One Piece: Alucard the Immortal

Chapter 674 - 673: Is the Order a Bit Wrong?

Kozuki Oden could never have imagined that the final, fatal blow would come from the very sovereign he had always served, the Shogun of Wano. Before fading into unconsciousness, Oden only caught a glimpse of Fallon giving a thumbs-up to the Shogun behind him, saying, "A wise choice."When Kozuki Oden finally came to, he found himself deep within a dungeon in Wano. Two samurai guarding the iron gates, clutching their naginata, noticed him stirring. "You’re awake, Oden-sama?"

"I... what exactly..."

Oden tried to speak, but a sharp, searing pain shot through him. He looked down to see thick bandages wrapped around his chest, the very spot where the Shogun had stabbed him before he passed out.

"Even in prison, you received emergency treatment. Though, it was hardly necessary."

A voice drifted in from the distance. The two guards at the door snapped to attention and saluted. "Daimyo Imai-sama!"

Watching Imai drag his bloated body toward him, Oden narrowed his eyes, his voice dripping with bitter resentment. "Imai... you actually..."

"Your execution is set for two days from now. You are the leader of the pro-war faction; how could the Immortal Pirates ever let you live?" Imai chuckled. "Actually, I should thank you. If you weren’t such a hawk, getting rid of a political rival like you would have been much more troublesome."

"You’ve fallen so low as to become a traitor? You’d just watch as Wano becomes a land of pirates?" Oden’s teeth chattered with rage.

"The world has changed, Oden-sama." Imai laughed and turned to leave. "Forget it, why am I wasting words on a dead man? Hahaha..."

...

It wasn’t until that afternoon that Alucard finally arrived in Wano. By this time, two days and nights had passed since the battle between Hancock and Kaido.

This proved that Scarlett’s earlier suggestion to cease fire was correct; even Hancock herself wouldn’t dare claim she could have fought Kaido for forty-eight hours straight.

"Kaido ran?"

Hearing the report from the Kuja warriors, Alucard’s face darkened with a trace of annoyance. "That man... has he lost his ambition, just like Whitebeard in his twilight years?"

To be honest, Alucard had been looking forward to a bout with Kaido. He truly hadn’t expected the man to bolt.

Fallon quickly changed the subject. "Alucard-sama, while we were searching the Kozuki estate, we found something in a hidden passage."

Fallon led the way to the Kozuki Clan residence. When Alucard entered the main hall of the Japanese-style mansion, he saw a massive, red, cubic stone slab over five meters tall standing in the center. Bartolomeo and his men were standing guard around it.

Bartolomeo, who had been dozing off against the slab, snapped to attention like he’d been injected with adrenaline the moment Alucard stepped through the door. Daring not to look Alucard in the eye, he stared straight at the ceiling. "A-A-A-Alucard-sama! The protection of the slab has been completed by yours truly! Regarding the discovery of this slab..."

"Too loud," Alucard replied simply, his gaze shifting to the stone.

"I’m so sorry!" Bartolomeo instantly dropped into a ninety-degree bow, pulling out his dagger and pressing it against his own chin, tears streaming down his face. "To think I disturbed Alucard-sama’s ears! I... I shall cut out my own tongue right now to atone!"

"How annoying!"

Hancock barked. She formed a pistol with her fingers and fired a heart-shaped bullet at Bartolomeo, instantly turning him into a stone statue, dagger still pressed to his chin.

"Boss!" Gambia and the others cried out. To prevent Hancock from following up with a temper-filled kick, they scrambled to carry the petrified Bartolomeo away.

"Call Robin over," Alucard commanded.

He actually possessed another stone slab, one he’d held for over twenty years, but Alucard had never had the slightest interest in Laugh Tale or the One Piece. However, he was interested in the National Treasure held by the Gorosei and the Celestial Dragons. While he had Dr. Vegapunk working on various decryptions, perhaps deciphering these texts would provide new leads.

"Understood!" Koala quickly pulled out a Den Den Mushi to contact Robin back at the main base.

"Captain," Fallon stepped forward to request instructions. "Now might be the perfect time to pursue Kaido."

Since Kaido had retreated in fear of Alucard’s arrival two days ago, the morale of the Beasts Pirates had plummeted. This was a rare opportunity to strike.

"No," Alucard looked up with a smirk and walked toward the exit. "Right now, I’m only interested in the Government."

"Master!" Hancock quickly chased after him, with Scarlett not far behind.

"Um, Empress-sama... could you please undo our Boss’s petrification first?" Gambia and the others plucked up their courage to ask.

A flash of impatience crossed Hancock’s eyes, but she gave a light blow toward Bartolomeo’s statue, undoing the effect.

"Eh? What happened to me just now?" Bartolomeo blinked, looking around in confusion.

Gambia and his subordinates chuckled nervously. "Boss, Alucard-sama just praised you for completing the mission perfectly. You were so happy you fainted."

"What?!"

Bartolomeo stared at Alucard’s receding back, his eyes turning into open faucets as tears flooded his face and splashed onto the ground.

The first time... the first time I’ve been praised! I must... I must record this! I can die happy now!

While the lunatics of the Barto Club were having their moment, Fallon and Bonney remained where they were, pondering Alucard’s final words.

He wants to deal with the Government first, and then handle the other pirate powers?

They knew Alucard would eventually clash with the Government again, but... wasn’t the order a bit backward? Shouldn’t you deal with the pirates first, and then the Government?