Kyros was still lying on the ground, unable to get up, when Viola walked in with Rebecca in tow.
Viola was Rebecca's aunt. Just moments earlier, she had found the little pink-haired girl wandering near the palace gates. When she got a closer look, she realized it was her sister's daughter—Rebecca.
So she brought Rebecca into the palace with her… and then witnessed the scene inside.
Seeing Kyros sprawled on the floor, Rebecca immediately ran over, dropped to her knees, and asked in a panicked voice,
"Daddy, what happened? Are you hurt?"
Kyros turned his head slightly at the sound of his daughter's voice. When he saw her anxious little face, his heart warmed.
Still, he didn't get up. Instead, he said to her,
"Rebecca, I'm fine. This man here is Admiral Shikiryū of the Marines! He's already captured Doflamingo—he's the savior of our entire country! You should kneel too!"
Rebecca was momentarily stunned. Just a short while ago, she'd been terrified her father would be killed by Doflamingo and his men. How had the tables turned so quickly?
And the man who captured Doflamingo… looked so young!
Although dazed, she obediently followed Kyros's lead and knelt to bow to Kaito.
Kaito, however, had no interest in being bowed to. With a casual flick of his hand, two tendrils of darkness slithered from the floor, wrapped around Kyros and Rebecca's waists, and gently lifted them up, placing them steadily back on their feet.
Kyros was fine, but Rebecca's little face crumpled in fright. She nearly burst into tears from the terrifying black tendrils—until Viola came over and scooped her into her arms, gently soothing her.
"Don't be afraid. That's probably Admiral Shikiryū's power. He's the strongest person in the world. As long as he's around, no one can hurt you."
"The strongest in the world…?"
Rebecca's big amber eyes stared at Kaito, full of disbelief. This overly youthful guy didn't look anything like the world's strongest.
Kaito smiled as he met her gaze—but the moment she caught sight of his Rinnegan, she flinched and buried herself deeper in Viola's arms.
That left Kaito a little helpless.
Was the power I used earlier… maybe a little too dark-looking?
He could've used gravity to pull Kyros and Rebecca upright. But considering Kyros only had one leg and might lose balance, he'd chosen the dark tendrils for a more stable lift.
He hadn't expected them to nearly make the little girl cry...
Shaking his head, Kaito slowly walked up to Kyros. He glanced at the man's mangled right leg, then released Konohanasakuya-hime.
Before everyone's astonished eyes, Kyros's right leg slowly began to regenerate. He stared in disbelief at his fully restored limb. Lifting it and stomping the ground, he confirmed it was real.
Even Robin was stunned—this was her first time seeing this side of Kaito's abilities. In her heart, Kaito now seemed almost divine.
Mansherry looked down at her own tiny hands, wondering if her healing powers could ever reach that level...
Kaito gave Kyros a pat on the shoulder and said,
"You've done well. Think of this as your reward."
Kyros was overwhelmed. He didn't know how to express his gratitude, and shouted out emotionally,
"Thank you, Admiral Shikiryū! From now on, my life is yours!"
Kaito waved him off and replied,
"What would I want your life for? Use it to protect your daughter—protect Dressrosa."
...
Just then, a voice broke the silence with a tone of admiration:
"Admiral Shikiryū truly lives up to the name. I've seen something extraordinary today."
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.
A tall figure dressed in a purple kimono was approaching, leaning on a cane.
His features were rugged, his eyes shut tight. Short black hair framed a forehead marked by a prominent X-shaped scar. He looked like someone not easy to get along with.
Though walking with a cane, his footsteps carried an overwhelming pressure. Everyone except Kaito felt their hearts jolt.
Robin and Viola instinctively stepped behind Kaito. Rebecca clung tightly to Kyros's leg, frightened.
Kaito, however, looked at the newcomer with mild surprise. He recognized him—this was the future Marine Admiral, Isshō, also known as Fujitora.
What's he doing in Dressrosa?
Isshō slowly approached Kaito, gave a respectful bow, and spoke in a courteous tone,
"A pleasure to meet you, Admiral Shikiryū. I am Isshō."
Isshō was known for his love of gambling. Back when Dressrosa was still under Doflamingo's control, its underworld scene had been booming—and that had drawn him in.
He hadn't known what was going on in the kingdom until he walked out of a casino—having lost everything—and sensed Doflamingo falling from the sky through the clouds.
Realizing something major had happened, he followed Doflamingo to the Corrida Colosseum and witnessed Kaito's judgment firsthand.
To Isshō, Kaito's actions perfectly aligned with his own ideals of Justice, so he quietly made his way to the palace, using Observation Haki from outside to sense everything occurring within.
Though blind, Isshō's Observation Haki was exceptionally powerful. He had perceived every single thing Kaito had done in the palace with crystal clarity.
And when he heard the words Kaito spoke to Kyros just now… it struck him deep in the heart.
He could no longer hold back his admiration—he had to step forward and meet this man in person.
Kaito respected Isshō. Despite his fierce appearance, he was a truly kind-hearted man—undoubtedly a dove among the Marines.
Unlike Aokiji's confusion and uncertainty, Isshō never hesitated to speak out when something was wrong. He didn't care about the World Government's reputation, completely opposite to the newly appointed Admiral Green Bull.
Isshō slowly opened his eyes, revealing blank, unsettling whites. He wanted to see the man he'd come to admire—but alas, he was blind.
He had blinded himself by choice, unwilling to witness the evils of the world.
But now… a trace of regret crept into his heart.
Kaito truly admired Isshō—both his ideals and his strength.
He hadn't expected to encounter Isshō at this time. But now that they'd met… why not bring him into the Navy?
After all, this man was without a doubt admiral-level in power.
With that in mind, Kaito spoke up:
"I can sense that your strength is extraordinary. What do you say—have you ever considered joining the Marines?"