Three days later.
Although Amatsuki Toki's appearance had indeed delayed them slightly, it had not delayed them for too long. Three days later, according to the agreed ti, Ike's ship had still arrived at the agreed location.
"Mm~~~"
"Don't even say it!"
"This really is an antique and elegant island. The Kurozumi clan is actually quite wealthy!"
Ike stood at the bow of the ship and looked at the island before him. There was a black serpent statue at the harbor, cherry blossoms blooming everywhere, and a vast complex of Japanese-style buildings. This island was located on the outer edge of Wano Country, roughly three days of sailing away from Wano.
And this island was the Kurozumi clan's island.
What? Why had Wano Country never discovered this island of the Kurozumi clan?
Hehehe~~~
Wano Country had been in a closed-country state since 800 years ago. It was not sothing that had only started recently.
"Heeheehee~~~"
There was no need for much nonsense. Along with an eerie laugh, an old woman wearing a kimono, with pale green hair, a dark-red kimono, and a light-pink outer robe bearing the Kurozumi clan's emblem, stood on the shore.
At a glance, she looked almost like a ghost.
Looking at Kurozumi Higurashi before him, Ike truly fell into thought. How should he put it? Basically every Wano character shown in the original story was dressed in extrely bright, vivid colors.
"Forget it." Ike thought secretly. "This has nothing to do with . I'm only here to trade."
Ike was too lazy to discuss these things. As the ship docked, he leapt down and landed at the harbor. Aside from the enormous black serpent statue, there was also the island's boundary stone.
Black Serpent Island!!!
That was the na of this island.
Ike looked at Kurozumi Higurashi while also glancing around.
"Heeheehee~~~"
Kurozumi Higurashi laughed eerily again. She bowed slightly, the corners of her mouth splitting open in an extrely strange way as she said, "Mr. Ike! This is our first eting. This old woman has been looking forward to your arrival very much!"
Ike examined Kurozumi Higurashi. Compared to the tiline in the original story, when Kaido seized Wano Country, this should be roughly twenty years earlier.
Calculating it…
Mm!
It was about right. The current Kurozumi Higurashi only looked like an old witch, around fifty or so years old. It was just that her face, painted as pale as a ghost, truly looked far too eerie.
"Kurozumi Higurashi." Ike looked at Kurozumi Higurashi and asked calmly, "Although the target I chose for this transaction is the Kurozumi clan, if I rember correctly, you are not the head of the Kurozumi clan. Are you qualified to conduct this transaction?"
"Hehehe~~~"
Kurozumi Higurashi laughed strangely and said, "Mr. Ike, of course! Of course! There is absolutely no problem. Although this old woman's status cannot be called especially noble, there is no issue with conducting this transaction."
"No problem."
Ike nodded and said nothing more. Under Kurozumi Higurashi's lead, he did not bring anyone else and walked with her toward the depths of Black Serpent Island.
As for guards?!
To be honest!
When Ike brought guards, they were more like decorations.
It was still the sa point…
Ike: Although I do not like fighting, that truly does not an I am weak!
Crossing through the colorful cherry blossoms along the way, the two entered the depths of Black Serpent Island. Inside a Japanese-style courtyard deep within the island, the two sat down.
Ike did not particularly like sitting in seiza, so he sat cross-legged on the tatami.
"Mr. Ike!" Kurozumi Higurashi waved her hand, and a maid imdiately ca forward to pour tea. Then she opened the corners of her mouth strangely and said, "This old woman has roughly learned about the things you wish to purchase."
"Because of that."
"This old woman would like to ask what kind of price you can offer?"
A pleasant sound entered Ike's ears. Listening to the sound of the biwa, Ike had to admit that Kurozumi Semimaru's biwa playing was indeed quite good. It sounded very pleasing.
Of course, Ike knew that this was Kurozumi Semimaru protecting Kurozumi Higurashi. As the user of the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, the strength and defensive power he possessed were absolutely astonishing enough.
"Price!" Ike said very casually, "Craftsn, shipwrights, swordsmiths, and all artisans of Wano Country will be purchased at ten Wano gold coins per person. As for Wano Country's swordsmanship-style families! Each family will be purchased at one hundred and fifty gold coins. It has nothing to do with the number of people, but depends on the style family itself."
Ike stated it very clearly.
As for the price?!
How should he put it?
The currency circulating inside Wano Country was gold coins. Ike had learned about Wano's internal currency and finally carried out minting and exchange. Overall, ten Wano gold coins was roughly equal to five million Berries.
Quite cheap! To Ike, Wano Country's craftsn were truly extrely precious resources. For such resources to be this cheap, there was indeed nothing else to say.
"What do you think?"
After giving his offer, Ike continued, "I do not like wasting words. Kurozumi Higurashi, whatever price you have in mind, bring it out. If it is suitable, we can continue discussing it. If it is not suitable, I will search for soone else to trade with."
Of course.
Ike was not joking about this point. In Wano Country, the Kurozumi clan was simply very easy to contact because of Kurozumi Higurashi. Searching for others to trade with?
Although it would be more troubleso, it was not a major problem. In any case, it was only a transaction. A little more trouble was all.
"Heeheehee~~~"
Kurozumi Higurashi laughed eerily and said casually, "Mr. Ike, your price is actually already very good. This old woman naturally has no objections."
"However!" Kurozumi Higurashi suddenly changed the topic and said with interest, "This old woman would like to make one request."
"Go ahead."
Ike nodded. Transactions were like this. Both sides ca and went. You said your piece, I listened, and as long as everyone was happy, there was no problem.
As for saying things like, "My status is higher than yours, so you should listen to ," Ike said that the Edward Family had not yet reached that level. One should speak according to one's status. In the future, once he had the qualifications to say such things, of course he would say them.
"Heeheehee~~~"
"Thank you very much, Mr. Ike!" Kurozumi Higurashi laughed eerily, placing her posture very low. After bowing slightly, she asked, "Mr. Ike, I wonder whether you have any thoughts about entering and ruling Wano Country?"
Clap!
Clap!
Kurozumi Higurashi clapped her hands. From behind the folding screen, where Kurozumi Semimaru was positioned, a beautiful young woman walked out. She had long purple hair, a stunning and delicate face, and an extrely enchanting appearance. There was a beauty mark between her brows. She looked around seventeen or eighteen years old and wore a pale-purple kimono bearing the Kurozumi clan's emblem. She was a beauty who combined seduction and youthfulness.
"Mr. Ike!" Kurozumi Higurashi asked, "What do you think of this young lady?"
"Mm~~~"
Ike examined this beautiful young woman. Her score was absolutely extrely high. She was at least 99.5 points. Among all his wives and concubines, aside from the captured Amatsuki Toki, only Selina could compare to her. Both were at the high score of 99.5.
"Hehehe~~~"
Ike looked at this beautiful young woman and chuckled with interest. "A marriage alliance? Or rather! Is your Kurozumi clan planning to use an alliance with to allow the Kurozumi clan to continue controlling Wano Country?"
Ike withdrew his assessing gaze and looked at Kurozumi Higurashi with interest.
"Yes!"
Kurozumi Higurashi did not deny it. Instead, she smiled and nodded. "Mr. Ike, just as you said. You should have looked into the history of our Kurozumi clan, correct?"
"I have." Ike said very casually, "Before the current Shogun of Wano Country, Kozuki Sukiyaki, was born, because the Kozuki clan had no heir, they issued an order stating that all families in Wano Country could participate in the struggle for the position of shogun. The victor could beco the next shogun."
"Yes!"
Kurozumi Higurashi's eyes beca terrifying as she said ferociously, "The Kurozumi clan had already obtained victory. Yet at that mont, Kozuki Sukiyaki, that man, was born! He caused the Kurozumi clan to experience pain and destruction."
"I know."
Ike was very calm about this.
Kurozumi Higurashi continued, "Because of that! The Kurozumi clan wishes to take back the position of Shogun of Wano Country that belongs to us. That is the shogun's throne the Kurozumi clan paid everything for, even the lives of countless clan mbers. It should belong to us."
"Not bad." Ike had no intention of mocking her. Instead, he spoke objectively. "However, there is no hope. rely relying on the strength of the Kurozumi clan has no aning inside Wano Country."
Ike's words were simple. If they were not opponents, then they were not opponents.
At its peak, the Kurozumi clan had been destroyed just like that. Now, with only two or three cats and dogs remaining, they intended to resist? Big sister! Did she take the others for fools?
"Yes!" Kurozumi Higurashi also cald down and nodded. "Just as Mr. Ike said, the Kurozumi clan has absolutely no hope of victory."
"Because of that!"
"The Kurozumi clan hopes to achieve this through a transaction with you, Mr. Ike."
Kurozumi Higurashi nodded calmly, while the young woman with long purple hair knelt at the side, seemingly waiting quietly for sothing.
Ike continued, "Speak directly, Kurozumi Higurashi. What do you intend to do? This is rather interesting! I thought this was only a simple transaction, yet it has actually reached this point."
Kurozumi Higurashi's smile beca extrely deep.
It was undeniable.
If this were purely a deal, then of course both sides would bargain back and forth.
But.
This transaction had already beco sowhat different, and Ike was not soone who liked wasting words. They could speak directly. If he agreed, then he agreed. If he did not agree, they could discuss sothing else.
"First, Mr. Ike, this old woman hopes that the transaction between both sides will remain unchanged. The craftsn of Wano Country and Wano Country's swordsmanship families—this old woman will continuously capture them for you."
"That is no problem."
"Second, Mr. Ike, this old woman hopes that Miss Yuka can form a marriage alliance with you. The Kurozumi clan and the Edward Family will be joined by marriage."
"That can be considered."
"Finally, Mr. Ike, if everything goes smoothly in the future, this old woman hopes…"
As each condition of the transaction was confird, neither side had any issue.
However!
When it reached the final point, before Kurozumi Higurashi could finish speaking, Ike directly interrupted her and said without politeness, "Kurozumi Higurashi, so words are better left unsaid. This matter would absolutely be a restriction on the Edward Family."
Ike's gaze was extrely sharp, and Kurozumi Higurashi instantly understood. This was sothing with absolutely no possibility.
"Phew~~~"
After deeply exhaling a breath of turbid air, Kurozumi Higurashi also nodded and said, "Since you have said so, Mr. Ike, then let us change the wording. In the future! If everything goes smoothly, and if Miss Yuka's son is outstanding enough, this old woman hopes that you can allow Miss Yuka's son to beco the King of Wano Country."
"Controlling Wano Country, Kurozumi Higurashi, you seem to say it very simply?" Since this matter had passed, Ike said with interest, "Wano Country, no matter how one puts it, is also a famously powerful supernation. Although it is closed off, its position on this sea is still very strong."
"It is useless!"
Kurozumi Higurashi shook her head and said, "That reputation was carved out by Shimotsuki Ryuma. The current Wano Country has no one worthy of that reputation."
"Not bad." Ike nodded at this request. "I can accept this transaction. I also quite like your attitude. Do not abandon the transaction because of the marriage alliance. The main purpose between us is the transaction. As for the marriage alliance, that is rely incidental."
Ike spoke very simply and very casually.
After all.
The transaction was the primary objective. As for everything else? It was only attached to it.
"Heeheehee~~~"
Kurozumi Higurashi laughed eerily and said, "Of course! Of course! The transaction is the most important. If, if the Kurozumi clan can truly rely on its own strength to control Wano Country, then of course that would be the best outco. If we fail, then Mr. Ike, the child born between you and Miss Yuka will also be the best candidate."
Of course Ike understood Kurozumi Higurashi's thoughts.
First!
If a direct-bloodline mber of the Kurozumi clan controlled Wano Country, that would naturally be best.
Second!
A collateral bloodline, but still direct bloodline, would also work. It was rely the difference between a grandson through the son and a grandson through the daughter. Both belonged to the direct bloodline. If such a person controlled Wano Country, then that would naturally also be the best result.
"All in all…" Ike said casually, "The transaction is settled like this."
"Kurozumi Higurashi."
"Keep this Den Den Mushi. When you have prepared enough people, contact through it."
Ike took a Den Den Mushi from his pocket and placed it on the tatami. It was a Den Den Mushi that looked almost like jade, and on its back was the emblem of the Edward Family.
This!
Was a Den Den Mushi exclusively belonging to the Edward Family, which Ike had spent a great price to develop.
During these years, Ike naturally could not have spent every day rely having children and acting as a contractor.
He had also recruited scientists. Weapons also needed to be researched.
Secondly.
There were Den Den Mushi. One had to know that Den Den Mushi calls could be wiretapped. Since that was the case, researching and developing his own Den Den Mushi was very important.
For example, the one before them had a headquarters core placed on Whole Cake Island., and all Den Den Mushi were separated from it.
At the sa ti.
These Den Den Mushi were divided into single-line and multi-line types. There was no need to explain the single-line type; it was a two-point connection. As for the multi-line type, one first connected their Den Den Mushi to the core, then connected to the person they wanted to contact. It was already more or less like a telephone.
However, the only difference was that it was not sothing that could be used simply by inserting a card. One had to possess this special Den Den Mushi of the Edward Family. The most, most, most important thing was that because there was a core, calls absolutely could not be wiretapped.
Just look at Sabo in the original story. He had only just regained consciousness after being half-dead, yet because his Den Den Mushi was wiretapped, he ended up half-dead again. Things that needed to be guarded against still had to be guarded against.
"This old woman understands." Kurozumi Higurashi nodded and accepted this extrely precious Den Den Mushi. Then she continued, "Of course! Since this is our first eting, this old woman has also prepared the first batch of goods for you, Mr. Ike."
"How many people?"
"Roughly five thousand!"
"Oh~~~"
Hearing this, Ike beca interested and said with amusent, "Kurozumi Higurashi, it seems the number of people you prepared is rather large!"
"Heeheehee~~~"
Kurozumi Higurashi also laughed eerily and said, "A transaction! A transaction! Since it is a transaction, Mr. Ike has already offered sufficient paynt. If this old woman were too shaless and unable to bring out enough goods for the transaction, then this transaction would not be able to continue a second ti."
"Very good."
Ike also smiled and nodded. He was truly very satisfied with Kurozumi Higurashi's attitude.
A proper exchange was very important!
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