Yamato's accusations were full of holes; anyone with a modicum of sense wouldn't believe them.
But Ruun still let Yamato say them, for one reason only: to pave the way for the future "General Yamato" and plug all possible loopholes that could be exploited.
The execution of the current Shogun, Orochi, could not be a simple lynching or an act of venting anger.
Even though Orochi's cruelty was widely known, as the new ruler about to ascend, Yamato had to provide a "reasonable" justification for the execution in public.
Direct action would only create huge political hidden dangers for the future.
The public is forgetful and easily incited.
The Beasts Pirates were, after all, an external force, while the Kurozumi family was at least a legitimate Daimyo family of Wano Country.
Without this proclamation (even if it was full of holes), it would be hard to guarantee that someone wouldn't use it to stir up trouble in the future, enacting a "regicide and usurpation" play.
Ruun even considered the worst-case scenario—would this become a legitimate reason for a certain Straw Hat to intervene, triggering that damned plot kill?
Furthermore, to truly transform the Beasts Pirates from invaders into national administrators, achieving a certain kind of "whitewashing," a thorough reckoning with the former regime's forces was necessary.
The primary targets were naturally Kozuki Momonosuke, Kozuki Hiyori, and Kozuki Sukiyaki, the legitimate heirs of the Kozuki bloodline.
Next were their loyal devotees, the Akazaya Nine.
After clearing out these people, things would become much simpler.
All the dirty water, all the old grievances, could be dumped on the dead Orochi.
A dead man cannot argue or be cross-examined; he is the perfect scapegoat.
History is written by the victors; the truth doesn't matter, what matters is the "official narrative."
Ruun's plan was very pragmatic.
He didn't need Yamato to be an eternal wise ruler; he only needed her to do slightly better than Orochi's reign—to ensure the people were barely fed and clothed, with a little hope for the future.
As long as this was achieved, compared to the darkness of Orochi's era, the people would naturally be moved to tears of gratitude, praising the sagacity of General Yamato.
By then, who would still care if Wano Country belonged to Kozuki or Kaido?
A stable life is the most fundamental pursuit of the common people.
Ruun's goal was simple: avoid plot kills and protect his peaceful life.
For this, he would never be indecisive or merciful like the original Kaido.
Any potential threat to his goal would be completely nipped in the bud.
"Protect the General!"
The ninjas of Orochi's Oniwabanshu reacted extremely quickly, several figures lunging from the shadows, heading straight for Ruun and Yamato in mid-air.
Kunai and shuriken glinted with cold light, and some ninjas even spat out scorching fireballs!
"Ha! Good timing!" Yamato's blood immediately rushed to her head, her eyes fixed only on the approaching enemies.
She transformed into her Okuchi no Makami form, chilling cold air overflowing, wielding her Haoshoku-infused club with the momentum to crush mountains, and brought it down!
"Hey! You've got the wrong target, you idiot!" Ruun slapped his forehead, speechless at Yamato's linear thinking.
Sure enough, just as he expected, this silly girl went straight for the enemies in front of her once the fighting started.
While Yamato was entangled with the Oniwabanshu (or rather, she was unilaterally crushing the Oniwabanshu), Orochi's corpulent body darted with surprising agility into the depths of the mansion—he was trying to escape!
"Tsk, I knew you'd run." Ruun curled his lip, and casually hooked his finger in the direction Orochi was fleeing.
"Huh?!"
Orochi discovered in horror that his feet were off the ground, his entire body suspended in mid-air as if by invisible ropes, kicking his legs in vain.
"Let... let me down! You bastard! I am the Shogun!"
Ruun couldn't be bothered with him, casually holding Orochi a few meters off the ground, like a pig waiting to be slaughtered.
On the other side, the battle ended extremely quickly.
As Kaido's daughter, Yamato possessed the power of the Mythical Zoan: Okuchi no Makami form, all three types of Haki, and an even stronger will to fight.
Although the Oniwabanshu were elite ninjas of Wano Country, in the face of an absolute power gap, their resistance was like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot.
In just a few breaths, a swath of the Oniwabanshu had fallen, either dead or wounded.
"Enough, Yamato." Ruun's voice sounded at the right moment.
Yamato, who was just smashing away a ninja, paused at his words, looking at Ruun with some lingering desire: "Huh? Is that all? I haven't even..."
Ruun pointed to Orochi, whom she had forgotten and who was now suspended in mid-air, terrified:
"The main culprit is here. This guy is a user of the Hebi Hebi no Mi, Mythical Zoan: Yamata no Orochi form. To kill him completely, you have to kill him eight times, or wait until he transforms and cut off all eight of his heads."
"What?!" Orochi and Yamato exclaimed simultaneously.
Yamato was surprised by this strange ability.
Orochi, on the other hand, was utterly terrified: "You... how do you know?! This is impossible!"
This was his biggest trump card for survival! How could the other party know it so clearly?
Ruun had no interest in explaining the questions of a dying man, merely raising his chin towards Yamato: "Do it, Yamato."
"Understood!" Yamato's eyes sharpened, entering a focused state.
Cold air condensed on her club, dark Armament Haki wrapped around it, and faint dark red lightning flickered.
"No! Wait! Kaido won't let you get away with this! I..." Orochi's plea turned into a roar, his neck began to writhe, and eight grotesque snake head illusions struggled to split apart.
Yamato moved.
Her movements were as fast as lightning, and her cold-infused club swept horizontally!
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Eight snake heads of various forms were cleanly and decisively severed at the same instant!
Ruun withdrew his power, allowing Orochi's headless body to fall to the ground with a "thud," blood gushing from his severed neck, but quickly freezing into a patch of dark red ice crystals by the lingering cold air.
Orochi's surviving subordinates and retainers were now pale-faced, shaking like sieves.
Someone, no one knew who, took the lead, and they all knelt to the ground.
"General Yamato! We pledge our lives to you!"
"Pledge allegiance to General Yamato!"
Ruun was not surprised by this.
He didn't even bother to look at these opportunists, merely scanning the crowd for the geisha whose exquisite beauty couldn't be hidden even while kneeling—Komurasaki (Kozuki Hiyori).
I need to find a suitable opportunity to deal with her... not now.
A thought flashed through Ruun's mind, but his expression remained calm.
He then took Yamato's arm, and gravity once again enveloped them both, slowly lifting them high into the sky, until all the citizens of the Flower Capital could clearly see them.
The streets below were already packed with people drawn by the previous announcement and the sounds of fighting; now, there was a deathly silence, countless eyes looking up at the two figures in the sky with fear and confusion, and... the grotesque head Ruun held in his hand—Orochi!
Ruun's voice clearly spread in all directions:
"Citizens of the Flower Capital, listen! The former Shogun, Orochi, was incompetent, greedy, and tyrannical! To vent personal anger, he invited wolves into the house, framed the Beasts, and exploited the people, being the root cause of Wano Country's twenty years of suffering! He has now been executed!"
"In three days, the Daimyo from each region will gather in the Flower Capital to discuss the selection of a new Shogun!"
Then, without waiting for the reaction of the people below, he directly tossed Orochi's head to a seemingly leading figure among Orochi's former subordinates below,
"Hang the head and body of this traitor at the city gate for three days! Immediately repair the Shogunate and prepare to welcome the Daimyo for deliberation in three days!"
The man fumbled to catch the head, shuddering again in fear, and repeatedly assented: "Yes! Your command!"
Ruun said no more, taking Yamato and transforming into a streak of light, flying towards Onigashima.
