Chapter 499 5-Year Agreement
...
"Gudong!"
The scene fell into deathly silence.
But some people’s hearts are in turmoil!
Mihawk's question hit the heart like thunder in the hearts of Kozuki Oden and his retainers!
Shocked.
They began to rack their brains to find suitable reasons to refute Mihawk's point of view, but unfortunately found that in the face of facts, all arguments seemed so pale and powerless.
However, although they were speechless, this does not prove that what they have insisted on all along is wrong. It is impossible for them to admit their mistakes, and their inability to refute only proves that they are not good at arguing with others!
Kozuki Oden and his retainers asked themselves this question.
Are they doing everything for themselves?
No! no!
Everything they did was for this country! For the millions of ordinary people living in Wano Country! Dedicating themselves to such a great cause! How glorious it is! And what's wrong with that!
Humph! How dare a foreign swordsman who knows nothing dare to point fingers at their beloved Lord Oden? !
After Kin'emon and the others "figured it out", they once again put on their arrogance and contempt, with an attitude of "I laugh at the world's inability to see through it".
After walking a few steps away and standing behind Gel, Mihawk shook his head, then pulled the brim of his hat down to cover his entire face.
Out of sight!
...
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Captain Gol, who was overshadowed by Mihawk, cleared his throat in dissatisfaction, trying to regain his sense of presence.
"Hey, hey, hey! Stop talking nonsense! This general doesn't have the time to waste with you guys! I came here because I want to inform you of something."
Gel raised his left foot so that Kozuki Oden could raise his head and reply.
"General, please speak!"
Kozuki Oden came to his senses and continued kneeling respectfully.
"Guhoho! Look for yourself, what has this Jiuli area become under your governance?"
Gel pointed to the civilians of Jiuli who were hiding in the corners of the streets and secretly observing the situation here.
"Damn it! This bastard!"
Kin'emon muttered quietly through clenched teeth.
"Kuri, and even the entire Wano Country! Isn't it because Kurozumi Orochi, the general of Wano Country, is unworthy of his position and indulges his ronin warriors to do whatever they want? How dare they even throw dirty water on Lord Oden! How shameless! How shameless!"
"That's right! Brother Nishiki is right! If Lord Oden were to take on the position of Shogun, Wano Country would surely be a place of prosperity!"
"Yes, yes, yes! The Kozuki family is the legitimate successor to the general of Wano Country!"
The Nine Red Scabbards said with certainty.
"I really can't understand! Why did Sukiyaki-sama pass the position of shogun to Kurozumi Orochi instead of his own son, Oden-sama! Kurozumi Orochi is such a despicable villain!"
"Ah! Master Kozuki Sukiyaki must have his reasons for doing this."
Several people were chattering below.
"... "
Wherever "Kurocharcoal Orochi" looked, the civilians hiding in the dark, with tattered clothes and pale faces, all shrank their heads back in fear.
"Guhoho! A bunch of stinky rats! Not only are they poor, but they're also lazy! What's going to happen if they keep going like this? It seems like they need a good whipping!
If someone who doesn't know this sees this, they might think that I, Kurozumi Orochi, am just like the stupid general of the Kozuki clan and have no idea how to govern a country! I can't afford to lose face like this!"
? ?
The nine Red Scabbards kneeling on the ground had expressions that were more interesting than the last when they heard this.
Govern the country?
General, as the highest-level ruler of Wano Country, there seems to be nothing wrong with talking about governing the country, but it is a little hard to get used to hearing these words coming from the mouth of Kurozumi Orochi.
"What are you doing? What do your expressions mean?"
Seeing the surprise on everyone's faces, Gel asked dissatisfiedly.
"General Orochi! This is all my fault."
Kozuki Oden admitted it proactively.
"Guhehe! If you are really to be blamed for this, it would be a bit unfair. After all, you have never cared about their lives. It is because they are not hardworking that they cannot get rich. It is really none of your business."
Ger said sarcastically with a smile.
"Forehead…"
Kozuki Oden frowned, he found that he had no idea what Kurozumi Orochi was trying to do.
"General, the civilians in Jiuli have a hard time. As the Lord of Jiuli, I cannot escape the blame!"
Kozuki Oden lowered his head and admitted his mistake sincerely.
"Guhoho!"
Gel put away his smile, tapped Kozuki Oden's left shoulder lightly with the folding fan in his hand and said.
"Okay, okay! It's rare that you still have some sense of responsibility. Since you insist so much, I have to consider your opinion. Then, as a punishment, you will have to stop working as the Great Master of Jiuli!"
Ok?
"Nani!!?"
Is this guy serious?
Kozuki Oden looked shocked, and the people behind him were even more shocked.
"K-You must be joking!!"
Kin'emon said with his eyes widened.
"Snapped!!"
Gel put away his folding fan and slapped it hard on the palm of his left hand, saying with an unhappy look on his face.
"Hey, hey, hey! Who is the one hiding in the back and gossiping while I'm speaking? If I hear any sound again, I'll kill you by mistake and drag you all out to chop you off!!"
"You're such a meow... wooooooooo!"
Cat Viper was still a little unconvinced and wanted to talk back, but Inuarashi covered his mouth tightly.
"I don't know what you mean by that, General?"
Kozuki Oden's expression also became serious, and his tone became a little harder.
If they lost their position as daimyo and the right to levy taxes on the Jiuli area, they would even have trouble getting food, let alone developing secretly and accumulating strength.
"Guhoho!"
"What's so confusing? You're fired!!"
Gel smiled contemptuously, not taking Kozuki Oden's threatening words seriously at all, and continued.
"In addition, I plan to build a number of factories in Jiuli to lead everyone to work hard and get rich and move towards a well-off life! As a local boss, I will make an exception and promote you to be the organization committee member. Go and help me organize the people and do a good job of ideological work so that they can work for me with peace of mind! Guhoho! Then I'll leave it to you! Oden!"
"Nani?!"
Kozuki Oden's pupils shrank and his face was full of disbelief.
"General! What about the five-year agreement between you and me?"
Kozuki Oden confirmed again with trembling lips.
"Hmm? A five-year agreement? I have heard of the three-year agreement between Hedong and Hexi, but what is this five-year agreement of yours? Open your eyes and look carefully, did you recognize the wrong person? I don't seem to remember that I made any agreement with you? Guhehehe!"
Kurozumi Orochi moved his big face closer and said with a smirk.
...