Michael flew at incredible speed, reaching the skies above the Flower Capital in no time while chatting with Izo.
Gradually descending in altitude, they landed in an inconspicuous corner.
Of course, "inconspicuous" was only relative.
With Michael accompanied by Jack and Yamato—two individuals sporting horns—they stood out far too much in a place like Wano Country.
After all, their appearance bore similarities to the legendary "Oni."
The great pirate Kaido, who had once enslaved Wano, also possessed similar horns...
So the moment they stepped out from that seemingly unnoticed landing spot, they immediately became the center of attention.
Ironically, the least noticed among them was Izo, who walked alongside them...
Only those whose lust overpowered their sense came forward to flirt with Izo.
If Michael hadn't intervened quickly, Izo's already frayed nerves might have snapped again.
After Michael recounted stories of certain people on the sea who were particularly fond of cross-dressing men, Izo had become a bit too sensitive lately.
"Still, Flower Capital in Wano really looks quite nice," Yamato remarked, glancing around the streets.
"At least much better than what I saw as a child."
"Hmm? You saw it as a child?" Izo frowned, sensing something off. "You... have been to Wano before?"
"More than just been here—I lived here for a few years, actually," Yamato sighed.
"But back then, I was just following my bastard father... I mean, the man who was originally my birth father."
Izo's eyes twitched violently as he involuntarily stared at the crimson demon horns on Yamato's head.
They looked... exactly like Kaido's from back then!
Then his gaze fell on Yamato's spiked club, "A-Ken," and the resemblance only grew stronger the more he looked...
Michael noticed Izo's unsettled emotions and, with just a glance infused with a trace of Conqueror's Haki, instantly calmed him down.
After taking several deep breaths, Izo lifted his head.
"Michael-san, she is..."
"I know what you're asking... Yes, she is the biological daughter of Kaido. She was already born when Kaido enslaved Wano."
"Sigh!" Exhaling sharply, Izo's expression toward Yamato became deeply complicated.
The daughter of his sworn enemy—he should have despised her, yet now they stood on the same side.
The suffering Kaido had inflicted upon Wano back then had been severe enough.
If Kozuki Oden hadn't openly danced naked to lull Kaido into complacency while secretly gathering strength, then launched a surprise attack from the rear during Kaido's decisive battle against Gecko Moria, driving both pirate crews out of Wano...
Izo didn't dare imagine what a tragic state Wano would be in today.
"Don't look at me like that," Yamato shrugged, speaking frankly. "Though I'm Kaido's flesh and blood, in a way, I'm no different from any of you when it comes to him... just a convenient and efficient tool."
"Izo, calm down. At the very least, Yamato is standing with you now, right?" Michael patted Izo's shoulder.
"And most importantly... Yamato now calls me 'Father.'"
"Michael-san... I believe you're about the same age as my younger brother, Kikunojo..." Izo gave a wry smile.
"A thirty-five-year-old father and a twenty-year-old daughter?"
"Just think of me as precocious."
Michael shrugged and turned away, offering no further explanation.
Izo understood—this was Michael's way of warning them.
A warning not to let their hatred for Kaido spill over onto 'Michael's daughter, Yamato.'
Moreover, Izo noticed the unmistakable disgust in Yamato's eyes whenever Kaido was mentioned…
It wasn't an act.
"Alright, Michael-san, let's put this matter behind us… I'll take you to the shogun now," Izo said with a shrug, his previously tense nerves gradually easing.
"Assuming they haven't moved somewhere else."
"...Wait, why would the shogunate—a place like the imperial palace—move?"
"Well, given that Oden-sama is the current shogun, who knows if he might suddenly get a wild idea and do something like that?"
"Fair point."
Michael nodded, deciding not to dwell on it further.
Following Izo, Michael and his group soon arrived at the gates of the shogunate.
Fortunately, Kozuki Oden didn't seem to have lost his mind—at least not yet.
As someone approached the shogunate gates, the guards outside immediately stepped forward to stop them.
"Unauthorized personnel! Step back at once!"
Michael raised an eyebrow and glanced at Izo.
The look in his eyes was clear...
What happened to the promised "face recognition"?
Izo could only look back at Michael helplessly.
While as a retainer of the Kozuki family, all of Kozuki Oden's old confidants would certainly recognize Izo.
But the guards outside the gates... that was another matter.
Though somewhat exasperated, Izo had no choice.
After all, he hadn't returned to Wano but chose to remain with the Whitebeard Pirates instead.
"What's going on now? The Flower Capital has been quite lively lately... waves of people keep coming to enter the shogunate."
A tall beauty in a pale yellow kimono adorned with chrysanthemum patterns, with indigo-blue eyes and deep blue long hair, stepped out from the shogunate while smoothing her silky locks.
"Well now, what a lovely lady," Michael smiled at Izo, eyes brimming with amusement.
"Your brother is far more feminine compared to you."
Indeed, the one who emerged was Izo's younger sibling, Kikunojo.
One of the Nine Red Scabbards.
"That's because Kikunojo, despite being male, has always firmly believed himself to be a girl since childhood... whether in speech, mannerisms, or gentle heart..."
Izo's mouth twitched before he stepped forward.
Standing amidst Michael's group, he suddenly seemed far less conspicuous...
"Kikunojo, it's been a long time."
Before Kikunojo could react upon exiting the gates, that familiar voice reached his ears.
Looking up sharply, there stood his elder brother alive before him.
"Brother!"
Kikunojo rushed forward...
Then lifted Izo high off the ground, pressing his face against Izo's chest.
Forcing the image of a delicate woman clinging to her man.
Michael suppressed his laughter with great effort.
After all, the younger Kikunojo stood nearly three meters tall.
To act coquettishly with Izo—who was about Michael's height—this bizarre method was the only way.
"Kikunojo! Put me down!"
"I haven't returned to Wano in so long—I didn't come back to face social death, you damn brat!"
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