Vegapunk Arrives, and Caius and Toki Depart

Two months passed quickly.

After her conversation with Caius and his household, Olvia had returned to Ohara to bring little Robin to Wano.

Given the two choices he had offered, she had decided against moving straight into the shogun's residence. Instead, she bought a house nearby and settled there.

Now that she was safe, her feelings were in turmoil. She was not opposed to becoming Caius's wife, but whenever she thought of Robin, she set the idea aside.

She still visited the residence from time to time to chat with Shimotsuki Shizuka. The two had taken to each other.

Shizuka, however, kept trying to persuade her. It was making Olvia restless.

"Olvia, if you truly didn't want to marry him, if you didn't want to become one of us, you wouldn't still be here. Think about that."

They had been chatting for some time when Shizuka abruptly changed the subject.

She thought highly of Olvia. Her mature beauty and bearing were unusually compelling. She would make a fine addition to their husband's household.

"Shizuka, please stop. We can talk about it another time. I'm not ready. I have a daughter, remember. I'm not one of those women who've never been with anyone."

Olvia forced the words out.

She was no longer denying her feelings. This was what kept troubling her.

Caius probably did not mind. He already knew so much about her. Even if he had not, Imu's World Government could have uncovered her entire life with very little effort.

"All right. I won't keep pushing. It's your decision."

Shizuka could only sigh and leave it there.

Two days later, CP0 arrived in Wano with Vegapunk. Caius and Imu went in person to welcome the world's foremost scientist.

"Dr. Vegapunk, you're free to pursue whatever research you like here. All I ask is that you help us when we need you. That's my only condition. How does that sound?"

Caius made the offer sincerely.

Vegapunk's brilliance warranted it. Otherwise, Caius would never have offered such terms.

"Hahaha! With an offer like that, Lord Caius, how could I refuse?"

Vegapunk laughed heartily.

He had been angry when the Government's agents seized him. He had little love for the Celestial Dragons. Learning that Caius had requested him had immediately changed his attitude.

Caius was immensely powerful, and Wano's current condition suggested he was a decent ruler too.

Why CP0 took orders from him was another matter. Vegapunk had no desire to investigate it. Some things were safer left unquestioned.

Leaving her husband to talk with Vegapunk, Imu turned to the CP0 agents standing nearby.

"You did well. When you return, report to those five. They'll see that you're rewarded appropriately."

She addressed the agents without ceremony.

The details of their reward were not her concern.

"Thank you, my lady!"

Their leader, Alston, was overjoyed.

They knew who Imu was, so her promise was more than enough. Even without a reward, meeting their sovereign would have made them ecstatic.

"You may go. I have no further need of you here."

Imu dismissed them casually.

By then, Caius and Vegapunk had finished their conversation, and the group returned together.

That evening, in a rare gesture, Caius hosted dinner for Vegapunk in the courtyard of the shogun's residence. Afterward, Sainz escorted the scientist away.

Caius and the others watched them leave with smiles, then turned back to their own affairs.

"Caius, what exactly do you want Vegapunk to do?"

"Do we really need him?"

Tina asked, curious.

As far as she could see, they had nothing that needed researching. Everything they required was already available. She could not understand the point.

"Ha! Wait and see, Tina. He's the kind of genius who comes along once in several centuries. We don't need his work just yet. The time isn't right. But we will."

"Besides, the Pure Gold we're wearing still isn't effective enough. Having him work with Dr. Acier to improve it would be useful."

Caius answered with a smile.

The Pure Gold's effect remained too weak for his liking. To protect the lifespans of his wives, he would make an improved version the first joint project for Vegapunk and Acier.

They talked a little longer before Toki spoke up.

"We've settled almost everything here, haven't we? Is it time to go back?"

She sounded eager.

"Yes. In another two days, I'll be counting on you to take me eight hundred years into the past. It'll be a good chance to talk with your father and the rest of the family."

Caius nodded, smiling.

"Then I'll use these two days to get ready. I want to bring some things back for Father and the others."

Toki smiled warmly.

"Good. Make your preparations."

"Madam, once we're gone, I'll have to ask you to keep an eye on Wano. Some people may start getting ideas."

Caius directed the request to Imu.

People in this world respected power far more than goodwill. If word of his departure spread, someone might decide Wano was ripe for plunder.

"Don't worry. I'll look after Wano."

Imu needed no more words than that. She simply smiled at him.

"Then I'll be leaving things in my wives' hands. Let me show you my appreciation tonight."

...

On the morning of the third day, it was time.

Every arrangement had been made. Caius and Toki were ready to leave.

"That's everything. Toki, let's begin."

"Of course, dear."

Toki smiled.

She activated her Devil Fruit power. A dark opening appeared in the air, and the two vanished from the courtyard.

"All right, everyone. We have to keep this place safe for Caius. You're still far too weak, so I'll be putting you through some truly hellish training."

Imu regarded the women with a faint, dangerous smile.

Tina and the others felt their hopes collapse. With Caius gone, there was no one to rescue them. Still, they had wanted to grow stronger. They gritted their teeth and agreed.