Outside the mansion, the night grew deeper.
Fejilande Gringo and his son Shamrock walked side by side on the quiet flagstone path. Shamrock's brows were tightly furrowed, and he hesitated to speak several times before giving up.
Finally, he couldn't hold back and turned to look at his old father, who seemed to be in a good mood.
"Father."
"What exactly is this 'kill the mother, keep the child' that Young Master Ian mentioned? Are you hiding something from me?"
"What 'kill the mother, keep the child'? There's no such thing!" Gringo waved his hand, his face not changing color as he said, "The Young Master was just joking with us, don't take it seriously."
Shamrock's mouth twitched slightly. Although Gringo acted very naturally, he didn't believe there was nothing going on. Because according to his understanding, their Young Master Ian, though temperamental, rarely spoke about trivial matters.
However, he also knew very well that if his father didn't want to talk about something, pressing him further wouldn't yield any results.
Thinking of this, Shamrock subtly changed the subject: "Is Uta really a blood relative of our Figarland Family? I always feel there's something fishy about this. Even if Shanks chose to leave the Holy Land and become a commoner, I don't believe he would marry and have a daughter with a woman from the lower world."
Before he finished speaking, Gringo suddenly stopped, turned to look at him, and said righteously, "What's impossible about it? Back in the day, didn't I also find a woman in the lower world, and that's how you two brothers came to be?"
Shamrock was speechless for a moment.
Gringo snorted and continued, "Whether Uta is Shanks' blood relative or not, it's not important."
"What's important is, if the Young Master believes she is, then she is."
Shamrock's brows furrowed slightly: "What do you mean?"
Gringo raised his hand and smacked him on the back of the head, scolding him impatiently, "You don't understand this? The Young Master went to such great lengths to bring Uta back to the Holy Land. Do you really think he's helping our family find a blood relative? He's taken a liking to Uta!"
"As long as Uta can become the Young Master's woman and gain his favor, she will be a blood relative of our Figarland Family! If she doesn't gain the Young Master's favor, then she is nothing!"
Shamrock stood stunned for a long time before murmuring, "Indeed, old ginger is spicier."
"This isn't called spicier," Gringo waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "Your father merely understood the thoughts of Imu. Although Imu doesn't care about the agreement made by the twenty kings eight hundred years ago, she still cannot openly sit on the Empty Throne, nor can she declare to the world that she is the King of the World. The complexities of this relationship are too great, even I cannot fully explain it."
"However, Imu cannot, but the Young Master can. Because he is not bound by that eight-hundred-year-old covenant."
Shamrock trembled all over, "Father, do you mean that Young Master Ian will one day openly sit on the Empty Throne, becoming the first King of the World in eight hundred years, commanding the entire world?"
Gringo slowly nodded.
"By then, even if Uta cannot become a queen, she will at least be one of the consorts. Our Figarland Family will also stand at the pinnacle of the world for another eight hundred years!"
At this point, Gringo suddenly let out a long sigh, his face full of helplessness, "It's all my fault. I took so many wives, but they were either infertile or their children died young. In the end, it was just you two brothers. What's even more hateful is that fool Shanks, who clearly returned to the Holy Land back then, but then ran off again!"
"Now that the Young Master has brought Uta back, whether she is Shanks' blood relative or not, we must acknowledge her!"
At the same time.
Inside the mansion's main hall.
Soon after Gringo and his son left, a figure appeared anxiously at the main entrance.
"Uta!"
The newcomer, dressed in a simple green dress, was Makino, who had been brought back from Foosha Village in the East Blue.
Her beautiful face was filled with worry, clearly having heard the news of Ian's return and fearing that Uta had caused trouble again.
Hearing the familiar voice, Uta suddenly turned around. The moment she saw Makino, her eyes welled up, and she choked back a sob as she rushed into her arms.
"Makino!"
Uta had known Makino thirteen years ago. Although Makino was only a few years older than her, to Uta, who had lacked maternal love since childhood, Makino was a special presence, both like a sister and a mother.
Concerned for Uta, Makino didn't notice Ian on the couch and gently comforted her, "What's wrong? Were you caught by the bodyguards again?"
Uta shook her head, her eyes teary, and turned around, pointing towards the couch.
Makino followed her gaze.
With just one look, her heart trembled, and her delicate body involuntarily shook slightly.
Immediately after, without any hesitation, she knelt on both knees facing the couch and called out tremblingly, "Saint Ian."
Ian rolled off the couch, walked barefoot to Makino, bent down to help her up, a gentle smile on his face: "Makino, it's been a long time since we parted ways in Foosha Village. This Young Master has missed you dearly, so I had my subordinates bring you here."
Pausing slightly, Ian looked Makino up and down, asking with concern, "These days I've been away, have you settled in well? Have the servants in the mansion made things difficult for you?"
Makino shook her head, overwhelmed, and spoke somewhat incoherently, "No... no. The servants have all been very kind to me, and the bodyguards haven't made things difficult."
"That's good," Ian nodded in satisfaction, "Have you any complaints in your heart about being forcibly brought to the Holy Land by This Young Master?"
"I wouldn't dare!" Makino quickly waved her hand, "Makino is already the Young Master's woman, and I will obey all of the Young Master's arrangements."
"Very good," Ian's smile deepened, "Since you've gotten used to it, then settle down here. As This Young Master's woman, you no longer need to speak with your head bowed when you meet anyone."
Hearing this, Makino quickly raised her head.
Ian continued, "I know you and Uta have known each other for a long time. From now on, you two will live together."
Upon hearing this, Uta's eyes lit up.
She hadn't expected Makino to already have a relationship with Ian, so she quickly seized the opportunity to run to Ian's side, tugging at his clothes and looking up pitifully, "Saint Ian, can you help me take this thing off my neck?"
"You're quite good at seizing opportunities, Uta," Ian turned his head to look at Uta, his finger gently tracing the cold collar on her neck, and said softly, "If you weren't a Devil Fruit user, This Young Master wouldn't mind taking it off for you. Unfortunately, not only are you one, but your ability is also quite overbearing."
"So, you'll have to keep wearing this collar."
Uta's eyes instantly turned red again, and she pouted aggrievedly, turning to Makino to complain, "Makino, Saint Ian is treating me unfairly!"
"How can that be unfair treatment?" Ian pulled Uta in front of him, "This is called foreplay, little Uta. You'll slowly discover the fun in it later."
Before he finished speaking, Ian suddenly changed his mind: "Never mind, no need to wait for later."
"Tonight, you come to my room."
Before Uta could react, Ian's mouth suddenly curved into an evil arc, and he added, "Makino too."
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