For several consecutive days, Luo Chen stayed in the brothel within the Flower Capital.
By now, the brothel had stopped receiving outside guests. The original geishas and the brothel owner had all realized that Komurasaki was, in fact, the former princess of the Kozuki family. Although they were incredibly surprised, they did not look down on her.
As the number one Oiran of Wano Country, Komurasaki had always sold her art but never her body. On one hand, she was deeply favored by the former Shogun, Kurozumi Orochi, so no one dared to force her. On the other hand, Orochi himself was toyed with by Komurasaki; he never gained any advantage, as she always found various excuses to escape under the cover of her maids. For the people of the brothel, they mostly admired Kozuki Hiyori's intelligence and grace.
In the past few days, Kozuki family retainers from all over Wano Country responded to the call and reclaimed management of the major regions. The citizens of Wano Country also understood that it was the Jinghai Army Fleet Admiral, Luo Chen, who had rescued them. Kaido—the Guardian Deity—and his group of pirates, along with Shogun Kurozumi Orochi, had all been defeated by Luo Chen. Wano Country would be re-taken by the Kozuki family, but it would remain under the supervision of the Jinghai Army.
During these days, Kozuki Hiyori was focused on three main tasks. First, cooperating with the old retainers of the Kozuki family to retake control of Wano Country. Second, promoting news of the Jinghai Army within the nation so that the citizens, who were isolated from the outside world, could understand them. Third, staying by Luo Chen's side.
She had learned from Luffy's group that Luo Chen had the ability to reincarnate the dead. Consequently, she had almost imploringly hoped to resurrect her parents, Kin'emon, and her brother, Momonosuke.
But that hope was quickly shattered. Reincarnating the dead required a portion of the deceased's flesh and blood. This was a condition that neither her parents, Kin'emon, nor Momonosuke could satisfy. The bodies of Kozuki Oden and Toki Kozuki had disappeared without a trace twenty years ago. As for Kin'emon and Momonosuke, they had been reduced to nothing in the recent great battle. No combat traces could even be seen on the land where they died; finding even a bone fragment was impossible.
Kozuki Hiyori was in complete despair, yet she did not doubt Luo Chen's words. She had later subtly cross-referenced the claim with Luffy and the others. Every time Luo Chen performed a reincarnation, he indeed required the flesh and blood of the deceased.
Even though her relatives could not be resurrected, Kozuki Hiyori's attitude did not change. Wano Country's escape from Kaido's control and the Kozuki family's regaining of power all relied on Luo Chen's kindness. She had also been contemplating why Luo Chen had come to the brothel to see her in the first place. In hindsight, Luo Chen was so powerful that he didn't need any intelligence at all. As an ordinary person, she couldn't help his actions either.
After much thought, Kozuki Hiyori felt that Luo Chen most likely came for her beauty. This became even more certain after she learned that Luo Chen had several female confidantes. Regarding this, Kozuki Hiyori felt somewhat conflicted. She felt gratitude, admiration, and awe for Luo Chen, but she truly lacked feelings of love—at least for now.
Fortunately, Luo Chen never crossed any lines; he spent his time normally, listening to music and drinking wine. This put Kozuki Hiyori's mind at ease.
"If he forced me, I would have no choice. But he doesn't seem to be that kind of person."
Kozuki Hiyori led several beautiful geishas in light song and dance, her beautiful eyes occasionally landing on Luo Chen. No matter how much wine he drank, Luo Chen's gaze remained clear.
"As for the future, we'll see," Kozuki Hiyori sighed inwardly. In any case, Luo Chen's kindness to her, the Kozuki family, and Wano Country was as heavy as a mountain. If he really wanted to pursue her, she estimated she wouldn't be able to say no.
*Bang—*
The door to the luxury private room was pushed open heavily. Hiyori and the other women stopped their dance and turned to look. A tall, beautiful woman with long white hair stood at the door. She had crimson devil horns on her head and carried a jet-black mace on her back.
Towards this woman named Yamato, Kozuki Hiyori and the geishas were somewhat nervous. The woman's crimson devil horns and mace reminded them of Kaido. When Kaido was in his hybrid form, a pair of giant horns would also grow from his head, and he carried a similar jet-black mace.
It was hard for them not to suspect the relationship between this woman and Kaido. Although Luo Chen had told Kozuki Hiyori that Yamato was a prisoner on Onigashima, she always felt something was strange.
"Luo Chen, when is the Jinghai Army finally coming? I really want to go to sea." Yamato looked directly at Luo Chen, ignoring Hiyori and the other dancers.
"Soon, it should be tomorrow," Luo Chen said with a smile. These days, after leaving Onigashima, Yamato had taken a thorough tour of Wano Country. Having finished her tour, she began to long for the outside world.
Having received an answer, Yamato's heart was finally no longer restless. She walked into the private room, sat next to Luo Chen, and glanced at Hiyori and the others who resumed their dance.
"What's so good about this?" Yamato muttered, picking up the wine cup Luo Chen had used and gulping it down. Whether it was Luo Chen or her bastard father Kaido, they both liked to drink wine while watching women dance. Yamato simply couldn't appreciate the appeal.
Hearing her complaint, Kozuki Hiyori secretly rolled her eyes. *You're a woman; of course you can't understand a man's joy.* Any man would love the feeling of a geisha's teasing dance, where they seem to resist yet welcome, keeping a subtle distance.
Luo Chen also shook his head with a chuckle. Yamato considered herself a man in her heart, but some things simply couldn't be changed. She would never understand the pleasure of drinking at a brothel.
After staying a while longer, Luo Chen smiled and said, "Hiyori, you all should rest. I'm going to take a bath to relieve some fatigue." After saying that, he stood up, left the private room, and walked towards the bathhouse. The entire brothel had become his temporary resting place, and the bathhouse had been specially cleaned for his use.
...
A moment later, Luo Chen leaned against the stone wall, soaking in the perfectly tempered hot spring water. Behind him, a slight sound of footsteps suddenly rang out. He turned his head to look and was momentarily stunned.
"Why are you here?"
In the thin mist of the bathhouse, the woman's emerald hair was tied up high, her exquisite face tinged with a faint blush, wearing only a large, clean white bath towel.
Kozuki Hiyori's eyes flickered, her voice low: "To help Lord Luo Chen scrub his back."
Luo Chen was somewhat surprised. *What is this woman thinking?* He leaned back in the hot spring pool, didn't move, and nodded in agreement.
Kozuki Hiyori walked closer with her small bare feet, slowly knelt down, worked up a lather in her hands, and reached out. For some reason, hearing that Luo Chen would leave tomorrow, she felt worried about the future of Wano Country. Would the Jinghai Army really not be the next Kaido? Would the Jinghai Army generals sent here be able to treat the people of Wano Country as kindly as Luo Chen?
Kozuki Hiyori had gritted her teeth and come here, thinking that if Luo Chen really laid a hand on her, she would just brace herself and accept it. That way, Luo Chen would continue to keep her and her Wano Country in his thoughts in the future. Kozuki Hiyori believed that with her beauty, she would be rare even overseas. She would surely be able to occupy a place in Luo Chen's heart.
"I wonder if it will happen..." Kozuki Hiyori's heart was filled with intense tension. She felt as if a layer of sweat had seeped from the soles of her feet. Her hands, which were wiping Luo Chen's shoulders, became somewhat stiff.
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