"Hurry, hurry! The Boiling Pot Punishment is a rare sight. The last time was for the Great Serpent Clan who launched a rebellion. If we're late, we might not get a spot."
"I heard from the older generation that the Boiling Pot Punishment is when they throw people into boiling hot oil, and they die instantly from the immense pain."
"It's said that if you coat them in breadcrumbs, they'll look just like deep-fried Tempura."
"You're disgusting, man. I just finished eating Tempura."
The surrounding crowd hurried towards the execution grounds, chattering amongst themselves.
When they arrived, the execution grounds were already packed with people. After all, the target of this execution was Kozuki Oden, the son of the former Shogun, the Daimyo of Kuri, and his Retainer.
It's said they tried to seize the Shogun Position from Orochi and launched a rebellion, but it was Suppressed.
The Kozuki Clan once used the Boiling Pot Punishment on the Kurozumi Family in the name of rebellion. Who would have thought that today, the descendants of the Kozuki Clan would suffer the same Boiling Pot Punishment, also in the name of rebellion? This made the onlookers chatter even more.
"Is that idiot finally going to die? He gave up being Shogun to go to sea. And now he's back and wants to be Shogun again? Why does everything good have to be taken by the Kozuki Family?"
"Yeah, why are we executed or forbidden from returning to Wano Country for life if we go to sea, but he can? Is it just because he's from the Kozuki Family?"
"But this guy is really strong. Last night, most of the Flower Capital was destroyed. I heard it was him. His Destructive Power even surpasses the Mountain Master who Ravaged the land back then."
"Well done, Shogun Orochi!"
For these Ordinary People, they never mind if things get too Excitement when watching a spectacle. They are indifferent, especially when the harm of certain events doesn't affect them.
Originally, the Flower Capital suffered severe damage, and many people lost their homes. But when they heard there was a Boiling Pot Execution to watch, and the condemned were Kozuki Oden and the Daimyo of Kuri, many people didn't even bother rebuilding their houses and rushed to watch the Excitement with their Family.
Some people even started fighting over better viewing spots.
"Father, what is the Boiling Pot Execution?"
A child perched on his Father's shoulders looked curiously at the raging Great Fire and the large cauldron above it radiating Terror heat.
"It's when they throw people into the Oil Pot and then fish them out."
The man explained, when suddenly they heard a commotion. Then they saw Samurai leading today's Protagonist onto the stage.
Kurozumi Orochi, Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin were sitting cross-legged on the High Platform, drinking Wine and watching the Boiling Pot Execution that was about to begin.
"Kaido, I want an Opportunity. I must live!"
Kozuki Oden, with Shackles on his hands and feet, looked at Kaido Seriously. As for Kurozumi Orochi, Kozuki Oden completely ignored him.
It could be said that he cannot die now. If he dies, Wano Country might never open its borders without him, and the Dawn of the World might never come.
"Hey, hurry up and get into the Oil Pot, what are you babbling about? Do you know how many people are waiting to watch? Don't waste everyone's Time."
Behind Oden, the executioner responsible for sending him into the Oil Pot gestured at Oden with the Long Spear in his hand. For them, being able to execute these Big Shots was a matter of great Glory.
In other Words, sending Kozuki Oden into the Oil Pot might be the most Glory moment of his life.
"Uro-grog-rog-rog..."
Seeing Kozuki Oden looking at him with a determined expression, Kaido burst into loud laughter.
As Kaido laughed loudly, the executioner who was urging Oden suddenly slipped and fell headfirst from the platform directly into the boiling Oil Pot.
"Waaaaah!!!"
*Sizzle*~
As the fatty meat made contact with the boiling hot oil, the Sound of burning fat echoed.
"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!"
Accompanied by a shrill Sound, the executioner erupted with immense Power and actually crawled out of the Oil Pot.
However, after falling from the Oil Pot to the ground, he didn't struggle for long before he completely died. After all, the Whole Body's fat had been burned away by the high temperature. He was practically like a charred corpse, silently burning on the ground.
The surrounding crowd was completely silent. It could be said that they had never seen such a Cruel Scene before.
"Oden, give me a Reason. If your Reason can convince me, then maybe I'll give you an Opportunity."
Kaido propped his chin with one hand and looked at Oden playfully.
"All twelve of us will get into the pot. You set a Time. If anyone can endure it, please release us!"
"Endure?"
Kaido was taken aback, clearly not expecting Oden to propose such a Condition.
"Mwahahaha, that's a torture that kills you as soon as you get in! No one can endure it."
Orochi said sinisterly from the Side.
"Mama, mama, mama, mama, interesting."
"Uro-grog-rog-rog, bring a clock! Endure for an hour for me to see. If you can endure for an hour, then I'll agree to your Condition!" Kaido Ordered to the people around him.
"Don't go back on your Word, Kaido."
Kozuki Oden said, looking at Kaido.
"Of course."
"Why is it so slow? It's just a Boiling Pot Punishment, right? Is it necessary to drag it out like this?"
"Hurry up and get in. I'm still waiting to go home and repair my house."
"Yeah, I have Things to do too."
"Staying in the Oil Pot for an hour? Even at Death's door, he's still so pathetic?"
The surrounding people chattered, mostly complaining about the unexpected twist in the Boiling Pot Execution. As for sympathy for the Kozuki Clan, it wasn't entirely absent, but it was negligible.
Kozuki Oden, having obtained Kaido's Promise, no longer hesitated and jumped directly into the Oil Pot. But as soon as he entered the pot, he let out a Terror-filled Sound.
"Waaaaaahhhhhh!"
"What exactly happened...? Father!"
Momonosuke, only seven or eight years old, stared with wide Eyes at his Father screaming in the Oil Pot. His Body trembled violently, and his tender Face was filled with Fear.
That Cruel Scene terrified him to the extreme, especially when he realized he would have to go in too. His expression was so overcome with Fear that he couldn't even control it.
"Momonosuke Lord, please calm down."
Seeing the terrified Momonosuke, Kin'emon crouched down and put his arms around the boy's shoulders, saying in a deep voice, "Momonosuke Your Highness, noble Kozuki blood flows within you. Even in the face of Death, do not defile it! Death is not to be feared. As the Heir of the Kozuki Family, even when facing Death, you must maintain your dignity!"
"That's right, Momo, you must be brave." Toki also said.
"Kin'emon, Mother..."
Momonosuke stared blankly at the Samurai in front of him, then at Kozuki Oden's painful expression in the Oil Pot. How could the Fear in his heart be dispelled by these Words?
"We still remember our Promise from back then. Do not let the Monarch be Alone. We are coming!"
"Follow them!"
"Kozuki Oden Lord, we are coming!"
Just as everyone was about to jump into the Oil Pot, a Large Ship was quietly anchored in the High Sky above the Flower Capital.
"What a strange country."
Bell-lin leaned on the Ship's Railing, watching the Scene unfolding below through a Telescope, and couldn't help but say.
It could be said that after receiving the request for help from White Dance, they rushed towards Wano Country. White Dance, which they originally thought would fall, had shown astonishing resilience. It could be said that when they arrived, the troop losses had already exceeded 60%, but even in this situation, the White Dance troops were still fighting to the Death.
On the other hand, looking at the Kozuki Clan, who claimed to have ruled Wano Country for a thousand years, when their Heir was about to be executed, all that could be heard were cheers from the onlookers.
"It's Simple, because those people in White Dance know that if White Dance is breached, their Family behind them, everything they own, will vanish. Their good days will be gone, and they'll return to the Time when they didn't have enough to eat, and even if their Family starved to Death, no one would care."
And whether the Kozuki Clan survives or perishes doesn't make much difference to these Ordinary People. Because the Kozuki Clan hasn't brought them anything. Instead, they've been using the produce from their fields to support those Lords high above them.
So the Death of those Big Shots is just replacing the person above them.
"As the saying goes, the common people suffer in prosperity, and the common people suffer in ruin. Naturally, those people have no sense of belonging."
"Waaaaaahhhhhh! No, I don't want to go in!"
Just as Nicholas was sighing, a heart-wrenching Sound suddenly came from below. The Sound was so loud that even Nicholas in the High Sky could hear it clearly.
"Heh, truly a tiger father and a dog son."
Nicholas looked down and saw the terrified Manner of Momonosuke, who was scared out of his wits.
And those who shared the same Thoughts as Nicholas included the onlookers and Kaido on the Viewing Platform.
(End of Chapter)