“I agree to your terms.”
Kain's answer was crisp and clear. Not only that, his subsequent words made Kozuki Princess overjoyed.
“I will design a point system in Udon. Complete the mining tasks we assign, and you can earn basic points. If you exceed the tasks, you will receive additional points.”
“Points can be exchanged for rewards, such as food, fine wine, and even vacation time.”
“Besides that, I will also have an ultimate reward—freedom!”
The point system was not Kain's whim.
The prisoners in Udon are currently doing the hardest and most tiring work: mining Sake Iron Ore, which is an excellent material for forging weapons.
Because the work is hard and they are not well-fed, the mining efficiency in Udon is not high. Aside from getting free labor, it doesn't bring any actual profit.
Now, the production capacity of the weapon factory is gradually increasing, and gradually, the supply of ore has begun to become tight.
Kain also set his sights on the prisoners in Udon.
This was a good opportunity to announce the point system, killing two Birds with one stone.
He planned to set the point requirement for exchanging freedom as a reward at a level that would take ten years of hard work to accumulate.
After ten years, the prisoners who meet the requirements will likely have had their rough edges smoothed out.
Even if they remain unrepentant, by then, Wano Country will no longer have the fertile ground for their rebellion.
“Really?”
Kozuki Princess held her breath, the immense surge of happiness making it hard to believe.
“Of course.” Kain nodded, but his tone suddenly turned cold: “However, this freedom reward definitely cannot be exchanged by important prisoners like Hyogoro the Flower, Kawamatsu, or O-Tsuru.”
If he opened that door, he knew without thinking that with the prestige of Hyogoro and the others, there would be plenty of prisoners to help them grind.
Only those prisoners who perform the best, and whose strength and status do not pose a threat, will be able to gain freedom.
“This is enough… Thank you, Lord Kain.”
Kozuki Princess covered her face, grateful tears slipping through her fingers.
This was almost the best outcome she could imagine.
“This special treatment is not without cost.”
Kain said indifferently: “Besides your true heart, I also need your unconditional cooperation.”
“Cooperation?”
“I want to hold a Sword-Presenting Ceremony.”
Kain’s gaze was sharp as a sword, “You, as the Kozuki Princess, must publicly swear allegiance to me. This can reassure the people and help them accept our rule.”
He wanted to extinguish the last spark of hope for the Kozuki remnants and accelerate the assimilation of Wano Country.
Even the Kozuki Princess has submitted, so what is the point of your struggle?
“I understand.”
Kozuki Princess agreed without much hesitation.
Even though she knew that after the Sword-Presenting Ceremony, the prestige of the Kozuki Family would likely plummet to rock bottom.
But since the people of Wano Country are not living badly under Kain's rule, why should she go against the tide?
Besides avenging Kaido, her only wish was for the people of Wano Country to live a good life. Whether the Kozuki could continue to rule Wano Country was secondary.
With the dust settled, Kain handed the artificial Azure Dragon Berry back to Kozuki Princess.
“Lord Kain?”
“Eat it. Since you completely belong to me, I naturally won't be stingy!”
A blush spread across Kozuki Princess's face, which was a mix of youthful innocence and a hint of charm. She obediently took the Berry and took a bite.
“Ugh~”
An ineffable feeling of nausea, coming from the depths of her soul, instantly surged up from her stomach, rushing straight to her throat.
“Keep going. Although it seems you can gain abilities by just taking one bite, I'm not sure about artificial Devil Berry.”
Kain shrugged. This is a necessary path for all ability users.
“Yes, Lord Kain.”
Kozuki Princess continued to dry heave as she finished the entire artificial Azure Dragon Berry.
Soon, a strange power surged from her body, and her brain naturally knew how to use the ability.
When Kozuki Princess came to her senses and looked at her hands, she was immediately startled.
“I, I, I succeeded!”
Her originally fair and delicate hands were now a pair of Dragon Claws covered in pink scales.
“Come, take a look.” Kain thoughtfully handed her a mirror.
“Ah!”
Kozuki Princess was startled. If she hadn't been mentally prepared, she would have directly thrown the mirror away.
In the mirror, she saw herself with a camel-like head, deer-like horns, rabbit-like eyes, and ox-like ears. Except for the color, she looked exactly like a small Kaido.
“Hmm, much cuter than Mr. Kaido's beast form.”
Kain smiled, reaching out to gently caress the small, delicate Dragon Horns on Kozuki Princess's head.
Compared to Kaido's ferocious appearance, Kozuki Princess's transformed pink Dragon had much softer lines in all parts of its body, looking gentle and approachable.
“Ah, Lord Kain. Don't, don't touch there~”
The strange sensation from the Dragon Horns made Kozuki Princess shiver all over, her voice taking on a hint of coquettishness.
Did he just touch Kozuki Princess's sensitive spot?
This kind of Kozuki Princess is quite fun too.
Kain's lips curved into a playful smile.
He released his hand: “Hahahahaha, you need to get used to it more.”
“Now, let's go to Udon. I also need to fulfill my promise to you.”
Kozuki Princess was surprised and delighted: “So fast?!”
Kain: “I don't have a hobby of deceiving my own people.”
He led Kozuki Princess to the window.
“Come on, let's fly over.”
Kain did not intend to hide the news of Kozuki Princess gaining abilities. She would eventually have to train her abilities, and even if he tried to hide it, he couldn't hide it for long.
“Ah?” Kozuki Princess leaned out and looked. It was dozens of meters from the ground: “Can…can you give me some time to get used to it? Lord Kain.”
“Who do you think you are now? Can this height still stump a Mythical Beast-type ability user?”
Kain shook his head. You are not Kuina. At a mere dozens of meters, even if you fell straight down, you probably wouldn't even break a bone.
He no longer tried to persuade her. He reached out and grabbed the scruff of Kozuki Princess's neck, and with a flick, he directly threw her out.
“Ah ah ah ah ah~”
A terrified scream pierced the sky.
Driven by the instinct for survival, Kozuki Princess extended a claw in mid-air, and a propitious cloud instantly condensed in her hand.
“Hoo~ Suc, succeeded!”
Kozuki Princess looked at the ground less than ten meters below and let out a long sigh of relief.
At this moment, Kain's voice sounded in her ear: “Let's go, fly with the propitious cloud!”
With that, Kain moved his body and flew forward first.
“Wait for me, Lord Kain!” Kozuki Princess awkwardly stepped on the propitious cloud and chased after him.
Kozuki Princess's sudden appearance startled the Beasts Pirates below.
A pirate with blurry, drunken eyes muttered, “Boss Kaido, why have you shrunk?”
“Idiot!” The pirate next to him slapped him hard on the head, “The color is all wrong! That must be Boss Kaido's illegitimate child!”
“Oh, so that's it.”
The pirates suddenly understood. No wonder he looked so much like Boss Kaido!
Soon, the news of Boss Kaido's illegitimate child appearing spread throughout Onigashima as if it had grown wings.