Wano.
Inside a cave.
Kozuki Hiyori watched the quarrel unfolding below the steps. It was a group of men who all appeared to be middle-aged.
With just a sweep of her gaze, she could clearly tell the identities and backgrounds of every last one of those sanctimonious fellows.
After Kurozumi Orochi was taken away by Ren's group, the forces on Wano's side had fallen apart. Many people wanted to cling to the Beasts Pirates' thigh and become the new shogun.
However… the Beasts Pirates had torn away the friendly mask they had worn as former allies and directly swallowed up the interests that had originally belonged to Kurozumi Orochi's side.
They intended to turn all of Wano into a nation ruled by pirates.
Naturally, this was something the vested interests of the time could not accept.
During this period, Kozuki Hiyori returned, found the other Nine Red Scabbards, and received the support of another Emperor of the Sea, Demon Ren.
The appearance of that opportunity led these people, each harboring their own schemes, to join in. That was how the resistance force that the Beasts Pirates could not find had come into being.
It was not that the Beasts Pirates were not strong enough. Rather, they were not stronger than these local snakes on their own turf.
But precisely because of that, although Kozuki Hiyori now appeared to have become the leader of this resistance force, in reality, she found it somewhat difficult to command them.
And now, they were arguing over one matter.
Whether or not they should meet with Yamato!
Yamato's existence had been given to Kozuki Hiyori by Robin, through the intelligence archive established from the information Ren had provided.
So Hiyori herself knew that Yamato was a force they could win over.
But for these fence-sitters, it was different. In their eyes, what was Yamato?
That was the son of Emperor Kaido!
He was someone extremely likely to become the second-generation Kaido, his successor. How could he possibly choose to join them and overthrow his own father's rule because of Oden?
In truth, if not for this intelligence and Robin's instructions, even Hiyori herself would not have believed it.
But as a pawn, she needed to have the awareness of a pawn and properly carry out what had been assigned to her.
Yet no matter how hard she tried, situations like this still arose.
"On the surface, they seem to be arguing, but in truth, they are all fighting for power and profit."
Kawamatsu, who was attending Hiyori at her side, had an icy look in his eyes. His hand unconsciously moved to the hilt of his blade, Soto Muso, at his waist.
He had been one of the prisoners whom Ren's group had bundled up and taken away from the quarry, and he was also one of the Nine Red Scabbards.
He had been separated from the princess he was supposed to protect for a full eleven years. Now, his heart was filled entirely with the thought of protecting her.
Because of that, those ugly power holders below the steps were all people he considered worthy of being cut down.
"Kawamatsu, calm down. We do not have that opportunity right now."
Kozuki Hiyori appeared very composed. Through Robin's gradual training, she had learned many things.
She had also seen the true nature of those people's quarrel. It was not that they believed Yamato was absolutely untrustworthy. Rather, they did not want her to accomplish anything meritorious.
At the same time, by suppressing her, they could expand their own voice within the resistance force and thereby obtain greater benefits.
For example, if the matter became impossible, they could sell out the resistance force and gain enormous profit.
But Hiyori chose silence, going along with these people's wishes. Yet those people were unwilling to let Hiyori merely sit by and watch.
"Princess Hiyori, this intelligence was provided by you. Why, then, are you saying nothing now?"
Suddenly, one daimyo pointed the spearhead at Hiyori.
Almost at the same time, the daimyo, samurai leaders, and former retainers of Kurozumi Orochi who had been arguing all stopped their dispute and looked toward Hiyori in unison.
Then a samurai leader chimed in, "Exactly. Even if you have obtained the support of Emperor Demon Ren, that does not mean you can act willfully, does it?
"You proposed making contact with Yamato, and we all went along with it.
"Now the time for the meeting is drawing closer and closer, and the problems that need to be solved can no longer be ignored. Yet you remain silent, sitting in that position… is your heart not a little too carefree?"
!
Kawamatsu's expression changed. He instinctively tightened his grip around his sword hilt, and a fierce killing intent spread through the cave.
Yet the samurai leader stood up without the slightest fear.
"If Lord Kawamatsu believes I have disrespected the princess, then you may cut me down right now. Or you may have your guards do it.
"But the problem we must face still exists. One careless step, and we will all be smashed to pieces.
"The matter of Kaido's son, Yamato, being trustworthy is something you stated. We, as subordinates, also acted on it. But you must at least give us a reason, yes?
"What lies behind such confidence from you? What evidence is there? Or what witness?
"If it is merely the words of certain people, then even if I die today, I must still warn the princess!"
His words sounded righteous and dignified. They were even somewhat difficult to criticize. But the essence of his speech was still an attack on Hiyori's authority.
"Are you saying that the princess and all of us are lying to you?"
Below the steps, Hyogoro immediately slammed the table and rose, eyes wide with anger.
"From the moment you people joined until now, you have been finding fault everywhere.
"This matter was told to us by that person—"
Before he could finish speaking, the samurai leader interrupted him with a cold laugh.
"That is what you say. You say that Demon Ren told you. It is not that we know it was that person who said it.
"I am not questioning that person. I merely feel that perhaps… some people are not all that trustworthy?"
His words carried a hidden meaning, and the spearhead pointed toward Kozuki Hiyori atop the steps.
A scent of conspiracy spread through the air at that moment, causing even Hiyori to become vigilant.
The samurai leader still wanted to continue speaking, but then he froze, revealing a stunned expression.
A figure abruptly appeared behind Hiyori.
The Angels of Glory guarding Hiyori almost instantly dropped to one knee toward that figure.
"My Lord!"
The voices of the Angels of Glory left all the ambitious people present, who had been about to do something, stunned.
To be treated with such ceremony by these powerful beings, and to be addressed as "My Lord" by them…
Light filled the cave at that moment. Scorching heat made everyone freeze in shock. In their sight, the samurai leader who had been speaking so eloquently a moment ago instantly turned into a man of fire.
In a matter of seconds, he became a piece of charcoal that collapsed to the ground.
"You all seem rather dissatisfied with the person I chose?"
Ren tilted his head. Standing beside Kozuki Hiyori, he swept his gaze around once and roughly understood the quality of these people.
"You are… Demon Ren!?"
The daimyo, samurai leaders, and former retainers of Kurozumi Orochi recognized the newcomer in shock and fury.
No one had expected that the Emperor of the Sea who should have been operating from behind the scenes would suddenly appear here.
It truly left them stunned. But…
One of Kurozumi Orochi's former retainers stood up, his face full of pain and sorrow.
"Why did Your Excellency kill him without reason? If you do not give us an explanation, then we, who are devoted to—"
Before he could finish, Ren's crimson eyes looked toward him. Then his entire body met the same fate as the previous man.
"Too troublesome. Keeping people like you alive will only make things even more troublesome. Kill them all together."
His tone was calm.
Inside the cave, everyone whose name was on the list Robin had provided was burned into charcoal in an instant.
Hiyori and the others were all stunned, but no one expressed any objection.
(End of Chapter)