Chapter 74: Hashirama Discovered the Highlight!

Kaido the Beast suddenly shook off Lucas, his massive frame twisting as he burst forward with terrifying momentum. His target was clear—Kozuki Momonosuke, who stood frozen in the distance, paralyzed with fear.

Despite his brutish appearance, Kaido was no fool. He wasn't simply raging blindly—he had noticed something peculiar. Lucas had been deliberately provoking him, taunting him into reckless attacks. That could only mean one thing: Momonosuke was important to him.

A wicked grin stretched across Kaido's face. If the brat was valuable, then taking him as a hostage could end this war in favor of the Beasts Pirates.

Lucas watched Kaido's charge with a calculating gaze. His lips curled slightly, as if everything was proceeding exactly as he intended.

In the chat group, the conversation was unfolding in real-time.

Sword God Ryuma: "Oh? You want to use Kaido the Beast to eliminate Momonosuke? Clever move! The identity of the Kozuki heir still holds weight among those fools in Wano. Getting rid of that little brat would be quite beneficial, though you cannot do it yourself."

Whitebeard: "Do you honestly think Kaido will do you that favor? Don't underestimate him—he's not a complete idiot."

Lucas: "Who said I was relying on Kaido to finish Momonosuke off? I'm just using him to create an opportunity. If Momonosuke is going to die—I'll be the one to kill him."

A grim smile spread across Lucas' face, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light.

You don't have to become the Pirate King. You don't have to be the world's greatest swordsman. You don't need to seek All Blue. You don't need to uncover the mysteries of the Poneglyphs… But one thing is certain—Momonosuke must die!

[*Tl: I think I need to get a break translating One Piece fanfic, I don't get the hate they got with Momonosuke]

A desperate cry suddenly pierced the battlefield.

"HELP!"

Momonosuke's terrified scream rang out as Kaido thundered toward him. His face was deathly pale, his body shaking violently. The overwhelming presence of the Emperor of the Sea made it impossible for him to breathe.

The beastly face, the towering figure, the sheer force radiating from Kaido—it was enough to shatter the boy's will to stand.

Lucas wasted no time.

"Lion Menace: Earth Coiling!"

A thunderous rumble erupted as Lucas unleashed the power of his Float-Float Fruit. The ground trembled, splitting apart as enormous lions sculpted from earth materialized around Kaido. Their massive, roaring forms surged forward, blocking his advance.

"Lord Momonosuke!"

The samurai of Wano screamed in horror, but the earthen lions stood firm, cutting them off from reaching their young lord.

Kaido, unfazed, pressed on. His enormous frame bulldozed through the obstacles, shattering the earth lions like brittle clay. With every step, he tore through Lucas' creations, ignoring the attacks in his single-minded pursuit of Momonosuke.

Lucas' eyes gleamed as he moved like a shadow, his body vanishing into the dust and smoke. The ground beneath Kaido suddenly softened, turning into something akin to liquid gold.

Golden chains materialized from the ground, slithering like serpents before locking around Kaido's thick ankles.

With a loud snap, they constricted.

Kaido, mid-lunge, felt his footing betray him. His colossal form lost balance, momentum twisting against him—

And then he crashed forward, the ground quaking beneath his fall.

Momonosuke, who had been scrambling in a blind panic, yelped as he tripped over uneven ground. His small, trembling legs failed him, and he fell backward.

A shadow loomed over him.

Kaido's titanic frame descended.

BOOM!

The impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield, a monstrous force that silenced everything for a split second.

A moment later, blood pooled across the earth.

A weak, gurgling noise escaped Momonosuke's lips as his body convulsed—his chest crushed beneath the immovable weight of the Emperor of the Sea.

For a brief instant, there was only silence.

And then—

"NOOO!"

The anguished cries of the Red Scabbards pierced the battlefield.

Kin'emon's face twisted in utter horror as he rushed forward, only to stagger at the sight before him. His sword fell from his trembling hands.

"Young Master…" Kin'emon whispered, his voice hollow.

The others were no better. Their expressions contorted into grief-stricken disbelief. The sole heir of the Kozuki clan—flattened, lifeless.

A cruel reality settled over them.

All their efforts, all their struggles—the dream of restoring Wano—what did it all matter now?

The war, the sacrifices, the rebellion…

Without Momonosuke, it was meaningless.

But in the chat group, the response was starkly different.

Sword God Ryuma: "Well done!"

First Hokage, Senju Hashirama: "Wasn't that a bit much?"

Sword God Ryuma: "You don't understand. The damage caused by an incompetent ruler is far worse than you can imagine."

Lucas: "Exactly. It's better to end it now. At least this way, he won't grow up to be another fool who spouts nonsense like 'Why don't they eat meat?'"

Whitebeard: "Eat meat?"

Howard Stark: "Ah, I see! The leader of this chat group is truly well-read. This story exists in my world as well."

Pirate King Roger: "What story?"

Howard Stark: "Once, in a certain country, there was a ruler who lived in extravagant luxury while his people suffered. A terrible famine struck, and the common folk had no food to eat. A minister reported this to the king, pleading for aid. But the king, oblivious and detached, simply said, 'If they have no food, why don't they eat meat instead?'"

First Hokage, Senju Hashirama: "That's… despicable!"

Howard Stark: "Oh? You think so?"

First Hokage, Senju Hashirama: "You've clearly never lived through a famine. When there's no food, people will eat meat."

Howard Stark: "But if there's no food to eat, where would they get meat?"

First Hokage, Senju Hashirama: "Isn't there someone else?"

Howard Stark: "…Wait. You mean—"

Whitebeard: "Damn it."

Pirate King Roger: "That's insane!"

First Hokage, Senju Hashirama: "It's reality. Starvation destroys morality. When desperation takes hold, people abandon their humanity."

Hashirama fell silent for a long time. His mind drifted, recalling his own past—an era of ceaseless war, famine, and suffering.

For a brief moment, he had felt pity for the young Kozuki heir.

But now, as he pieced together the truth, his pity turned to understanding.

An incompetent ruler could inflict devastation beyond imagination.

And if that ruler was doomed to fail…

Perhaps it was better this way.

Lucas stared at the chat, slightly amused.

So even Hashirama had realized the highlight of the situation.

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