Quarry, Square.
"Move faster!"
"Anyone who delays will die!"
"Gahaha, look forward to it—I hear a big shot is coming."
Under the whips of the jailers, a large number of prisoners gathered in the square, each filled with fear and unease.
Situations like this happened often, especially when the quarry's tyrant, Queen, arrived. He would always find ways to torment them for amusement, and countless prisoners had met gruesome deaths because of it.
Queen's stage.
Deputy Chief Jailer Davego stepped forward and reported in a low voice, "Lord Babanuki, the 1,000 prisoners have been assembled."
"Understood."
Babanuki's face darkened as he ordered, "Prepare the ships. I'm sending these prisoners to Ebisu Town."
"To Ebisu Town?"
Sweat beaded on Davego's forehead as he mustered the courage to speak. "Lord Babanuki, sending so many prisoners away at once will likely disrupt the quarry's operations..."
"This is an order from above. We just need to follow it!"
Babanuki responded coldly.
Of course, he knew the quarry's work would suffer. But to save his own life, he had no choice—he even had to help cover up the truth.
"Hurry up!"
"Yes!"
Davego didn't dare press further and quickly left.
Babanuki let out a sigh of relief and turned to the backstage preparation room, where he approached Gurd with a submissive demeanor.
"Lord Gurd, your request has been fulfilled. I'll personally escort these prisoners to Ebisu Town later."
"Good. Thank you."
Gurd gave a slight nod, idly spinning a flintlock in his hand. "Also, prepare some swords and firearms—enough for 500 men."
"Understood."
Babanuki exhaled in relief.
He had been terrified Gurd would make some outrageous demand. But if it was just weapons, he had plenty to spare.
Right now, he just wanted to get rid of this walking disaster.
"Oh, Babanuki."
Gurd set the gun down and smiled at him.
"Hyogoro is here with you, right?"
"Old Man Hyo?!"
Babanuki's heart skipped a beat.
Gurd grinned. "Yes, that Old Man Hyo. Add him to the prisoner convoy and send him along."
"This..."
Babanuki's face twisted in distress.
Damn it! Of all people, why did this calamity have to ask for Old Man Hyo? He was the quarry's most special prisoner!
If he lost Hyogoro, Lord Queen would never forgive him!
Gurd raised an eyebrow and lifted the gun again, casually pointing the muzzle in Babanuki's direction.
"Problem?"
"N-No problem!"
Babanuki stammered.
He was doomed!
Grrr, damn you, Devil Muscle Man! When Lord Queen returns from his expedition, he'll make you pay for this!
Gurd's expression darkened.
"Then get moving!"
"At once, Lord Gurd!"
Half a day later, a full thousand prisoners were transported to Ebisu Town, their massive numbers nearly scaring the townsfolk out of their wits.
The Village Chief's thatched hut.
Four yakuza bosses knelt on one knee before Hyogoro, who had become a frail old man, weeping uncontrollably with joy.
"Boss Hyogoro... We never thought we'd see you again in this lifetime. It's such a relief that you're safe and well."
"You guys..."
Hyogoro was dazed, lost in thought.
Even now, he still didn't understand what had happened. All he knew was that he had boarded a ship and was then brought here.
He never dreamed he would see his four former subordinates here.
"Did you rescue me?"
"We don't have that kind of power."
The four of them smiled bitterly and stepped aside, revealing Gurd sitting behind them, sipping tea.
"It was Lord Gurd."
"A Pirate?"
Hyogoro was stunned.
Judging by the man's attire and the Bull Horn Skull emblem on his clothes, he was clearly a member of the Beasts Pirates.
What was going on?
Had Adie and the others joined the Pirates?!
Hyogoro turned to Adie, the sharpest of the four, and urgently pressed, "Adie, what in the world is happening here?"
"Old Man Hyo, it's like this…"
Adie hesitated for a moment before explaining in detail how they had bargained five years of service to the Pirates in exchange for his life.
Hyogoro fell silent for a long time before sighing deeply.
"You've suffered for my sake."
"Don't say that, old man! Just seeing you again makes us happier than anything. Five years is nothing—we'd gladly trade our lives for yours!"
The four of them fumbled over their words in response.
In the underworld, loyalty and righteousness were everything. The debt they owed Hyogoro for his kindness in the past could never be repaid in a lifetime.
Though their reunion brought joy, they still had to face reality—their fates now rested in the hands of the Pirate drinking tea before them.
Hyogoro stepped forward to face Gurd.
The man before him was no longer the mighty Hyogoro of old, but a frail and weakened shadow of his former self, powerless to control even his own destiny.
Hyogoro bowed his head.
"Thank you, sir."
"Thank me? I think you've misunderstood."
Gurd set down his teacup and regarded Hyogoro with an impassive expression. "Hyogoro, I have no intention of granting you freedom. I brought you here only to ensure these gangsters work obediently for me."
"…"
Hyogoro had no retort.
He knew full well the Beasts Pirates would never let him go. With his influence, he could easily rally dissidents across the land—a significant threat to the Beasts.
"That said…"
Gurd's tone shifted as he leisurely took another sip of tea. "If I really wanted to spare your life, it wouldn't be impossible."
"What?!"
Hyogoro remained composed, unmoved by Gurd's words, but the four gang bosses behind him were far less restrained.
They immediately surged forward in excitement.
"Lord Gurd, can you really let Boss Hyogoro go?"
"Of course. Your boss's life means little to me. Besides, even if I released Hyogoro, he wouldn't pose any real threat to the Beasts."
Gurd stated the facts plainly.
Wano Country was not what it had been twenty years ago. There was no Kozuki Oden to stand against Kaido now. Even if Hyogoro gathered the Kozuki Remnants, they would be nothing more than a minor nuisance.
They couldn't stir up any real storm.
Gurd turned his gaze to the four men.
"But tell me—why should I spare him?"
"…"
The four froze as if doused in cold water.
Yet, realization quickly dawned on them.
Exchanging glances, they dropped to their knees in unison, bowing their heads in plea. "Lord Gurd, if you spare Old Man Hyo, our lives are yours from this day forward. We swear it!"
"How touching."
At last, a smile crept onto Gurd's face.
Hyogoro grew frantic, tugging at the four men and shouting in frustration, "Fools! Get up this instant!"
"Old Man Hyo, this is our will. Please do not interfere!"
The four men kept their heads bowed, foreheads pressed firmly to the ground.
They knew full well they were making a deal with the devil, but they had no other bargaining chips—only their very lives to wager.
Their lives meant little, but Old Man Hyo was not just their benefactor—he was the last hope for Wano Country's samurai.
Clap clap clap!
Gurd applauded softly.
A single meeting with Hyogoro wouldn't be enough to make these gang bosses pledge their undying loyalty—greater temptations were needed.
He had no intention of suffering a sudden betrayal.
"You... sigh!"
Hyogoro looked at Gurd, a chill running down his spine.
This pirate before him was utterly different from Kaido—his methods of manipulating hearts were ten, a hundred times more terrifying than Kaido's!
(End of Chapter)