Following Nami's lead, Vivi, Carmen, and the others let out wave after wave of exclamations as they peered at the document in her hands.
This certificate—something ordinary people could only dream of—was being casually passed between them, mixed with teasing laughter.
Perched on Yamato's shoulder, Chopper couldn't hide his excitement. Jokingly, he said, "So from now on, do we have to address Leno with honorifics? Like... Saint Leno?"
"Pfft—"
The girls burst into laughter at his innocent expression. But thinking about it... it wasn't entirely wrong.
Leno publicly accepted the document, which essentially announced his new status as a Celestial Dragon to the world.
Even so, none of the women took the document too seriously. This was probably another of the World Government's ploys.
They didn't believe for a second that the government had truly accepted Leno. After all, he had once killed a Celestial Dragon.
And every one of his past actions had been a direct slap in the face to the World Government.
With their understanding of how that organization operated, there was no way they would suddenly let bygones be bygones.
Still, since Leno had accepted this, he surely had his own reasons. Their only role was to support him unconditionally.
Lagging behind a few paces, Doflamingo watched the cheerful group ahead, his expression stiff and sour.
The thing he had once dreamed of… was treated by others like roadside weeds—completely dismissed.
For someone as prideful as him, that was a hard pill to swallow. But there was no denying it: the times had changed.
He thought of the monster ahead, and the terrifying power that came with him, and had no choice but to swallow his pride.
After a moment to collect himself, the ever-adaptable King adjusted his expression. A smile returned to his face.
He quickly caught up to Leno's side, his tone growing ever more respectful as he guided the way.
Seeing such a "man of good sense," Leno couldn't help but chuckle internally. It was hard not to understand how someone like Doflamingo survived.
After all, when you're dealing with a beast that can crush your strongest backers with ease, your so-called "king" status is nothing but a roadside dog in its eyes.
Even if Leno had no intention of picking a fight, who had ever seen a carnivore that didn't eat meat?
Shaking his head slightly, Leno glanced around casually. The surroundings were quite pleasant.
He had to admit, for a pirate boss, Doflamingo really had some talent.
Though the peace in this country was mostly superficial, compared to the chaos of the other nations they'd passed through, the prosperity here easily ranked in the top three.
"Doffy, you're doing pretty well as king. The construction here is impressive."
"If it pleases Your Excellency, then it's all worth it," Doflamingo replied smoothly. "It's all thanks to the united efforts of the people."
Hearing Leno's praise, his smile became more genuine, and he started to relax.
He added, "There's plenty of entertainment too. Feel free to enjoy at your leisure."
"I'll look forward to it," Leno said with a chuckle, nodding lightly.
Still, deep down, he couldn't help but grumble. If he didn't already know about Doflamingo's true nature and past crimes, even he might've been fooled into thinking this guy was some selfless king serving the people.
Their group continued chatting as they rode in carriages, passing a vast sunflower garden before soon arriving at the King's Plateau.
At the banquet hall, two rows of maids stood ready under the lead of a statuesque head maid.
"Welcome, honored guests~"
Their voices rang out in unison, clear and harmonious—a striking display of alternating black and white that instantly drew the eye.
As they gave a slight bow, a series of deep, mesmerizing valleys were revealed without reserve.
Among them, the head maid with her soft seafoam-green curls stood out the most, her assets especially eye-catching.
As they drew closer, a rich fragrance greeted them, as if stepping into a lush, blooming garden.
Every single flower was vibrant and lovely, clearly handpicked with great care.
Leno's gaze swept over them, lingering a moment on the head maid before he was guided to the main seat.
Noticing where Leno's attention had drifted, Doflamingo's lips curled into a grin, a glint flashing behind his glasses.
He clapped his hands and let out a long laugh.
"Fufufufufu..."
"I've prepared a small gift for each of you in advance. I hope you won't find them lacking."
As he clapped again, the maids stepped forward, carrying a series of boxes.
When the lids were opened, dazzling light spilled out.
Jewels, gold, rare blades, ancient books—each item laid out in full view, drawing everyone's eyes and making them step forward instinctively.
Robin stepped up and picked up a silk scroll. Her pupils contracted the moment she opened it, and she gasped.
"This... is a rubbing of a Poneglyph?!"
"These are ancient medical texts!" Chopper and Kaya flipped through the books together, murmuring in awe.
They turned excitedly to Doflamingo and asked, "Are... all of these really for us?"
Before he could answer, the sound of a blade being drawn echoed nearby.
Shing—
Kuina held a long, pale-green blade in her hands. Feeling its aura, her brows lifted slightly and she nodded.
"A demon sword? Not bad…"
"..."
As surprised exclamations rang out one after another, Doflamingo's smile grew wider and wider.
Clearly, the gifts he had prepared were a hit with everyone. All the effort had paid off.
He had spent a fortune and gathered countless intel just to figure out each person's preferences.
All for the sake of leaving a good impression and getting closer to the terrifying force that was Leno.
And now, it seemed it had all been worth it.
Even Leno, seated at the head of the table, was a little surprised. These weren't generic offerings—Doflamingo had clearly done his homework.
He gave Doflamingo a softer look. It was hard not to respect someone who knew how to play the game.
Raising his glass slightly, Leno said in a low voice, "Doffy, you really put some thought into this."
"Not at all. I'm just glad the esteemed guests are pleased," Doflamingo replied, clinking his glass with Leno and downing it in one go.
He glanced at the rest of the crew and added, "I'll also arrange guides so that everyone can enjoy their stay in the kingdom."
"...Go ahead."
Leno nodded, wanting the crew to take the chance to relax. If Dofflamingo wanted to play the gracious host, he'd give him the opportunity.
Sweeping his eyes across the group, he suddenly realized someone was missing. A closer look made him sigh deeply.
Nami was sprawled out on the floor, her arms overflowing with jewelry and gold. Her expression was one of pure bliss, and she was muttering non-stop:
"Treasure... treasure... ( $ _ $ )..."
Leno: ...I can't even look.
Seriously? It's not like we're short on treasure!
She's always like this...
...
...