It was noon when Luo Xing left Komurasaki's (Hiyori's) quarters.
By the time he stepped out, the sky was already tinted orange from the setting sun.
During those hours, he had learned much more about her.
As the daughter of Kozuki Oden and Toki, she hadn't inherited her father's talent for swordsmanship or combat—
but she had perfectly inherited her mother's beauty and brilliance.
Otherwise, she could never have survived so long while spying right under Orochi's nose.
She was a woman who knew how to protect herself—
but unfortunately for her, she had met him.
Luo Xing stretched lazily, letting out a long breath.
"Come in."
Two sturdy women quickly entered from the courtyard.
They weren't ordinary servants, but elite soldiers from the Gifters Corps—
handpicked for both strength and loyalty.
"Komurasaki hasn't been feeling well these past few days," Luo Xing said lightly.
"Make sure she eats properly. Feed her if you must."
"As you command, Lord Consort."
The maids bowed and retreated.
Once Luo Xing's figure disappeared from sight, the two exchanged a look—half envy, half bitterness.
"To think… that woman used to be Orochi's courtesan, and now she's favored by the Consort himself. What luck."
"Well, she is beautiful."
"Beautiful? Hah. Can she punch through a wall?"
"Apparently she doesn't need to. The Consort likes her just fine as she is."
The two sighed, shaking their heads.
Luo Xing didn't return to Onigashima, nor did he go to see Yamato.
He still carried a faint trace of Komurasaki's scent on him—better not take unnecessary risks.
Instead, he rode west, toward Kuri, the former domain of Kozuki Oden himself.
As he traveled, the desolation of Wano Country unfolded before him.
The people were in rags, starving, hollow-eyed.
Years of exploitation had drained the land dry—
the fault of his father-in-law Kaido and the late tyrant Orochi alike.
If I were one of them, he thought grimly, I'd rebel too.
But those days were ending.
He had already drafted new laws, and shiploads of grain from the outside world were on their way.
Soon, this land would change—
and the people would see who truly brought them peace.
At last, Luo Xing arrived in Amigasa Village, in Kuri.
He remembered this place well—home to a little girl named O-Tama,
the Dango Fruit user… and one of the Beasts Pirates' greatest natural threats.
He closed his eyes.
Using Observation Haki, he searched—
and quickly locked onto her presence.
He followed the faint pulse of life to a small, worn wooden hut.
Raising a hand, he knocked gently.
Knock, knock…
"Anyone home?"
"Who is it?"
A bright, childish voice came from inside.
Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a round little face.
Big eyes. Messy hair.
Pure curiosity.
"Who are—oh!" Her eyes lit up. "You're that… that handsome big brother, aren't you?"
Luo Xing chuckled, crouching down to her level and gently ruffling her hair.
"Oh? So you know me?"
"Uh-huh! Of course I do!" She nodded rapidly like a pecking bird.
"I saw you on the big screen! And I know the new Shogun—the pretty lady—is your wife!"
"Pretty lady, huh?" Luo Xing smiled wryly.
So Yamato now had another nickname to go with the most beautiful Shogun in Wano.
"You're a smart one," he said. "And you have a sweet tongue. If the Shogun heard you, she'd be very pleased."
"What's your name, little one?"
"I'm O-Tama!"
She twirled happily in her light green kimono, giggling as the skirt flared like a spinning leaf.
Luo Xing couldn't help but smile.
Such innocence… truly a rare sight in this country.
"I'm Luo Xing," he said warmly. "From now on, we're friends, alright?"
"Really? I can be friends with you?!" O-Tama gasped, eyes sparkling.
"But I'm just a normal girl…"
Normal? he thought. If only you knew—your fruit can tame Kaido's men themselves.
He didn't say it aloud.
Before he could continue, an elderly voice called from inside the hut:
"O-Tama, who are you talking to?"
An old man in a long kimono stepped out, his nose long and curved like a tengu mask.
The moment his eyes landed on Luo Xing, his muscles tensed.
And when he saw O-Tama sitting on Luo Xing's shoulder, his face turned pale.
"You scoundrel! Put O-Tama down!"
"Master!" O-Tama protested. "Don't call big brother names!"
Luo Xing smiled and gently set her down.
"If I'm not mistaken, you must be Tenguyama Hitetsu, descendant of the legendary swordsmith Kotetsu, yes?"
The old man's expression froze.
He hadn't expected the mysterious Beasts Consort to know his identity so precisely.
"What do you want?" Hitetsu demanded, eyes sharp, hand on the hilt of his blade.
"Relax," Luo Xing said calmly. "I've no ill will. I simply wish to invite you and O-Tama to stay at the Shogun's palace in the Flower Capital."
"Absolutely not!" the old man snapped.
Luo Xing didn't seem offended.
He had expected resistance—and he also knew the man had no real choice.
Turning to O-Tama, he smiled.
"Tama, the Shogun herself would love to meet you.
And the Capital has so many wonderful things—sweets, games, and… red bean soup."
"Red bean soup?!"
The little girl's eyes lit up like fireworks.
That was her favorite food in the whole world!
"Let's go, big brother! I want to go now!"
Hitetsu sighed heavily, his face a mix of resignation and helplessness.
His apprentice could resist anything—except food.
As Luo Xing led O-Tama out of the hut, something caught his eye.
Resting on a stand by the wall was a sword.
He stopped and murmured,
"That blade… the Second Generation Kitetsu, one of the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords?"
Hitetsu's body went rigid. He immediately grabbed the sword and held it protectively to his chest.
Luo Xing chuckled.
"Don't worry, I'm not here to take it. If it were the First Generation Kitetsu, maybe I'd be interested."
Leaving it at that, he took O-Tama's hand and walked away.
Hitetsu, though reluctant, followed from a distance—for the girl's safety if nothing else.
As they descended the mountain path, Luo Xing's thoughts deepened.
His purpose here wasn't sentiment.
O-Tama's Dango Fruit was a weapon—
a natural power that could subdue the Beasts Pirates themselves.
That kind of ability couldn't be left in anyone else's hands.
He would study it, understand it—
and perhaps one day, create something even more powerful.
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