While being sized up, Kozuki Hiyori was also unobtrusively observing the "mysterious guest."
Based on the servant's report, she had initially thought he was some nouveau riche.
Yet, upon this meeting, the man's aura made Kozuki Hiyori realize she had guessed wrong.
He was incredibly calm and composed, with clear eyes that were entirely different from those of the lecherous sorts who lusted after her beauty.
Most importantly, she vaguely felt that this man looked somewhat familiar.
"Where have I seen him before?" Kozuki Hiyori pondered.
She must have seen this man somewhere—perhaps just a fleeting glance that nonetheless left an impression.
Kozuki Hiyori continued to chat in a soft, gentle voice while pouring wine and performing.
At the same time, she was slowly thinking back, trying to pinpoint exactly when and where she had encountered this person.
The memories of the past two years gradually surfaced in her mind.
The enemies of Kurozumi Orochi, the cooperation between Kaido and Doflamingo, the massive influx of pirates into Wano Country...
"Wait..." Kozuki Hiyori's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
Over the past two years, she had used various channels to try and gather information from overseas.
A large number of pirates had entered Wano Country to serve under Kaido and Charlotte Linlin.
These people were all afraid of one particular power.
The Jinghai Army.
Through great effort, Kozuki Hiyori had once managed to obtain a newspaper regarding the Jinghai Army.
Published within was a photo of the Jinghai Army Fleet Admiral, Luo Chen.
Her thoughts suddenly cleared; she remembered where she had seen the man before her.
The photo of Jinghai Army Fleet Admiral Luo Chen in the newspaper was identical to this man!
Kozuki Hiyori was inwardly astonished.
Why would someone like him suddenly come to Wano Country?
And why would he end up in a brothel?
The Jinghai Army was undoubtedly the most powerful force overseas.
The alliance between Kaido and numerous great pirates was specifically formed to oppose the Jinghai Army.
One could only imagine how powerful the Jinghai Army truly was.
Kozuki Hiyori simply wasn't sure what level of strength Fleet Admiral Luo Chen himself possessed.
In that newspaper, she hadn't seen many reports regarding Luo Chen's personal exploits.
It mostly covered the Jinghai Army's purge operations across the Four Seas.
"Could it be that the Jinghai Army is about to move against Kaido?"
Kozuki Hiyori couldn't help but speculate, and her heart began to race with excitement.
With her own power, seeking revenge against Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido was a total pipe dream.
The probability of success was abysmally low.
She had remained in hiding for twenty years without finding a single opportunity.
Conversely, if the Jinghai Army was willing to take action, the situation would be completely different.
Once this thought occurred to her, the smile on Kozuki Hiyori's face became even more radiant and charming.
She had no intention of exposing Luo Chen's identity.
Since he had arrived in disguise, it was very likely he was here to gather intelligence on Wano Country.
A brothel was indeed an excellent place for that.
She could go along with it and provide him with all the information she had on Kaido and the others.
Luo Chen took a sip of wine and glanced at Kozuki Hiyori.
He felt that the way this woman looked at him had become strange just a moment ago.
Did she seem somewhat excited and intent on pleasing him?
"Did she recognize me?" Luo Chen wondered to himself.
Although Wano Country closed its borders, there were always people who could obtain outside information.
Especially with the influx of foreign pirates into Wano Country over the past two years.
It was normal for news of him to reach Kozuki Hiyori's ears.
He didn't ask any questions, focusing instead on drinking and appreciating the dance.
After enjoying Kozuki Hiyori's performance, Luo Chen planned to head to Onigashima to deal with Kaido and the rest.
On the other side, Kozuki Hiyori was gradually becoming anxious.
Why wasn't he asking about intelligence regarding Wano Country?
Her scheduled time to accompany him was almost over.
Was this Jinghai Army Fleet Admiral not here for intelligence after all?
Had she guessed wrong?
But if he wasn't gathering intelligence, how would the Jinghai Army take action?
Surely Luo Chen couldn't intend to take down all the enemies by himself?
Perplexed, Kozuki Hiyori could only force herself to maintain her smile.
Suddenly, a frantic knocking came from outside the private room.
Luo Chen set down his wine cup and looked toward the door.
Kozuki Hiyori looked apologetic as she quickly walked to the door and opened it.
A female servant whispered anxiously, "Lady Komurasaki, Toko has been taken by the Shogun's men."
Kozuki Hiyori's expression shifted. Ignoring Luo Chen's presence, she quickly asked what had happened.
Toko was a young girl by her side, only eight or nine years old.
Why would she be seized by the army under Kurozumi Orochi?
As the servant explained, Kozuki Hiyori's face turned pale. She glanced at Luo Chen, bit her lip, and said:
"I am sorry, Komurasaki has urgent matters to attend to. Please come again tomorrow, sir."
With that, she hurriedly put on her wooden clogs and ran out with the servant.
Luo Chen stood up, looking thoughtful.
At first, he couldn't quite remember who Toko was.
But following the exchange between Kozuki Hiyori and the servant, he recalled the details.
One of Toko's identities was a kamuro by Kozuki Hiyori's side.
Because of her young age, Kozuki Hiyori treated her like a younger sister.
Toko's father, Tonoyasu, was ostensibly just an ordinary villager.
In reality, however, he was the Daimyo of Wano Country's Hakumai region twenty years ago.
His true name was Shimotsuki Yasuie, and he was one of the vassals of the Kozuki family.
In other words, Toko's father was a vassal to the princess of the Kozuki family, Kozuki Hiyori.
He was a sworn enemy of Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido, who had annihilated the Kozuki family.
In the original plot, Toko's father, Shimotsuki Yasuie, was arrested because his identity was exposed and was scheduled for a public execution.
Just now, the news Kozuki Hiyori received was that Shimotsuki Yasuie was about to be beheaded.
And Toko, having failed in her attempt to break him out of prison to save her father, was also to be executed.
"These people don't really have anything to do with me."
"However... why do I sense everyone converging on the Flower Capital?"
Luo Chen's Observation Haki covered the entirety of Wano Country.
He hadn't been paying attention while watching Kozuki Hiyori dance.
But now he discovered that those hundred thousand plus Zoan-type Devil Fruit users were all heading toward the Flower Capital.
On the Onigashima front, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin had also mobilized, moving toward the Flower Capital.
Luo Chen also sensed the presence of the Straw Hat Pirates.
By sheer coincidence, they were also in the Flower Capital.
"Was the Straw Hat crew discovered, or was I?"
Luo Chen muttered to himself, stroking his chin. With a flash, he appeared on the roof of the brothel.
In his Observation Haki perception, the Flower Capital was like a treasure hoard.
Pirates from Onigashima and all over Wano Country were converging here.
"The direction Kozuki Hiyori is headed is exactly where the Straw Hat crew is."
"Let's go have a look."
Luo Chen could see Kozuki Hiyori running down the street, clutching her skirts.
His figure took flight into the sky, heading toward the location of the Straw Hat Pirates.
Since he had promised Dragon to look after Luffy, Luo Chen naturally would not forget.
"It's just as well that they are all gathering at the Flower Capital; it saves me the effort."
Luo Chen flew through the high-altitude clouds. A few minutes later, he arrived above an execution ground.
The execution ground was enclosed by wooden fences. On the execution platform stood three middle-aged men and a pink-haired young girl.
Nearby were soldiers clad in samurai light-armor.
Outside the fences, many residents of the Flower Capital had gathered to watch the spectacle.
Hidden within the clouds high above, Luo Chen looked down at the scene below.
One of the middle-aged men on the execution platform, wearing a headscarf, was tied to a cross—it was Shimotsuki Yasuie.
He turned his head to look at his adopted daughter, Toko, who was also tied up. There were tears in his eyes, yet bursts of loud laughter came from his mouth.
"Toko, I've failed you, hahahaha..."
Shimotsuki Yasuie wept even as he laughed.
Luo Chen's eyes flickered as he looked at the pink-haired girl who was also laughing.
If he remembered correctly, this father and daughter had both eaten failed SMILE fruits.
Not only did they fail to gain abilities, but they were also rendered capable of only laughing.
They had lost all expressions except for a smile.
Even facing life and death at the execution ground, they could only laugh through their tears.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]