"Whoa... Karl's turf?"
After Yamato arrived at Gran Tesoro, it was like a country girl walking into a big city.
Staring at the Golden City ahead, Yamato gaped in awe: "This place is way better than that geezer's Onigashima!"
"Gol... so much, so much gold..."
Compared to the unrestrained Yamato, little Tama was dazzled by the Golden City.
Looking at the city, Tama kept picturing pricey foods and houses you could build for a single platinum coin.
With this much gold, how much food could you buy, how many houses could you build?!
"Yep, this is my turf—Gran Tesoro."
Pinching the little cheeks of Tama in his arms, Karl smiled: "From now on, it's your new home too!"
Holding Tama, Karl led Yamato to the Golden Port parking lot and took a turtle cart to the Golden Hotel.
"Karl, when do we set out to adventure?"
In the stretch turtle cart, Yamato asked, itching to go.
"Don't rush. Once I wrap up a few matters, we can head out before the year ends."
Karl patted Yamato's head just as he had Tama's and chuckled.
"Mm-hmm..."
Yamato didn't mind the head pat at all—actually nuzzled into Karl's palm.
Taking the chance, Karl tugged at the oni horn on Yamato's head.
"...Karl, do you want to play with my horns?"
Misreading the gesture as interest in the horns, Yamato lowered her head and said, "Then go ahead and play!"
"...No, I was just curious."
Seeing Yamato being as docile as Tama, a rare awkward look crossed Karl's face.
Facing a big girl who insisted on calling herself a man, Karl really couldn't bring himself to go further.
Looked like he'd need Carina to help correct Yamato's habit of treating herself as a 'man.'
The turtle cart stopped at the Golden Hotel entrance.
Karl took Tama and Yamato up the elevator to the top floor.
Having gotten word that Karl was returning, the girls were already home waiting: Carina and the others.
Seeing Karl holding a little girl of just a few years, with someone in geta behind him—nearly 2.7 meters tall and taller than any woman present—Yamato, they all blinked in surprise.
"Not bad at all, Karl!"
Snapping back, Carina teased, "You went to Wano for sightseeing, ended up on Onigashima challenging Emperor Kaido, and came back having swiped two lovely sisters. Quite the fruitful trip!"
"Let me introduce..."
Ignoring Carina's ribbing, Karl said to the girls, "This is Tama in my arms—I acknowledged her as my little sister in Wano."
"And beside me is Kaido-senpai's daughter, Yamato!"
"Son... son!" Yamato hurried to correct him.
"Kaido's daughter? Son?!"
Even the ever-composed Robin widened her eyes; the girls looked like their worldview had cracked.
As the challenger, he battered Kaido of the Beasts, then afterward brought the man's daughter back?
They didn't know why this woman insisted on being Kaido's 'son.'
But the girls weren't blind—they could see her real sex.
After all, besides height—which crushed everyone present—Yamato's figure ranked second among the girls, second only to Sister Robin.
Even Baccarat couldn't compare.
As for the underage Carina and Nami, and even Perona and Nojiko—the four didn't even qualify to carry Yamato's shoes.
"K-Karl, what on earth is going on?"
Carina regained her composure and stammered.
"It's a bit complicated—I'll explain tonight!"
Karl couldn't be bothered to explain now. He set Tama on the long sofa, headed for the bath while undoing his knight's armor, and said, "In short, you can treat Yamato as the instructor I found."
"From now on, Tama and Yamato are part of us."
"If you've got questions, ask them directly."
Watching Karl's back disappear, Carina and Robin, with Nami, traded a knowing smile.
Then the two social maestros, Carina and Robin, split the work.
"Yamato, how did you meet Karl?" Carina and Nami warmly pulled Yamato to another long sofa and peppered her with questions.
Robin—weak to cute animals and kids—sat beside the uneasy Tama with a gentle smile and softly said,
"Your name is Tama, right?"
"...Mm!"
Tama nodded timidly.
"Don't be scared—Karl's just taking a quick bath and will be right out."
Robin patted her head and asked softly, "Can you tell big sis how you met Karl?"
Under Robin's warm smile and tone, Tama's timidity and unease gradually melted away.
Soon, those little secrets from the past couple of years were coaxed out by Robin.
On the other side, Yamato at first wasn't used to Carina and Nami's enthusiasm.
But once the two read her personality, that awkwardness quickly faded.
Seeing that, like Nojiko, Yamato was away from home for the first time and following Karl to explore the world, Carina and Nami found it even easier to handle her.
Just a simple rundown of islands like the Boin Archipelago and Skypiea, Water 7, and the Sabaody Archipelago—those distinctive places made Yamato's eyes shine, and she hurried to ask for more.
To that, Carina smiled: "Too much spoils the fun. Since your dream is to explore the world, you should see it for yourself."
"Mm-hmm..."
Catching on, Yamato nodded again and again.
Her favorability toward Carina and Nami shot up.
Under the social finesse of Robin and Carina, Tama and Yamato quickly blended in and became members of the crew.
This was why Karl, too lazy to explain, had handed Tama and Yamato over to the girls.
With their abilities, they could take care of Tama—who'd only turn four next March 3—and Yamato, who though an adult hadn't seen much of the world.
He believed that within a few days, the girls would have dug up every last secret.
<><><><><><>
Read Advanced Chapters on : patreon.com/Kaizo247
~ Every 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]