Yemu made no attempt to hide his actions from anyone, much less from Kaidou of the Beasts, captain of the Beasts Pirates, who was sitting right beside him.
When Kurozumi Orochi, the current Shogun of Wano Country, noticed what Yemu was doing, he immediately recognized the samurai hidden among the crowd, the ones who followed Kozuki Oden. Anger crossed his face, but he also began to feel uneasy.
Yemu's friendliness in that moment made him deeply uncomfortable.
So he no longer cared about showing off his authority in front of his own people. Instead, he lowered his voice and asked in a fawning tone, "Yemu-sama, do you know those samurai of Oden's?"
As soon as he asked, Kaidou also looked over with curiosity.
Those samurai of Oden's were old opponents of his as well. They could not pose any real threat to him, but even too many fleas would still make a person itch.
Yemu did not hide anything, and there was no need to.
"Ah, I don't know the others, but I once met Inuarashi and Nekomamushi on Roger's ship..."
Both of them were startled by that.
"Yemu-sama, you've actually met the Pirate King Roger?"
Kurozumi Orochi was not like the people of Wano Country, who had shut themselves away from the world and knew nothing of the outside. Having once lived overseas for a time, he understood these seas very well. Otherwise, he would never have found Kaidou and made him his helper in taking over Wano Country.
Kaidou also looked at Yemu in surprise. This was something he had never known.
"Mm. To be precise, Roger once brought his crew, including Oden, Kozuki Toki, Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, as well as his son and daughter, to my hometown. This Haki of mine was taught to me by Rayleigh-san, the First Mate of the Roger Pirates..."
"I see..."
Kurozumi Orochi looked amazed, but his expression shifted slightly. He hesitated, then said, "Then, our cooperation..."
"Relax. I'm not interested in the affairs of Wano Country. What interests me is cooperating to build a Seastone factory here. After all, I'm not going to lend you my name for free so you can throw your weight around."
Yemu directly dispelled his concerns.
But even after hearing that, Kurozumi Orochi was still a little uneasy. Amid the cheers of the commoners, he asked quietly in a flattering tone, "But Yemu-sama, your fame has already spread across the seas. They call you the warrior who freed the slaves, the hero who brings freedom to all, the human god who dares challenge the Celestial Dragons..."
Yemu turned and glanced at the sleazy-looking Kurozumi Orochi, then asked him in return, "Do you know why I only declared war on the Celestial Dragons and the World Government? Among the more than 130 nations affiliated with the World Government, there are plenty of people as vile as you, yet I have no intention of changing them."
Kurozumi Orochi flinched when Yemu called him vile to his face, but he quickly put on a fawning smile and asked, "Please enlighten me, Yemu-sama."
"It's simple. They don't need me to liberate them. Just like the people of Wano Country, they're already used to being ruled. Even if they need saving, what they need isn't an outsider. It's the Kozuki clan. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I understand. Of course I understand!"
At that moment, if Kurozumi Orochi still failed to understand, he would truly be an idiot.
Orochi, who had been born overseas, did not want to be like the people of Wano Country, bound by the words "loyalty" and "righteousness," which to him were simply stupidity. Instead, he had used those very words to complete his rule over Wano Country. Otherwise, how could someone born a mere servant, burdened with the despised Kurozumi name, have replaced Kozuki Oden, the intended successor to the Shogun of Wano Country, and become the new Shogun? How could he have made Kozuki Oden dance naked in the Flower Capital every day, turning him into the Foolish Prince?
This time, Kurozumi Orochi was completely reassured. But just then, he heard Yemu speak again.
"But that's only when there is still hope. If these people lose all hope, and the only road left to them is waiting for death, then nothing they do would be surprising. Do you understand what I mean?"
Kurozumi Orochi froze. Of course he understood.
But he did not care anymore, because all he wanted was revenge.
Besides, even if that day really came, as long as Yemu built a Seastone factory in Wano Country, he would not simply stand by and watch for the sake of his own interests.
That was why, after hearing from Kaidou that Yemu, captain of the Sky Pirates and known as Fire Dragon Yemu, was coming to Wano Country, he had insisted on becoming the host of this banquet and holding such a grand welcoming ceremony. At the same time, the presence of the Sky Pirates' forces could also restrain the increasingly wild Beasts Pirates.
With the worries in his heart gone, Kurozumi Orochi finally relaxed and returned to his arrogant, overbearing manner, basking in everyone's awe.
Kaidou, who had remained silent the entire time, saw this and snorted disdainfully, cursing inwardly.
"Idiot!"
Soon, the group passed through the streets of the Flower Capital and arrived at the Shogun's residence. There, Kurozumi Orochi, acting as host, had prepared everything. Fine food, fine wine, and countless stunning geishas.
Unfortunately, those geishas were driven out in less than half a minute.
"You should understand that I'm pressed for time right now, so let's get straight to business."
"Of course, of course. All of you, get out!"
After the geishas who had come to pour wine and perform were dismissed, only Orochi, Yemu, and Kaidou remained in the spacious council hall of the Shogun's residence.
Since Yemu had come to Wano Country alone this time, Wano Country and the Beasts Pirates were also represented only by Kurozumi Orochi and Kaidou.
After draining the wine in his cup in one gulp, Kurozumi Orochi finally spoke tentatively.
"As long as Kaidou-sama has no objections, we can proceed according to our agreement. In Wano Country, aside from Kuri, which I currently cannot control because Oden's samurai forces are deeply rooted there, as well as Kaidou-sama's Onigashima and the capital, the Flower Capital, Yemu-sama may build his own weapons factories in the other four regions: Kibi, Udon, Ringo, and Hakumai."
Kaidou gave Kurozumi Orochi a cold look, frightening him into a cold sweat. Fortunately, that was all.
Yemu, however, shook his head.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm willing to cooperate with you only because Wano Country produces Seastone and has unique Seastone processing techniques. As for weapons factories, I have absolutely no interest in building them in Wano Country. So aside from Udon, the source of Seastone, I have no interest in any other region. And if your mining efficiency weren't so low that it can't meet my needs at all, I wouldn't have any interest in getting involved in Wano Country's affairs."
Kurozumi Orochi laughed awkwardly, though he was relieved inside. Out loud, he cursed viciously.
"It's because those useless trash are too incompetent. Yemu-sama, do you perhaps have some method to increase production? That way, both of us could profit..."
Yemu glanced at him and answered without hiding anything.
"There is a way, of course. I'm just afraid you won't be willing to use it."
"How could that be? No one dislikes making money."
"Good. My method is simple. Pay them money and give them food. Only when people eat their fill do they have the strength to work. Only when they're paid enough will they work with real enthusiasm."
At those words, both Kurozumi Orochi and Kaidou stared at him in complete bewilderment...
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