Chapter 91: Kurozumi Higurashi Arrives
Seven days.
Seven days had passed since Hattori returned.
Splash~~~ Splash~~~
As the waves slowly churned, a ship gradually docked at Cake Island's harbor.
"Hehehe~~~"
Along with that eerie laughter, Kurozumi Higurashi brought Kurozumi Semimaru with her and laughed strangely. "So this is the Totto Land sea area! The Edward Family truly is a terrifying family! Lord Orochi and Lady Aoka actually vanished without a trace before anyone realized it."
To be honest!
Kurozumi Higurashi did not really care about the deaths of Kurozumi Orochi and Kurozumi Aoka.
Why?!
Please!
They were pure trash. If not for the fact that they were direct bloodline members, if there had been any second choice, Kurozumi Higurashi would have replaced them without the slightest hesitation.
And now?!
The only two direct bloodline members had died, while Kurozumi Yuka, as a concubine-born daughter, had already given birth to a son. Then! Although this son was born from a concubine, he was now the direct heir. There was nothing to say about that.
Naturally.
Kurozumi Higurashi brought Kurozumi Semimaru to the Totto Land sea area.
Some matters now needed to be discussed face to face.
"Kurozumi Higurashi!"
"Kurozumi Semimaru!"
"You two, this way please!"
Hattori walked over step by step, guiding the two of them toward the depths of Cake Island, heading west toward the office building.
"Hehehe~~~"
Kurozumi Higurashi looked at Hattori and said with interest, "You are the ninja who killed Lord Orochi and Lady Aoka, aren't you?"
"It was me."
"This old woman wants to know where those two corpses are now."
"I don't know!"
"The corpses have already been handed over to Madam Yuka. As for how Madam handled them, that is not something I am qualified to involve myself in."
"Hehehe~~~"
As the two conversed, they had already arrived at the office building.
After Hattori led the two into the office building, they came to the office door.
Knock!
Knock!
"Come in."
"Yes!"
Hattori brought the two into the office, then withdrew.
"Hehehe~~~"
Ike looked at Kurozumi Higurashi and Kurozumi Semimaru, then chuckled lightly. "Kurozumi Higurashi, this is our second meeting."
"Hehehe~~~"
Kurozumi Higurashi was not polite either. She sat down on the sofa, accompanied by that strange laughter, her entire person appearing extremely sinister. "This old woman also did not expect, Mr. Ike, that you would act so quickly. In such a short time, you already dealt with Lord Orochi and Lady Aoka. This old woman did not even have time to defend them."
"That is fine." Ike said very calmly. "Dealing with those two pieces of trash earlier means Wano Country can be brought under my control even faster."
"Hehehe~~~"
"Sure enough!"
"Mr. Ike!" Kurozumi Higurashi sighed. "When we spoke last time, this old woman already sensed that you had great ambition and greed toward Wano Country. But! I truly did not expect that you would not hide it at all and would act so quickly."
Ike said very calmly, "Wano Country is a very good place. As long as I can take Wano Country, then! The benefits it brings will be enormous. Regarding this point, Kurozumi Higurashi, you understand Wano Country's situation and also understand the outside sea. You should be very clear."
"That is indeed true!" Kurozumi Higurashi said in agreement. "If Wano Country did not carry out its closed-country policy, then perhaps! The current Wano Country would already be a world-famous superpower."
"The Kozuki clan…"
"Hmph~~~"
Listening to Kurozumi Higurashi say this, Ike thought of the Kozuki clan. The corner of his mouth curled into a mocking smile, and he waved his hand with great disdain. "They are nothing but a group of idiots. Under the Kozuki clan's rule, it is already very good that Wano Country has not been destroyed."
Kurozumi Higurashi said sinisterly, "Yes! Yes! This old woman thinks the same. Right! Mr. Ike, this old woman wants to know, the corpses of Lord Orochi and Lady Aoka, now…"
"They have already been chopped up and fed to the dogs." Ike said calmly. "Yuka did not like them, so I simply let Yuka vent her anger a little."
"So that is how it is."
Kurozumi Higurashi nodded in understanding, then said regretfully, "This old woman originally planned to collect Lord Orochi and Lady Aoka's remains. It seems that is quite unfortunate. However! It does not matter. Lord Ike!"
"No!"
"Patriarch!"
Kurozumi Higurashi bowed slightly, her entire person extremely respectful as she said, "Mr. Edward Ike, from today onward! The Kurozumi clan will be a subordinate family of your Edward Family!"
As someone from Wano Country who had lived abroad, Kurozumi Higurashi was naturally very clear about the rules of the outside world.
Ike said calmly, "There is no need for that. The future patriarch of your Kurozumi clan is my son. The Kurozumi clan itself belongs to the Edward Family."
"Yes!"
Kurozumi Higurashi bowed slightly. Then, the corner of her mouth split open in a sinister grin. "Patriarch! How do you intend to take down the entire Wano Country?"
"Hehehe~~~"
Kurozumi Higurashi's smile was extremely strange, even filled with terrifying madness and ferocity. This old woman truly wanted to see what those people would look like when the Kurozumi clan became the master of Wano Country.
"That would truly be far too interesting…"
Kurozumi Higurashi's madness made people feel strange.
Looking at Kurozumi Higurashi in this state, Ike was momentarily rendered silent.
Good grief!
Was there something seriously wrong with this old woman's condition?
Ike felt that Kurozumi Higurashi's state was truly not quite right, but he also did not know what he should say.
In the end!
Ike still spoke. "Wano Country! I will transform it into a great weapons nation. For the entire Wano Country, this does not seem like anything bad."
"Of course." Kurozumi Higurashi said cruelly. "Those people filled with slave-like nature should be ruled through absolute methods. Freedom? Do those slaves deserve freedom? They do not deserve freedom at all!"
"Mm~~~"
Ike said calmly, "Kurozumi Higurashi, come. Tell me your plan. How do we control Wano Country?"
Ike was very clear that Kurozumi Higurashi must have already formulated a complete plan. Just like in the original story, it was absolutely not as simple as it appeared.
"Hehehe~~~"
Kurozumi Higurashi laughed strangely. "Sure enough! Nothing can be hidden from you, Patriarch. This old woman has indeed formulated some plans."
"Wait!" Ike stopped Kurozumi Higurashi and said, "Right, tell me first. I want to know, how many people are still left in the Kurozumi clan?"
"Yes!"
"Aside from Lady Yuka, the remaining members of the Kurozumi clan are this old woman and Kurozumi Semimaru, as well as Fukurokuju, who currently serves as the captain of the Shogun's Oniwabanshu!"
"Hehehe~~~"
"I am afraid!"
"Kozuki Sukiyaki would never dream that the ninja force he trusts the most, the captain of the Shogun's Oniwabanshu, is actually a member of the Kurozumi clan, Kurozumi Fukurokuju!"
"Other than that, there is also a young man named Kurozumi Kanjuro."
Kurozumi Higurashi respectfully reported all the currently surviving members of the Kurozumi clan to Ike.
"Oh~~~"
Listening to the identities of the remaining Kurozumi clan members, the corner of Ike's mouth curled into an interested smile.
He truly had not expected this!
However!
Thinking about it slightly, it also seemed very reasonable. As the captain of the Kozuki clan's Shogun Oniwabanshu, Fukurokuju seemed to have no reason to betray the Kozuki clan!
Moreover!
In the original story, Kurozumi Orochi trusted Fukurokuju very much.
Now, Ike knew the fundamental reason. It was because Fukurokuju was part of a branch family of the Kurozumi clan, Kurozumi Fukurokuju.
Kanjuro was the same. Kanjuro's talent was also very outstanding. He was likewise part of a branch family of the Kurozumi clan, Kurozumi Kanjuro.
Ike nodded and said, "Not bad. Continue! Kurozumi Higurashi, tell me your initial plan."
Although.
Only four members of the Kurozumi clan remained, overall, it was still very good. In the future, they would be extremely important in helping his son Seimei control Wano Country.
Kurozumi Fukurokuju could control the ninja forces.
Kurozumi Higurashi would serve as the strategist behind the scenes.
Kurozumi Semimaru was already a qualified powerhouse, a genuine Emperor's Deputy-level combatant.
Kurozumi Kanjuro, if properly trained, could also become a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral-level combatant in the future.
The core of the Edward Family was its family members.
However!
Ike did not mind other people obediently listening. At the very least, when they were used as cannon fodder to die, these people could still produce decent results, couldn't they?
Do not say Ike was cruel.
Ike and Newgate, these two brothers, were both the same. To the two brothers, the only thing they trusted was bloodline.
Other than that?!
Everything else?!
They did not care.
Ike's attitude toward such things was indifferent. If they could be used properly, they were still decent tools.
"Yes!"
Kurozumi Higurashi respectfully nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "Patriarch, the first step! This old woman believes it is to spend money. In the past, the Kurozumi clan truly had no money. But! Now, with your support from behind, Patriarch, craftsmen! Ninjas! Samurai! These three types of families are actually the core that makes up Wano Country."
"Only…"
Kurozumi Higurashi's eyes flashed with a sinister light as she said cruelly, "They have no status at all in Wano Country. Compared to the Four Great Families, swordsmith families, and the Oniwabanshu, the gap is enormous."
"Since that is the case!" Kurozumi Higurashi opened her withered hand, saying excitedly, "If we can bring all three under our control…"
"Actually!"
"At least sixty percent of Wano Country will already be under our control."
"Only sixty percent?"
Ike frowned slightly. He had originally thought that if these three types of families were brought under control, they would be able to control at least around eighty percent of Wano Country.
"Patriarch!" Kurozumi Higurashi shook her head mockingly. "Because the elite samurai forces are all in the hands of the daimyo of the Four Great Families. These families have nothing apart from their family-inherited techniques and records."
"So that's how it is!"
Ike nodded in understanding. He understood what she meant and calmly said, "Kurozumi Higurashi, after you return to Wano Country, I will have Hattori lead the ninja force back to Wano Country with you."
"At the same time!"
"Sasaki will also lead the samurai force back to Wano Country with you."
"Remember!"
"I hope you handle everything properly."
"As for money?"
"Rest assured. The Edward Family does not lack money. In fact, we have plenty of money."
"Hehehe~~~"
Kurozumi Higurashi nodded. "Patriarch! You can rest assured. This old woman knows how to handle it."
How could Kurozumi Higurashi not understand what this meant?
They would completely swallow Wano Country's power, while also cultivating the samurai force and ninja force. She understood. She understood all of it.
"Continue." Ike said calmly. "What is the second step?"
"The second step!"
Kurozumi Higurashi raised one of her withered fingers and said, "Through this method, choose a representative and take control of Kuri!"
"Control Kuri?" Ike was stunned, while Kurozumi Higurashi nodded. "Yes! Kuri is a lawless region. If this region can be controlled, then! Kozuki Sukiyaki must appoint that person as the daimyo of Kuri. At that time! He will justifiably become a daimyo of Wano Country."
"In this way…"
"Through this method, the foundation of identity will be established."
"Mm!"
Ike thought for a moment, then nodded as well. He understood what Kurozumi Higurashi meant. If an ordinary person suddenly had the position of shogun passed to him, would that not be rather absurd?
With such groundwork laid, everything in every aspect would be much better.
"The third step!" Kurozumi Higurashi continued, "is extremely simple. Hand the position of daimyo to His Highness, then use this old woman's ability to make His Highness become the shogun of Wano Country. This step is not difficult. It could even be said to be extremely easy."
"However…"
"The truly troublesome part is the fourth step!"
Kurozumi Higurashi's eyes became serious. "Patriarch, Fugetsu Omusubi, Uzuki Tempura, Shimotsuki Ushimaru, and Shimotsuki Yasuie—these four daimyo of Wano Country. Aside from Shimotsuki Yasuie, the other three are not easy to handle. Especially Shimotsuki Ushimaru. He holds the title of Wano Country's number one samurai."
"I understand." Ike quietly said, "When you reach the fourth step, I will naturally have someone help you deal with Shimotsuki Ushimaru."
Was Shimotsuki Ushimaru strong?!
Yes!
Yes!
Very strong!
But what about his big brother's strength?
Ah!
Right!
What about Patrick Redfield's strength?
What a joke!
The current Edward Family had three genuine Admiral-level combatants. Under such circumstances, what did Ike helping Redfield mean?
In the future!
Even if Redfield led the Baloric family to control the Kingdom of Dressrosa, who would inherit the position of king afterward?
Of course, it would be Ike and Alice's child. Redfield was also very clear about this point. To put it plainly, the Baloric family would be completely brought under the Edward Family's control. In the end, Redfield would become a visible chess piece to help the Edward Family control the Kingdom of Alabasta.
However!
Even so, you could not refuse, because Ike had a way to help you revive the Baloric family.
It was the same as Wano Country. As for the current Wano Country, Kurozumi Higurashi had no other choice, because only Seimei was the only suitable candidate and the only person who could be supported.
This was the fundamental core!
Through marriage alliances, Ike would gradually take control of Wano Country and the Kingdom of Dressrosa. If his plan was perfect enough, then the giant kingdom of Elbaf in the future would also be within his grasp.
"Mm~~~"
Thinking of this point, Ike secretly thought in his heart, "Why does it feel like I'm living off women?"
"Uh~~~"
Thinking of this, the corner of Ike's mouth twitched slightly. To be honest! It really did seem like he was living off women.
He hurriedly shook off these messy thoughts. Ike then continued, "Through this method, the four daimyo will be dealt with, and the Four Great Families will be dealt with. But what is the situation with the Amatsuki family?"
Ike was rather puzzled about this point.
"The Amatsuki family…" Kurozumi Higurashi said strangely, "Patriarch, very few people know about this matter. In reality! The Amatsuki family is hidden in the Flower Capital, responsible for secretly assisting the Kozuki clan. In order to better control Wano Country, not only did they close the country, they also made many more preparations."
"The Kurozumi clan back then…"
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