Looking at the familiar face, King Riku's eyes widened in surprise, and his pupils shrank as he recognized the man before him.
"You are that man, Monkey D. Luffy, the rear admiral who severely injured the Four Emperors' Kaido?!"
"What?! It's him!"
Kyros and Violet's expressions shifted instantly, and they looked at Luffy in shock.
Rebecca, the little princess, also peered out from behind her grandfather, curious and wide-eyed.
"What a handsome brother! Grandpa, dad, and aunt all seem to know him."
Luffy, slightly surprised by Rebecca's comment, rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Am I that famous now? I'm really embarrassed."
He smiled awkwardly and lowered his arms before stepping forward.
Seeing this, Kyros instinctively moved to stand in front of King Riku, but King Riku gently pushed him aside.
"Of course you're famous. Not just anyone can severely injure a Four Emperor," King Riku said, his voice full of respect. "Especially someone as young as you."
Luffy stepped forward confidently and extended his right hand. "Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty King Riku. Your benevolent rule is highly respected by the people of Dressrosa. Even monarchs from many countries in the New World look up to you."
King Riku looked at him in surprise. "You know me?"
"Of course," Luffy replied with a grin. "I've heard of you. You've done a lot for this kingdom."
King Riku chuckled softly, shaking his head. "That was all in the past. Now, everyone knows me as the tyrant who massacred my own people."
King Riku's voice held a deep sorrow as he took off the helmet that had concealed his face for so long. He cradled it in his arms, sighing. "You don't have to call me 'Your Majesty.' I'm no longer the King of Dressrosa."
Luffy tilted his head slightly, looking at King Riku curiously. "No wonder you always wear a helmet. So that's what you want?"
King Riku said nothing, his face solemn as he let go of Luffy's hand.
The silence lingered for a moment before Violet, with her sharp eyes and calm demeanor, stepped forward. "How did you find me just now? From such a distance, ordinary people shouldn't be able to sense me."
Luffy glanced at her curiously. She had healthy wheat-colored skin and long brown-black hair. He admired her height and strength, but his attention was drawn to her question.
"You're right," Luffy said with a smile. "Although I might sound like I'm boasting, I have to admit that my perception is pretty good."
He flashed a confident grin, his handsome face lighting up with pride. The smile was charming, and any ordinary girl might have found it irresistible. However, Violet, who had experienced the destruction of her country and the loss of loved ones, wasn't fazed by his charm.
Fortunately for Luffy, he had no intentions of flirting, otherwise, it might have become awkward.
After getting to know King Riku and his family, Luffy took a seat at their invitation, settling onto the ground. Since they didn't share many common topics, their conversation soon turned to a mutual enemy—Doflamingo.
"Speaking of which," Luffy began, "all of this started because of that mentally unstable idiot, Doflamingo. He secretly colluded with the Beasts Pirates and instructed Kaido's subordinate, Jack, to attack the Marine branch."
Luffy's face darkened. "I didn't expect Jack to be all talk. I killed him in the end. And then Kaido was furious over his men's death, and came to Dressrosa to demand an explanation from Doflamingo. But somehow, he got drunk and went to the G2 branch alone. In the end, his base in Wano was raided, and he nearly lost his life."
Luffy's voice grew colder as he continued, "I was planning to seek revenge on that bastard Doflamingo, but he ran off like a coward and hid."
Kyros, his hands clenched into fists, spoke urgently. "So, what are you going to do? Are you not going to strip him of his Shichibukai status for such a heinous act, especially after instructing others to attack a naval admiral?"
Luffy shook his head and sneered. "Your Majesty King Riku knows better than I do that the Donquixote family ruled Dressrosa 800 years ago. They moved to the Holy Land of Mariejois and became Celestial Dragons. Without the government's permission, such a man can't be touched."
"A Celestial Dragon?!" Kyros was shocked, staring at King Riku in disbelief.
King Riku, his face somber, nodded gravely. "Rear Admiral Luffy is right. The Donquixote family is indeed one of the Celestial Dragon families. Our Riku family became kings of Dressrosa after the Donquixote family moved out."
Kyros and Violet were stunned. This was news to them, and they couldn't hide their shock. Rebecca, still young, didn't understand the significance of a Celestial Dragon, but the name "Doflamingo" had been a shadow over her childhood. Hearing it now, she instinctively shrank into her father's arms, fear creeping into her heart.
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