CHAPTER 189- The Price of Power – Ashura’s Worth

The samurai present stared unblinking at Ashura Dōji.

In their eyes, Orochi may have been the shogun of Wano, but without Kaido's support, he was nothing more than a paper tiger.Taking him down shouldn't be too difficult... should it?

But—

"You're all thinking too simply," Ashura said, his voice deep and steady.

"Orochi is a paper tiger. Opening the country won't be hard."

"But once we do, the true challenge lies in defending it."

"Knowing Kaido and his vengeful nature, there's no chance he'll just hand over Wano. He'll return… and he'll come for blood."

"And when that happens—can any of us stop him?"

"If we can't... then all the sacrifices made to open the country will be for nothing. We'll just be throwing lives away again!"

"What Wano truly lacks right now… is real power!"

His words struck like thunder.

The samurai's expressions darkened.They couldn't argue—not against that truth. They knew firsthand just how terrifying Kaido was.

If they opened the country only to be crushed when he returned… their dreams of liberation would vanish in flames.

Ashura didn't say another word.He took a long swig of hard liquor and turned to leave—

But stopped cold as a figure appeared behind him.

"Who the hell are you?" Ashura demanded sharply.

The stranger had arrived without a sound. Even Ashura hadn't noticed. And he wasn't the kind to be caught off guard easily.

Even Kaido himself wouldn't sneak up on him like this.

The young man who now stood before him had somehow slipped past his senses—That alone was more disturbing than anything else.

The samurai immediately drew their weapons, tension flooding the clearing.

Their earlier conversation had been far too sensitive.If even a word of it reached Orochi—or worse, Kaido—they'd all be slaughtered.

Wano couldn't afford that kind of blow right now.

"Relax. I'm not with Kaido or Orochi," the youth said casually, tipping back his gourd and taking a deep drink."I only came here because someone told me… you're worth twenty million."

Ashura blinked.

"You're right, though. Wano really is short on strong fighters right now.""And you? You're just barely worth that twenty million."

"Twenty million…?" Ashura's eyes narrowed."What kind of nonsense is this? Who sent you?"

"You'd better give me a damn good explanation—or I'll cut you down where you stand."

"That's right!" one of the samurai barked."Ashura is someone even Kaido took a liking to! He could stand toe-to-toe with Jack the Drought!"

"Forget twenty million! He's worth at least seven or eight hundred million out on the seas!"

"Are you here to insult our boss?"

The rest of the samurai followed suit, weapons drawn, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

Ashura's expression was glacial as his hand slowly closed around the hilt of his sword.

He was one of the last remaining members of the Nine Red Scabbards.Even after Wano fell into chaos, he had survived, thriving as a bandit chief under Kaido's eye.

That alone proved his strength.

So when a random, unrecognized youth suddenly appeared and insulted him to his face—it had to be a challenge.

But what unsettled Ashura more than anything… was the boy's calmness.

He didn't so much as flinch. Just kept sipping from his gourd as if he hadn't a care in the world.

"Ashura! Stop—don't move a muscle!"A voice rang out, hurried and panicked.

Nekomamushi and Inuarashi came rushing forward.

"That's Admiral Luo Yu—the Navy's new admiral!"

"If he says you're worth twenty million, then that's your price!"

"We didn't sell you… we just… recommended you, that's all!"

"Don't be reckless! Or you might not even be worth twenty million anymore!"

"Not even worth twenty million?!" Ashura's expression froze, his voice laced with fury."So it was you two!"

"I wondered who would betray me like this—only to find out it was you lot. And for twenty lousy million."

"Fine. Let's see if you two are even capable of delivering me for that price!"

Boom!

Ashura's foot slammed into the ground, his hulking frame surging forward with surprising agility.In the blink of an eye, he covered the hundred-meter distance and closed in on Luo Yu.

Whoosh!

Then, as if vanishing into thin air—Ashura appeared directly behind Luo Yu, sword in hand.The blade gleamed with deadly light as it came crashing down—

"Brat! Wano might lack strong warriors, but that doesn't mean anyone can waltz in and throw their weight around!"

"Let's see what makes me worth twenty million to you!"

Clang!

The sword stopped an inch before Luo Yu's neck.

A golden light blocked the strike—its radiance pulsing like a divine barrier.

Ashura froze, his face hardening.

That blow wasn't half-hearted. It might not have been full power, but not even Jack could shrug it off without reacting.

Yet Luo Yu hadn't moved a single inch.

He just stood there, calmly drinking his liquor.

That kind of terrifying composure made Ashura's nerves tense to the breaking point.

He turned his head slowly toward Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, eyes burning with fury.

"You… sold me out!"

"Do you want Kozuki Oden's soul to never rest in peace?!"

"Fine. If you're so eager to help the Navy—then help me cut this bastard down!"

Ashura had seen his chance.

Kaido was gone. Orochi was weak.Nekomamushi and Inuarashi had returned.

If the three of them joined forces—perhaps they could still do something for Wano.

Even if he hadn't yet forgiven them for their failure during the Fire Festival…

For the sake of Wano's future, Ashura was willing to put aside his grudges.

"Join forces with you?"Nekomamushi blinked—then bolted in the opposite direction.

"We sold you out because we didn't want Oden-sama to die in vain!"

"Inuarashi! Run! Don't let Ashura's stupidity drag us down with him!"