As ten black-clad figures entered Yemu's room, the once fairly spacious outer chamber suddenly felt crowded.
As far as Yemu remembered, all nine members of the Nine Red Scabbards were here without exception: Kin'emon, Denjiro, Kurozumi Kanjuro, Kikunojo, Raizo, Ashura-douji, Kawamatsu, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi. Surrounded by them was a beautiful woman dressed in a Wano Country-style kimono. Kozuki Oden's wife, the user of the Toki Toki no Mi from eight hundred years ago, Kozuki Toki, stepped through the Nine Red Scabbards and came before Yemu.
Under the warm yellow lamplight, Kozuki Toki was dressed with solemn elegance. She looked at Yemu, lowered her head in a slight bow, and said, "I'm truly sorry, young Yemu, for disturbing you so late at night."
"No... don't worry about it. Please, sit."
Only after seeing everyone kneel formally did Yemu speak calmly.
"It's been five years. Toki, Inuarashi, Nekomamushi. You've all grown remarkably."
Although Yemu spoke to them in an extremely mature tone, Kozuki Toki, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi did not take offense.
During the three days they had known him five years ago, even Captain Roger and First Mate Rayleigh had been amazed by the maturity Yemu showed despite being only a little over ten years old, let alone them.
Especially Inuarashi and Nekomamushi. The terrifying pressure they had felt on the day Yemu's Conqueror's Haki awakened still weighed firmly on their hearts even now.
By comparison, young Enel seemed like the real child beside Yemu.
However, while Kozuki Toki, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi could understand, the other retainers could not tolerate it.
Seeing Yemu treat their lord's wife so lightly, Kin'emon, known as the "Brocade Emperor," immediately glared at him and roared, "You insolent wretch! How dare you speak to Toki-sama like that..."
The moment those words left his mouth, Kozuki Toki, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi all paled.
The three of them had not spent much time with Yemu, especially Kozuki Toki, who had only met him once. Even so, they could all clearly sense that during those three days on Skypiea, even though Yemu had acted very approachable, deep down he had faintly revealed his reluctance to deal with Lord Oden and his dislike for Wano Country.
Before Yemu could lose his temper, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi hurriedly stopped Kin'emon from saying more. Kozuki Toki also raised a hand to stop him, then turned to Yemu with deep apology and said, "I'm sorry, Brother Yemu. Kin'emon only spoke out of respect for me, which led him to offend you."
Yemu gave Kin'emon a cold glance, then looked away without taking it too seriously. Even so, the faint aura he released was enough to chill the hearts of every member of the Nine Red Scabbards present, sending cold sweat down their foreheads as they came to a clear realization.
This man was even more terrifying than Kaidou.
Yemu ignored them and simply looked at Kozuki Toki. "I've already guessed part of why you came, but since you're all here, Mrs. Kozuki, please say it yourself."
Kozuki Toki froze. Yemu's words made her uneasy, but since she had already come this far, there was no turning back. She lowered her head slightly and said in a pleading tone, "I want to know what your purpose is in coming to Wano Country, young Yemu. Why are you associating with Orochi and Kaidou?"
Yemu did not hide anything.
"I came to Wano Country for one reason only: your country's Seastone. Originally, I only came to discuss a Seastone deal with Kaidou. But after Orochi learned about it, he invited me to Wano Country to open a Seastone factory."
The moment he said that, Kin'emon lost control again and shouted, "Why? If you are Lord Oden's friend, why would you help Orochi and Kaidou oppress Wano Country? Do you know how much damage those weapons factories have done to our country?"
Yemu stared coldly at Kin'emon as he spoke, then glanced at Kozuki Toki and sighed.
"This is the last time."
Kozuki Toki was startled. Naturally, she understood what Yemu meant. Kin'emon's words were also what she wanted to ask, but when she saw Kin'emon's furious expression and that he still wanted to continue, she stopped him and spoke as the lady of the house.
"Enough, Kin'emon. Do not speak again. If you still acknowledge me as Lord Oden's wife, then leave the rest to me."
Kin'emon froze. He looked at Yemu, and though he was unwilling, at that moment he no longer dared to say another word.
Only then did Kozuki Toki let out a breath of relief. She looked at Yemu and asked cautiously, "Then, young Yemu, could you answer Kin'emon's question?"
"Of course."
To the other members of the Nine Red Scabbards, Yemu was far easier to talk to than they had imagined. But his very first answer made their expressions change.
"First, I am not a friend of your Lord Oden. On the Roger Pirates, I was only fairly close to Captain Roger and First Mate Rayleigh. Inuarashi and Nekomamushi should know that very well. The only reason I was willing to meet you and answer your questions here is because my younger brother Enel got along well with Inuarashi and Nekomamushi during those three days."
"Second, you don't need to worry about the Seastone factory. I have no interest in oppression. I can guarantee that as long as the people working in my factory do their jobs well, I will pay them generously for their labor. But that only applies to my Seastone quarry. Anything else is outside the scope of my guarantee."
Hearing this, Kozuki Toki was able to relax a little.
As his wife, the first answer did make Kozuki Toki somewhat unhappy, but on the other hand, it was indeed the truth.
Still...
"Brother Yemu, um... will Kurozumi Orochi agree to that? Won't that definitely cause a conflict when the time comes?" Inuarashi asked this time, his tone very gentle.
Yemu said indifferently, "By then, whether he agrees or not won't matter anymore."
Everyone choked on Yemu's confident words and was left momentarily speechless. Then Denjiro, the one wearing small glasses, seemed to think of something. He first lowered his head very properly in apology before slowly speaking.
"My apologies, Lady Toki, Yemu-sama. Please forgive my rudeness. I'm only still a little confused. It's not that I don't trust Yemu-sama's promise, but if Orochi agreed to let Yemu-sama establish a factory in Wano Country, surely there must be conditions attached."
The moment he said this, the others also realized it.
That was right. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
Seeing this, Yemu glanced at the young man in glasses before slowly saying, "You're quite clever. That's right, of course it isn't free. But you don't need to worry. This has nothing to do with you. The reason Orochi is willing to let me enter Wano Country is simply because he wants me to help him deal with Kaidou..."