Chapter 129: Year 1481 of the Sea Circle Calendar, Equal Wife: Alice, Setting Off for Wano Country
Two months passed.
In the blink of an eye.
To the sea, two months was naturally nothing.
But to the entire Edward Family and the Totto Land sea area, it was extremely important.
The New Year's banquet.
This was the Edward Family's standard. Ike felt that in the future, his family members might be scattered across the world. However, gathering together once a year was an extremely important matter.
Everyone in the Totto Land sea area belonged to the Edward Family as its people.
As time passed.
They also felt that this was quite good, so they joined this custom as well.
January 1st became the gathering time for the entire Totto Land sea area.
Inexplicably, a festival had been created.
It was quite interesting.
Kurozumi Higurashi looked at Seimei standing at the harbor and was slightly dazed.
When she brought Kurozumi Semimaru back, she would either meet Ike or simply wear a normal maid outfit and be done with it.
Only…
Kurozumi Higurashi looked at the young master and was somewhat stunned.
Although Seimei was still young, he held a folding fan in his hand and smiled. "From today onward, everything in Wano Country will be under my control."
Kurozumi Higurashi laughed and laughed, as if she had been struck dumb. She seemed to go completely insane, laughing wildly. Tears even flowed from the corners of her eyes.
To her.
Wonderful!
Wonderful!
The Kurozumi clan had finally produced a true bloodline that could serve as its pillar!
As for Kurozumi Orochi and Kurozumi Aohana?
Forget it!
Then there was Kurozumi Yuhua. As the honored daughter, she was also of the bloodline. And Seimei was genuine bloodline too. Although Seimei's surname was Edward, that was not important. At least he carried their blood.
"Young Master!"
"Young Master!"
Higurashi seemed as if she wanted to say something, then directly changed her wording. "Young Master! This old woman has already prepared everything for you. Please rest assured. The entire Wano Country will fall into your hands according to the planned arrangements. There will absolutely be no accident. Wano Country will become your Wano Country!"
Kurozumi Higurashi spread her hands wide. Endless delight flickered in her eyes, and her madness had completely settled in.
That was the feeling of someone from the Kurozumi clan toward the Kozuki clan.
This was also one of the reasons why the Kozuki clan wanted to eliminate the Kurozumi clan.
It was not only because of ambition.
More than that…
This family was truly far too insane. A mad, twisted nature was branded into their bones. Precisely because of that, this was the most important matter. Kurozumi Higurashi was just such a person.
Only…
She had once more or less given up hope. Kurozumi Orochi and Kurozumi Aohana—what were those things? They were simply too useless. But now it was different. Looking at this young master who was only seven years old—no, after the New Year, already eight years old—Kurozumi Higurashi truly saw hope.
That was the hope of the Kurozumi clan reaching the peak of Wano Country.
"Young Master!"
"This way, please."
Kurozumi Higurashi nervously led Seimei away, preparing to give him some instruction. The situation in Wano Country and all of their arrangements—these all had to be told to her young master.
Ike watched with a smile and said in great satisfaction, "It can be seen that Kurozumi Higurashi is very excited!"
Newgate laughed loudly and said, "Of course she would be excited. For those lunatics of the Kurozumi clan, what they most want is for a pillar to appear, someone who can control Wano Country. Now, isn't Seimei the most suitable candidate?"
"Seimei is very outstanding."
Ike said softly, "After entering Wano Country, Seimei will become even more outstanding in the future. I have estimated the time. At fifteen years old, all of Seimei's children will be sent to Wano Country."
"After that." Ike stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "I will not pay too much attention to or manage Wano Country. Everything will be handled by Seimei. As for whether he can expand outward, whether he can spread Wano Country's influence, that will depend on Seimei's own ability."
"Me?"
Ike directly glanced at his big brother and complained, "Big brother! Put away that way of raising children of yours. If everyone followed your method of raising children, the family would be full of useless people."
Newgate smacked his lips with an unhappy expression, but he did not refute it.
Selina smiled and shook her head. To be honest, of course she knew her husband's personality. She also knew Newgate's overly doting personality when it came to the family's bloodline descendants.
That kind of personality!
It was fundamentally not a good thing. It was bad for the children's growth.
"Right!" Newgate asked strangely, "Ike! I heard you're planning to make Alice your second equal wife?"
Ike nodded and said, "Everything that needs to be prepared has already been prepared. The ceremony will be held together with today's banquet."
Newgate said strangely, "Although it's for Red Bat's sake, what about that sister-in-law Yuhua? If I remember correctly, Wano Country's side…"
"When Seimei firmly sits in the position of Wano Country's ruler."
"Naturally."
"Yuhua will become the third equal wife."
"Alright."
"Alright."
Newgate waved his hand and said, "I still don't understand this stuff. Boring. You study it yourself. I'm leaving."
Newgate turned around and left with the Whitebeard Pirates. He could not stay here any longer.
Ike did not say anything. Instead, he thought inwardly, "Selina, Alice, Yuhua, and Huayu. These four women have relatively special identities. They are also the most special."
With the Edward Family founding a kingdom in the future, normally speaking, they were the most fitting candidates for one main wife and three equal wives.
One main wife.
Three equal wives.
Twelve royal consorts.
Seventy-two concubines.
This was the commonly spread harem classification system among this world's royal families.
Ike felt that this world was extremely strange. If you said it completely followed the medieval countries, it did not seem quite right. It was more like a typical fusion of East and West. Either way, from every aspect, it gave people a very strange feeling.
For example, this harem classification system circulating among national kings.
Ike found it absurd. Of course, he was also too lazy to complain about it. He would talk about it later.
"There's nothing much to say."
Ike shook his head and left.
"What?!"
Redfield widened his eyes in shock. He stood up straight from the sofa in the guest room and looked at his younger sister sitting opposite him, saying in shock, "Alice, you are going to become an equal wife?"
Around them, the young maids all expressed that they were used to this.
Young Master, please do not make such a fuss.
Fortunately, we are all professionally trained.
Otherwise!
If we were scared, that would be very troublesome.
They had finally become the little young master's personal maids.
This was a good position. Many younger sisters and younger brothers were eyeing it.
Redfield was, after all, a top-level powerhouse on the sea. He also shook his head, calmed down, then sat down again and asked strangely, "Why?"
He knew very clearly that the gap between a concubine and an equal wife was extremely huge.
This was not a joke.
Selina alone proved everything.
And yet.
Suddenly.
Alice was actually being made the second equal wife. This was very interesting.
Alice shook her head and said, "Because of Little Dio's birth."
Redfield was naturally very clear about his own nephew. Alice then said softly, "I have also thought about the specific reason. Aside from better binding the Baloric family, it is also because Little Dio is outstanding enough."
"I understand."
Redfield nodded in understanding.
He was a clever person.
Naturally.
After understanding things slightly, he knew what the specific situation was and what exactly was going on. Redfield, as a smart man, certainly understood.
It was very simple.
Very simple.
He himself was an Admiral-level fighter.
To put it bluntly.
This was a mutual relationship. The Edward Family would give him more respect, while the Baloric family would simply follow obediently.
The glory and wealth would not be lacking for you.
Although explaining it this way sounded very unpleasant, that was the truth. This was the most fitting explanation.
Soon.
After Redfield and Alice chatted briefly, he left and entered the office. Looking at Ike sitting in the office handling some matters, he said, "Clan Head."
"Red Bat." Ike looked at Redfield without the slightest surprise. Instead, he asked with a smile, "You know?"
"I know."
Redfield sat down and did not say anything. Ike continued, "Tomorrow, after this year's New Year's banquet ends, Lily and Seimei will both head to Wano Country. Seimei will take over Wano Country, while Lily will accompany him."
"What?!"
"I disagree!"
Redfield stood up directly. He waved his hand and immediately disagreed.
No way!
Compared to others, Redfield understood even more. He said very seriously, "Clan Head, as a bloodline member of the Kurozumi clan, I believe Seimei can go. As the one who will control Wano Country and become its future shogun, I agree with that."
"Lily absolutely cannot go. She is the core of the family. If…"
If possible.
Redfield naturally hoped his own nephew could replace Artoria's position.
But Redfield knew that was absolutely impossible. Precisely because of that, Redfield also knew that Artoria absolutely could not be allowed to have an accident. If she did, then for the entire family, it would be fatal.
Ike smiled and said, "That is why, Red Bat, I need you to go with them until everything in Wano Country is settled."
"I understand."
Redfield hesitated slightly, then nodded. As for the Rocks Pirates?
Neither of them said anything.
The Rocks Pirates' side would naturally have someone help take responsibility for everything. There was no need to hesitate over anything else.
Ike nodded and said, "Then there is no problem."
"Good."
Redfield nodded. Indeed, there was no problem.
Baloric Redfield, a top-level powerhouse of the sea.
Kurozumi Semimaru, a near top-level powerhouse of the sea, quasi-Admiral-level combat power.
The samurai troops led by Sasaki.
The ninja troops led by the ninja division.
The recruited swordsmanship schools of Wano Country, with three style schools developed and expanded.
Good grief.
With this kind of lineup, plus Kurozumi Higurashi's many years of arrangements, if they still failed to take Wano Country, then they might as well die. There was no need to say anything more.
It would be meaningless, alright?!
Ike's thoughts on this were very simple.
Retire!
Quit!
This sea was no longer suitable for him. A lineup like this being able to fail would be far too ridiculous.
Redfield also confirmed the matter.
Everything was settled like this.
Soon.
Night fell.
The New Year's banquet began.
It could be said.
Everyone was extremely happy today. This was a day that made everyone very happy.
Although everyone was studying and training every day, only on this day would they truly relax and feel genuine happiness. All the brothers and sisters gathered together.
During the banquet.
The ceremony for Alice becoming an equal wife was also held.
The next day.
The siblings gathered at the harbor.
Artoria stood at the front of the group and said helplessly, "There's nothing much to say."
Acnologia said seriously, "Big Sister, when I turn fifteen, I'm definitely going out too."
"Why can Seimei go out at twelve?"
"Because he is Seimei."
"…"
Acnologia looked at his father with a face full of hostility and fell silent.
He truly did not know what to say.
Ike smiled and shook his head lightly. Looking at the two children before him, he said, "Lily, Seimei, you two need to train properly. Remember, what you need to do is watch more and learn more. Do not force everything. As for Seimei, everything has already been handed to you. Understand?"
"Yes, Father."
The two children spoke at the same time. Each of them was extremely serious.
Ike smiled and nodded at this. His children were so outstanding. How could he not be happy?
Of course.
This was a good thing.
Soon!
After Artoria and Seimei boarded the pirate ship, Kurozumi Higurashi, Kurozumi Semimaru, and Redfield also boarded the ship.
Watching the ship sail into the distance, Ike narrowed his eyes and smiled. "I am very much looking forward to how you will grow next."
Naturally, Ike was very much looking forward to his children's growth.
Likewise!
After Artoria and Seimei left, his big brother also left with his own family. Those who needed to go had gone, and those who needed to continue moving had continued moving.
Watching everyone leave…
For a moment.
The entire Totto Land sea area, the entire Cake Island, the entire Edward Family…
It seemed.
They had fallen into a state of silence.
Or rather, every child had begun working hard. They were all sufficiently hardworking and determined.
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