Pirate: Hades! ( One Piece)

Chapter 243: Wano Country's Upheaval and Suggestions

"What a hassle, I didn't expect such an incident to occur."

With his succession to the throne imminent, Hades received bad news from the Kurozumi Family.

Before Hades was a Den Den Mushi with a face like a witch, it was none other than the current head of the Kurozumi Family, Kurozumi Semimaru.

"Hades, what do you suggest we do? That damned brat from the Kozuki Family has noticed, and our business will definitely be affected next."

Kurozumi Semimaru's already unpleasant face became even more terrifying.

 Hades could hear the anxiety in her heart, but Hades's expression remained unchanged.

Hades had already understood the overall situation.

He couldn't help but sigh with emotion that this Kurozumi Semimaru was truly a talent.

 Just like her appearance, she enjoyed playing tricks and deceiving others.

Over the years, she had caused many Wano Country Residents to contract "infectious diseases" by spreading plague.

Because of this, some Wano Country Residents had to be sealed off and were forced to "die".

Or she would entice these severely ill Wano Country Residents to seek treatment outside.

This is how these Wano Country Residents were tricked into coming over.

Kurozumi Semimaru also used the Imitation Fruit ability to transform into many legendary demons and monsters of Wano Country, "eating" and "killing" Wano Country Residents in the border areas of Wano Country in the name of these Monsters.

There were also various other methods she used to exchange for large amounts of supplies and funds from Hades, becoming Wano Country's biggest Slave Traders.

Although the Kurozumi Family doesn't have many people now, human hearts are always greedy.

 The way to obtain money like this was too easy, and Kurozumi Semimaru couldn't quite stop herself.

However, the Kurozumi Family went too far, inevitably exposing themselves.

 Wano Country caught some whereabouts and realized that someone seemed to be up to something.

The origin of all this came from Kozuki Oden.

At this time, Kozuki Oden was already twenty-one years old.

 According to some intelligence provided by the Kurozumi Family, Kozuki Oden had become the daimyo of Kuri.

Originally, Kuri was a lawless land, like Hell, filled with thugs and some illicit businesses.

Many of the Kurozumi Family's actions used Kuri as a transit point to avoid the eyes of the various daimyo of Wano Country.

But as Kozuki Oden reformed Kuri and became a daimyo of Wano Country, all of this was about to change.

The Kurozumi Clan's operation finally showed its flaws and was noticed by the people of Kuri.

Discovering that someone was plundering population, and relying on Kozuki Oden's status as the Shogun's son and his prestige in the hearts of the various daimyo, Wano Country had now taken action.

They also found out that the plague of recent years was caused by human factors, and they didn't know who had plundered a large population from Wano Country.

This news completely alarmed Wano Country.

 The Kurozumi Clan had stopped their ongoing actions, secretly withdrawing their personnel from outside and returning to Black Snake Island.

They could be discovered if they weren't careful.

"It should be fine for now, right?"

Hades, who understood Kurozumi Semimaru somewhat, knew that there were only some hidden dangers at the moment, and it hadn't reached a dangerous degree.

Otherwise, Kurozumi Semimaru would have called earlier.

"It's alright. That group of Ninja from the Oniwabanshu has been bribed by me. And now, those primarily gathering intelligence outside will help us directly cover up any news related to us."

"We also have to thank the Shogunate and the various daimyo. If they didn't disregard the strength of the Ninja, I wouldn't have been able to bribe them so quickly. With their help, our transactions won't be exposed for now."

"Hehehe..."

Kurozumi Semimaru explained, chuckling sinisterly.

Ninja is a very ancient profession in Wano Country.

 Like Samurai, they need to train hard from a young age, and their studies are very complex.

However, in the general environment of Wano Country, Samurai are the mainstream.

 Ninja, who are hidden in the shadows and like to ambush, are generally looked down upon.

The Oniwabanshu is an organization specifically prepared for Ninja by the Shogunate, housing many Ninja.

To some extent, it was also for Wano Country's convenience in managing Ninja, and the Oniwabanshu's role is indeed significant.

Besides the Oniwabanshu, there are also many small Ninja organizations among the populace of Wano Country.

The long period of being disregarded had caused countless Ninja within the Oniwabanshu to feel dissatisfied.

At this time, the Kurozumi Family extended an olive branch, and the Oniwabanshu was immediately drawn in by the Kurozumi Clan.

Coupled with the fact that the Kurozumi Clan now has so much money they don't know where to spend it.

Besides the financial offensive, corruption, and winning over some disgruntled politicians in Wano Country.

The Kurozumi Family could also use some cheap items from The Great Sea to exchange for high prices within Wano Country.

Even so, the Kurozumi Clan is still lying low.

And the Oniwabanshu, who had grasped some secrets of the Kurozumi Clan, also saw the Kurozumi Clan's potential for rise.

 Coupled with the fact that the Kurozumi Clan gave them far too much, the importance placed on them was something they had never experienced before.

The Kurozumi Clan does not have Samurai.

"However, Hades, we need to lie low for a while recently and avoid the spotlight."

"Then let's wait for the situation to calm down first. We'll temporarily stop the population trade and focus on Seastone and other precious ore."

Hades didn't mind.

 Of course, the more people the better, but stopping for a while was fine.

He didn't believe the greedy Kurozumi Clan could hold back.

How easy it is to plunder money!

Once the situation calms down slightly, the Kurozumi Clan will definitely start again.

 This time, they even have the Oniwabanshu's cooperation.

It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.

Besides expanding their military strength, according to intelligence, the Kurozumi Family also controlled two or three Hidden Islands in the Sea Area near Wano Country and relocated some members of the Kurozumi Family.

The plan hadn't even succeeded yet, and Kurozumi Semimaru had already started preparing a backup plan.

Hades also had to sigh at her cleverness.

 In the future, she would single-handedly manipulate Wano Country and usurp the position of Shogun of Wano Country through seemingly legal means.

It's just that she ran into someone unreasonable like Kaido.

Compared to population, Seastone is also an important strategic material, as well as the ore used to forge various weapons in Wano Country.

In Wano Country, which possesses numerous Quarries and Mines, the Kurozumi Family controls several, especially Seastone mines.

"If you encounter trouble, you can seek help from others. You should know quite a few Monsters, right? Even if you don't, I can connect you."

"My Territory is in the New World Center, which is still too far from Wano Country. For me to personally take action, this alone is completely insufficient."

"That guy named Oden, once he grows up, will be no weaker than a Core Cadre."

"You should be clear about this, right? Kurozumi Semimaru, the only ones who can deal with Monsters are Monsters!"

Hades offered his advice.

As for the World Government, although he was interested, it was still too early, at least until Roger becomes the Pirate King.

Able to read Poneglyphs and possessing a Road Poneglyph, Kozuki Oden might even leave Wano Country and learn the entire truth.

By then, Wano Country's threat to the World Government will reach its peak.

On the other side, Kurozumi Semimaru fell into thought.

 She also hadn't expected that during the time of the Rocks Pirates, the Kozuki Clan would suddenly produce Kozuki Oden, a Monster among Monsters.

She clearly took Hades's words to heart.

It was indeed time to find helpers.

 To defeat the Kozuki Clan, sacrificing some interests was completely acceptable, after all, Wano Country was a treasure trove.

Who would be good to find?

Captain John? Silver Axe? Byrnndi World?

Or those two supernovas, "Tyrant Dragon" Zak and "Demon King" Nash.

These are all people who don't have a fixed Base yet.

In short, she hadn't thought of Kaido, this small fry.

(end of chapter)