Kin'emon suddenly realized everyone was staring at him.
He forced a stiff smile. "My apologies, I was lost in thought."
He tried to sound casual to mask his inner tension, but the effect was minimal.
Yamato stroked her chin thoughtfully. "So you were rescued by the Eternal Divine Kingdom and returned to Wano Country because of them?" She leaned in abruptly, her sharp gaze piercing Kin'emon's eyes.
"Did they make any specific demands?"
The air in the room froze.
Kin'emon's throat tightened, but he forced himself to remain calm and shook his head.
"The Divine Kingdom's actions are beyond our comprehension. How could we fathom their motives?" He wiped sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, feigning exhaustion.
"Our immediate priority is to save Lord Momonosuke. Lord Oden's bloodline must not be extinguished!"
Just then, the unconscious Momonosuke suddenly convulsed violently, a pained groan escaping his lips.
Kin'emon turned to attend to him as if granted a reprieve, using the opportunity to avoid Yamato's scrutinizing gaze.
His trembling fingers gently stroked Momonosuke's pale face as he silently vowed:
No matter what, he had to protect the Young Master's life, even if it meant bearing the stigma of a traitor.
For Momonosuke and the future of Wano Country, he was willing to pay any price.
"Of course, there were other unforeseen circumstances..."
Yamato sat quietly, listening intently to Kin'emon's account.
As he spoke, the harrowing scenes seemed to unfold before her eyes.
Her brow gradually furrowed, and a flicker of barely concealed shock and fury flashed in her eyes.
When Kin'emon finished his tale, she gasped sharply, her body trembling slightly.
Her hand unconsciously tightened around the spiked club, the barbs digging into her palm, causing a sharp pain she didn't even notice.
"So... so much has happened..." Her voice was low and trembling, echoing in the silent room, her eyes blazing with anger.
When she learned that there was a traitor among the Nine Red Scabbards, Yamato could no longer suppress her fury.
She shot to her feet with lightning speed, creating a gust of wind that sent the chair behind her crashing to the floor with a resounding bang that echoed through the room.
"Kurozumi Clan dogs!" Yamato snarled through clenched teeth, each word forced out as if squeezed from between her teeth.
Veins bulged on her forehead like writhing earthworms, betraying the extreme fury that had consumed her.
She slammed her fist against a nearby pillar with such force that the entire room trembled.
Dust cascaded from the pillar, swirling around her like a hazy shroud.
"Lord Oden treated them like his own kin, yet they dare..."
The furious words choked in her throat, transforming into a heavy sigh.
That sigh carried the weight of her hatred for the traitors and her helplessness in the face of the situation.
Yamato's gaze slowly shifted to Momonosuke, lying weakly on the bed.
The fiery anger in her eyes gradually softened, replaced by boundless pity and unwavering resolve.
She approached the bed with deliberate steps, her eyes filled with concern.
She solemnly pressed Oden's sea journal against her chest, the gesture both gentle and reverent, as if she were cradling the hope of the entire world in her hands.
"I swear in the name of Yamato, as long as I remain in this general's manor, I'll never allow anyone to harm you."
"Even if that bastard Kaido comes, I'll stop him with these hands and this life!" Her eyes burned with a resolute, almost suicidal determination.
Kin'emon bowed deeply, his graying hair falling across his forehead, momentarily obscuring the complex emotions that flashed through his eyes.
That complex expression held guilt, helplessness, and an unspeakable pain.
"Thank you for your kindness,"
His voice choked slightly, not from gratitude, but from the unspeakable guilt.
When he straightened, his face had regained its composure, only the slight trembling of his mustache betraying the turmoil within.
A brief silence fell over the room.
Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices like fine golden threads, casting dappled, swaying shadows across Momonosuke's pale face.
His once-childlike features now appeared gaunt with pain, his brow furrowed slightly.
Kin'emon stood silently by the bedside, gently tucking the corner of the blanket around the Young Master, carefully avoiding Momonosuke's wounds, fearing he might accidentally worsen the boy's pain.
'Young Master, you must recover quickly... Otherwise, all my painstaking efforts, my meticulous planning and unwavering protection, will have been in vain.'
Tama stood in a corner, her eyes red-rimmed, clearly having just finished crying.
She surreptitiously wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, struggling to regain her composure.
Forcing herself to sound cheerful, she said, "Yamato, shouldn't we change Lord Momonosuke's bandages?"
Though her voice was slightly hoarse, it pierced the oppressive atmosphere like a thin crack, breaking the suffocating silence.
Yamato snapped out of his daze, jolting awake.
She immediately rose to fetch the medical kit.
Izo stood nearby, his sharp gaze piercing through Kin'emon's back, keenly sensing the old friend's unusually tense shoulders.
He approached with footsteps so light they were almost silent, feigning concern for Momonosuke's condition.
His gaze lingered briefly on the boy's face,
While Kin'emon's attention was focused on Momonosuke, Izo whispered in his ear, "When are you planning to tell her the truth?"
A hint of urgency and worry flickered in Izo's eyes.
He knew this secret was like a ticking time bomb, capable of triggering unforeseen consequences at any moment.
"Knowing sooner or later makes no difference," Kin'emon replied, his voice equally low. "We'll have to face it eventually. Ron has already shown us respect. If he were to forcefully conquer Wano Country, we would have no choice."
Kin'emon's pupils contracted slightly, a momentary flicker of tension and hesitation.
But almost immediately, his expression returned to its usual composure, as if that brief moment of panic had never occurred.
He lowered his voice further. "We'll tell her after Lord Momonosuke... after the Young Master becomes the Shogun of Wano Country. Otherwise, any unforeseen complications could spell disaster. Right now, we must proceed with utmost caution, leaving no room for error."
"Agreed. We need to act quickly," Izo nodded slightly, acutely aware of the urgency. "Once Momonosuke awakens, we can further test Yamato and pressure her."
"...Understood."