Only after confirming that Queen was truly fine did Karl completely relax.
Karl suddenly thought of Kozuki Toki, whom he had left hanging for several days.
"I hope that woman knows what's good for her."
Karl arrived outside Kozuki Toki's room, where a maid arranged by Karl would watch over her daily.
It was merely watching; if Kozuki Toki wanted to leave, the maid couldn't possibly stop her.
Karl still held the same thought: if she wanted to leave, he would let her. Oden's death would be her death too.
If she didn't leave, he would let her stay there until it was time for her to send Momonosuke twenty years into the future.
Kozuki Toki's only purpose was to send Momonosuke twenty years into the future. If that woman knew what was good for her, he wouldn't mind changing her fate.
"Lord Karl."
The maid quickly bowed her head in greeting when she saw Karl arrive.
Karl nodded. "How is that woman doing?"
"Lord Karl, her illness has mostly recovered, but her spirits are a bit low."
"Hmm, I understand."
With that, Karl had already pushed open the door.
What greeted his eyes was Kozuki Toki sitting on a chair, staring blankly out the window.
The sound of Karl opening the door startled her awake.
Kozuki Toki turned her head to look and saw it was the young man who had threatened her a few days ago.
Seeing Kozuki Toki in this state, Karl knew she hadn't been doing well these past few days.
Although Kozuki Toki's illness had largely recovered, the sorrow on her face wouldn't dissipate. Her haggard appearance was quite pitiable, and she had heavy dark circles under her eyes, giving her a certain fragile beauty.
However, Karl clearly didn't care much about these things.
Karl went straight to the point, "Have you thought it over?"
Hearing Karl's blunt words, Kozuki Toki knew it was useless to say more.
"Alas!"
"Yes, I've decided. I'll stay."
Kozuki Toki sighed, and this sigh conveyed all her helplessness and sorrow.
'Oden, please come back soon!'
A flicker of anticipation and longing passed through Kozuki Toki's eyes. She couldn't do anything now; her child was still in his hands.
Karl naturally understood what Kozuki Toki was anticipating—none other than that foolish Lord Kozuki Oden.
Kozuki Oden was the biggest obstacle to the Beasts Pirates dominating Wano Country. As long as Kozuki Oden was eliminated, the other daimyo in other regions were not to be feared.
And as for Kozuki Oden, as long as he didn't call upon the Whitebeard Pirates and the Roger Pirates, Kaido alone wouldn't fear him.
"A wise choice. You'll thank me in the future. Since you've made your decision, you should revert to your previous name, Kozuki Toki, and your daughter will also be renamed Kozuki Hiyori!"
Hearing that name again, Kozuki Toki's heart still trembled. She couldn't understand why this man, who wasn't very old, knew so much.
"Don't worry, only I know this news. No one else knows besides me."
Noticing Kozuki Toki's unease, Karl also intentionally explained.
For this woman who had already made her choice, Karl would no longer be as unreserved as he was when they first met.
"Can I see my daughter?"
Kozuki Toki's tone was almost pleading, coupled with her current haggard appearance; any man who saw her would feel pity.
Karl pondered for a moment. "You may."
The joy in Kozuki Toki's eyes couldn't be hidden.
When had she ever been separated from her child for so long? As a new mother, her thoughts were constantly on her child.
After such a long time, how could she not be happy to finally see her child?
Before long, Karl summoned a maid to bring Kozuki Hiyori.
Karl had specially found a wet nurse for Hiyori. At first, little Hiyori cried and fussed when a stranger carried her, but perhaps she was hungry later. The wet nurse approached with breast milk, and Hiyori, acting purely on instinct, eagerly devoured it.
Since then, Hiyori hadn't cried again, and her state was no different from when Kozuki Toki had carried her.
Karl took little Hiyori, extended an index finger, and continuously teased her, a faint smile playing on his lips.
It had to be said that babies were truly adorable, and Karl also enjoyed teasing them. This fondness, however, could only be maintained occasionally; if he were asked to take care of a baby, he would absolutely refuse.
Cute as they were, they were also very troublesome.
Kozuki Toki, seeing Hiyori in Karl's arms, eagerly rushed forward to take her.
Just as she was about to reach out, Karl flashed to the side.
"Why! Didn't you say I could see my daughter!"
At this moment, Kozuki Toki was both angry and wronged. They had just agreed!
"I did say you could see her. You can hold her now."
Karl was still teasing little Hiyori. For some reason, little Hiyori wasn't afraid of Karl at all and giggled at his teasing.
"Are you still worried I'll run away with Hiyori? I'm wearing Sea Stone handcuffs now, and I don't think I could escape under your nose."
Kozuki Toki knew she couldn't rush at this moment and could only fully state her current disadvantage.
Karl thought she had a point and simply handed little Hiyori to Kozuki Toki.
"There's one more condition: you cannot be alone with Hiyori unless I am present."
Kozuki Toki hadn't expected this person to be so cautious, leaving her and her daughter with no private space at all.
Kozuki Toki wanted to struggle a bit more but then heard Karl's next words.
"This is my final bottom line, but when the time is right, you will naturally be able to interact normally."
Seeing this, Kozuki Toki could only reluctantly agree... Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was almost the end of the year.
On this day, news that shocked the four seas and even the entire world stirred up tumultuous waves on the seemingly calm ocean.
Gol D. Roger had accomplished an unprecedented feat.
He led his Pirate Ship to the Final Island!!
And named it Laugh Tale (a big joke). The World Government orchestrated this, bestowing upon Roger the title of Pirate King.
The intention was to elevate him to a position of envy, as the remaining great pirates from the Rocks Pirates were all arrogant and would never allow a king to rule over them. But things didn't go as planned; this not only failed to cause Roger trouble but also provided him with many conveniences later on.
The World Government also frantically urged the Marine to vigorously pursue the Roger Pirates.
Some rejoiced, others grieved. On a massive Pirate Ship resembling a whale, Whitebeard, currently at his peak, smiled faintly as he read the news in the newspaper.
"Gurararara."
"Roger, you truly accomplished your dream."
Saying that, he picked up a large bowl from the deck and took a big gulp, then looked at his children on the ship with a benevolent smile.
"Oden actually followed Roger to the Final Island."
"Yes, yes, when that guy comes back, we must make him tell us what's on the Final Island."
"Why listen to him? We'll go ourselves! Roger became the Pirate King, why can't old man!"
"Right! Old man definitely won't be worse than that scoundrel Roger!!"
"My dream is also unknowingly about to be fulfilled."
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