242. A Failure

"Have you found them yet?"

Orochi asked one of his men. His eyes were red as he did so.

The man he asked had long ear lobes. He was slightly scared and replied respectfully, "Not yet, Orochi-sama."

Orochi was infuriated when he heard the answer. His body started to swell and his neck split grew longer.

Zoan Fruit, Model Hydra.

Orochi was the user of a devil fruit.

The long ear lobed man took a step back and immediately bowed, "Don't worry, Orochi-sama. They can't get far, in the end they will die in the same way as Yasuei."

Hearing the man's reply Orochi slightly calmed. When he thought about Yasuei's death a gleeful smile climbed on his face.

"Ehahaha, that damn Yasuei is dead. Ha! He always treated me like a servant! Serves him right."

The long ear lobed man heaved a sigh of relief before retreating.

Orochi returned to his normal form and sat down. He took out a bottle of sake from a nearby cabin and started drinking.

As he was chugging down he saw the flyer from the corner of his eyes. A peculiar glint flashed in his eyes.

...

Kibi.

Leo was frowning as he looked at Yasuei.

"I managed to deflect the bullets so that none of it injured his vitals. Though he lost a lot of blood he can still live."

Flare said from the side.

Leo nodded. He looked at Chopper who was treating Yasuei and asked.

"Any problems?"

Chopper didn't turn back. He was wrapping up a wound as he replied, "Like Flare said, he lost a lot of blood."

Leo raised his arm and said, "Use mine then. I am a universal donor."

Chopper nodded. He started taking Leo's blood.

After a while Yasuei's treatment was completed. He was breathing normally and some life had returned to his face.

The little girl Toko was leaning against Yasuei's bed and sleeping.

Leo looked at them silently for a while and left the room.

When he got outside he saw a very beautiful woman talking excitedly to Momonosuke. She had long hair and an exquisite face.

"Who is this?"

Zoro heard his teacher's question and said, "This is Kozuki Hiyori. Oden's daughter."

Oh?

Leo was slightly surprised.

Hiyori saw Leo and immediately went forward. She bowed to him and said, "Thank you, for saving Yasuei-sama."

Leo waved his hand, "Go thank him, he is the one who saved him, not me."

Hiyori turned around and bowed to Flare as well.

Not accustomed to this type of situations Flare laughed awkwardly.

Leo rubbed his chin and looked at Hiyori carefully. He then turned to Zoro and said, "She is a good fit. Not bad, Zoro."

"Huh? What?"

Zoro asked back in confusion.

Leo didn't elaborate. He turned to everyone in the room and said, "Your plans are already out in the open. Better make adjustments."

Inuarashi nodded, "Orochi definitely found out about the flyer."

Leo asked, "What's the status of your guy working on the prisoners?"

Inuarashi shook his head, "The keys are heavily guarded. He still needs a bit more time."

Leo nodded. Suddenly he asked something, "I don't get it. Why did you follow such a useless lord?"

Inuarashi, Nekomamushi were startled by the sudden question.

"Leo, I know you judge him for his mistakes but don't insult our lord infront of us."

As Inuarashi spoke an overbearing pressure broke out from his body. Nekomamushi was also looking at Leo in anger.

Leo scoffed, he wasn't the least bit intimidated by their aura and said, "So what if I insult him? Look at the state of this country, can you really say that none of this is not really his fault?"

Inuarashi and Nekomamushi didn't speak. Both of them glared at Leo.

At this moment Momonosuke stood up. He clenched his fist and shouted at Leo, "My father was a great man!"

Leo took back his vision from Inuarashi and Nekomamushi and stared at Momonosuke.

He curled his lips into a disdainful smile and said, "A great man? Let's talk about that."

"Kozuki Oden was born to royalty. It was his duty as well his responsibility to take over as shogun."

"However he was rebellious and adventurous. He left home at a young age, wandered all over Wano, creating problems everywhere. And finally he settled down."

"From the stories I heard he created a paradise out of a lawless place. But tell me, what did your father actually do?"

"Sure, he defeated those thugs and took them under him care, but that's it."

"Because your father was the future lord of Wano his vassals didn't want to shame him. They did everything they can to make him proud."

By now Leo's voice turned slightly cold. He pointed to the room where Yasuei was and said.

"He had a friend who trusted him and gave him money unconditionally. And he was surrounded by vassals who wanted to do their best for him."

"What became of that place is a result of manpower and money. Your father did absolutely nothing worthy of praise."

"In fact his true mettle was tested when he was put up against an enemy with wits. And look what happened."

Inuarashi and Nekomamushi didn't speak. They clenched their fists so hard that their nails dug into their flesh.

Leo didn't plan on stopping and continued to speak.

"Kid, he was the ruler of Wano, the shogun. This very land was his legacy. If he even slightly cared for this country it wouldn't be what it is right now."

"Your father, the so called great man let an unknown person into his office. He let him handle the affairs of a shogun and gave him money every he asked him. Every resource he had as the shogun, his enemy also had."

"If he had even a shred of wisdom he would have suspected when an unknown person came in contact with him, the shogun of Wano. Even if that person was introduced by his closest friend or family."

"But your father was so dumb that he never for once doubted Orochi."

"All his enemy needed was an opportunity, and your father handed it to them on a silver platter."

"When an opportunity to venture outside was presented before him he didn't even stop to think for a moment about what would happen to this country in his absence."

"He didn't appoint a person to take charge in his absence. He was so careless that he never thought about the future of his country in his absence. He just left."

"Kozuki Momonosuke, a ruler must have three virtues - charisma, strength and wisdom. A ruler can be without the first two qualities, but wisdom he must absolutely have."

"Your father lacked that. He was the most arrogant, selfish, foolish imbecile I have ever heard of in my entire life."

"Leo!!"

Inuarashi and Nekomamushi growled at Leo. Their large bodies towered over him but Leo ignored them. He stared at Momonosuke who was trembling, his voice turned colder and colder.

"Tama, she is just a kid. If your father had been less selfish and thought a bit more she wouldn't be running around scrounging for scraps! She wouldn't be thanking the heavens for eating a bowl of red bean soup!"

"Yasuei, his best friend! Wouldn't be on a bed barely alive and in that wretched condition. His five year old daughter wouldn't have had to see him almost get executed like a common criminal and fall him in his own blood!"

"And worst of all, his own daughter, your sister led a very miserable life for twenty years! You father's stupidity knew no bounds, he is the reason she had nearly became someone else's plaything!"

"And look around you! Because of SMILE, You people! Those your father should have protected can only smile, even when they are burning inside!"

"Why? Because your father allowed this to happen!"

"Great man? Kozuki Momonosuke, your father was an absolute failure, as a ruler, as a friend and above all as a father!"