Kin'emon and the others' first thought was Orochi!
Over the past two years, it was obvious to everyone that Orochi had been suppressing Kuri both openly and covertly, but he was the Shogun, the supreme ruler of Wano Country.
But this time, Orochi had already touched their bottom line. If Orochi didn't hand over Kozuki Toki and the others, they would kill him, even if it meant being scorned by everyone. One must know that disrespecting the Shogun in Wano Country was a grave crime, let alone killing him.
Even a corrupt and incompetent Shogun like Orochi was still the Shogun, having legitimately inherited the position from Kozuki Sukiyaki.
To be safe and to consider other possibilities, Kin'emon only dispatched Ashura Doji, Kawamatsu, Nekomamushi, and Inuarashi to search in the direction of the Flower Capital.
There was no need to worry about their combat strength; no one in Wano Country could defeat them acting together.
The remaining Raizo, Kanjuro, and Denjiro meticulously searched with him for any other clues.
Kin'emon and his group were anxiously searching for Kozuki Toki and her companions. Karl didn't know the full story, but after a few days, he had some guesses, though he didn't realize that someone had actually kidnapped Momonosuke.
If Karl knew, he'd probably praise the kidnapper a couple of times; they had essentially taken the blame.
If Kin'emon and the others found only Momonosuke, and he claimed only Momonosuke had been taken, who would believe that!
Back to Karl's side, Kozuki Toki also woke up early in the morning.
She was already sick, had been tied up for two or three days, was wearing Sea Stone handcuffs, and hadn't eaten or drunk anything for another two or three days; all the debuffs were stacked.
Kozuki Toki was now extremely weak, her face incredibly pale, her lips white, and tears subtly glinting in her eyes.
If not for her faint breathing, one might even mistake her for a corpse.
The maid Karl assigned checked Kozuki Toki's condition daily, and Karl had instructed her to call him the moment Kozuki Toki awoke.
Karl rushed over as soon as he received the news, with no need for any concealment.
Karl entered the room, and the temperature throughout the room dropped by several degrees.
Kozuki Toki, bound to the bed, looked at the man who entered the room. His tender face indicated he wasn't very old. Feeling the drop in temperature, Kozuki Toki's entire delicate body couldn't help but tremble.
"Awake?"
Karl's voice, as cold as ten thousand years of ice, made Kozuki Toki feel as if the temperature had dropped even further.
"Who... are you?"
Kozuki Toki's voice was weak and hoarse. If Karl's hearing wasn't extraordinary, he wouldn't have heard what she said.
Karl waved his hand, and a maid entered carrying a bowl of plain porridge.
"Untie her,"
Karl commanded, simultaneously retracting the scattered cold air.
"Yes,"
The maid responded and went to untie Kozuki Toki. Of course, the Sea Stone handcuffs remained on Kozuki Toki's hands.
Feeling the temperature gradually warm up and the ropes binding her hands and feet loosened, Kozuki Toki finally felt a little more comfortable.
However, she was still extremely weak; any child could easily overpower her now.
The maid helped Kozuki Toki sit up against the headboard, then picked up the bowl of plain porridge and fed her.
Kozuki Toki did not refuse; the weakness from her body wouldn't allow her to, and she still didn't know her child's situation.
Karl sat in a chair, arms crossed and legs crossed, watching silently, his face stern, showing no emotion.
He was somewhat interested in this woman who had traveled from Wano Country 800 years ago and merely bore two children for Kozuki Oden.
To be honest, Karl was a bit unclear about the role of Kozuki Toki, especially considering she traveled from 800 years ago. What was her purpose then? Was it just to bear two children for Kozuki Oden in the future???
He waited quietly for the maid to finish feeding Kozuki Toki.
After eating a bowl of plain porridge, Kozuki Toki looked noticeably better than her earlier listless state, and she had the strength to speak.
"Who are you... Where is this place... What happened to my children!"
With a bit of strength recovered, Kozuki Toki asked all the information she wanted to know in one breath.
Karl waved his hand. The maid discreetly left the room and closed the door; some things were better left unknown.
"You seem to have too many questions, Kozuki Toki. No, it should be Kozuki Toki!"
At the end of his sentence, Karl's face, cold as ten thousand years of ice, finally showed a hint of a smile.
Kozuki Toki wasn't that nervous at first, but after Karl uttered the name Kozuki Toki, she became somewhat flustered.
"Who exactly are you!"
Since marrying Oden, she had changed her name to Kozuki Toki. The name Kozuki Toki was known to almost no one except Whitebeard and his crew. Even among the Roger Pirates, only a few knew it, yet this young boy in front of her had just spoken it.
"Who I am is not important. What's important is who you are! Kozuki Toki, from 800 years ago!"
Kozuki Toki's heart trembled with each word Karl spoke, until Karl finished the last word, and Kozuki Toki could no longer sit still.
How did he know? Why would he know!!
At this moment, Kozuki Toki's mind was about to explode; her brain couldn't process this information at all. In short: it was about to crash.
Her mind was still thinking, but her mouth had already spoken involuntarily, "You... why do you know these things!"
If it were normal, even if exposed, she would have argued.
But now, her body was extremely weak, and her mind wasn't very clear.
"Bring her in."
As soon as Karl finished speaking, a maid entered, holding a sleeping infant.
Upon seeing the infant, Kozuki Toki instantly became agitated, wanting to get up and hold her child.
"Hiyori! Give me back my child!"
Ignoring the somewhat out-of-control Kozuki Toki, Karl took Hiyori. With his other hand, he gently stroked Hiyori's small face, as if petting a small animal.
Kozuki Toki was not an ordinary woman. After a short while, she controlled her emotions, trying to appear calm.
However, her gaze remained fixed on Hiyori, whom Karl was stroking.
"What do you want to let us go? Also, where is my other child?"
This person must have some purpose in taking her and her child. Now she only saw Hiyori; she didn't know how Momonosuke was doing.
Hearing this, Karl scoffed, "I only took you and your daughter. As for the other, I couldn't care less. However, it's already three days later, and I don't know how your other child is doing now."
Kozuki Toki clearly didn't believe Karl's words. Even if she and her daughter were kidnapped, a child of Kozuki Oden, and a boy at that, kidnapping Momonosuke would have a greater impact than kidnapping two women.
But the truth was just that, and Karl was too lazy to explain.
"You have two choices. First, you can choose to leave, return to Kuri with your other child. No one will stop you, but this child will stay here."
"Second, stay here and completely sever ties with the Kozuki family."
Karl presented both choices to Kozuki Toki. Whether to go or stay was her decision.
"How can I trust you!"
Kozuki Toki looked at Karl furiously. If looks could kill, Karl would have died a thousand times over.
"You can only trust!"
Karl stood up, cold air emanating from him, instantly dropping the temperature of the entire room to below zero.
Kozuki Toki, already sick with a fever, hugged her legs and trembled uncontrollably in such a temperature.
Karl was also too lazy to say any more. He had given her two choices; it was up to her to decide.
Karl simply picked up Hiyori and left, leaving behind a despairing Kozuki Toki.
"Watch her, don't let her die!"
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