Momonosuke's little face was white as paper. His lips trembled, but he could not get a single word out.
Kin'emon opened his eyes again and looked at his young lord, sorrow filling his heart.
But things had come to this, and he understood that before someone like Gern, stubborn resistance or excuses might only make matters worse.
More importantly, the power and standing Gern had displayed made him the only outside force that might currently be capable of challenging Kaido head-on.
Although Luffy had agreed to keep helping, Kin'emon himself had no confidence that the Straw Hat Pirates could make it that far.
So, despite his young lord's contemptible behavior just now, and despite Gern's unclear intentions...
This might... be Wano Country's last hope.
At that thought, Kin'emon drew a deep breath, forcing down his disappointment in Momonosuke and his wariness of Gern.
He steeled himself and stepped forward, asking the most crucial-and most practical-question as a retainer of the Kozuki Family.
"Lord Heavenquake, forgive me for overstepping.
Whatever our young lord's identity may be... will you, and the Marines behind you, truly... help Wano Country?
Will you help the people of Wano Country, enslaved by Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi and suffering in misery?"
He needed a clear promise, even if that promise might come at a tremendous price.
Faced with Kin'emon's question, Gern stopped pressing Momonosuke, turned, and met Kin'emon's gaze openly.
His answer came without a moment's hesitation, firm and decisive.
"Yes."
One word, clear, powerful, and beyond question.
That answer lifted Kin'emon's spirits and rekindled a glimmer of hope in the limp Momonosuke's eyes.
But they failed to realize-or chose to ignore-the deeper meaning behind Gern's words.
Of course Gern would "help" Wano Country.
From the very beginning, his ambitions had never been limited to the Marines