Gion and Kino's Love-Hate Entanglement (Part 2)

Kino knew that Gion was willing to stay by his side only because of their daughter, Tao Xiaonuo.

She was also the only one who had not moved into the palace on Rusukaina Island. Instead, she had built herself a little wooden cabin outside and lived there.

In Kino's eyes, that was just "asking for it." He did not bother with her either. She could live wherever she wanted!

It was not as if the Empress and the others had not tried to persuade her, but unfortunately, they got nowhere.

After that, they stopped bothering with her.

Just like that, Gion became the most unconventional person across the three islands.

In truth, Kino had long known what she was like: strong-willed and stubborn. Do not let her sweet appearance fool you—inside, she was incredibly strong. Otherwise, she would not have hidden away to give birth, then immediately after delivery carried her daughter and fought dozens of Cipher Pol agents to the death. Even after taking a blade and suffering severe injuries, she had still managed to flee three thousand li with an infant in her arms.

And not long after he rescued her from Kizaru, she had abandoned her own daughter and returned to the Marines... willingly becoming a hostage, willingly accepting imprisonment, all to exchange for Tsuru's freedom.

For someone like her, could she possibly admit defeat when faced with force?

Impossible!

Yet Kino was exactly the same type of person. He never admitted defeat either, and in his heart... he had done nothing wrong in the first place. What was there to admit?

So they remained deadlocked, until...

"I really never expected this... Fine, you wanted to fight me. Fine, you wanted to be strong. But you actually pulled the 'death' card on me!"

Kino caressed the Crystal