Main World.
Konoha Year Twenty-Two, autumn.
British Continent, New Capital.
Imperial Palace, garden.
The autumn sunlight spilled over the garden, bathing everything in gold. Kaguya sat in the pavilion, cradling a cup of hot tea, her long silver-white hair stirring gently in the breeze. Her face was expressionless, but an indescribably complex emotion lingered in her eyes. She had grown accustomed to life here. Every day, she trained, drank tea, read, and bickered with Tsunade. Yet one question had always remained in her heart, a question she had wanted to ask since her first day here.
"Does the Empire have slaves?"
Toyotomi Yinglang sat across from her, also holding a cup of hot tea. He glanced at Kaguya, the corners of his lips lifting into a faint smile.
"I abolished slavery long ago."
Kaguya's brows furrowed slightly.
"But 'slaves' still exist. In the colonies and the vassal states."
Kaguya's brows drew tighter. "What do you mean?"
Toyotomi Yinglang set down his teacup and leaned back in his chair.
"I establish colonies and vassal states through colonial companies. The people there aren't slaves in name, but they bring the Empire greater profits than slavery would."
A trace of confusion flickered in Kaguya's eyes. "Where do those profits come from?"
"Through commerce and trade." Toyotomi Yinglang's voice was calm. "For example, exchanging an iron pot for dozens of jin of iron. Trading fine silk for hundreds of jin of grain."
He paused.
"We buy their resources cheaply, the Empire processes them, and then we sell them back at high prices."
Kaguya's pupils contracted slightly. "Isn't that... isn't that just..."
"Isn't that just plunder?" Toyotomi Yinglang supplied the answer for her. "Yes. It is plunder. But not in name. In name, it's 'fair trade.' They're willing to trade, and we're willing to sell.