Kai agreed to Trebol's diplomatic request, and the five of them followed him to another intact banquet hall within the palace.
After ensuring Kai's group was comfortably seated, Trebol tapped the polished floor with his ornate staff.
Upon hearing this prearranged signal, palace maids pushed elegant carts into the banquet hall, carefully placing various exquisite delicacies and fine wines on the dining table.
But this wasn't the extent of their hospitality.
Trebol tapped the floor with his staff once more.
A troupe of dancers showcasing authentic Dressrosa flair filed gracefully into the hall, followed closely by a skilled musical band.
Perhaps to cater specifically to Ulti's preferences, there were even a few athletic male dancers mixed strategically among the female performers.
"Lord Kai, please enjoy Dressrosa's renowned specialty dances," Trebol smiled with obvious lecherous intent. "You distinguished lords can do absolutely whatever you desire with them."
Kai swirled the wine glass in his hand with casual elegance and spoke nonchalantly: "I heard you captured the Riku royal family. I've never had a princess dance for my entertainment before."
"Understood completely! I'll go make preparations immediately."
Trebol displayed a knowing smile that all men would recognize and turned to depart with obvious eagerness.
Outside the banquet hall, Diamante had been waiting patiently for an extended period.
"Pica is leading the others to protect the Young Master during his medical treatment," Diamante reported in hushed tones.
They had only recently seized control of this country, and their foundation remained unstable. They had to guard vigilantly against potential counterattacks from surviving royal loyalists.
Trebol nodded with satisfaction at his executives' thoroughness, then issued clear instructions: "You maintain guard here. I'll personally go to the prison to retrieve Violet. That demanding bastard Kai wants to watch her dance."
"He certainly knows how to enjoy himself, that arrogant fool."
Just imagining the stunning beauty Violet being forced to entertain Kai made Diamante grind his teeth with frustration.
Seeing no one within earshot, he suggested with sinister calculation: "How about we let Sugar handle this..."
"Shut your mouth!" Trebol glared and scolded harshly: "The Donquixote Family cannot afford even the slightest risk anymore."
Sugar's ability worked flawlessly against ordinary civilians and average fighters.
But against powerful Haki masters like Kai, whether her ability would prove effective remained completely uncertain.
The potential risk and reward were utterly disproportionate.
"What we need to accomplish now is stalling until the Young Master regains consciousness. Keep all other scheming thoughts to yourself," Trebol warned with grave seriousness.
Diamante ceased arguing and nodded in reluctant agreement.
Trebol departed with relative peace of mind.
If nothing else, the veteran members of the Donquixote Family maintained extreme unity.
Trebol wasn't concerned about Diamante saying one thing to his face while planning something different behind his back.
At the Royal Palace Prison, Trebol approached a cell containing a raven-haired girl wearing an elegant violet-colored dress.
"Violet, what have you decided?"
Trebol sneered with obvious malice: "Trading your loyalty for your father's life seems quite a profitable deal, doesn't it?"
Violet lowered her eyes, her voice trembling with barely controlled emotion: "I'm willing to join the Donquixote Family."
"Excellent decision." Trebol instantly adopted a deceptively gentle smile: "Rest assured, as long as you serve as an executive who joins the Donquixote Family, we'll take care of you like precious family."
As he spoke, he retrieved keys and unlocked Violet's restrictive seastone handcuffs.
Violet, who had regained her physical freedom, hadn't even enjoyed a single breath of free air before being assigned her first task as a family executive.
"You want me to dance for some important guest?"
Violet glanced at Trebol with eyes full of bitter mockery.
This is the family-like care you promised me?
Your family members really aren't worth much consideration.
A flash of embarrassed awkwardness crossed Trebol's face, but it was quickly overshadowed by concerns of family destruction as he spoke coldly: "This person directly concerns the Donquixote Family's future survival. You must serve him exceptionally well, using every means possible, even if it means sacrificing everything."
"As a family executive, you must possess the resolve to dedicate everything to the family's success. If that lord desired me, Trebol, I wouldn't even hesitate!"
Violet examined Trebol's appearance with obvious disgust and snorted with complete disdain.
His stubbly upper lip, sparse yellowed teeth, and constantly dripping snot.
Who would be so visually impaired as to find him appealing?
The corner of Trebol's eye twitched violently as he forcibly suppressed his mounting anger and issued a warning: "Don't harbor any clever schemes. Focus completely on your dancer responsibilities and remember your family's welfare."
"Don't imagine that the lord will help you escape. He's an All-Star of the Beast Pirates, absolutely ruthless and merciless."
"I believe you understand the Beast Pirates' terrifying reputation better than I do."
"Clap! Clap! Clap!"
As the passionate song reached its conclusion, Kai applauded with genuine appreciation.
Violet, now wearing traditional flamenco dance attire with a vibrant flower held between her teeth, finished with a breathtakingly beautiful dance sequence, stepping precisely on the final musical note and bowing gracefully.
"Worthy of being the country of love and passion! Even the dancing radiates such incredible passion."
Kai offered continuous praise with obvious enjoyment.
However, among those present, only Kai was actually appreciating the artistic performance.
Jack, having eaten and drunk his fill, rested with his eyes closed, remaining completely unattracted by the surrounding music and dancing.
Ulti listlessly poked at the steak on her plate with her fork, not even glancing in Violet's direction.
Page One was intensely studying a plate of Dressrosa's specialty grilled fish, asking the attending maids about where the fish originated, seemingly planning to visit there for fishing.
Speed was silently recording observations in her small notebook: Lord Kai enjoys flamenco dancing.
Collecting detailed information about Lord Kai's preferences was the proper awareness she should maintain as a dedicated subordinate.
"A bunch of individuals who don't understand how to appreciate true beauty."
Kai complained with mild exasperation, then turned to look directly at Violet, revealing his genuine purpose: "Listen carefully. You're coming with me from now on."
Trebol, who had been attentively serving nearby, felt his pupils contract sharply as his worst fear materialized.
Before Violet could formulate any response, Trebol immediately interjected: "Lord Kai, we still have significant use for Violet within our organization. Could you perhaps grant us additional time? You can freely choose from any of the other dancers in the palace."
As long as he could successfully stall for the immediate moment, once Kai eventually departed, by continuously dragging out the situation, maybe he would simply forget about this request?
Even if his memory remained intact, they could fabricate some excuse about resistance during arrest resulting in accidental death.
Violet's fruit ability possessed far too high strategic value.
If at all possible, he absolutely could not surrender Violet.
The next second, Kai's reply made him feel as though he'd plunged into an ice-cold cellar.
"Trebol, are you attempting to fool me like that naive idiot King Riku?"
Kai's lips curved into a knowing smile: "I probably don't need to explain the critical importance of a Glare-Glare Fruit user, do I?"
He was laying his cards completely on the table. He wanted Violet, period.
The earlier pleasantries had simply been because Kai didn't want to endure the trouble of locating her himself. Appreciating the dance had been purely incidental.
He... he actually knew about her ability!
Trebol forced out a strained smile: "Being personally favored by Lord Kai is certainly Violet's incredible good fortune."
A strategic fruit ability user versus the entire Donquixote Family's survival.
He still understood which held greater importance.
"Wait, so Kai, you were actually trying to recruit people! I thought you were..." Ulti suddenly comprehended the situation.
"Thought I was what? You think I'm some kind of perverted lecher!"
Kai rolled his eyes with obvious exasperation.
He had absolutely no use for beautiful women who were merely attractive appearances without any substantial abilities.