Cough… Cough…
Seeing that Reno and Hiyori wouldn't stop chatting, Kozuki Toki cleared her throat to draw their attention.
After understanding why Reno had gone through so much trouble to come here, Toki did not oppose the idea of their future together, but she could clearly tell that Reno was openly trying to charm her daughter. For such a young boy, his behavior was a bit too bold.
Having traveled the seas with Kozuki Oden, Toki had plenty of experience reading people. She could easily see that Reno was deliberately tempting Hiyori, stirring her curiosity so that she would eventually want to follow him out to sea.
Even so, while Toki had no objection to the future, she would never allow Hiyori to leave with him now. Hiyori was still far too young, and there was no way she could feel at ease letting her go out to sea at this age. Besides, Reno himself was just a child. Even if they were destined to be together later, she would not agree to it now.
With that in mind, Toki turned to her children and said, "Momonosuke, Hiyori, go play outside. I need to speak with him alone."
Hearing he could go play, Momonosuke immediately ran off as if something was chasing him.
Hiyori, however, was reluctant to leave. She turned back several times and said, "Husband, after you finish talking with Mother, you have to come find me!"
"Alright, I'll come find you soon," Reno replied with a smile.
Once the two children had left, Toki got straight to the point.
"I don't know if what you said about Hiyori being your future wife is true. But since you came all this way to help her, I won't oppose what happens in the future. However, she is still too young, and I will not allow her to go with you now."
Although Toki had already decided to trust Reno, she did not say it directly. Instead, she framed it as acceptance based on his actions.
Reno understood immediately that his intentions had been seen through. Otherwise, Toki would not have asked to speak with him alone.
Still, he had never planned to take Hiyori away right now, so he wasn't disappointed. With his spatial coordinate ability, he could return anytime he wanted.
Thinking this, Reno put on a serious expression and said, "I wasn't planning to take her away now. I'm still a kid myself. I can barely take care of myself, so taking her along wouldn't be enjoyment, it would be trouble. I wouldn't do something like that."
Seeing how sincere he looked, Toki believed him and let the matter drop.
After confirming this, she changed the topic.
"So you brought Whitebeard's crew here. Are you planning to fight Kaido and Orochi, or do you have another plan?"
Reno answered honestly, "We don't have a clear plan yet. We don't fully understand Wano's situation, so I came ahead to take a look first."
As he spoke, he took out a Den Den Mushi and handed it to her.
"This is Whitebeard's Den Den Mushi. I don't understand warfare. If there's anything important, you can talk to him directly."
Reno knew his limits. He was quick-witted, but he had no knowledge of military strategy. That was why he brought Whitebeard's contact with him.
Toki took the Den Den Mushi and fell silent for a moment before dialing it. She wasn't afraid of death, but after everything that had happened, she couldn't risk her children's lives.
Seeing her already making the call, Reno stood up.
"You talk with Uncle Whitebeard. I'll go find Hiyori and play with her for a bit. Call me when you're done."
Without waiting for a reply, he floated out of the room. Listening to war discussions was far less interesting than spending time with his future little wife.
"Husband, you're done already?"
Hiyori had been waiting nearby. The moment she saw him, she ran over happily.
Reno smiled brightly when he heard her call him that.
"Hiyori, come here. Today, your husband will show you what it feels like to fly."
Hiyori looked at him floating in the air with shining eyes.
"Husband, can I really fly too?"
"Of course," Reno said confidently. "Not only can I make you fly, I'll even find you a Devil Fruit in the future so you can fly freely just like me."
"Wow! Husband, you're amazing!"
Hiyori looked at him with admiration.
Reno released a wave of green energy that gently wrapped around her, lifting her into the air.
"Wow! I'm flying! Husband, this is amazing!"
He carried her around the castle a few times as she laughed and shouted in excitement.
Watching her happy expression, Reno shook his head helplessly.
Such a cute little wife, yet he couldn't take her along for now. What a pity.
If she could travel with him, his future journey would be far less lonely. Unfortunately, things didn't always go the way one wanted.
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