With Luo Chen's patient explanation, Yamato nodded, though she only half-understood.
She was still a bit dazed, but she understood one thing.
Luo Chen wanted her to go to the Jinghai Army's headquarters, Totto Land, first.
She would attend school in Totto Land for a period of time to learn cultural knowledge and various types of common sense.
Then, she could reconsider the matters regarding becoming Kozuki Oden and her gender identity.
To this, Yamato could only agree.
Luo Chen had shown her kindness by unlocking her handcuffs and taking her away from Onigashima, where she had been imprisoned for twenty years.
Yamato always kept this kindness in mind.
Therefore, she agreed and did not willfully refuse.
After the matter was settled, Yamato soaked for a while longer before getting up to leave.
Luo Chen looked toward the edge of the bath.
Kozuki Hiyori, wrapped in a wet bath towel, was stepping out of the pool, preparing to leave.
Her movements were very light, as if she intended to slip away secretly.
Seeing this, Luo Chen made a beckoning motion with his hand.
Kozuki Hiyori let out a startled cry as her delicate body floated up and flew toward him.
"Lord Luo Chen..." She sat in Luo Chen's arms, appearing somewhat flustered.
After the incident with Yamato, Kozuki Hiyori's previous courage had long since vanished.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have tried to sneak away without a word.
"Since you're already here," Luo Chen chuckled, removing the bath towel that had been soaked by the spring water.
Kozuki Hiyori's stunning face instantly flushed crimson. Her emerald hair clung wetly to her face, making her look incredibly glamorous.
Her eyelashes fluttered like brushes as she stiffly turned her head away, not daring to meet Luo Chen's gaze.
Luo Chen sat up straight and began to act with practiced ease.
---
The next morning.
Luo Chen woke up in Kozuki Hiyori's bedroom.
On the soft, large bed, the woman was covered by a thin quilt, her beautiful emerald hair scattered across the pillow, and her rounded, fair, long legs overlapped.
The movement of him getting out of bed caused Hiyori to wake up as well.
Looking at Luo Chen beside her, Kozuki Hiyori was clearly dazed for a moment before remembering last night, her face turning red instantly.
Her gaze darted left and right, not daring to look at Luo Chen.
"I plan to return to Totto Land today. Come with me."
Luo Chen chuckled and issued the invitation.
Currently, Wano Country was governed by the Kozuki family.
However, the person presiding over the overall situation was not Kozuki Hiyori.
It was her grandfather, Kozuki Sukiyaki.
This man was the previous Shogun of Wano Country, who had been imprisoned due to Kurozumi Orochi's seizure of power.
Later, Kozuki Sukiyaki fortunately escaped from prison and lived in hiding under the pseudonym Tenguyama Hitetsu.
Tenguyama Hitetsu was the master of the young girl Tama from Amigasa Village.
He wore a hannya mask year-round.
After learning of the downfall of Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido, Kozuki Sukiyaki came to the Flower Capital to reunite with his granddaughter.
Currently, he was in charge of Wano Country's affairs.
Hearing Luo Chen invite her, a look of pleasant surprise appeared on Kozuki Hiyori's face.
She hadn't dared to hope for much, thinking she could only be a concubine without status on the outside.
"Is that okay?" Kozuki Hiyori asked with some concern.
"Of course. Go pack your things," Luo Chen smiled. "Whenever you want to come back, you can do so at any time; you just need to open a spatial portal."
Kozuki Hiyori nodded and immediately got out of bed, running to pack her luggage.
---
At noon, a message came from Robin in Totto Land.
The army stationed in Wano Country had finished assembling and needed Luo Chen to open a spatial portal.
Thus, above the Flower Capital, Luo Chen, clad in an Indigo energy coat, opened a spatial tunnel connecting to Totto Land.
"Chaton" Tokikake led three thousand Jinghai Army soldiers out from within, standing in mid-air to pay their respects to Luo Chen.
On the ground below, Kozuki Hiyori watched Luo Chen with shimmering eyes, full of admiration.
Shattering space with a wave of his hand and bringing three thousand elite troops from ten thousand miles away.
This kind of power left her mesmerized.
Yamato stood silently to the side with her mace on her back, looking up.
According to her feelings, the short human leader's strength was not much weaker than her own.
Yet, in front of Luo Chen, he had to kneel on one knee and salute.
Could it be that she would have to do the same in the future?
Not far away, the Straw Hat crew had also gathered here.
They would follow Luo Chen back to Totto Land.
Carina needed to return the borrowed Zeus to Nami.
Zoro also wanted to see Hawkeye.
Luffy, on the other hand, wanted to see Shanks.
"Tokikake, I leave the safety of Wano Country to you. Contact the Zhenhai Star Hub at any time if anything happens."
Luo Chen gave a symbolic entrustment and patted Tokikake on the shoulder.
"Yes, sir!" Tokikake gave a salute.
He lowered his voice and asked, "Fleet Admiral, do I still have a chance to be transferred back?"
Luo Chen smiled, "Of course. The current personnel arrangements of the Jinghai Army are not fixed. Wait for orders."
He knew why Tokikake wanted to be transferred back.
It was mainly to see Gion.
However, what Tokikake didn't know was that the reason he was dispatched to Wano Country this time was precisely because of Gion's request.
Gion didn't want to hear his confessions anymore, so she went to Vice Admiral Tsuru, who now served as the Chief of Staff of the Jinghai Army.
She hoped to have herself or Tokikake transferred to a different place.
It just so happened that Luo Chen had conquered Wano Country and needed someone to station there.
So, after Tsuru discussed it with Robin and reported to Luo Chen, it was finally decided to send Tokikake to Wano Country.
Luo Chen didn't need to worry about the subsequent matters.
Kozuki Sukiyaki and Tokikake would handle all the affairs of Wano Country.
Under everyone's respectful send-off, Luo Chen took Kozuki Hiyori, Yamato, and the Straw Hat crew into the spatial portal and returned to Totto Land.
---
On the high platform in front of the Tianyun Pavilion at the Zhenhai Star Hub.
The figures of Luo Chen's group emerged from the spatial portal.
Ahead, Robin, Nami, Kalifa, and Baccara were waiting with a team of female guards.
Upon seeing Luo Chen, their faces—some intellectual, some pretty, some charming—all broke into smiles.
It was like a hundred flowers blooming at once, competing for beauty.
Seeing this scene, Sanji bit his lip hard in envy and turned his head away.
He didn't dare look too much, fearing he would become lovestruck again.
The Straw Hat crew all knew that Nami and Kalifa had deep relationships with Luo Chen.
By all rights and reason, Sanji couldn't act like a lecher toward Luo Chen's women.
Robin walked up with an elegant smile, her gaze sweeping over everyone before finally landing on Kozuki Hiyori and Yamato.
She looked at Luo Chen, her eyes revealing a questioning intent.
Luo Chen took Kozuki Hiyori's small hand, pulled her closer, and smiled:
"Hiyori, she is the granddaughter of the current Shogun of Wano Country, Kozuki Sukiyaki."
"During this time in Wano Country, she arranged all my daily needs."
By saying this, he was telling everyone about Hiyori's relationship with him.
It also made it easier for Robin and the others to make subsequent arrangements.
Someone like Yamato, who was going to join the Jinghai Army, certainly couldn't be treated the same as Hiyori.
At that moment, Luo Chen suddenly felt his other hand being grabbed.
He turned his head in surprise.
Yamato stood on the other side, holding his hand with a bright smile.
"I am Yamato! Luo Chen rescued me from Kaido!"
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