THE STRONGEST CREATURE OF THE BEAST PIRATES

Although Shimotsuki Onimaru was fiercely loyal to Alastor, Alastor knew that loyalty required cultivation. Offering occasional rewards and kindness would make Onimaru's dedication even stronger, solidifying his unwavering allegiance.

After instructing Billy to deliver food to Onimaru's family, Alastor prepared to return to Kuri and bring the little girl, Tama, to the Flower Capital.

Tama's Dango-Dango Fruit ability was essential for Alastor's plan to control the Mink Tribe in the future, so he couldn't risk leaving her vulnerable. Moreover, Alastor disliked the idea of Tama remaining with the useless Kozuki Sukiyaki.

However, before retrieving Tama, Alastor decided to pay a visit to Kozuki Hiyori, Sukiyaki's granddaughter.

According to Speed's reports, Hiyori's behavior had been unusually quiet of late, which piqued Alastor's interest.

He arrived at her residence, a spacious estate with multiple rooms surrounding a central courtyard.

"Master Alastor," Speed greeted him as he entered.

"Where is Hiyori?"

"She's still in her room," Speed replied.

Alastor nodded, signaling for Speed to take her leave. Approaching Hiyori's door, he paused before knocking lightly.

Knock, knock, knock.

Inside, Hiyori, who was meticulously applying her makeup, froze. Her heart skipped a beat.

It must be him!

The man who had killed Denjiro.

A flash of hatred flickered in her carefully painted eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. She had prepared for this moment countless times in her mind.

In her sweetest, most seductive voice, she called out, "Please wait, my lord. I'm still getting ready."

As the most famous courtesan in the Flower Capital, Hiyori was a master of charm. She understood men's weaknesses and knew how to manipulate them, having deceived countless admirers to their ruin. Even the shogun, Kurozumi Orochi, had been enthralled by her, allowing her to remain a spy in enemy territory for over a decade.

But then came Alastor. He had disrupted everything.

No longer could she wait for her mother's predicted day of liberation. The country's situation had worsened, and Hiyori knew drastic action was needed.

After applying a final touch of rouge to her lips, making them a vivid red, she stood and adjusted her flowing crimson dress. Its elegance accentuated her figure, every movement designed to mesmerize.

She opened the door, sunlight spilling onto her form, illuminating her beauty.

The sight before Alastor was breathtaking. Even he, accustomed to Yamato's beauty, couldn't deny the allure of the woman before him. Her delicate features, coupled with the shyness in her downcast eyes, inspired a rare sense of protectiveness.

"Stunning," Alastor said with genuine admiration.

Hiyori lowered her gaze coyly, hiding part of her face as she softly replied, "Thank you, Lord Alastor, for your kind words."

She invited him into her room, gracefully pouring wine for the both of them.

"The little girl will drink with you, my lord," she said, her voice sweet and inviting.

A beautiful woman offering wine—who could refuse?

Alastor took the glass, swirled its contents, and then smiled. "I see now why you've been so quiet lately. You've dressed so beautifully to lower my guard, haven't you? Tell me, where did you get the poison in this wine?"

Hiyori's smile faltered. Her expression froze momentarily before she forced a chuckle. "My lord, what are you saying? I'm just a weak woman who has come to accept reality."

"Is that so?" Alastor replied, his smile cold.

Without hesitation, he drank the wine in one gulp.

Host receives moderate damage. Defense +0.

Hiyori's eyes widened in shock. She had been prepared for him to uncover her plot and even ready to die as punishment. But for him to knowingly drink the poisoned wine?

Her voice trembled as she stammered, "You... drank it? Why?"

Alastor chuckled. "Do you have more? You can feed me next time."

Hiyori stared at him in disbelief. She thought she must have misheard.

"Why... Why aren't you affected?" she finally asked, her lips trembling.

With a calm smile, Alastor answered, "My internal organs are very durable. This level of poison can't kill me."

The realization left Hiyori pale and trembling. "What... what kind of monster are you?"

"A man with unbreakable defenses," Alastor replied smoothly. "But let me give you some advice: next time, choose your poison more wisely."

For the first time, Hiyori felt true despair. Even her carefully planned schemes were utterly useless against this man.

There was despair in her eyes as she slumped into the chair, trembling uncontrollably from fear.

But after a while, she gritted her teeth and stood up again, shouting with all her strength:

"I failed to poison you to death. This poison is mine. It was originally meant to protect me from the Black Charcoal Snake. Kill me if you must!"

In Kozuki Hiyori's view, Alastor was a cunning, ruthless man who showed no mercy to any threat.

Now that she had failed to kill him, she believed that he would not let her live.

Alastor glanced at her, observing her determined resolve to die, and smiled again.

"If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't still be standing here. Let me clarify: the only thing of value to me about your life is the time time devil fruit your mother, Toki, left behind."

Alastor extended his right hand, gently stroking Kozuki Hiyori's cheek. It was smooth, like fine porcelain.

"You've inherited your mother's beauty perfectly. If Devil Fruits truly have a will of their own, then you would be the most likely person to inherit the devil fruit"

In Alastor's mind, the time Fruit was even more mysterious than the Dark Fruit.

After all, controlling the power of time was a terrifying ability, beyond human limits.

His curiosity about the Time Fruit surpassed his interest in all other fruits.

His palm slid from her cheek to her sharp chin, and he pinched it, lifting her head so her trembling eyes met his.

"You must be aware of the recent changes in Wano. Let me be more specific. I've already eliminated all those secretly loyal to the Kozuki Clan, including Kawamatsu, who once protected you."

Kawamatsu, one of the Nine Red Scabbards, and Hananobing Goro, who had taught Luffy the advanced use of Conqueror's Haki in the original story, were both imprisoned in the Rabbit Bowl quarry.

In the name of Yamato, Alastor sent a subordinate to kill them and burn their bodies, ensuring that they could never return.

Upon hearing the news of Kawamatsu's death, Kozuki Hiyori's delicate face turned pale, drained of color. Her carefully applied makeup, which had taken hours, was washed away by the tears that flowed relentlessly.

When Alastor finally released her chin, she collapsed to the ground.

"You demon! Murderer..." she cried.

Alastor glanced at her briefly, then turned and left.

Kozuki Hiyori remained seated on the cold floor, as if she had turned into a stone statue, unable to move for a long time.

Her tears gradually stopped, and her once-bright eyes, full of shyness and intelligence, became numb. The light in her gaze faded completely.

Her expression grew vacant, and she seemed to have lost all hope.

At that moment, the prophecy her mother, Toki, had given her before her death echoed in her mind:

"Twenty years later, the sky will fall to the Nine Shadows. With the arrival of a monarch, it will break the darkness and bring dawn to Wano."

The so-called "Skyfall Nine Shadows" referred to the Nine Red Scabbards. However, Alastor had already killed two of them, meaning the prophecy could no longer come true.

But what truly troubled Kozuki Hiyori was not the Nine Shadows—it was the monarch mentioned.

Who was the monarch? There was no doubt in her mind that it referred to her brother, Momonosuke.

And this was the last hope for the Kozuki family!

She pushed herself up and stood, her fists clenched tightly. Her long nails dug into her palms.

"I can't give up. I can't! There's still hope!"

"Father and mother entrusted everything to my brother, Momanosuke. He will return to Wano. Only two more years remain!"

Kozuki Hiyori bit her lower lip, reigniting the flame of hope within her.

Then, she remembered that her father had also entrusted her with a sword, a blade said to be able to cut through hell.

But the sword wasn't with her—it was still in the room where she used to live.

She would have to find a way to retrieve the sword.

---

"Master, are you sure you're not coming to the Flower City with me?"

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