"Let's see how you perform."
Facing Kozuki Toki's nervousness, Rosse merely smiled and gently used his fingers to tease the girl in his arms.
Watching Rosse's movements, Kozuki Toki felt her heart rise and fall crazily.
But she also knew very well what Rosse meant.
If she wanted to protect Hiyori now, rather than relying on the retainers or Kozuki Oden, it would be better to rely on Rosse.
"Hiyori!", Kozuki Toki forced herself to calm down and barely managed to show a smile as she said to Kozuki Hiyori:
"For a while after this, I'll have to trouble Lord Rosse to take care of you. Don't worry, okay? He's Mama's friend and he'll take good care of you."
"Mm-hm! Mama, I'll be good!", Kozuki Hiyori didn't cry or make a fuss at all. A child's mind doesn't think about such complicated twists and turns.
Since Kozuki Toki told her to stay with Rosse, she would stay with Rosse.
Seeing this, the other retainers didn't say anything.
Raizo opened his mouth and wanted to say a few words, but Denjiro stopped him.
After all, no matter what might happen to Kozuki Hiyori in the future, even if she was raised to become their enemy, right now she was still a member of the Kozuki family.
If Kozuki Toki wanted to lie to Kozuki Hiyori, just let her do it.
However, as for Rosse, Denjiro and the others had no good expressions left for him.
They didn't dare to force him, but their eyes clearly showed that they were "seeing the guest off."
"My lord, we have already done as you asked," Denjiro said in a low voice.
The meaning was clear. They had kept the agreement. Now it was Rosse's turn.
"I'm not someone who breaks his word. However, this is my first time in Wano. I suppose none of you would mind if I take a look around," Rosse said with a smile, holding Kozuki Hiyori as he walked out.
Kozuki Hiyori's eyes held reluctance to part from her mother, but she still didn't cry or make a fuss.
Even though she was leaving her mother, she felt she could take care of herself.
"Of course we don't mind. Lord Rosse may stay in Wano as long as he pleases," Before Denjiro and the others could speak, Kozuki Toki stepped forward and said first.
If Rosse didn't leave, she could still see her daughter.
If Rosse left, this might very well be the last time they ever saw each other.
"Hahahahaha, then I'll be sure to thoroughly enjoy Wano's customs and scenery. You are also very welcome to come and visit me, madam," Rosse laughed loudly and, under the silent gazes of all the retainers, swaggered out of the Kozuki residence.
After Rosse had left, one minute later—
BANG!
Ashura Doji suddenly slammed his fist into the tatami, punching a hole through the reception room floor as wooden splinters flew everywhere.
"Damn it! What a disgrace!"
He kept pounding the floor, roaring in unwilling rage.
From the moment Rosse appeared, they had been retreating step by step.
In the end, they even had to hand over Kozuki Oden's daughter just to get Rosse to leave.
This humiliating feeling wasn't only eating away at Ashura Doji's heart. The other retainers felt nearly the same.
Even Kin'emon, who had lost his left arm, was lying on the ground, crying and cursing Rosse and the World Government.
As if by crying and cursing, they could curse Rosse to death.
If it was in the past, Kozuki Toki might have joined in this blame-shifting frenzy, but now she simply watched coldly.
The one taken away was her daughter.
These retainers, who spoke of dying for the Kozuki clan, ultimately treated her and Kozuki Hiyori as bargaining chips to exchange.
Now that the man had left, they suddenly poured out their emotions in a frenzy, why hadn't they dared when he was actually here?
Kozuki Toki sneered inwardly, but didn't say anything.
Fear of death and fear of getting involved in trouble is human nature, she could understand that.
Even retainers were only retainers. They didn't necessarily have to pay for Kozuki Oden's mistakes, this too could be understood.
She was Kozuki Oden's wife, and Kozuki Hiyori was Kozuki Oden's daughter. Paying the price for his actions wasn't strange either.
What Kozuki Toki couldn't accept was, Kozuki Oden was clearly still here, so why did they have to stand out front and face everything?
Fine, even facing Rosse on the front lines, she could accept that.
But why did the things Kozuki Oden himself had done have to be borne by her and her daughter?
In the past, Kozuki Toki had thought she could give everything for Kozuki Oden.
But this time, Kozuki Oden's behavior left her feeling very bitter inside.
"All right, look at yourselves now, what kind of state is this?", Suddenly, a voice came from outside the door.
Kozuki Oden's tall figure strode in.
Now that Rosse had left, he could of course move freely. After all, this was his mansion, and as long as he hid carefully, Rosse wouldn't be able to detect him.
"Lord Oden, we're sorry!"
The six retainers burst into tears. When they saw Kozuki Oden, they hurriedly knelt in a row and prostrated themselves in apology.
Failing to protect the household and letting an enemy break in so easily was an unbearable disgrace for retainers.
"Oh dear, oh dear… you guys… sniff sniff … I'm so touched!", Seeing the retainers like this, Kozuki Oden also started crying exaggeratedly and hugged a few of them while crying together.
Kozuki Toki watched this childlike scene with cold indifference, feeling it was simply ridiculous.
Kozuki Oden's world had always been this simple.
He was a straightforward man, and so most of his retainers were equally straightforward.
In the past she had thought such a scene was touching. Simple feelings colliding, far more real than interests and benefits.
But looking at it now… it was just that.
Since Kozuki Oden was so ruled by emotion, why didn't he become emotional just once for Hiyori's sake?
"Toki, I'm sorry!"
After expressing his emotions with the retainers, Kozuki Oden, still with tears on his face, rushed toward her.
His speed wasn't particularly fast, just normal speed, so Kozuki Toki simply took two small steps back and easily avoided his lunge.
Her clear, cool eyes fixed on Kozuki Oden, and she asked in an icy tone, "Why didn't you let Hiyori leave with Nekomamushi and the others?"
She had already asked this question once before.
At that time, Kozuki Oden hadn't thought much and answered casually, and she had casually listened.
But now, the deed was done.
What she wanted now wasn't an answer, but Kozuki Oden's attitude toward this matter.
"Toki, don't worry. You really don't need to be too anxious. I confirmed it personally with Kogetsu and the others, they have spies in the World Government and know Rosse very well. With that guy's personality, he won't do anything to Hiyori. He might even take good care of her," Kozuki Oden answered with a big grin, with the tear marks from earlier still showing on his face.
From his expression and tone, it was hard to believe he actually cared about his own daughter.
This made Kozuki Toki feel completely chilled inside.
"That's your daughter, you just believe in your enemy like that?"
Kozuki Toki looked at Kozuki Oden in disbelief, unable to understand what kind of logic this was.
'Handing your daughter over to your enemy, and eve n feeling relaxed, believing your enemy would raise your daughter for you… what kind of iron heart does that take?'
Kozuki Toki couldn't understand at all, and simply could not accept it.
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