With the change of shogun, everything awaited renewal.
The policies set during Orochi's rule were almost entirely overturned, with numerous new decrees being issued and implemented daily.
The sweeping reforms left officials across the regions sweating bullets, and nearly a hundred officials were "invited for tea" by the Oniwabanshu each day.
Shogun's Office.
"Lord Gurd, last night, forty-six officials were found dead by 'suicide'—stab wounds in their backs. These are their confessions."
Da Black reported dutifully, his body reeking of thick bloodlust. His presence had grown at least ten times more intimidating than before.
Now the captain of the Oniwabanshu, he wielded immense authority, and the organization itself had become far more terrifying under his command.
They were practically slaughtering their way through!
Any official who refused to comply, lacked competence but clung to their position, met the same fate as the regional lords—stabbed in the back, "suicide by guilt."
The criteria were simple: failure to complete orders from General Castle within the allotted time meant a death sentence.
Dozens of officials "took their own lives" daily.
Now, the regional officials of Wano Country feared not the shogun but the Oniwabanshu. The mere mention of "tea" could paralyze them with terror, forcing them to draft their wills in advance.
Those tea invitations? They were death warrants in disguise!
Some had considered uniting in rebellion, but with both the Oniwabanshu and the samurai patrols loyal to the shogun, resistance only meant a swifter death.
"Ah, must be the stress of the job."
"But no matter."
"If they won't work, plenty of others will."
Gurd sighed with a tinge of melancholy.
His demands weren't excessive—he merely expected all officials to fully cooperate with Green Worm and the others in constructing new towns across the regions.
Yet those bastards still dared to drag their feet, play bureaucratic games, and even skim profits while doing no work.
He could tolerate corruption—he had no intention of dredging up past misdeeds—but only if these scoundrels got his tasks done.
Eating without working? Asking for death!
Slaughter them all!
Gurd cracked a smile.
"How's the town construction progressing?"
"Linghou, Kuri, Ximei, Tuwan—site selections for all regional towns are finalized. Land acquisitions went smoothly. Construction can begin immediately."
Da Black wiped his brow.
With so many officials dead, anything less than smooth would've been unnatural.
Gurd nodded in satisfaction and pressed further.
"And the public sentiment?"
"Perfectly stable!"
Da Black presented a stack of land deeds, sneaking a glance at Shogun Yamato, who sat idly scratching herself on the tatami, before lowering his voice.
"Lord Gurd, the ownership column lists only your name."
"Excellent, excellent!"
Gurd accepted the deeds, beaming.
He paid for the land—his name on the deeds was only fair!
One less worry off his mind.
In high spirits, Gurd rubbed his fingers together with a grin. "The Fire Festival approaches. Preparations mustn't slacken. Inform the noble clans that the shogun's new town projects have strained the treasury, so the festival's budget..."
"Leave it to me, my lord!"
Da Black bared his teeth in a vicious grin.
No one knew the noble clans' secrets better than the Oniwabanshu.
Stripping them to the bone? They were professionals!
Disobedience meant tea time!
"Good. I knew I chose well!"
Gurd's eyes gleamed with approval.
What Oniwabanshu? These were his personal imperial guards!
They deserved a reward.
"Da Black, is there anything you desire?"
"..."
Da Black froze.
What did he want?
His current status was second only to the shogun, and his recent confiscations and executions had filled his coffers to the brim. There really wasn't anything he particularly desired at the moment.
However, knowing Gurd as he did, the man wouldn't have brought it up without reason. Excessive politeness wouldn't do any good here.
After a moment's thought, Da Black spoke solemnly, "Lord Gurd, when you have time, I'd like to invite you to visit the Ninja Village."
"Ninja Village?"
Gurd raised an eyebrow in surprise.
He knew of the Ninja Village—it was Wano Country's specialized training ground for shinobi, where all members of the Oniwabanshu originated.
"Very well. After the Fire Festival, then."
"Thank you, my lord!"
Da Black withdrew respectfully.
Gurd walked to the window, clasping his hands behind his back.
Wano Country comprised six regions. Apart from the Flower Capital, most of the fertile lands in the other regions were already his property.
Though there were still a few major towns like Bolo City and Blade Dance Port, along with some impoverished villages that didn't belong to him, those were insignificant.
The value of real estate and land lay in their location. Cheap properties in remote, barren villages held no rental or resale value—acquiring them would be pointless and wouldn't bolster his standing in the slightest.
A property worth 100,000 per square meter was incomparable to one worth 500 per square meter!
Developing everything equally would erase all distinction. Without poorer areas for contrast, how could the prestige of the new cities be highlighted?
He had no intention of playing the savior!
"Now, I reign over an entire country!"
Gurd's eyes burned with intensity as an overwhelming aura radiated from him.
Yamato, who had been scratching an itch, jolted in fright, her fur standing on end. She immediately flipped over and scanned her surroundings nervously, her gaze quickly locking onto Gurd.
Huh?
The girl tilted her head in confusion.
So Gurd had it too?
The same Haki as her and her father!
"Tch, what rotten luck."
Gurd spat in displeasure.
Of all things to awaken, it had to be Conqueror's Haki—useless until he mastered Conqueror's Haki Coating. Observation Haki would've been far more practical.
Gurd beckoned to Yamato.
"Yamato, come here."
"What for?"
"Teach me how to use Conqueror's Haki."
"Teach you?"
Yamato's eyes lit up, and she nearly jumped in excitement.
Wahahaha!
Did he have any idea how she'd suffered these past days?
She'd been swallowing her pride daily, enduring endless scorn!
By Gurd's own assessment, she was nothing but a bumbling fool—good for nothing except fighting, always causing trouble, and only knowing how to eat.
Hmph! That wasn't true at all!
Why had she been breaking her back hauling bricks and mortar?
Aside from helping everyone, she'd wanted to prove to this infuriating man that she was useful too.
When she put her mind to it, she could outwork a hundred laborers!
Yet Gurd still refused to acknowledge her. Every time she returned home after a hard day's work, the way he looked at her was just...
Like this, this, and this!
Damn it, it was so maddening!
She'd waited three months for this moment—to seize this chance, to prove she had something she was better at than Gurd!
"No problem, leave it to me!"
Yamato thumped her chest, her spirit flaring.
"Watch closely, Gurd! The secret to using Conqueror's Haki is like this!"
"Like this?"
Gurd stared at Yamato, who was straining to widen her eyes, and sweatdropped.
"That's right, exactly like this!"
Yamato strained with all her might, gnashing her teeth as she glared. "When you see a bad guy, you glare at them hard, harder, even harder—then your Conqueror's Haki will burst out!"
"..."
Gurd remained silent for a long while before letting out a deep sigh.
"Yamato, it's getting late. Let's wash up and go to bed."
"Huh?"
Yamato tilted her head in confusion.
Why was he sighing? Had she taught him wrong?
But this was exactly how she felt when using Conqueror's Haki.
How could he not grasp something so simple!
Tch, what an idiot!
(End of Chapter)