In the cauldron, Kozuki Oden gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he held the heavy pedal high above his head. On top of that pedal stood the Nine Heroes of the Red Scabbard, their eyes filled with tears as they looked down at their lord in utter despair.
"You all stay up there and don't move!" Oden commanded through gritted teeth. "It will be over soon!"
The nine warriors wept bitterly, their hearts breaking as they watched their leader endure unimaginable agony. The crowd around the execution platform buzzed with commotion, shocked and awed by Oden's incredible display of strength and self-sacrifice.
Among the onlookers, a female ninja clenched her fists, her face contorted with sorrow. She knew the truth that the others did not. Five years ago, after Kozuki Oden returned to Wano, he had entered Shogun Castle and made a terrible bargain with Kurozumi Orochi—a humiliating "naked dance agreement" that he upheld for five long years, all to protect a hundred innocent hostages. She had been there, hiding in the ceiling, and had witnessed everything.
"Lord Oden..." the ninja, her heart heavy with grief, whispered through tears, her eyes red and swollen. She watched in silence as the ignorant crowd, unaware of the sacrifices made by Oden, mocked and ridiculed him, their laughter cutting through her like a blade.
This woman…
Edie, observing from the platform, noticed her among the crowd. He recognized her immediately.
"Remember, she has the ability of the 'Ripe-Ripe Fruit,'" he mused. The Paramecia-type Ripe-Ripe Fruit allowed her to instantly ripen any object she touched, including living beings. However, while it could accelerate physical maturity, it did nothing to change the mental state of the person.
This ability intrigued Edie. His current subordinates, [Chen Long] and [Shenhou], were both artificial humans, with biological ages of around ten years old—essentially children. The thought occurred to him that perhaps this woman's ability could accelerate their physical growth, potentially making them stronger and more formidable.
"Can artificial humans grow? Can they become stronger after maturing?" Edie pondered, his mind already racing with the possibilities. "There's value in experimenting…"
His gaze lingered on the woman as the cruel spectacle continued to unfold, his thoughts weaving plans within plans.
Edie shifted his gaze from the crowd to Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi. The time for subtlety had passed; it was time to set the next part of his plan in motion.
"Mr. Kaido, I usually have little interest in executions. But today, there's something pressing I must bring to your attention."
Kaido, mid-drink, paused and looked at Edie with a questioning glance. "What is it?"
"Some time ago, certain items from my research institute were stolen," Edie began.
"Stolen?" Kaido echoed, his brow furrowing.
"It wasn't any critical research information," Edie clarified, "just a medicine."
The word sent a shiver down Kurozumi Orochi's spine. His heart raced as he remembered the NHC10 that Kurozumi Higurashi had given him just yesterday. The memory of the poison's deadly effects, tested on death row prisoners, was still fresh in his mind.
Edie continued calmly, "The drug in question is known as NHC10. I had Queen procure it through special channels about a year ago."
Kurozumi Orochi's nerves were on edge. Could the bottle Higurashi had given him have been stolen from Edie's research institute? He cursed the old woman silently for not informing him sooner. In a desperate attempt to deflect, he glanced at Kaido and quickly interjected, "It's just a stolen medicine, nothing worth discussing. We're in the middle of an execution—let's not ruin the occasion!"
But Edie was far from finished. "Indeed, theft of medicine might seem trivial," he replied, a faint smile playing on his lips. "But last night, my men apprehended the thief."
A heavy silence fell over the platform. Kurozumi Orochi felt dread creeping into his bones.
"The thief," Edie announced, "was Kurozumi Higurashi."
Kurozumi Orochi's face drained of color. Kaido's frown deepened, and he muttered, "That old woman? She's still alive?"
"Bring her forward," Edie commanded.
A tall man wearing a gray cloak and a ghostly mask stepped forward, dragging the battered and bloodied form of Kurozumi Higurashi. Her once-conniving demeanor was gone, replaced by a look of abject terror. Kaido sneered at the sight of her, a cruel laugh escaping his lips.
"Survived the battlefield only to end up like this? Pathetic," Kaido scoffed.
"Kaido… Kaido…" Shenhou—Higurashi—trembled as she spoke, her voice quivering with fear. She glanced between Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi, clearly terrified.
Orochi, feeling the noose tightening around his neck, cursed inwardly. If that damned woman exposed their plan, it was all over.
"Tell us," Edie demanded, his tone icy, "why did you steal the medicine?"
"I… I didn't steal it!" Shenhou stammered, her voice rising in panic. "It wasn't me!"
Orochi's heart sank. The denial only made things worse—it was as good as a confession. Kaido's gaze shifted suspiciously towards Orochi, the tension palpable. "What's going on here?" Kaido's voice was low, dangerous.
Edie didn't wait for a response. He released his grip on Shenhou's hair and spoke loudly, ensuring everyone heard him. "NHC10 is a contraband drug under World Government jurisdiction—a poison. And this old woman stole it for one reason…"
He paused for dramatic effect, his eyes narrowing as he turned to Kurozumi Orochi. "Orochi, why did you tamper with Mr. Kaido's wine?"
The accusation rang out like a death Bell. Orochi's hands trembled, causing a bit of wine to spill from his glass. He could feel the murderous intent radiating from Kaido beside him. The air grew thick with danger, and Orochi knew there was no escape.
"Don't talk nonsense, I didn't poison you!" Orochi's voice cracked with panic as he desperately tried to defend himself.
Edie feigned surprise, raising an eyebrow. "Poison? I merely mentioned tampering, and you jumped straight to poison? How telling." His tone was laced with mockery.
Kurozumi Orochi's face drained of color, his thoughts scrambling for a way out. But before he could form a coherent response, a burst of Haki exploded from Kaido, the air around them crackling with tension.
Kaido's eyes narrowed, his voice a low growl. "Orochi."
Orochi's panic surged, and he jumped to his feet, his face ashen. "No, no, it's not what you think! Kaido, you have to believe me—I didn't poison the wine! It's all this hag's lies!"
Edie shook his head, his expression one of mild disappointment as he rose to his feet. "Still trying to deny it, even now? Kurozumi Higurashi already confessed your entire plan." His voice was calm, almost conversational, but every word cut like a knife.
"NHC10 is a highly addictive substance," Edie continued, his gaze never leaving Orochi. "In small doses, it won't kill anyone, but it will create a dependency—especially when mixed with alcohol. Your plan was to slowly get Mr. Kaido addicted, then, at the right moment, deliver a lethal dose and finish him off. Isn't that right?"
Orochi's fear morphed into a furious rage, his face flushed with suppressed terror. His mind raced—damn that treacherous old woman! Kurozumi Higurashi had betrayed him, revealing everything to save her own skin. But then, in the midst of his panic, a twisted sense of relief washed over him.
It's true, he hadn't actually poisoned Kaido yet. He had just tested the drug on prisoners, not on the Emperor of the Sea. He was still innocent—technically. And now, with Kurozumi Higurashi on the brink of death, she could take the fall for everything.
Desperation sharpened Orochi's thoughts. He saw a glimmer of hope and seized it. "Kaido, listen to me!" he pleaded, his voice rising with urgency. "Yes, she stole the medicine. She came to me yesterday, frantic—claiming you were planning to kill her for meddling in your affairs. She said she only wanted to help you, but you turned on her. Out of fear, she concocted this plan to take revenge on you! It was all her idea—I had nothing to do with it!"
The execution platform, once focused on the boiling cauldron and the agonizing ordeal of Kozuki Oden, was now transfixed by the drama unfolding before them. The crowd's attention had shifted entirely, the spectacle of Orochi's desperate struggle for survival holding them in thrall.
Even Oden, enduring the searing heat of the oil, found his gaze drawn to the chaos around him. The tension on the platform was palpable as the once-assured Kurozumi Orochi teetered on the brink of doom, with Kaido's wrath hanging over him like a dark cloud, ready to unleash its fury.
Kaido let out a low, mocking laugh as he looked at the wine glass in his hand. "Poison me? Just a little poison?" he sneered.
In this early stage of his rise, Kaido was still driven by ambition, with the Beasts Pirates having recently established their foothold in Wano. Unlike two decades later, when his immense power and boredom with life would lead him to seek out death in reckless ways, like jumping from heights of 10,000 meters, today Kaido was more focused and cautious. Yet, even in his youth, poison was hardly something that could bring him down.
"Bring me all the poisoned wine!" Kaido commanded, his voice filled with disdain. Without hesitation, he downed the wine in his hand, his confidence unshaken. The act was brazen, almost arrogant.
Kurozumi Orochi, terrified and drenched in cold sweat, stammered, "Kaido, I swear, I didn't poison you! There's no poison in the wine!"
Kaido's gaze darkened as he regarded Orochi with contempt. "Too ugly, Orochi." He knew well why Orochi—or more accurately, the Kurozumi clan—would want to poison him. It wasn't hard to figure out. After all, Kaido could crush Orochi at any moment. Betrayal was an expected part of a pirate's life, especially in a world as ruthless as theirs.
But poison? That wouldn't be enough to kill him. If anything, Kaido was intrigued by the thought of a poison potent enough to actually challenge him. If such a thing existed, he would almost welcome it.
"Wait, Mr. Kaido." Edie stepped forward, his voice measured and thoughtful. "Let me offer a fair solution. Since Orochi claims he didn't poison the wine and refuses to admit guilt, why not have the wine tested? Let's see if there's any trace of NHC10 in it."
"Yes, yes! Dr. Edie is right!" Orochi quickly latched onto Edie's suggestion, nodding vigorously. In that moment, he found himself grateful to Edie, thinking that perhaps there was some merit in this doctor after all. Edie wasn't blindly accepting the accusations from that wretched old woman, Kurozumi Higurashi.
Kaido's expression remained stern, but he was considering the situation. Although he didn't particularly enjoy thinking things through, his immense strength often allowed him to act on instinct. Yet, even Kaido understood the value of discernment in moments like this.
"Really... Queen." Kaido's voice rumbled as he called for his trusted subordinate.
Almost instantly, a large, round figure leapt onto the execution platform. Queen grinned widely, clearly entertained by the unfolding drama. "Kaido-sama, do you need me to get the wine tested?"
Queen's enthusiasm was evident. He had been enjoying the spectacle from a distance, but now he had the chance to directly participate. As one of the Beasts Pirates' top officers, Queen knew better than anyone that a little NHC10 wouldn't be enough to take down Kaido.
"Go ahead," Kaido instructed.
"Understood." Queen's grin widened as he took the wine glass from Kaido's hand. He turned to Edie, saying, "I'll borrow your laboratory for a bit."
"Please, go ahead," Edie replied with a nod.
With that, Queen departed to carry out the test, leaving the atmosphere on the execution platform thick with tension. All eyes were on Kaido, Orochi, and Edie, each wondering what the outcome would be. The dramatic confrontation had now reached a critical point, and everyone knew that whatever happened next would be decisive.
Kurozumi Orochi exhaled in relief, feeling the weight of the crisis lift from his shoulders. The ordeal, which had seemed like a looming disaster, now appeared to be over. Though it was Edie who had stirred the pot, Orochi bore no ill will toward him; after all, the real culprit was that wretched old hag, Kurozumi Higurashi.
Lucky for him, he hadn't actually poisoned the wine today. Perhaps he owed Edie some thanks for speaking up. Maybe after the execution, he'd invite Edie for a drink to bury any lingering grudges. With that thought in mind, Orochi shot a cold glare at Kurozumi Higurashi. Let her face her own downfall; she had tried to drag him into the abyss with her.
Higurashi, or rather, the figure masquerading as her, kept her head down, not daring to meet his eyes, resembling an ostrich hiding from danger.
Edie turned to Orochi with a smile. "Mr. Kaido is a reasonable man. You won't be blamed for something you didn't do."
"Doctor, thank you," Orochi replied, managing a rare moment of civility.
Edie waved a hand dismissively. "Don't thank me yet. Your innocence is still in question." He then turned to Kaido, his tone shifting to one of admiration. "Mr. Kaido, you truly are a hero of the seas. To drink that wine, knowing it could be poisoned—your courage is remarkable."
Kaido grinned, the corners of his mouth curling up with a mixture of pride and menace. "You did well, Edie. Poison won't kill me, but I don't like being plotted against."
"If you died, no one would fund my research. That would be quite the headache for me," Edie responded with a wry smile.
"I won't ever die anytime soon! Worororo!" Kaido's laught rumbled across the execution platform.
Roughly five minutes later, Queen returned, a peculiar smirk playing on his lips. He delivered the results with a strange tone that immediately caught everyone's attention.
"Sir Kaido, the residual component of NHC10 was indeed detected in the wine glass."
"What...!?" Orochi's eyes widened in shock, his voice rising to a panicked roar. "Impossible! This is absolutely impossible! Queen, are you trying to frame me!?"
"Ah?" Queen's expression turned scornful. "Who do you think you are?"
"No! No! I didn't poison it! Who did this?!" Orochi's face drained of color, his earlier confidence evaporating into pure, desperate terror.
All eyes were on him now, each gaze feeling like a dagger piercing through his facade. He felt exposed, humiliated, as if he were a clown performing on a stage. Even Edie, who had seemed to advocate for fairness just moments before, now regarded him with a look that bordered on contempt. The reality of his situation crashed down on him, and for the first time, Orochi realized just how precarious his position truly was.
Kaido remained unfazed, his voice commanding, "King."
A shadow descended from the sky with blinding speed. King, the Beasts Pirates' All-Star, wielded a massive katana. The moment he landed, he aimed a deadly slash at Kurozumi Orochi's head.
"Help...!" Orochi barely had time to scream.
"Barrier!"
In the blink of an eye, Kurozumi Semimaru, Orochi's hidden guardian, activated his Devil Fruit ability. A transparent, glass-like barrier materialized between Orochi and King.
Boom!
King's sword crashed against the barrier, but it held firm, preventing the blade from reaching its target.
"Hah... hah..." Orochi gasped, collapsing to the ground in terror. The speed, the suddenness—everything had happened so fast. He had been mere inches away from decapitation.
"Chenlong," Edie's voice was calm, almost indifferent, as he gave the order.
In the next instant, Chenlong, who had been silently standing behind Edie, vanished. He reappeared behind Kurozumi Orochi, and with one swift motion, drove his hand through Orochi's chest.
"Pfft!" Blood sprayed from Orochi's mouth.
Eyes wide in shock, Orochi turned to see his attacker. All he saw was a figure wearing a ghostly, expressionless mask. There was no barrier protecting him now. The one that had saved him from King's sword had only shielded him from one side. He hadn't expected this masked figure, who had been overlooked by everyone, to strike so suddenly and lethally.
Kurozumi Semimaru, hidden behind a screen, was frozen in disbelief.
For a moment, the entire execution platform fell into a tense silence. Kaido's eyes narrowed as he regarded Chenlong with a newfound interest.
Edie approached Orochi, his voice laced with mock pity. "I almost believed you didn't poison him... Throw him into the oil pan."
Without hesitation, Chenlong withdrew his bloodied hand from Orochi's chest, grabbed the trembling man by the head, and, with a brutal shake, hurled him into the boiling oil.
Plop.
Orochi's body plunged into the cauldron beside Oden. But something unimaginable happened—despite having been fatally pierced through the heart, Orochi, now submerged in the scalding oil, began to scream in agony.
"Ahhhhh! So hot! So hot! So hot!!!" His wails of despair echoed through the air.
He had somehow returned from the brink of death, only to face the unbearable pain of being boiled alive. "I really didn't poison him!!" Orochi shrieked, his voice filled with desperation and disbelief.
The crowd watched in stunned silence, witnessing the grotesque spectacle of a man who seemed cursed to suffer even beyond the grave.