Though she cursed in her heart, the courtesan forced a smile, suppressing her frustration. She needed to flatter the shogun, the generous spender, even if the situation was utterly humiliating.
"Shogun, you're incredible. I feel so good that I can't even get up," she said with feigned exhaustion, curling up in the quilt. "I'm terribly sorry if I failed to serve you well."
Her tone, coupled with her weary demeanor, stroked Sukiyaki's ego as a man. He puffed up with pride and let out a hearty laugh.
"No problem, no problem! This shogun is very satisfied with your service. You're quite remarkable!" he boasted. "Stay here from now on. I'll make sure you're well taken care of. Money won't be an issue."
The courtesan's eyes lit up instantly. Just three minutes of effort, and I get a stable, high-paying job? It felt like a gift from heaven, and she couldn't suppress her happiness.
"Thank you, Shogun! I'll serve you faithfully and stay by your side whenever you need me," she replied, her voice dripping with gratitude.
Sukiyaki beamed, his self-satisfaction soaring to new heights. Physically and mentally content, he adjusted his kimono and stood, preparing to leave. "It's been years since I've enjoyed such a satisfying session," he murmured to himself, basking in his delusion of grandeur.
As he opened the door and stepped out, the smile on his face froze. Before he could react, a cold blade pressed against his neck. The sharp edge cut into his skin, and blood trickled down, staining his collar.
The courtesan, still lounging in bed and watching Sukiyaki leave, froze at the sight. Her face turned pale, and a scream escaped her lips.
"Ah—!!"
"Shut up!" barked a cold voice.
Terrified, the courtesan clamped her hands over her mouth, too frightened to make another sound. Her body trembled as she watched the unfolding scene in horror.
Luffy, holding the blade against Sukiyaki's neck, ignored her entirely. His gaze was fixed on the quivering shogun. With a tone of contempt, he sneered, "Shogun, you're in such high spirits. The enemy has already infiltrated the city, and yet you have the audacity to indulge yourself with a courtesan. No wonder your family has fallen so far."
Before Sukiyaki could stammer a response, Luffy kicked him back into the room. The shogun stumbled, falling to the floor with a yelp of pain.
"Ah! W-who are you? How dare you—"
"Shut your mouth!" Luffy interrupted, his patience wearing thin. He stabbed Sukiyaki's shoulder with the tip of his blade, sending a jolt of electricity coursing through his body.
The shogun screamed, his body convulsing as he foamed at the mouth. The prostitute, now fully aware of the danger, scrambled into a corner of the room, clutching the quilt tightly. She crawled as far away as possible, her fear palpable.
Luffy, noticing her movements, glanced at her briefly. He stopped the electrical discharge and withdrew his blade. His tone was sharp but lacked malice as he addressed her.
"What do you think of this guy's performance?" he asked, gesturing toward Sukiyaki. "Be honest."
The courtesan hesitated, her fear warring with the resentment bubbling in her heart. She cast a cautious glance at Luffy's face, trying to gauge his intentions. Finally, she spoke, her voice trembling but laced with bitterness.
"Sir, to be honest… this man is a complete waste. From the moment we started, we exchanged barely five or six sentences, and then he collapsed. It was over before I could feel anything at all."
Her courage grew as she vented her frustration. "I've been in this line of work for six or seven years, and I've never encountered anyone as pathetic as him. If he weren't the shogun, I'd have kicked him out long ago to avoid sullying my reputation."
Though Sukiyaki's body was numb from the electric shock, his hearing remained intact. The words hit him like a sledgehammer. His face twisted in rage as he glared at the prostitute, his dignity shredded.
The courtesan, emboldened by her outburst, noticed his glare. She scoffed, her temper flaring.
"What are you looking at, old man? With something as pitifully short as yours, you dare imitate others and hire prostitutes? What a joke!" she snapped. "The so-called famous Kozuki family… even the last shogun, Kurozumi Orochi, lasted longer than you!"
Her final jab was too much for Sukiyaki. His face turned a deep shade of red, and blood spurted from his mouth as he struggled to process the humiliation. The insult about Orochi cut deeper than any blade, leaving him teetering on the edge of unconsciousness.
Luffy, watching the scene unfold, smirked. He drove his sword into Sukiyaki's thigh, snapping the shogun back to reality with a howl of pain.
Ignoring Sukiyaki's cries, Luffy turned to the prostitute, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise.
"I didn't expect you'd had dealings with Orochi. You've been through quite a bit, haven't you?"
The courtesan smiled awkwardly, trying to downplay her past. "You jest, sir. I'm just a weak woman with a little bit of charm. I've had no choice but to rely on it to survive. Pleasing powerful men is the only way I've managed to scrape by. Even so, I've been beaten, scolded, and treated like dirt. No one looks at me with respect—not the powerful, not ordinary people."
Her voice trailed off as she lowered her head, her bitterness evident. Luffy listened in silence, nodding slightly. He hadn't expected her to be so forthright, and her performance exceeded his expectations.
"Fair enough," he said. "You've done well. I won't make things difficult for you."
Luffy glanced at the trembling woman and gestured toward the door. "You can go now. It's chaotic outside, so watch your step. And do me a favor—spread the word about the shogun's heroic three minutes. Let everyone hear about it."
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