Chapter 103.2: Reverse Bounties and Cruel Punishment

Just as everyone thought the meeting was over, Chu Yang suddenly spoke, "We've secured an almost perfect base. It's time to adopt a more proactive approach against the World Government."

A proactive approach?

Dragon and Tiger exchanged glances. One liberates countries, while the other sabotages the Celestial Dragons' slave trade.

Could there be a more radical method?

Chu Yang's gaze was piercing.

"From today onwards, we will issue bounties on the Navy and the World Government, just like they've done to others all along!"

Bounties on the Navy and the World Government?

Everyone gasped.

For centuries, only the World Government placed bounties on others. Now, they were flipping the script?

The hall instantly fell into silence.

Tiger suddenly burst into hearty laughter, feeling immensely satisfied. "As expected of you, coming up with something like this."

Dragon's eyes gleamed with excitement. He also found Chu Yang's proposal intriguing.

"If those high-and-mighty Celestial Dragons wake up one day to find themselves being hunted, their expressions will be priceless."

Ivankov chuckled uncontrollably.

"Just imagining that scene is amusing enough."

Jinbe laughed heartily.

Even Arlong, usually stern-faced, couldn't help but let the corners of his mouth curl upwards, shedding his usual bitterness.

"Then it's decided. Once Jhin is dealt with, we'll immediately create the bounty posters and turn the Celestial Dragons into a worldwide joke."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Dragon made the final decision.

Chu Yang knew that as soon as the bounties were issued, the arrogant Celestial Dragons would continually send people to their deaths.

Whether it was their prized CP0 or the Navy, Wano Country would devour them like an invisible maw.

In this era of pirates, where the Navy was already spread thin, they would be even less capable of dealing with the Revolutionary Army's land-based operations.

This was a slow-acting poison that would accelerate the Celestial Dragons' downfall.

---

Evening at sunset.

The Black Maria had been tied up in the square for some time, surrounded by a silent crowd. No one dared to step forward to do anything.

Hatred and anger were overshadowed by lingering fear of Orochi. His years of tyrannical rule left a heavy imprint.

The crowd just stared at him, unwilling to advance or retreat.

Orochi, on the brink of a mental breakdown, glared at them, trying to intimidate the civilians.

Both sides were locked in an eerie standoff.

Until…

After the meeting, Chu Yang and the others walked out of Orochi Castle and saw the scene in the square.

Chu Yang shook his head in disappointment and slowly approached Orochi. Seeing him, Orochi's intimidating aura completely crumbled.

Orochi began cursing but soon switched to pleading as Chu Yang drew closer, crying and wailing, completely devoid of his former tyrannical demeanor.

The onlookers shuddered.

Someone who could terrify Orochi to this extent must be as fearsome as Kaido, right?

Chu Yang's next action confirmed their fears.

Using his hand like a blade, he chopped off one of Orochi's arms and casually threw it in front of the crowd. Everyone immediately backed away.

Even Chu Yang's companions felt chills run down their spines.

Chu Yang said nothing further.

He cast a cold glance at the crowd and left amidst Orochi's anguished cries.

Moments later, a frail woman emerged from the crowd. Her gaze was lifeless, her face gaunt, as if she were on the verge of death.

But upon seeing Orochi's severed arm, her eyes gleamed with terrifying intensity. Like a ravenous wolf, she pounced on it and began tearing it apart.

The surrounding civilians recognized her. Her children had all perished under Orochi's oppressive rule, succumbing to hunger and cold.

Inspired by the woman's actions, more people joined in. Some acted out of hatred, while others were driven purely by hunger…

Soon, the arm was devoured. The crowd naturally turned their gaze to Orochi himself. Terrified beyond words, he could only tremble in silence.

They approached him slowly, their faces devoid of emotion, eyes glowing red, like zombies in an apocalypse.

Screams! Curses! Wails!

Until Orochi's cries were drowned out by the sounds of devouring, this decade-long tragedy finally came to an end.

From that day forward, Chu Yang earned a new nickname in private: the "King of Hell."

This cathartic public execution not only solidified the Revolutionary Army's image but also expedited friendly relations with the locals.

As news of Orochi and Kaido's deaths spread across Wano, masses of people flocked to the Flower Capital within days.

Some admired Orochi's mutilated corpse in the square, while others visited the quarries to see the Beast Pirates' remnants toiling away.

Each had their way of verifying the news, then eagerly spread the good word.

Most weapon factories were destroyed, and the remaining ones no longer polluted Wano's environment. Using his Wood Release, Chu Yang swiftly restored nature's vitality.

Before long, flowers bloomed once again in the Flower Capital.

---

The Revolutionary Army set up a temporary base in Orochi Castle.

The Shogun's residence was returned to the people of Wano, leaving them to decide its use. Everyone silently chose to protect it until a new Shogun arose.

Meanwhile, they gradually accepted the Revolutionary Army's control of the region.

With the Revolutionary Army's help, the Flower Capital's civilian life began to recover. Post-war reconstruction had always been their strong suit.

At the waterfall's mouth, a fortress-like town was quietly taking shape. This would serve as Wano's first line of defense, where Chu Yang and the Sun Pirates would reside long-term.

Due to the fear he had instilled in the civilians, Chu Yang decided to distance himself from them temporarily.

The lifeless gazes of the people made him uncontrollably angry.

Until their vitality returned, he wouldn't appear before them again.

---

A week after the war, samurai began appearing near the Flower Capital. They cautiously approached the Revolutionary Army, seeking to understand their intentions.

Half-doubtful and half-hopeful, the samurai negotiated with the Revolutionary Army.

Representing the young Hiyori Kozuki were Denjiro, one of the former Nine Red Scabbards now going by the alias Kyoshiro, and the long-hidden daimyo of Hakumai, Shimotsuki Yasuie.

Neither Denjiro nor Yasuie believed they could regain Wano's governance through negotiations. They weren't that naive.

They merely hoped Hiyori could retain nominal authority and reside in the Shogun's residence, earning the people's trust over time.

Based on the Revolutionary Army's behavior thus far, they seemed trustworthy. Even if negotiations failed, their lives wouldn't be at risk.

To their surprise, the Revolutionary Army readily agreed to their request and offered to assist Hiyori in rebuilding Wano.

Their preconceptions of a scheming negotiation were proven wrong, leaving Denjiro deeply ashamed.

Yasuie proactively offered concessions, forming an alliance with the Revolutionary Army and granting them significant leeway to operate within Wano.

The two sides reached a swift agreement.

Hiyori's return to the Shogun's residence rallied scattered samurai, forming a powerful force to aid Chu Yang and his allies against the World Government.

After the Beasts Pirates were attacked, King did not immediately return to assist but instead used Doflamingo's connections to gather information.

As a leader in the underground black market, the Donquixote Family has always excelled in gathering intelligence on warfare, keeping a close eye on the movements of major forces.

King suspected Whitebeard, as Kozuki Oden had once served under him as the captain of the Second Division. If Whitebeard knew about Wano, it was possible he might attack the Beasts Pirates.

The Whitebeard Pirates indeed possessed the strength to directly defeat the Beasts Pirates.

However, as more information reached King, he realized the matter had nothing to do with Whitebeard, who had stayed within his territory all along without moving an inch.

If Whitebeard didn't act, then it was even more unlikely that his division commanders would go to Wano, as they wouldn't stand a chance.

"The World Government has dealings with us, so there's no reason for them to suddenly turn on us. As for the Navy, they've been quiet all this time…"

King pondered and then shifted his attention to "Big Mom" Charlotte Linlin, but he arrived at the same conclusion.

So who could it be?

King had no answers, but he could no longer sit idly by.

Since Big Mom wasn't the mastermind, they could form an alliance.

With that in mind, King proactively contacted Charlotte Linlin on Whole Cake Island. After paying a high price, he secured a powerful ally.

If something happened to Kaido, the Beasts Pirates would lose everything they had. Only by keeping Kaido alive could the Beasts Pirates make a comeback at any time.

The cost was only temporary.

"This is such an important matter; how about taking me along?"

Just as King was preparing to leave Dressrosa, Doflamingo approached him, requesting to accompany him to Wano.

"What's your agenda?"

"We're partners, after all. Something happened to Kaido; of course, I have to show some concern."

King frowned.

He stared coldly at Doflamingo, not believing for a moment that the latter could be this considerate.

And indeed, Doflamingo merely wanted to confirm the outcome of the conflict.

If the Beasts Pirates won, things would remain the same, and he might even gain some favor. But if Wano changed hands, he would negotiate a new deal and find new partners. Regardless of the outcome, Doflamingo would not be the loser.

With Big Mom's support, King didn't care much about Doflamingo's stance. Having an additional fighter was beneficial, so he agreed to Doflamingo's request.

Back at the palace in Dressrosa, the Donquixote Family's senior officers gathered.

"Do we really have to get involved in this, Doffy? It feels so dangerous…"

Trebol, one of the top officers, looked disheveled as always, his nose perpetually dripping mucus, resembling a shady middle-aged man.

"You idiot! How could we not take a look? Our weapons factory is there. If anything happens, who will take responsibility?!"

Diamante, seated on a sofa with his hands clasped under his chin, wore a gloomy expression. The underground black market had been out of stock for some time, and further delays in transactions could lead to major problems.

Doflamingo, hearing this, slowly retrieved a bottle of red wine from the counter. With a "pop," he uncorked it.

"Gulp, gulp…"

The entire bottle of red wine quickly disappeared down Doflamingo's throat. He wiped his mouth, revealing a sinister smile, resembling the Joker card in a deck.

"I don't care who wins this war, but if there's a problem with the weapons factory, expect my revenge!"