Flower Capital, the former shogun's residence.
This was originally Kurozumi Orochi's home, and it was taken over by Caelan yesterday.
After killing the foolish samurai attached to the Kurozumi family and a few loyal retainers, the remaining maids and servants all became obedient.
They were just conscripted laborers forced by the Kurozumi family, and could not be called loyal to Orochi at all.
Moreover, since Kurozumi Orochi often liked to kill people for fun, they felt his death was a good thing.
Today, a group of uninvited guests arrived at the shogun's mansion.
A white-haired samurai came to visit, leading more than a dozen beautiful girls dressed in kimonos.
It was Denjiro, under the alias Kyoshiro, and Kozuki Hiyori, under the alias Komurasaki. To ensure the success of the seduction, Denjiro brought all the most beautiful girls from his brothel.
Denjiro and Kozuki Hiyori looked at the Azure Dragon still hovering over the shogun's mansion with fear and awe.
They knew that it was Kaido, formerly one of the Yonko, the ruler who once dominated the seas.
He was also the one who killed Kozuki Oden, the true enemy of the Kozuki family.
However, they had been unable to fight back no matter what they tried, and could only pin their hopes on their future allies.
Unexpectedly, he was defeated by Caelan within one day and became Caelan's mount, obediently guarding the residence.
Under such a stark contrast, the two felt that Caelan was unfathomable, and that they absolutely could not reclaim Wano by force.
"Please inform your lord that I would like to present beauties to Caelan-sama."
Denjiro spoke politely to the guard at the door.
He recognized the guard. He had once been a servant in the Kurozumi household.
He used to be responsible for sweeping the steps and had no status at all.
However, such a servant was not killed by Caelan, and now he had become a guard at the shogun's mansion.
It seemed that Caelan was not bloodthirsty, and their plan might really work.
"This… I will go and report it."
The guard did not dare to delay and immediately entered the mansion to report.
He was a civilian forced by Orochi, and Caelan had casually appointed him to guard the gate of the shogun's mansion. However, he knew his own limits and only dared to keep the door, not doing anything else, afraid of dying like yesterday's samurai.
He had also seen Kyoshiro, a samurai who ran the largest brothel in the Flower Capital and controlled countless beauties.
During Kurozumi Orochi's time, Kyoshiro was an honored guest of the shogun's mansion.
Now that he had brought so many beauties, he would probably become Lord Caelan's honored guest.
"You mean, a pimp with a bunch of bitches is coming to visit me?"
Hearing the servant's report, Caelan laughed contemptuously.
How could he not know this so-called Kyoshiro?
Most likely he wanted to get information from him.
"Caelan-sama, they are not whores, they are geisha."
"There is also the most beautiful girl in Wano, the oiran Komurasaki."
The servant could not help but correct him.
Especially Oiran Komurasaki. She was a goddess in his heart.
As soon as he spoke, cold sweat broke out.
The man in front of him was a god who rode a dragon and a demon king who killed decisively.
He wanted to slap himself twice. How dare he contradict Caelan?
"Geisha, aren't they still whores?"
Caelan said disdainfully.
"You are right." The servant agreed respectfully, then asked cautiously, "Then should I send them away?"
Caelan tapped the table and thought for a moment.
The servant had just mentioned that the oiran Komurasaki was here, so he naturally knew that this was Kozuki Hiyori.
Although she was brainless and loved to stir up trouble, she was very pretty.
"Let those who are still virgins in, and send the others away, including the men."
Caelan looked at the servant and gave his order.
He was a thief, but he had no interest in playing with used goods.
If Kozuki Hiyori was really a working girl, there was no need to let her in.
"Yes, Caelan-sama."
The servant withdrew respectfully.
…
"Caelan-sama has ordered that virgins may enter, and all others are to be driven away."
The servant relayed this to Denjiro and the geisha.
"What?"
Denjiro was stunned.
Among the twelve beauties he brought, only Chiyo was still a virgin. She was a newcomer he had just recruited. He only brought her because she was pretty and needed to fill the numbers.
If these geisha together were sugar-coated bullets, then Chiyo was pure sugar.
Aside from her, only Kozuki Hiyori remained a virgin under his protection.
He could not accept Caelan's request that instantly screened out eleven of their spies.
"These are geisha. They are very clean."
Denjiro tried to argue.
The servant also thought these geisha were good, but Caelan's orders could not be disobeyed. "I will be blunt. Caelan-sama said they are all whores, and only virgins are allowed in."
Upon hearing this, many geisha looked displeased.
They were goddesses in the hearts of countless people in Wano. People could not wait to kneel and lick their feet. No one had ever called them whores.
Kozuki Hiyori was even more ashamed and angry.
She had not even entered the shogun's mansion yet and had already been humiliated like this.
She was a courtesan, and an unmarried one at that. How could she be called a whore?
She was the most beautiful woman in Wano, admired by countless people.
She wanted to meet Caelan and use her charm to make him submit.
"Komurasaki, let us go back."
Denjiro sighed.
It was too dangerous to let Kozuki Hiyori gather intelligence alone without support.
"No, I must serve Caelan-sama."
Kozuki Hiyori winked at Denjiro.
Now that the time had come, she could not abandon the mission.
She wanted to contribute to the revival of the Kozuki family, and she wanted Caelan to take back the insult of calling her a bitch.
"Since you admire Caelan-sama so much, then go."
Seeing Hiyori's determination, Denjiro had no choice but to conceal her identity.
Then he said to the servant, "Oiran Komurasaki and this Miss Chiyo meet the requirements. Let me take them to see Caelan-sama."
He was still worried about letting Kozuki Hiyori go alone, so he found an excuse to let Chiyo accompany her.
"No. Caelan-sama said men cannot enter."
The servant rejected Denjiro's request.
"…"
Denjiro was speechless.
Everything at the shogun's mansion today had gone differently than planned.
Not only were the eleven prepared spies eliminated at the door, he could not even meet Caelan.
He felt that Caelan had seen through their plan, yet they clearly had not been exposed.
"After you enter, you must ensure your own safety, then serve Caelan-sama well."
Denjiro spoke to Chiyo and Kozuki Hiyori.
He was naturally reminding Hiyori to be careful and to pay attention to gathering intelligence.
"I understand. I will take good care of Caelan-sama."
Kozuki Hiyori said she understood.
Chiyo knew nothing and only nodded blankly.
Kozuki Hiyori walked into the shogun's mansion with her head held high, as if going to battle.
Chiyo followed nervously behind her, like a frightened rabbit.
(To be continued.)
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