Pirates: Starting as a Celestial Dragon, Building Amazon Lily

Sandersonia and Marigold exchanged a glance, silently lowered the reins in their hands, sighed, and resigned themselves to walking alongside the carriage.

Mumei jumped into the driver's seat, took the reins, and gave them a gentle flick. Only then could the horses step forward easily, slowly pulling the carriage along the main road.

Although it was night, they still occasionally encountered samurai traveling along the road.

When those samurai spotted the two burly silhouettes beside the carriage from a distance, each nearly twice as tall as an ordinary person, they instinctively reached for their sword hilts, thinking they had encountered some wild beasts, such as giant bears.

Only when they drew closer and saw by the moonlight that these were merely two tall women in kimonos did they breathe sighs of relief, release their sword hilts, and hurry around them.

Sandersonia and Marigold felt rather depressed by the wary looks the samurai gave them.

Stussy lifted the curtain on the side of the carriage and poked her head out. Seeing how their kimonos still failed to conceal their air of ferocious bandits, she could not resist rubbing salt in the wound. "It looks like I shouldn't have ordered kimonos for you. I should have ordered two suits of armor instead."

Sandersonia and Marigold looked down at the kimonos stretched taut over their muscles, then glanced at each other's bearing, which hardly suggested respectable women from any angle. They had to admit that Stussy seemed to have something of a point.

Chapter 71: Drinking, Moon Gazing, and XX

Under cover of darkness, the carriage passed smoothly through several streets on the town's outskirts without attracting any unnecessary attention.

Eventually, it stopped outside an inn deep within a secluded alley. This was the lodging Stussy had booked out during the day.

The inn was small, but it was quiet, clean, and inconspicuous.

The room Stussy had arranged for Saint Dio was at the very back of the inn, the largest and quietest room in the entire establishment.

Pushing open the paper door revealed a typical Japanese-style room.

The dark wooden floor creaked softly underfoot. The plaster walls were off-white, and a low bed stood against one wall, its bedding neatly folded and giving off a clean scent of grass and wood.

A simple clothes rack stood in one corner, with a bronze mirror beside it.

Directly opposite the bed was a paper-latticed sliding door leading onto a small wooden terrace.

After drifting at sea for more than ten days straight, Saint Dio had finally set foot on solid ground and could sleep peacefully in a proper bed. He felt as though every bone in his body were sighing in contentment.

He enjoyed a thorough soak in a hot bath, washing away both the sea salt and fatigue accumulated over the past days. Then he changed into a clean yukata and emerged from the bathroom feeling refreshed all over.

He walked over to the window and slid open the paper door.

Wano Country's architecture was quite different from that of the outside world. A low wooden platform by the window was covered in soft cushions, just right for sitting against the railing and gazing into the distance.

Saint Dio sat down, bending one leg and casually stretching out the other as he looked outside.

A full moon hung high in the night sky, its clear light pouring down like mercury and coating the rooftops of the entire town in a silvery sheen.

The silhouettes of rolling mountains lay in the distance, while nearer at hand were staggered rooftops and branches swaying gently in the breeze.

The night wind brushed past, carrying a crisp chill and the scent of vegetation. It was entirely different from the salty, fishy smell of the sea and had an exotic charm of its own.

Just then, soft footsteps sounded behind him.

Hancock walked in carrying a flask of liquor and two cups.

She knelt beside Saint Dio, set the tray on the tatami, and lifted the flask to fill a cup for him.

The liquor was clear and transparent, giving off a rich grain fragrance.

This was shochu, a specialty of Wano Country, and tasted entirely different from the rum or ale commonly found in the outside world.

Saint Dio raised his cup and took a small sip. The liquor tasted sweet and crisp, sliding down his throat with a faint burning sensation and a distinctive flavor.

He reached out to accept the cup Hancock offered him, but his gaze involuntarily settled on her.

She had clearly just bathed. Her long black hair was still slightly damp, with a few strands clinging to the corners of her mouth and her cheeks, lending her already exquisite face a languid allure.

She wore a loose yukata with its collar slightly open, exposing her delicate collarbones and rounded shoulders. The fabric hung loosely over her body, revealing glimpses of her deep cleavage as she moved.

Moonlight spilled through the open paper door onto her, bathing her exposed skin in a soft glow.

She knelt there submissively, like a night-blooming flower quietly blossoming in the darkness, giving off a silent temptation.

As Saint Dio watched her, he felt the freshness of his bath beginning to give way to another kind of heat.

If I can't hold back, then I won't.

Saint Dio casually set his cup on the windowsill and leaned back against the wall behind him. Spreading his legs wide, he patted the tatami beside him and said, "Come here."

Hancock raised her head, her black eyes glistening in the moonlight.

Without a word, she bent down and slipped her head beneath the hem of Saint Dio's yukata.

The Japanese-style yukata was loose and thin to begin with, its hem merely a simple layer of fabric draped lightly over his legs, offering no restriction at all.

Hancock slipped her head beneath it with ease, her warm breath seeping through the fabric.

There was nothing else beneath the yukata, and the moment her cheek went inside, it bumped against something hard.

Hancock tilted her head slightly, brushing her soft cheek gently against the enormous shaft that had already awakened, feeling its hardness and scorching warmth.

Then she opened her mouth and took Saint Dio's member between her lips.

Saint Dio leaned against the wooden platform by the window with one leg bent and a cup in one hand, gazing idly at the bright full moon outside.

The night breeze brushed gently past, carrying the fresh scent of the courtyard's plants. Everything seemed so peaceful and pleasant.

And that pleasure came from more than the moonlight and the fragrance of liquor.

He felt himself enveloped in warm wetness. Hancock lay between his legs, her soft lips gently enclosing his half-risen dragon. Her warm tongue slowly traced the veins along its surface, sometimes circling gently, sometimes sucking hard.

As Saint Dio enjoyed Hancock's service, he turned his eyes back toward the bright moon outside and began thinking about serious matters.

Ryuo-the application of Advanced Armament Haki-was called "Ryuo" in Wano Country.

This technique allowed its user to coat the surface of their body or their weapons with Armament Haki like flowing liquid. Not only could it enhance defense and attack power, but more advanced applications could even strike without contact, penetrate an object's defenses, and act directly on the target's interior.

The samurai class of Wano Country generally possessed this technique. In particular, renowned master swordsmen and dojo instructors had studied it in considerable depth.

For Saint Dio, the most direct way to study Ryuo systematically was to find a reliable dojo.

With his talent and learning ability, mastering Ryuo should only be a matter of time, provided he could gain access to the correct training methods.

Inside the paper door, candlelight flickered, casting two overlapping silhouettes onto the tatami in its dim yellow glow.

Hancock lowered her head between Saint Dio's legs and slowly swallowed his entire length. Her cheeks hollowed slightly as she sucked hard, making a slurping sound.

Her movements gradually quickened, her head bobbing up and down. At times, she took his entire length, muffled swallowing sounds rising from deep in her throat; at others, she slowly drew back, sucking gently on just the tip before releasing it with a soft pop, drawing out a strand of clear saliva that stretched into a silvery thread in the moonlight.

Saint Dio's breathing gradually grew heavier.

Hancock's nimble tongue and perfectly measured suction, combined with the moist black eyes she occasionally raised toward him, made his waist tingle.

He held back no longer. Reaching out, he pressed his hand against the back of Hancock's head, slid his fingers into her still-damp black hair, and pushed down with a little force.

A warm, soft sensation enveloped him, the tight, heated pressure drawing an involuntary groan from his lips.

Hancock's throat bulged slightly, forming a distinct protrusion that slowly moved along her slender neck.

The enormous intrusion lodged deep in her throat made her let out several muffled whimpers. Her throat instinctively rippled and contracted, trying to adjust to the intense pressure.

Saint Dio's body suddenly tensed, his hips lifting slightly as thick white fluid spurted forcefully into the depths of Hancock's throat.

Caught off guard, Hancock let out a muffled whimper as the sudden surge clogged her throat. She struggled to swallow, but there was simply too much. Some slid down her throat into her stomach, while the rest flowed back out of the corners of her mouth before she could swallow it. She could not help coughing softly, and white fluid spilled over her lips, slowly dripping down her chin.

Once it was over, Hancock slowly raised her head and released the half-soft, half-hard dragon from her lips.

A strand of cloudy white fluid stretched into a long, thin silver thread in the moonlight, one end still clinging to the tip and the other attached to the corner of her mouth, swaying gently in the air.

She extended her pink tongue and lightly licked the corner of her mouth, curling the silvery strand inside.

Then she lowered her head and cleaned Saint Dio.

Finally, she gave the tip one last suck, leaving it completely clean.

Chapter 72: Encountering Kozuki Oden, a Foolish Man

Saint Dio had not forgotten his true purpose in coming to Wano Country. Although the comfortable life of the past few days had indeed relaxed both his body and mind, he knew perfectly well that he was not here on vacation.

Dojos could be found throughout Wano Country. Samurai culture was deeply ingrained in its people, and almost every town had training halls that taught swordsmanship and Haki.

Saint Dio found a fairly reputable-looking dojo in Ringo and settled Hancock, Mumei, Sandersonia, and Marigold there.

Their Haki training was still at the foundation-building stage, and they needed to begin with the most basic breathing exercises, physical techniques, and Haki perception.

Previously, Saint Dio had always taught them himself. Now that professional instructors and a dojo were available, he was happy to leave things to others, which made his life considerably easier.

After settling them in, Saint Dio set off alone for the Flower Capital.

The Flower Capital was Wano Country's most prosperous region, as well as its political center.

The final outcome of the power struggle between the Kozuki Family and the Kurozumi Family would be decided here.

More importantly, the objective of Saint Dio's journey-the large collection of Devil Fruits he had been longing for-was also in the Flower Capital.

He had to keep watch personally to ensure nothing went wrong.

As for why he had not brought Hancock and the others along, Saint Dio had his own considerations.

Kurozumi Orochi had already usurped the shogun's position in the Flower Capital. The man was notoriously lecherous, and if he saw Hancock's beauty, he would inevitably try every means to claim her for himself.

For now, Saint Dio did not want to cause too much of a disturbance in the Flower Capital. He needed to keep a low profile so he could act in secret.

Ringo, meanwhile, was Shimotsuki Ushimaru's territory. This daimyo was an upright man who governed strictly, and public order was relatively good.

With their strength and the protection of the dojo's instructors, Hancock and the others would be able to keep themselves safe.

That was why Saint Dio could leave them there without worry and head to the Flower Capital alone.

Saint Dio and Stussy traveled south along the main road in a carriage, finally reaching the gates of the Flower Capital several days later.

Even from a distance, the Flower Capital's scale was striking.

Its walls towered high, its gates were broad, and an endless stream of people passed in and out, a stark contrast to Ringo's quiet, solemn atmosphere.

As the carriage passed through the gate and entered the city, Saint Dio lifted the curtain and looked outside. He could not help marveling inwardly that this truly was a capital worthy of Wano Country.

Compared with Ringo, the Flower Capital was several times larger and far more prosperous.

Shops and signs lined both sides of the streets. Taverns, teahouses, kabuki theaters, and brothels stood one after another, their eaves hung with colorful lanterns and draperies that lit the entire street as brightly as day.

Pedestrians thronged the streets: courtesans in gorgeous kimonos and wooden sandals, sharp-eyed samurai with swords at their waists, and peddlers carrying shoulder poles and hawking their goods. It was crowded and extraordinarily lively.

But what struck Saint Dio most visually was the color.

On Ringo's streets, most people wore subdued shades such as dark blue, deep green, and grayish brown, creating an overall impression of restraint and composure.

The Flower Capital was entirely different. Colorful kimonos filled the streets-scarlet, bright yellow, emerald green, deep violet... All those vivid colors mingled together, accompanied by heavily made-up oiran and geisha, as though the entire city had been splashed with a thick coat of paint. It was so lively that it was almost dazzling.

Saint Dio lowered the curtain and could not help narrowing his eyes.

For a moment, he found it difficult to adjust to the visual impact.

Even in Mary Geoise, the residence of the Celestial Dragons, the architecture was dominated by white and gold. Its layout was orderly and grand, exuding understated luxury everywhere.

The Celestial Dragons' everyday clothing also consisted mainly of white robes or black suits, with simple colors that nevertheless retained a sense of dignity.

The Flower Capital's streets, awash in colors and glittering nightlife, were entirely unlike any setting he had known before. It was as though he had stepped into another world.

"It seems Kurozumi Orochi's tastes have had quite a profound influence on this city's aesthetic," Saint Dio said with a faint trace of mockery as he leaned against the carriage wall.

Stussy chuckled at his words but offered no reply.

She lifted a corner of the curtain and unobtrusively observed the layout on either side of the street and the movements of the pedestrians. As a competent intelligence operative, her mind had already begun automatically recording and analyzing the city's geography and patterns of foot traffic.

Just then, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Stussy frowned, lifted the curtain, and asked the driver quietly, "What's going on?"

"Someone's blocking the road..." The driver pointed ahead awkwardly.

Saint Dio noticed the pedestrians around them stopping and whispering among themselves, their gazes all converging on the same person.

Following their gazes, he saw a tall, bare-chested man performing a ridiculous dance in the middle of the street.

Wearing nothing but a loincloth, disheveled and unkempt, he made exaggerated faces and twisted his body, dancing down the street like a clown. The children around him clapped and laughed, while passing geisha covered their faces and moved away, concealing half their faces behind their wide kimono sleeves as they whispered to each other, their eyes full of contempt and disdain.

Saint Dio recognized the man at a glance.

Kozuki Oden.

Wano Country's true master, the head of the Kozuki Family, and a legendary figure who had once followed Pirate King Roger to the end of the Grand Line.

Yet now he danced naked through the streets like a performing clown, reduced to the laughingstock of the entire Flower Capital.

Saint Dio lowered the carriage curtain and said flatly, "How utterly ugly."