"Kyros, you are now under arrest for the crime of murder!"
"If you dare resist, we will shoot you on the spot!"
"Wait, Captain Tank."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The soldiers made way, and a young king with a square jaw and a face covered in blood stepped out from the circle of guards.
"Thank you for your assistance. I am the King of Dressrosa, Riku Doldo III."
"Bazel. Pirate."
Hearing this, the wary Kyros couldn't help but complain, "Hey, didn't you just say you were an ordinary man who wants to be a hero!?"
"Aren't pirates ordinary men?" Bazel retorted.
Kyros was speechless for a moment, then suddenly remembered what he was supposed to be doing.
"Dammit, I won't just surrender! I…???"
Staring at his suddenly suspended body, Kyros tilted his head in confusion.
"Kid, do you really want to kill the king of this country?"
Holding Kyros by the scruff of his neck, Hanafuda asked with a mocking laugh, "We've heard quite a bit about this king. He's considered a rare benevolent and righteous king on these seas."
"I... I don't want to kill him."
Kyros clenched his fists, his head hanging low, shadows covering most of his face.
"But his soldiers killed my best friend! Just because my friend was in his way!"
"I'm not a murderer. I was just avenging my best friend!"
Hanafuda looked at Bazel, not restraining his arrogance in the slightest just because they were on someone else's turf.
"Should we take this kid with us?"
"Are you that bored?"
After making Hanafuda put Kyros down, Bazel glared with dead-fish eyes and complained, "Just teaching that brat Enel is exhausting enough. Adding one more would definitely wear me out to death."
"I didn't become a pirate to become a famous teacher of the seas. Please don't meddle in other people's family affairs."
"There are truly important things to do next. I don't have the spare energy to look after brats."
"Hey there, young man~"
Bazel squatted beside Kyros, his smiling appearance making the young man feel flustered and annoyed.
"You're not much older than me, right? Show some proper respect, you bastard!"
"Ouch…"
Hanafuda withdrew his smoking fist. Reflected in his pupils, a large red bump was slowly rising on top of Kyros's head.
"You're the one who needs to show proper respect. He's the murderous demon Bazel from the rumors in your Dressrosa Kingdom."
"Watch out, or he might turn this place into hell if he gets angry!"
"Hey, hey, hey, Hanafuda! Exactly how many rumors are you going to spread about me out there?!"
Bazel stood up and aimed a kick, but Hanafuda dodged backward.
"Bastard! That rumor last time about me being 'limp and powerless' was also your doing, right?!"
"Do you know how much effort I spent clearing up that rumor?!"
"Don't run, you rumor-mongering bastard! Today, I'm going to show you why the flowers are so red!"
Bazel and Hanafuda roughhoused their way into the distance. Seeing that no one was left in charge, Toki had no choice but to step forward.
"I apologize for the mess my husband left behind."
"I am Amatsuki Toki, Bazel-sama's beloved. Actually, he is not a murderous demon. Please don't misunderstand."
"The people he killed were all scum of the sea and slave traders."
King Riku smiled and shook his head, indicating that Toki didn't need to explain.
"The most important quality for a king is not to easily believe any fact he hasn't seen with his own eyes."
"The rumors about Bazel-sama are indeed outrageous. But without seeing such a scene with my own eyes, I would never easily judge a person's character."
"Your name is... Kyros, right?"
Kyros, who was forced to kneel down by the soldiers, looked up at the blood covering King Riku's face, his expression complex.
"Follow me from now on. Of course, there must still be punishment."
"No matter why that soldier killed your friend, he was still a member of the kingdom's army. If he was at fault, it should be me, the king, who personally executes the judgment."
"A few days ago, you chose to kill him to avenge your friend. Today, you suddenly attacked me, who merely wanted to take my daughter shopping. Two crimes together…"
"Let me think."
"Got it!"
Just as King Riku was about to open his mouth to pronounce the sentence, a little girl with pretty face came running from behind.
"Father~!!"
"Oh~ It's my lovely Scarlet-chan~"
Before turning to hug his daughter, King Riku hurriedly used his sleeve to wipe the blood from his face.
"Father is discussing very important matters. Can you wait for me, Scarlet-chan?"
Scarlet nodded vigorously, breaking free from her father's embrace and sliding to the ground, hiding behind his leg and curiously examining Toki and the group of pirates.
"Kyros, as long as you achieve one hundred consecutive victories in the Corrida Colosseum, not only will all your crimes be absolved, but I can also grant you your freedom."
"100 consecutive victories…"
Straining against the soldiers' grip to stand up, Kyros gradually straightened his back.
"What if you go back on your word?"
"Go back on my word? Hahaha~~~"
King Riku and the soldiers behind him all burst into laughter.
"Young man, he is our great king!"
"The words of a king are like the Thunder God casting down lightning… they can never be taken back!"
By now, the many soldiers could also see it clearly.
It seemed their king, who valued talent, had taken a liking to this promising seedling.
If this young man who killed a kingdom soldier could really achieve one hundred consecutive victories, he would most likely be promoted and ennobled, perhaps even becoming their colleague.
As for that dead soldier… a man who would kill a youth for personal reasons probably wasn't much good anyway.
Dead was dead. At most, they'd give some condolence money.
"Captain Tank…"
Tank Lepanto stood at attention, his right fist striking the armor over his heart.
"Take him to the Corrida Colosseum. Inform the person in charge there that if this young man achieves one hundred consecutive victories, report to me immediately."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Tank, with two or three subordinates, personally escorted Kyros to the Corrida Colosseum.
Not far away, at a shaved ice stall, Kaido and King had arrived at some point.
They were now sitting with Bazel and the others, watching the commotion.
"Worororo~ This guy's not bad! I've decided!"
Kaido slammed the table, causing the four cups of shaved ice to jump slightly.
"I'm going to invite him to join the Beasts Pirates!!"
"Pfftt!"
A violent cough, along with shaved ice, sprayed from Bazel's mouth.
Hanafuda's face twitched. He wiped the spit and shaved ice from his face, his eyes fixed on Bazel.
"You'd better apologize, or else prepare for Toki-san to prepare your grave soon!"
"Ah, sorry. Don't misunderstand, I did it on purpose."
Bazel wiped his mouth nonchalantly.
"If you want to fight, I'm game. It's a perfect chance to practice my Gear 3 on you again."
"Bastard… Take this, Monkey Steals the Peach!!"
King hurriedly picked up his and Kaido's unfinished strawberry shaved ice and took two steps back.
"You two idiots! Kaido-san hasn't finished his shaved ice yet! Be careful or I'll kill you!"
"Hah!?"
Bazel and Hanafuda, who were about to start fighting, exchanged a glance.
"That stingy guy has been a bit too arrogant lately, Bazel. What do you think?"
"Disobedient kids mostly need a good beating, a thumping usually fixes it." Bazel replied with an honest, simple expression.
"Good. Let's form an alliance."
Their hands clasped together. Then, under King's incredulous gaze, Bazel and Hanafuda activated their hybrid forms and began walking towards him.
"You two just… Purururu~!!"
Bazel, who had been kicked flying, turned mid-air, dashed over, shoved the two cups of shaved ice into Kaido's hands, let out a loud cry, and charged into the fray where the fight had started.
Looking at the shaved ice in his hands, Kaido then handed it to Olga.
"Hey, you're the king of this country, right?!"
"Want to make a bet with me?"
'Bet?'
King Riku asked curiously, "You're the captain of the Beasts Pirates, right? I've seen your bounty poster. What do you want to bet on?"
"Davy Back Fight. As a king, you must know this game. I bet on you."
Kaido pointed at King Riku, grinning, "I really like your character. Let's fight. If you win, I'll turn around and leave. Anytime you have trouble, you can contact me."
"No matter who the enemy is, no matter where I am, even if I can't come myself, I'll send my subordinates to support you."
"If you lose, you join the Beasts Pirates!"
"Come change this world with me, Wororororo!!!"
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