The ruler of day!

Ian and co were still standing there waiting for their escorts to come.

When all of a sudden Ian detected new presences nearby.

He was enjoying the talk he was having with his crew about various things when he turned to look forward as he felt them coming near him.

Coming towards them was five mink people. Whom Ian can notice are quite tense from their postures.

Ian knew that the rumors about the minks having a grudge with humans are quite wrong from his past life watching the anime. They were actually quite welcoming towards visitors. They even had a bell they would ring when people would visit them. Even if the visits were quite few, as zou was always moving.

However, until now they still hadn't rung that bell. And quite possible that was because they were pirates.

Seeing who was leading the minks towards him, however, didn't make it too hard to understand for Ian.

They were wary of him. The fact that the ruler of day himself along with some of his musketeer squad were here at the gates of the country, proved it. There were also the many presences surrounding them, which were hidden, too.

They were wary of him a lot. Ian knew that now. Perhaps the first guard had known who they were the moment they had stepped near the gates and had gone inside to deliver the info.

And considering he was called the fifth emperor by the rest of the world, he didn't blame them. Perhaps if it was Kaido or big mom, they might force them to be under their rule or be eradicated. He guessed that the minks had this thought about him too.

There was also the fact that Raizo the ninja was here too, and they would want to protect him in case he was working with Kaido.

Duke Inuarashi finally stopped when he was a bit away from Ian.

Along with him were four people.

Shishilian, a lion mink that Ian recognized from the anime. Concelot, a fox mink. And Giovanni a zebra mink. The fourth person was a canine woman mink. Wanda.

The first thought on the duke's mind is that Ian was extremely strong. He resolved himself at that moment to not be enemies with him unless forced to.

With that in mind, he greeted Ian.

"Welcome to the island of zou, Emperor Ian. Home to the Mokomo Kingdome of the mink tribe." The duke said in greeting.

There was no surprise from the people nearby as they already knew such information about Ian. There were newspapers in Zou after all.

Ian smiled a bit as he gave a nod.

"Thank you, Mr?" Ian replied.

"My name is Inuarashi. I am one of the rulers of this kingdom. It is only fitting I come in person to meet someone of your status!" He replied back to Ian politely. He didn't want to upset Ian by treating him without any respect.

"Please, none of that. I don't care much for titles or such. You can call me Ian, or young Ian, as you are more experienced than me." Ian chuckled as he replied. Even now he still was not used to being treated like that by people older than him.

His response however made the duke and his people widen their eyes. After all, not many who would reach Ian's level of power would stay humble like he was at the moment.

"Also you can relax. I'm not here for any reason other than to help a member of my family." Ian said. And it was true. This whole visit was initiated for Bert. As he had wanted to gift them with the drug he had on him. The one that can make him transform whenever he liked to his sulong form.

Speaking of the drug. Ian had tested that theory he had in the past, where using his energy ion a barrel of water might give it healing properties. And it had worked although, the healing process after one drinks that water would not be instantaneous like with Ian it was still extremely fast.

Then testing it with the drug proved to be compatible. As Bert would be able to transform four times per day. Although he can't transform immediately after a transformation and would have to wait for a few minutes. As for the Poneglyphs Ian didn't come for that, as Robin already had a deal with Luffy. Where he would copy the information on any Poneglyphs he comes across for her. And in return, she would tell him if it has the location of the last island. Meaning Ian didn't need to ask the mink to show him as Luffy would give it to Robin anyway. Of course, if they did on their own then that was welcome too.

"A member of your family?" The duke raised one eyebrow in surprise as his eyes looked at the people behind Ian, part for him calling them his family and another part for finally noticing that one of them was a mink.

He was surprised when the mink felt familiar to him somehow.

"Is that you Bert?" He muttered to himself. But all of them heard him.

The minks with the duke too happened to recognize Bert as they eyed him more closely.

Bert stepped up closer and smiled.

He remembered the duke quite well.

"Hello, Duke Inuarashi!" He greeted respectfully like he remembered his parents did when he was still young.

"Hoho, you sure have grown. You even joined a well-known pirate crew." Duke Inuarashi smilingly said.

Bert Grinned back as stood there filled with pride.

"I assume he is the one you want to help, young Ian?" The duke then addressed Ian with the title he was told. Trying to gauge his reaction to it.

Ian just nodded. His smile still in place.

"However I think I'll leave it to Bert to tell you his reason for why he came to visit. Apart from seeing his family of course." Ian then said.

And yes, Bert did have living parents.

Inuarashi turned to look at Bert as he waited for him to talk.

But Bert embarrassedly spoke up.

"I think… I think this conversation should be held in a more appropriate place," He said.

Only then did the day ruler notice that they were still standing there in front of the gates.

He laughed as he apologized.

"Forgive me, forgive me for my manners, I have completely forgotten about this." He said.

"Then young Ian, I formally invite you to the Mokomo kingdom." The duke then said as he gestured with his hands towards the inside of the gate. H knew that if Ian wanted anything to do with them he won't go to this much trouble. He would just attack them. Not that they would be able to stop him anyway.

And when Ian and co, started walking and heading inside, the duke further said.

"Ring the bell!" He said.

And the sound was soon heard all across the kingdom.