"Thunder Swordsman Werther, even if I told you what happened back then, would you really believe me?"
Kozuki Oden caught Werther's slash with his blade but chose not to strike back.
Werther withdrew his sword and stepped away. He had no desire to fight Kozuki Oden to the death right now. That could come later.
"Chie, if Kozuki Oden lies, tell me at once."
Only then did everyone notice Ruri Chie standing in the doorway.
"Ruri Chie. So you brought Thunder Swordsman Werther into the Daimyo's Residence. I can't say I'm surprised."
Kozuki Oden planted his sword beside him, sat cross-legged on the ground, picked up a bottle of wine from the table, and drank deeply.
"I can tell you what happened. Once you've heard the whole story, you can decide whether to attack Wano Country."
Werther sheathed Shusui and stood in the courtyard, watching Kozuki Oden in silence.
He wasn't worried that Kozuki Oden would deceive him. Ruri Chie seemed to know something about those events too.
Just then, a large group of samurai rushed in. The commotion Werther had caused must have alerted them.
They surrounded Werther, but he paid them no mind. None of them was strong enough to stop him.
"Stand down!"
At Kozuki Oden's shout, the samurai stopped as one and began to retreat.
Whatever else could be said of them, their loyalty alone was striking.
Kozuki Oden had given a single order, and the samurai in the courtyard withdrew at once, without a moment's hesitation.
Werther had only ever seen efficiency like that when Sugar controlled her toys.
Kozuki Oden let out a long breath and tossed aside the empty bottle.
"That happened a long time ago. You could call it a mistake by the Kozuki Family, but we had a duty we couldn't