CH 29: Not Only Do I Have To Release Him, But You Also Have To Become My Subordinate.
Carlos shook his head slightly and gently lifted the girl's chin.
Their eyes met.
The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan activated.
A false memory was forced into Kozuki Hiyori's mind.
After all, she was just a sixteen-year-old girl, completely powerless to resist the Sharingan's illusion.
Gradually, Hiyori's eyes began to change, and they no longer looked as wary as before.
Apparently, she believed Carlos's story.
Carlos struck while the iron was hot.
"Well, you were only six or seven years old at the time, and you encountered such a terrible thing. You must have had a hard time over the past few years, right?"
Hiyori's nose felt sour when she heard this.
I spent the whole day hiding in fear, not having enough to eat.
Only she understands the bitterness of it best.
If it hadn't been for Kawamatsu's care, she might not have been able to hold on long ago.
Memories of the past came to mind.
She lowered her head, and unknowingly, crystal tears shone in her eyes.
"Do you still want to live in this endless despair? Don't you want revenge?"
"Or would you rather wait for Momonosuke, Kin'emon, and the others? Just keep waiting like this with no hope?"
The series of questions left Hiyori speechless, and after a while, she sighed helplessly.
"But, it's the Beasts Pirates after all, I..."
Carlos smiled, took out a newspaper, and handed it to her.
"You, you are actually a great pirate with a bounty of 1.5 billion beli!"
"That's right, let's get to know each other again. I am Carlos, the top officer of the Beasts Pirates."
Hiyori covered her mouth in surprise, her mind was in a mess, and she didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Since you want to avenge your father, why do you still imprison Kawamatsu? He is..."
"I know he is one of the Nine Red Scabbards. Don't worry. I am doing this just to give Kaido an explanation. When the time is right, I will rescue him."
…
The two talked from early evening until late into the night.
Oden's past stories were told one by one by Carlos.
Hiyori completely dispelled all doubts.
"If he is willing to help, maybe he can really do it..."
She stared blankly at the man in front of her, her eyes gradually becoming firmer.
Her body suddenly fell to the ground and she choked:
"I-I want to save Wano Country! Carlos-kun, please help me!"
"No problem."
These three simple words seemed to have infinite power, violently impacting her heart.
The experiences of these years had already brought Hiyori to the brink of collapse.
Now she finally saw hope.
At this moment, the emotions that had been accumulated for a long time were violently released like a floodgate opening.
After crying excitedly, Hiyori lay on the table and fell asleep.
Carlos shook his head and was about to put her on the bed when bursts of noise suddenly came from outside.
A large group of Beasts Pirates rushed in in panic.
"It's not good! Boss Carlos!"
"Jack was defeated by the bandit leader and imprisoned by them!"
…
Head Mountain
In a dense forest next to the bandits' camp, dozens of Beasts Pirates were stripped naked and hung from trees.
The worst of them all was Jack.
He was beaten until his nose was bruised and his face was swollen, and his body was covered with scars made by sharp blades.
He was also tied tightly with chains as thick as his arms.
Compared to the miserable Beasts Pirates, the atmosphere below was extremely warm.
A large group of bandits sat on the ground around a campfire, drinking wine and eating meat while talking loudly.
"I've long heard how scary the Beasts Pirates are, but it turns out it's nothing more than that."
"You dare to take advantage of our Head Mountain Bandits, and you don't even want to know who our boss is?"
…
A fat man with his upper body exposed and wearing only a purple cloak was surrounded by people and stars.
Compliments from his subordinates kept coming from all around.
But he was drinking alone, as if he had something on his mind.
The dancing firelight shone on his face, flickering brightly and dimly.
This person was none other than the leader of the Head Mountain bandits, Shutenmaru.
At the same time, he had another, lesser-known name - Ashura Doji.
In the past, he was called "the strongest monster in Kuri."
After being defeated by Kozuki Oden, he was impressed by Oden's personality and willingly became a retainer of the Kozuki clan, assisting them in governing Kuri.
Those years can be said to be the happiest time in his life.
But the good times didn't last long.
Ten years ago, the Beasts Pirates came here and, along with Kurozumi Orochi, defeated the Kozuki clan.
They occupied Wano Country.
Oden even died in front of him.
After this series of events, Shutenmaru became disheartened, changed his name, and made a living by robbing families and homes on Head Mountain.
A disturbing smell suddenly came from the distance, disrupting his thoughts.
Shutenmaru put down the wine glass in his hand and looked into the distance, his lazy eyes becoming sharp.
"Beasts Pirates…"
A person slowly walked out of the shadows.
Behind him, there was a crowd of people, and it was difficult to see how many there were in the darkness.
After receiving the news from his subordinates,
Carlos arrived here immediately.
"You must be the bandit leader here, Shutenmaru? Let my men go."
Shutenmaru didn't answer.
The faint aura emanating from the other party made him feel a little uneasy.
The bandits on the side couldn't stand it anymore and started to yell at Carlos one after another.
"Let him go if you ask us to let him go? Who do you think you are?"
"Did you see what happened to them? If you know what's good for you, just leave here and let your boss come over."
Carlos ignored the noisy minions beside him and instead focused on Shutenmaru.
"If you can defeat Jack, you are pretty good. Being a bandit is too wasteful. Come hang out with me."
Shutenmaru sneered.
"I'm free and easy here, with no worries about food and clothing. Why should I join the Beasts Pirates?"
"Hmph, even if Kaido himself came here in person, I wouldn't agree!"
"Boy, tell me your name."
"Carlos."
Shutenmaru suddenly frowned; this name felt a bit familiar to him.
A minion beside him seemed to recognize it and said in surprise:
"He is the rising star of the Beasts Pirates! Carlos has a bounty of 1.5 billion beli!"
"Boss! This guy is no ordinary person! Not even the Big Mom Pirates could do anything to him!"
The bandits were shocked, stood up from the ground, and quickly drew their swords.
Although they were in a remote mountain, they also learned about Carlos's various deeds through newspapers published some time ago.
This person is not easy to mess with!
Shutenmaru hesitated for a while and said in a low voice:
"We, the Head Mountain Bandits, and you, the Beasts Pirates, have no grievances on weekdays. There is no need to fight to the death here."
"Take your people and get out of here!"
Carlos shook his head.
"Of course, people have to be let go, and you have to come with me."
Judging from the performance in the original plot, Shutenmaru could be regarded as one of the best warriors among the Nine Red Scabbards.
If you want to fight Kaido, you must win over this powerful helper.
"Are you serious? Don't think I'm afraid of you!"
"Everything else is fine. This matter is non-negotiable."
Shutenmaru laughed angrily, drew out the katana from his waist, and pointed at Carlos.
"Don't be too arrogant, kid!"
"Fight? Just what I wanted."
The bandits retreated, giving space for the impending clash. Shutenmaru, a formidable warrior with a history of loyalty and strength, faced Carlos, a rising star in the Beasts Pirates with newfound power. Both knew the stakes of this confrontation.
Carlos's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan glowed, and he prepared his Armament Haki, knowing this battle could sway the future of Wano Country. Shutenmaru, wielding his katana with expertise, readied himself.
The air grew tense, and silence enveloped the forest. The clash between these two powerful figures was about to begin.