Later on, Flower Capital.
Nojiko patted his back gently. "You must be exhausted after fighting Kaido today. Let's go wash up first."
"I'm not exhausted."
"Then, Caelan-sama, who isn't exhausted, would you like to bathe with me to relax?" Nojiko hooked his arm, her voice soft.
"With pleasure."
Caelan smiled warmly, drawing her into his arms.
"Commander Caelan, I have official matters to report… may I do so while you bathe?"
Hina, acting as secretary, bit her lips, her tone laced with temptation.
On the voyage from Dressrosa to Wano, she had overheard Caelan and Nojiko's "movements" more than once.
At thirty-two, still unmarried, she could no longer restrain herself. If she had to choose a man, why not choose Caelan?
"There's plenty of time to discuss official matters."
Caelan wrapped an arm around Hina, his meaning unmistakable.
That left only Ain, frozen in awkwardness.
Now Nojiko and Hina were nestled against Caelan, while she stood apart like an outsider.
"Ain, would you like to join us?" Caelan asked with a teasing smile.
"No, that's unnecessary!" Ain was so nervous she almost bit her tongue. "You three just enjoy the bath. As the captain of the guard, I'll… I'll keep watch at the door!"
Caelan didn't press her, leading Nojiko and Hina inside.
But in the end, even Ain, who had been guarding outside, joined Caelan in the bath.
…
In the Flower Capital, inside a pleasure house.
The surviving Red Scabbards, Kozuki Hiyori—known publicly as Komurasaki—and Momonosuke had gathered to discuss the fall of Wano into Caelan's hands.
Kin'emon, Momonosuke, and the others were supposed to travel two years forward, but due to some unknown disturbance affecting Lady Toki, they had arrived one year ago instead.
Within that year, they had discovered and killed Kanjuro, Orochi's spy among them.
"I didn't expect that just two days after Kaido declared war on the God Slayer, he would attack us here," Kin'emon said grimly.
He had planned to wait until Kaido moved all of the Beasts Pirates to fight Caelan in Dressrosa.
Meanwhile, they would seize the chance to overthrow Orochi and reclaim Wano.
Whether or not that counted as stealing Caelan's victory, they didn't care.
"Yeah… it's terrifying," Raizo muttered, shaken. "In less than a day, the Beasts Pirates were crushed, Orochi was slain, and even Kaido seemed to submit to Caelan."
From their perspective, when Kaido transformed into his azure dragon form and allowed Caelan to stand on his head, it meant surrender.
Defeating one of the Yonko's crews in less than a day was unthinkable.
Had they not witnessed Caelan circling the capital atop a dragon, and Kaido still looming over the shogun's palace, they would never have believed it.
"What troubles me most is the God Slayer's attitude," Kin'emon said with a heavy sigh. "He declared above the capital that Wano is under his rule, then slew loyal warriors who opposed him on the spot. That's terrifying!"
They could not accept Caelan as Wano's ruler.
Even if he had the strength to bring prosperity, the only ruler they would acknowledge was the heroic heir of Kozuki Oden, Momonosuke.
Even if Momonosuke was timid, cowardly, he carried the Kozuki bloodline, and thus, the shogunate rightfully belonged to him.
"It seems we must postpone our plans to retake Wano," Denjiro said with a weary breath.
"If this God Slayer stands against us, he will be ten times more frightening and ten times harder to deal with than Kaido and Orochi combined."
Kin'emon, Raizo, and the others nodded.
No matter their desire to reclaim the nation, they couldn't ignore Caelan's overwhelming power.
He had not only defeated the Beasts Pirates, but even drawn Kaido to his side.
With two Yonko aligned, no one could wrest Wano away unless Caelan allowed it.
"No, I don't agree!"
Just as the Red Scabbards resigned themselves, Momonosuke suddenly shouted.
All eyes turned to him.
"Kaido is defeated, Orochi is dead, so why should we give up Wano now?"
Momonosuke glared at Kin'emon. "Didn't you say Caelan was the one who would help us defeat Kaido? Then tell him to give up Wano!"
"As the heir of the Kozuki, I am the true shogun of Wano, the greatest shogun this land will ever see!"
To him, Wano naturally belonged to him alone. How could he allow some despised outsider to take it?
"Young master…" Kin'emon groaned, clutching his head.
Good news: Momonosuke was finally motivated.
Bad news: his ambition came at the worst possible time.
When Orochi and Kaido were in power, Momonosuke had trembled in fear.
But now, when an even more terrifying Caelan pressed down on them, he started to gain confidence?
"Young master!" Raizo looked miserable, his expression uglier than if he had eaten filth. "Caelan just said in the sky above the Flower Capital that Wano will be under his rule. Anyone who disagrees will be killed without mercy!"
"To ask Caelan to return Wano now, isn't that just walking into a trap?"
Earlier, when Caelan stood atop the Azure Dragon and made his declaration, he acted immediately.
So many protesting samurai were cut down, their swords and dojos destroyed along with them.
Under such a blatant threat, going to him now would be nothing but seeking death.
"Yes, young master, wait and see. We must make a long-term plan."
Kin'emon and the others tried to persuade Momonosuke earnestly, hoping he would endure.
The current situation was truly not suitable for taking action.
"I don't care, you must take action immediately!"
Momonosuke cried and made a fuss, his tone filled with determination.
If they delayed, wouldn't all the credit for defeating Kaido and Orochi go to Caelan alone?
Only by acting now could he present the "facts" to the people of Wano and establish himself as the greatest shogun.
"This, this, this…"
Kin'emon and the others were almost in tears.
Damn it, why couldn't he remain as cowardly as before!
Now he was bold to the point of stupidity, an idiot beyond saving.
"Tell me, you don't want to go find Caelan, do you want to betray the Kozuki family? Are you traitors like Kanjuro?!"
When no one agreed with him, Momonosuke suddenly grew suspicious.
He thought of Kanjuro, whose real name was Kurozumi Kanjuro, and who had always been Orochi's spy.
Could it be that someone among them was also an undercover agent, unwilling to see him become the shogun of Wano?
"Young master, what are you saying!"
"Our loyalty is clear to the sun and the moon. We are the most faithful retainers of the Kozuki family!"
"We swear to the heavens that we will never waver in this life. We vow to help you ascend to the position of shogun!"
Kin'emon and the others did not get angry at Momonosuke's words.
Instead, they knelt on the ground, expressing loyalty in fear and trembling. The samurai loyal to Kozuki Oden would never bare their fangs against their lord.
"Good! If that's the case, then help me reclaim the position of shogun immediately!"
Momonosuke knew his words had been wrong, but he refused to change.
All he wanted was to reclaim the shogunate of Wano.
"Young master, wait two more days, then we will take action!" Kin'emon said through gritted teeth.
Since this was a matter of loyalty, he had no choice but to take a stand.
By mobilizing all of Wano's strength within two days, perhaps they could force Caelan to bow to public opinion and leave Wano.
According to rumors, the God Slayer was not a conqueror by nature and had never seized any country. Even Dressrosa, the Neo Navy's headquarters, had not been stolen but was only a site of military cooperation.
If they could stir public opinion, they might force Caelan to retreat.
"Alright, then in two days, I will become the shogun of Wano!"
Momonosuke stopped throwing a tantrum and burst into laughter.
He already imagined himself seated as shogun, surrounded by beauties, his fame echoing across the nation.
"Alas…"
Kin'emon and the others looked stricken.
To act in only two days was far too reckless. They had no confidence at all.
"No, we must gather information first."
Kin'emon said in frustration.
Without intelligence, they were moving blindly, their chances even slimmer.
"I'll go."
Denjiro stepped forward. "I have run a brothel in the Flower Capital for over ten years. All of my women are both talented and beautiful. With the lustful nature of the God Slayer, I believe I can uncover something."
He planned to use a beauty trap, which had worked well against Orochi. He had extracted many secrets from him that way.
"Alright, then it's up to you, Denjiro."
Kin'emon nodded.
Among them, only Denjiro had such resources.
At this moment, Kozuki Hiyori, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "Let me go with you."
"Princess, no! We cannot allow you to take such a risk!"
Denjiro quickly stopped her.
This was not like dealing with Orochi.
Before such a dangerous man as Caelan, he had no confidence he could protect her.
"There's no need to say more. I have already made up my mind."
Kozuki Hiyori said firmly, "As the daughter of Kozuki Oden, this is my duty."
"Besides, I am the most beautiful woman in Wano. The chances of success will be higher."
She was confident she could use her beauty to sway Caelan.
Perhaps the God Slayer would be bewitched and squander everything on her like other men.
Seeing Hiyori's determination, Kin'emon, Raizo, and the others exchanged uneasy glances, but in the end, they had no choice but to agree to her request.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)