PIRATES: I WORK IN NAVY FROM NINE TO FIVE

The suffocating atmosphere gripped Kozuki Hiyori's heart like an invisible iron claw.

She glanced back—first at the thousands of samurai Orochi had rallied, then at the growing crowd of civilians that had flooded into the capital.

Her bitter smile was tinged with helplessness.

"Kyoshiro… If I had a second chance, I swear I'd have slept with him last night."

"At least now, I wouldn't be feeling so damn nervous."

Kyoshiro froze.

He never expected Hiyori—no, Komurasaki—to blurt out such a bold, unfiltered line.

But after looking at the fluctuating expressions of the surrounding warriors and civilians, he understood.

Everyone gathered here wasn't here out of loyalty or blind courage.

They were watching.

Hoping.

Waiting for proof that this uprising was worth betting their lives on.

That their years of suffering… could still mean something.

Yet if all Ashura Doji had gathered were a few hot-headed warriors and a handful of nostalgic samurai—could that ever topple Orochi's reign?

Could it even make Kaido flinch when he returned?

Highly doubtful.

"Kyoshiro! Are you ignoring me again?" Orochi snapped, annoyed.

"I asked you—what kind of idiot would come here personally just to die?"

Kyoshiro snapped out of his thoughts, his face shifting into a familiar, sly smile.

"My apologies, Orochi-sama. Komurasaki was just saying—it's the first time she's seen such a powerful military force assembled under your rule."

"It makes her feel... safe."

"She also said, if any would-be rebels saw your army's strength, they'd be too terrified to even think about rebelling!"

"After all, we've gathered 12,000 samurai here in the Flower Capital. Even Kaido might hesitate if he saw that."

Listening to Kyoshiro parroting her name over and over, Hiyori nearly rolled her eyes so hard they popped out of her skull.

But she had no choice. Orochi was still suspicious, and any slip could ruin everything.

All she could do now… was pray that Ashura Doji wouldn't show up—or that something miraculous might happen.

That hope was quickly crushed.

Just as the thought passed through her mind, Fukurokuju, the commander of the Oniwabanshu, strode forward with a sharp-toothed grin.

"Orochi-sama! Fresh intel just came in. Ashura Doji is leading 800 samurai and headed this way. They should arrive any minute now."

"Frankly, I thought he might cause some real trouble, but this… this is pathetic."

"Trying to open the country with only 800 men? That's suicide."

"Only 800?" Orochi blinked—then burst into maniacal laughter.

He strutted to the edge of the castle wall, looking down at the countless civilians gathered below.

"Ha! You little ants! I let you into my city as a gift—so you could all witness for yourselves how utterly foolish this idea of 'opening the country' is!"

"A Red Scabbard trying to fulfill Oden's wish? What a goddamn joke!"

"I've waited two full days for this performance—just for 800 samurai to march in and die?"

"Fine! Let's not let this show end so quickly."

"Let's all welcome these brave little idiots who've come to throw their lives away!"

The mocking voice, though not loud, reverberated like a curse over the entire capital.

The beaten-down warriors and ragged civilians below all turned to look.

They followed Orochi's gaze toward the far end of the road—

Where Ashura Doji's massive frame was walking steadily forward, followed closely by hundreds of warriors.

The crowd froze.

Hearts sank.

For twenty years, they had waited.

They had clung to whispers, dreams, and the fading hope that the Scabbards would return to lead them into a new dawn.

And now… this was it?

They had imagined many things—

But not this.

There was no army to match Orochi's. No grand counterstrike.

Just 800 ragtag warriors, striding straight into the jaws of death.

Even under the leadership of Ashura Doji and any surviving Scabbards—

This was suicide.

The already stifling air thickened into despair.

Even Yamato, hidden in the crowd, clenched her teeth and tightened her grip on the kanabō.

"Luo Yu… Shouldn't we move now?"

"These numbers are worse than I expected. But maybe, if I step in as Kozuki Oden, I can rally their spirits!"

She was already halfway into motion—

But Luo Yu reached out, calmly stopping her.

"No… wait a little longer."

"There's still a surprise coming."

"Surprise?"

A soft voice came from a nearby street stall.

A woman in a deep blue cheongsam gently stepped out, holding the hand of a small girl with an awkward, forced smile.

Luo Yu recognized them instantly.

The woman was O-Tsuru, Kin'emon's childhood sweetheart.

The girl, the last heir of the Shimotsuki Clan.

He had run into them while traveling toward the capital.

Of course, he'd scored a rare stick of dango from them—an absolute treasure in Wano's famine-stricken lands.

Seeing the curiosity in O-Tsuru's eyes, Luo Yu simply raised his gourd and smiled.

"Yep. Something tells me the surprises aren't over."

"Just look at Orochi's face."

O-Tsuru and several nearby samurai instinctively followed Luo Yu's gaze.

Though they had said nothing aloud, many of them had lost heart upon seeing only 800 warriors arrive.

But Luo Yu's quiet confidence sparked something small within them.

A flicker of irrational hope.

And then, they saw it.

Orochi—who just moments ago had been cackling at the edge of the wall—was now frozen.

His pupils dilated. His eyes bulged.

He stared hard into the distance, where beyond Ashura Doji's force—

Thousands more figures began appearing from every direction.

From alleys. From forests. From fields.

A tide of warriors surged in from every corner of the land.

Even Kozuki Hiyori and Kyoshiro were left speechless.

Hidden not far away, even Kozuki Sukiyaki muttered to himself:

"Ten Sides of Ambush…?"

"Now that's what I call a surprise."