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The banquet hall fell silent.
All eight of Orochi's heads stared wide-eyed.
"Yamato's fiancé?"
According to his plan, as long as he found an excuse to eliminate Daichi, who was manipulating everything, Yamato alone wouldn't amount to much.
Kaido wouldn't fall out with him over a Headliner, and when the Fire Festival came, he would send more gifts, and the matter would be over.
But the situation had changed.
If the brat in front of him was truly Yamato's fiancé, then the other party's status among the Beast Pirates was definitely not comparable to that of an ordinary officer, and he must be one of Kaido's confidants.
Orochi was in a dilemma, glaring angrily at Daichi.
"You are deceiving me!"
"Deceiving?"
Daichi exerted force with his arm, pulling Yamato tightly into his embrace.
The young girl nestled in Daichi's arms, her head steaming, her eyes like mosquito coils, having long lost her basic ability to think, with only "mar…mar…marriage" left in her mind.
Actions spoke louder than words.
Looking at their intimate appearance, Orochi's eyes became bloodshot, and his already irritable emotions instantly plunged into madness.
"Guaaaah!"
The eight heads swayed wildly, biting everything around them.
After a long commotion.
Orochi finally regained his composure, retracting all his heads into his body and transforming back into human form.
"Gufufufufu!"
Orochi panted heavily.
He could verify this with Kaido, but Kaido was tight-lipped about Yamato's affairs, never willing to mention them.
He only knew that Yamato had not left Onigashima for over a decade and had been challenging Kaido, a battle-loving madman.
Furthermore, the outside world was unaware of Yamato's existence, and contacting Kaido for such a trivial matter, risking being monitored by the Marine, would likely anger that man.
However, he remembered something!
He didn't know much about Yamato, but he knew everything about Daichi's intelligence!
Orochi's gaze was gloomy. "Daichi, I heard you have an unclear relationship with Headliner Ulti. What's your explanation for that?"
"Ulti? She's also my fiancée."
Daichi spoke calmly.
With Orochi's capabilities, information about him had already been thoroughly investigated, so there was no point in hiding it. It was better to admit it openly.
"Huh?"
Orochi was stunned.
What did that mean?
What did "also" mean?
"Bastard, you're toying with me!"
"Of course, I wouldn't trifle with the Shogun. What I mean is that both Yamato and Ulti are my fiancées, both are my wings."
Daichi chuckled, raising his hands and slowly clenching his fists.
"I want them all!"
"..."
Orochi's mouth gaped in shock.
All of them?
How could there be such a shameless person in this world!
Even he, the Shogun, only planned to marry one Shogun's wife in his life and never had any extra thoughts.
Orochi was filled with grief and indignation, scolding, "What a joke! How could Kaido marry his daughter to a scoundrel like you!"
"Why, am I not worthy?"
Daichi pushed Yamato away from his embrace, stood up, and tugged at his collar. "I am a handsome individual, capable in both literary and martial arts. Yamato and I are deeply in love, a match made in heaven."
Talented individual?
Orochi was dumbfounded.
Do you want to look in a mirror? With your fierce face, rugged muscles, and shiny bald head, standing next to Yamato, you're like Beauty and the Beast.
What kind of match made in heaven is that!
"Orochi-sama."
Just then, Fukurokuju walked over and whispered in Orochi's ear.
Orochi's expression kept changing.
Fukurokuju had received information from the worker lady at the hot spring inn that Yamato and Daichi bathed together every night, and their relationship was extremely intimate.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as nightly revelry.
Their relationship was real!
"These scoundrels!"
Orochi cursed inwardly, but the killing intent on his face completely receded, replaced by an extremely fake smile.
As if nothing had happened just now.
"Gufufufufu."
Orochi raised his wine glass with a beaming smile.
"I'm truly sorry, Daichi. I was just joking earlier. Yamato is my niece, and I was worried she might be deceived, which is why I tested you. Come, I'll toast you as an apology!"
"No problem, the Shogun was just worried."
Daichi went along with it, raising his cup and drinking with a smile.
It wasn't time to fall out yet. The possibility of him and Yamato killing Orochi in a short time was very low.
Orochi's life-saving ability was extremely strong, equivalent to having eight lives. His Oniwabanshu and Mimawarigumi combined had a total of ten thousand troops, and there was also Kyoshiro, who could provide support at any time.
If they were dragged down, a war of attrition could exhaust them. Yamato would definitely be fine in the end, but he would certainly die.
Without absolute certainty, he must not take risks.
He still lacked a crucial element!
Orochi drained his wine, then glared angrily at the geisha who had long been frightened. "What are you still standing there for? Play the music, continue the dance!"
"Yes, Orochi-sama."
As the shamisen played, the banquet hall returned to its lively atmosphere.
After three rounds of drinks.
"Gufufufufu."
Orochi's cheeks were flushed from drinking, and he seemed a bit tipsy, chuckling, "Daichi, I understand your and Yamato's desire to achieve great things, but developing Hakumai is too slow. It will probably take several years to see any significant effects."
"That's true."
Daichi nodded slightly.
Buying houses for rent and recovering costs indeed took a long time.
But it was stable.
He liked that!
"Gufufufufu!"
Orochi grinned, his eyes full of malice. "When the Fire Festival arrives, Kaido will return from his expedition. If you want to achieve something significant during this period, Hakumai won't be fast enough. If you truly want to give Kaido a big gift, I have a good place for you!"
"Oh, please tell us, Shogun!"
Daichi straightened his back upon hearing this, pretending to be interested.
Orochi slowly uttered a name.
"Ashura Doji!"
"..."
Daichi narrowed his eyes.
"The Mt. Atama bandit group in Kuri?"
"Exactly, them!"
Orochi's eyes were filled with gloom, even unconcealed fear, as he said hatefully, "Ashura Doji was once one of Kozuki Oden's retainers. After Kozuki Oden's death, he changed his name to Shutenmaru and led a group of bandits entrenched on Mt. Atama in Kuri."
"Nowadays, that guy has long lost the pride of a samurai, specializing in plundering merchants traveling between various towns, not even sparing some poor villages. He is a notorious villain."
"For all these years, Ashura Doji has been a major concern for me and Kaido. If you can eliminate him, Kaido will undoubtedly be overjoyed when he finds out, and I will also reward you handsomely!"
Orochi smiled sinisterly.
For all these years, he had wanted to eliminate Ashura Doji, but each time he suffered heavy losses. That man was not easy to deal with!
If he could pit Daichi and Yamato against Ashura Doji, no matter who won or lost, it would benefit him.
Orochi stared at Daichi, his eyes filled with intense killing intent.
"Daichi, do you dare to do it?"
"Orochi-sama, you've truly given me a challenge!"
Daichi took a swig of wine, quickly weighing the pros and cons.
Ashura Doji was certainly not easy to deal with, but if he could capture him, it would yield excellent benefits for him.
The most important point was that the other party was a retainer of Kozuki Oden.
Whether now or in the future.
He must die!
"Bang!"
Daichi slammed the wine bottle onto the table.
"Isn't it just bandit suppression?!"
"I will do it!"