Chapter - 58

"We expected as much, but unlike the fishmen we are willing to die right here right now." Cat Viper spoke smoking his kiseru. "We will kill you before we give up our home make no mistake."

Wanda and Carrot couldn't help but be torn between the two sides. On one hand they were loyal to the minks, on the other there stood the minks former savior Monkey D Luffy— former leader of their alliance. He was in danger of being killed and the two were mortified to watch the slaughter.

"Master Cat Viper, we shouldn't kill him surely there's—" Wanda started but was interrupted.

"Silence woman this man is cold hearted killer. You slaughtered the former King Neptune did you not?" Duke Inuarashi asked already knowing full well.

Luffy and his two emperors were not the least bit intimidated and were not about to back down to these minks.

The high councilor contemplated before answering, "He died for what he believed in, nothing wrong with that. You can all do the same or follow Queen Sharihoshi's example. I do offer integration into the royal city when it's finished, you have my word. You guys won't have to hide from the world anymore."

The minks conversed amongst themselves discussing the high councilor's words. He wasn't there to destroy their home he needed it— he would preserve it. Cat Viper silenced the minks in an instant.

"We can't follow someone like you. The only thing that drives you is pain, anger, and your dangerous ideology. As one half of the leaders of the minks, I refuse your offer with all due respect." The canine Duke spoke sternly.

Cat Viper gave an unnoticed signal wrapping the three men in razor thin ropes used to execute enemies in a horrific manner. The trio couldn't move a muscle and were completely held at the mercy of the mink tribe.

"You will be executed immediately." Cat Viper said still puffing his pipe.

Carrot and Wanda were horrified at the brutal display of restraint. The mink tribe were out for blood.

"You can't do this, we are not like this! He saved us." Carrot tried to reach her masters to no avail. The trio was completely helpless.

"What's going the hell is going on here?!" Kin'emon shouted entering the fray. He was followed closely by Raizo, Kanjuro, and Kozuki Momonosuke.

A small look of relief spread across the high councilor's features.

"We are executing trespassers who seek to take our land from us." The Duke spoke pulling out his sword.

The looks on the samurais' faces said it all. Their once savior and leader of the alliance was about to be executed by the minks. The minks were loyal to the Kozuki Family they would listen to them.

"Do you know who this is? This is—" Kanjuro started.

The Cat Viper interrupted the red haired samurai.

"Momonosuke! Come here!" The giant feline commanded brought the boy to his side forcing him to face the high councilor.

Duke Inuarashi handed the boy his sword.

"This man has betrayed the alliance we shared, and now threatens your home. By our laws he must be executed. This is the next step towards taking down Kaido." Inuarashi said causing the boy to grip the sword tightly.

The remaining samurai were outraged at the request by the mink leaders. They were going to force a boy nearly ten to execute his friend—it was madness.

"Master Cat Viper, Duke Inuarashi, this is unethical you can't—" Kin'meon started but was cut off.

"Didn't I say silence, the boy must follow the laws." The Duke said turning his attention back to Momonosuke.

"What a load of crap." Luffy spoke his hat covering his eyes. "Your laws are bullshit. You say you execute an invader, I'm trying to save the world!" The high councilor struggled to escape his entrapment.

The two leaders of the minks couldn't help but grin at his efforts.

"Those lines that bind your are made of sea prism stone and so is this." The Duke indicates towards the sword. "I'm afraid it's all over, high councilor. Momonosuke the execution is in your hands." The large mink finished taking a few steps back.

The boy looked at the sword in his hands before glancing at Luffy. He looked relatively the same except for his eyes. The pain, anger reflected in his demeanor and actions. Every movement he made was based on an unquenchable thirst for vengeance.

"Why did you come here? What do you want Luffy?" The boy asked quietly. Luffy could tell he was being genuine—the kid still was innocent and naive.

"I came here for you Momonosuke, I need your ability to control Zunisha, it's the key to defeating Kaido." The high councilor said.

"So you did come here to threaten my home. I should just execute you." The boy spoke tightening his grip on the sword.

Wether this worked out or not Luffy was not going to lay a finger on Momonosuke. If he was going to be executed by the boy then so be it. However he wouldn't go down without a fight.

"You could, but if you do, you'll never defeat Kaido, you wouldn't even touch him, not without me." Luffy responded.

Momonosuke shadowed his eyes covering his expression. None of it made any sense as to why Luffy was all of a sudden coming here demanding the ancient weapon. He wondered what the hell happened to him since the last time he saw him. Even after the evacuation and retreat from Wano he looked a lot happier than this. What the hell happened?

"Before I execute you... tell me why your doing all this. Last time I saw you...you looked happy. What happened to you Luffy?" The kid asked naively causing the high councilor to come to a realization—Momonosuke didn't know.

The high councilor sunk his head towards the ground, painful memories entering his mind.

"I couldn't save Nami..." the words left his words like a low whisper, it was so quiet nearly everyone heard it. "I lost her and my child that day... as well as the trust of my friends.. so when you ask me why I'm doing this. It's so that never happens again, like I said I want to protect not rule!Luffy shouted ducking his head again slightly. The pain in his heart started to get his blood boiling.

Momonosuke took a horrified step back nearly letting the sword drop from his grasp. The boy knew the orange haired navigator very well. Out of the straw hats he'd always been closest to her. She'd shown him such kindness after his escape from Punk Hazard, he truly was grateful to have known her. It all made sense to him now, he understood Luffy's pain. He didn't fully understand why he was doing what he was doing, but there was a purpose behind his actions.