When Reiju nervously followed the maid into the Vinsmoke Family's banquet hall, a place filled with a cold, mechanical atmosphere, she spotted a familiar figure from afar.
Her father, the head of the Vinsmoke Family, was standing before Yemu-sama with a humility she had never seen from him before, speaking to him. Beside Yemu-sama and her father stood a cute white-haired girl a little older than her, with a pair of small horns.
"Your Majesty, Miss Reiju has arrived."
After saying that, the maid quietly withdrew. Under her father's stern gaze and the curious looks from Yemu-sama and the little girl, Reiju walked over slowly, more nervous than she had ever been.
She had only just reached them and had not yet decided what respectful form of address to use for Yemu when he unexpectedly patted her on the head, then ruffled her hair with a cheerful tone.
"Little Reiju, you seem to have grown a little taller!"
In that moment, little Reiju felt as if she had returned to the first time she met Yemu.
Yemu-sama was still so gentle, like the sun.
For some reason, the tension and unease in her heart instantly faded, replaced by a little more confidence.
Just then, Yemu pushed the little girl in front of her and said, "Come on, you two should get to know each other. You'll be companions from now on. I think you'll get along well and have plenty to talk about..."
Yamato looked at Reiju, who was even younger than her and very cute as well, then introduced herself with great enthusiasm.
"Hello! My name is Yamato. I'm six years old!"
Reiju froze for a moment, then introduced herself too.
"My name is Vinsmoke Reiju. You can just call me Reiju. I'm four years old!"
"Four years old?"
Yamato looked astonished.
Reiju was clearly two years younger than her, yet she gave Yamato the impression of being like a little adult.
Seeing this, Yemu rubbed both little girls' heads and said, "All right. Reiju, take Yamato out to play first and get to know each other. Your father and I have something to discuss. Once we're done, I'll come find you."
Reiju hesitated instinctively. After all, she had many things she wanted to say at this moment, and she had spent a long time mentally preparing herself for it. But then, seeing Yamato's innocent face, she suddenly felt that there might be a better way to deal with the worries in her heart.
So she nodded obediently.
"Okay, Captain Yemu, Father... Big Sister Yamato, come with me. I'll show you around. We have lots of fun things here in the Vinsmoke Family..."
"Really? Thank you so much!"
Yamato followed her out excitedly.
After confirming that the two little girls had both left, only Yemu and Judge remained in the vast, empty hall. Then Yemu's low voice slowly rang out.
"Well then, commander of the Vinsmoke Family, do you have an answer to my question?"
In an instant, everything fell silent. The only sound in the hall was Judge's heavy breathing.
Yemu had clearly done nothing, yet those simple words carried such powerful pressure that Judge felt a little unable to breathe.
From the moment he received Yemu's question, Judge had known what Yemu intended.
He wanted to bind the Vinsmoke Family to his warship and have them fight the Marines and the World Government together.
Judge knew what Yemu valued.
It was what the Vinsmoke Family was best at, as well as the large number of Clone Soldiers they possessed. Soldiers stripped of emotion, unafraid of death, and armed with powerful combat strength.
If the Vinsmoke Family's tens of thousands of Clone Soldiers joined Yemu's camp, then the one weakness Yemu had in his struggle against the Marines and the World Government, his shortage of soldiers, would be filled.
However, while what Yemu was doing now was in fact what Judge wanted to do, it was absolutely not in the way Judge wanted.
What he wanted was to oppose the Marines and the World Government in the name of the Vinsmoke Family, rule the North Blue, and become its king. He did not want to become a tool in someone else's hands and help another man achieve his dream.
But at this moment, could he really refuse?
For the past four days, Judge had been thinking about this question constantly. Especially after Yemu arrived, not a single moment had passed without his mind turning it over, to the point that he had even neglected his daughter just now.
Fortunately, he already had an idea. So, with the last of his courage, he asked a question.
"Captain Yemu, if I refuse, what will you do?"
Yemu looked at Judge's cold, solemn face and said calmly, "I don't want that to be the answer you give me. But if it really is, then I'll make Reiju the commander of the Vinsmoke Family."
"It's useless."
In an instant, Judge was furious.
"Whether it's Reiju or the soldiers of the Vinsmoke Family, they will only obey my orders!"
"Is that so?"
Yemu was unmoved.
"Maybe you're right. But to be honest, I don't think you're someone unafraid of dying..."
The moment those words came out, Judge froze, then his expression turned extremely ugly.
That was right. Although Judge acted extremely cold and regarded human emotions as the weakest thing, despising all displays of human weakness, he himself was an utterly weak person.
There was one scene involving Judge in the original story that had left a deep impression on Yemu.
It was when Judge brought his children to BIGMOM's tea party, only to be tricked by Charlotte Linlin, who planned to kill him and all of his children. Judge actually broke down in tears and begged for mercy, shocking everyone.
That alone showed Judge's weakness.
Perhaps it was precisely because of that that he hated human emotions so much and wanted to erase them.
That was also why Yemu was confident he could control him.
Before absolute power, the fear of death gave Yemu complete confidence that Judge would agree to his conditions.
And at that moment, Judge's ugly expression only confirmed Yemu's guess.
Only after a long while did Judge grit his teeth and say unwillingly, "Then if I agree, what does the Vinsmoke Family gain?"
With that answer, Yemu knew the answer he wanted was not far away.
And after using the stick, it was time to offer a few carrots.
"Don't worry. If you agree, the Vinsmoke Family will become my ally. I won't let my allies suffer losses. Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, and Kaidou agreed to my alliance for the same reason."
"I know your dream has always been to have the Vinsmoke Family rule the North Blue. Unfortunately, I can't agree to that. I have no interest in dictatorship, and I won't support it. Whether it's the Rainbow Country I founded or the basic principles of the Rainbow Business Alliance, the goal is to pursue as much equality and freedom as possible."
"However, I also understand that true equality doesn't exist in this world. So, as a major contributor to the new order of the future world, I can promise you that in that future New World, the Vinsmoke Family will enjoy certain special treatment and status. But all of it must exist under the order I build. Do you understand what I mean?"