Michael's flying speed was incredibly fast. After chatting with Izo for just a short while, they had already arrived over the Flower Capital.
They slowly lowered their altitude, then landed in an inconspicuous corner.
Of course, "inconspicuous" was only relative.
With Jack, Yamato, and two horned people following Michael, they were far too eye-catching in a place like Wano.
After all, they resembled the "demons" of legend.
The great pirate Kaido, who once enslaved Wano, also had similar horns…
So the moment they walked out of that "inconspicuous" landing spot, they instantly became the focus of everyone's attention.
Ironically, the one most ignored was the person walking beside them—Izo…
Only those whose lust outweighed their sense came over to flirt with Izo.
If Michael hadn't stopped them fast enough, the nerves Izo had just barely calmed would have been triggered all over again.
After hearing Michael talk about certain people on the sea who were obsessed with "traps," Izo had become overly sensitive.
"But anyway, the Flower Capital of Wano really does look nice." Yamato looked around the streets left and right. "At least much better than when I saw it as a kid."
"Hm? When you saw it as a kid?" Izo frowned, noticing something unusual. "You… have been to Wano before?"
"More than just been here. I actually lived here for a few years." Yamato sighed. "But back then, I was stuck following my bastard father… I mean the man who was originally my biological father."
Izo's eye twitched violently, and he looked involuntarily at the red demon horns on Yamato's head.
This looked… exactly like Kaido back then!
Then he looked at the kanabo in Yamato's hand, and the more he looked, the more it resembled…
Michael noticed Izo's emotional shift. With just a glance, carrying a hint of Conqueror's Haki Infusion, he instantly forced Izo to calm down.
After taking several deep breaths, Izo lifted his head.
"Michael-san, she is…"
"I know what you want to ask… Yes, she is the biological daughter of 'Beasts' Kaido. When Kaido enslaved Wano back then, she had already been born."
"Hah…" Izo let out a long breath, his gaze toward Yamato turning extremely complicated.
The daughter of his enemy—he should hate her, yet she now stood on the same side.
Kaido's enslavement and devastation of Wano had been severe enough.
If Kozuki Oden hadn't publicly done those naked dances to lower Kaido's guard while secretly building strength, and if he hadn't ambushed him during his battle with Gekko Moria—driving both pirate crews out of Wano…
Izo didn't even dare imagine what a tragic place Wano would be today.
"Don't look at me with that expression." Yamato shrugged, speaking openly. "Even though I'm Kaido's biological daughter, in a way, when it comes to Kaido, I'm no different from you… Just a convenient and useful tool."
"Izo, calm down. At least Yamato is standing with you now, right?" Michael patted Izo's shoulder.
"And most importantly… Yamato now calls me her father."
"Michael-san… I remember you're about the same age as my brother Kikunojo…" Izo looked at Michael with a bitter smile. "A thirty-five-year-old father with a twenty-year-old daughter?"
"Just think of me as precocious."
Michael shrugged and turned away, no longer explaining.
Izo understood—this was Michael's warning.
A warning not to direct their hatred toward Kaido at "Michael's daughter, Yamato."
And Izo also noticed Yamato's clear disgust whenever Kaido was mentioned…
That couldn't be faked.
"Alright, Michael-san. Let's put this matter aside for now… I'll take you to the Shogunate." Izo relaxed his shoulders, his formerly tense nerves slowly calming down. "Assuming they haven't relocated yet."
"...Wait, why would the Shogunate, basically a palace, relocate?"
"Well, the current shogun is Lord Oden. Who knows if he'll suddenly have a brain misfire and do it?"
"…Fair enough."
Michael nodded and stopped thinking about it.
Following Izo, Michael's group soon arrived at the gates of the Shogunate.
Fortunately, it seemed Oden hadn't experienced any such brain misfires.
Seeing people approaching the gate, the guards immediately stepped forward to stop them.
"Unauthorized individuals! Step back at once!"
Michael raised an eyebrow and looked at Izo.
The meaning in his eyes was obvious…
Wasn't this supposed to be where Izo showed his face?
Izo looked back at Michael helplessly.
Although as a retainer of the Kozuki Family, all of Oden's old confidants would surely recognize Izo…
The gate guards, however… not necessarily.
Izo felt a headache forming, but he had no choice.
After all, he hadn't returned to Wano, choosing instead to stay with the Whitebeard Pirates.
"What's happening now? The Flower Capital has been lively lately… waves of people keep trying to enter the Shogunate."
A tall beauty in a pale yellow kimono patterned with chrysanthemums, with indigo eyes and long dark-blue hair, walked out while gently tidying her smooth hair.
"Oho? Such a lovely beauty." Michael smiled toward Izo, eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Compared to you, your brother really is far more feminine."
Yes—the person walking out was Izo's younger brother, Kikunojo.
One of the Nine Red Scabbards.
"That's because Kikunojo, ever since childhood, though born male, always firmly believed she was a girl… whether in mannerisms or in her gentle heart…"
Izo's mouth twitched as he stepped forward.
Standing among Michael's group, he suddenly looked much less eye-catching…
"Kikunojo, long time no see."
Kikunojo, who had just stepped outside, hadn't even reacted yet when she heard that familiar voice.
She abruptly lifted her head—and her older brother was standing right before her, alive and real.
"Brother!"
Kikunojo rushed forward…
Then lifted Izo high off the ground, pressing her face against his chest.
Forcing a delicate, dependent pose.
Michael struggled for a long time to suppress his laughter.
After all, Kikunojo, as the younger sibling, was nearly three meters tall.
If she wanted to act spoiled toward Izo, who was only about Michael's height, this bizarre method was the only way.
"Kikunojo! Put me down!"
"I haven't returned to Wano for so long, but I didn't come back just to suffer social death because of you, damn it!!"
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Fanfic is finished. 583 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg