively use his aura to search for her. It was very easy to find Kozuki Sukiyaki by using Kozuki Oden's aura as an anchor point.

But Kozuki Sukiyaki alone couldn't cause any trouble, so he didn't actively try to capture her.

Now that sukiyaki has actually shown up on his own initiative, he won't hold back.

"He's appeared?" Gloria was taken aback. "Isn't he afraid of dying? Should I go and bring him back?"

"No need, you don't need to lift a finger to catch Kozuki Sukiyaki now."

After saying that, Acnoya stood up with his wine bowl in hand, walked to the fence, and looked down at the people of the Flower Capital below.

"Everyone, look this way!"

Acnoya's voice wasn't loud, but everyone present saw it and couldn't help but look in his direction.

Many people swallowed hard and looked horrified when they saw Acnoya's figure.

Because it was this very man who ended Wano Country's eight-hundred-year rule, hanging the shogun's son and the daimyo on pillars.

Therefore, in their eyes, Acnoya was a more terrifying existence than even a general or a daimyo.

Acnoya ignored everyone's gazes and quickly shifted his attention to one person among them.

After being stared at by Acnoya, the person subconsciously lowered their head, a look of fear on their face.

"He...he saw me."

This person was none other than Kozuki Sukiyaki. He and Acnoya exchanged a glance before he quickly lowered his head, but he knew he had been discovered.

He probably saw his own portrait inside the general's mansion.

The General's Mansion is a family heirloom passed down through generations of the Kozuki family, and therefore contains portraits of each generation of generals.

Therefore, Acnoya and the others knew what sukiyaki looked like, even if there were no portraits of them in the shogun's mansion, they could find out from the daimyo or Oden.

Regardless, Sukiyaki already knows she's been discovered.

Now all he needs to do is leave this place, leave this place as soon as possible.

"Sir, let's leave quickly."

The ninjas and samurai protecting him looked tense.

Now that Lord Oden and the other daimyo have been captured, and Hyogoro is missing, Lord Sukiyaki is all they have left. As long as Lord Sukiyaki is alive, there is always a chance to turn things around.

If Sukiyaki-sama is gone, then it will all really be over.

But in reality, it's already over.

The moment Acnoya arrived, the fate of Wano Country was sealed.

"Um."

Sukiyaki responded and prepared to use the crowd as cover to leave this dangerous area.

But at the same time, Acnoya's words also reached everyone's ears.

"Among you is a man named Kozuki Sukiyaki, who was your former general. Now capture him, and if you capture him, you can have anything you want. This is my promise!" Acnoya said softly.

Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately erupted in excitement.

Capturing the general sounds like a very interesting activity.

Some people think this way, while others are extremely afraid.

After all, the person they wanted to capture was a general, so they dared not.

But the brave ones have already taken action, while the cowards are still dawdling.

"Over there, General, you're over there."

"Fool! You used to call me 'General,' now you're called 'Sukiyaki'!"

"Kozuki Sukiyaki, you're mine!"

Acunoa unleashed the ambitions hidden in people's hearts, instantly igniting the crowd.

Acunoa was very pleased with this.

The Wano Country he needed was not one that was subservient to the daimyo and the Kozuki family, but a Wano Country that was bold and reckless.

This is exactly what he wanted to see.

After doing all this, Acnoya returned to his position and stopped paying attention to what was happening below.

Given the current situation, Sukiyaki has no way to escape these people's pursuit.

He didn't care how many people would die; as long as the goal was achieved, that was enough.

Moreover, if you want to satisfy your ambitions, you need to pay a price.

"You devil, you devil!"

Just then, Kozuki Oden, who was tied to the pillar, shouted angrily.

The daimyo standing to the side were also ashen-faced; they were completely powerless to resist.

"A devil?" Acnoya smiled. "That's how the world is. The strong can rule everything, including your lives."

"And this kind of thing happens all the time in the New World, including your Wano Country."

"If you're going to hate someone, then hate your own weakness."

"If you are strong enough, then you can stop this from happening."

"But you failed, and I won."

"Therefore, Wano Country's rejection is already decided."

"What are you trying to do?!" Kozuki Oden shouted.

"What are you doing?"

"Wano Country will become my base. From here, I will conquer the world step by step," Acnoya said with a smile. "Are you satisfied with this answer?"

"..."

Kozuki Oden opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Because Acunoa was right, he had no power to resist.

He can't even beat Kaido, one of Acnoya's subordinates, so how can he fight Acnoya?

Furthermore, he clearly saw in the previous battle that Uncle Hyogoro was defeated in one blow and is now being held captive somewhere.

From Kozuki Oden's position, he couldn't see Hyogoro, and Hyogoro couldn't see Kozuki Oden and the other daimyo.

This is what they call escaping, isn't it?

He didn't want to see this happen, so he chose to run away.

Acnoa wasn't some kind of devil, and he didn't intend to use any psychological means to kill Hyogoro, so he just let him be.

Hyogoro, with his weaknesses, is enough; he will become one of the cornerstones of his stable Wano Country.

"We've caught them! We've caught them, Lord Acnoya! We've caught them!"

Just then, several Wano Country people covered in blood came out, grabbed a person, and knelt down in front of Acnoya with pious expressions.

"Oh, you caught him so quickly." Acnoya nodded. "Tell me your name."

"The youngest is called Black Charcoal, and he is a member of the Black Charcoal Clan."

"Charcoal?"

The Kurozumi clan attempted to rebel against the Kozuki clan many years ago, but failed.

However, despite their defeat, they were not completely wiped out; many of their clansmen still live in Wano Country.

But they didn't live well, and now the Kozuki clan is following in their footsteps.

The remaining members of the Black Charcoal Clan also seized this opportunity.

I presented Kozuki Sukiyaki to Acnoya!