360. On Dressrosa

The bright moon was high and the night breeze was blowing.

Dressrosa, King's Plateau.

"hiss--!!!"

"Huah... huah..."

A figure seemed to be suddenly awakened by a nightmare, sweating profusely, and began to breathe heavily.

Subconsciously, he turned his gaze to the window. The scene in front of him shocked the man. He tightly grasped the quilt on his body with his fingers and shouted loudly, exuding the majesty of the king of a country:

"Who are you?!"

A man wearing a pink feather coat and a pair of sunglasses sat on the window, seemingly looking up at the bright moon hanging high in the sky. His limbs were made of white silk threads, which looked strange.

"Don't make any noise, and don't call anyone!"

The figure showed a sinister smile and threatened King Riku.

"——?!!"

"I am Donquixote Doflamingo..."

"As the legitimate king of this country, now, I am back!!"

King Riku's pupils trembled.

Donquixote…

It's a name that is both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

Yes, as early as 800 years ago, the royal family that truly ruled Dressrosa was the Donquixote family, and they were the kings of Dressrosa.

But later they gave up Dressrosa to move to Mariejois.

As a result, the Riku clan became the kings of Dressrosa.

And now, the man who abandoned them before has returned to this land, trying to get his hands on Dressrosa again! !

"...Recently, I heard that a pirate named Donquixote ran out of Impel Down and I became very concerned."

King Riku gradually calmed down.

"Yes, you are right to be uneasy. I am a member of that Donquixote Family."

Doflamingo held his chin up and looked at King Riku who was pretending to be calm with a playful look.

Since his hands and feet were cut off, his psychology had become more perverted. He just liked to watch scenes of weak people struggling but unable to do anything.

"I heard that you not only escaped from Impel Down, but also released a large number of criminals!"

Dressrosa is one of the major countries that has joined the World Government. As the king, King Riku naturally has information channels that ordinary people cannot have access to.

He knew what outrageous things Doflamingo did in Impel Down.

"Fufufu... Those guys are probably having a headache trying to figure out what to do with me!"

Facing the cold night wind, Doflamingo's heart was equally cold.

Although he spoke with a smile, there was no smile at all in his words, and King Riku only felt a coldness that penetrated his whole body.

"Give me 10 billion beli and I will sell this country to you, King Riku!!"

"——?! So much money?! This country is simply..."

But Doflamingo was too lazy to give him a chance to speak and interrupted directly:

"Originally... I don't need to give you such an opportunity at all, I can just take it."

"The time limit is before dawn tomorrow! You must not rely on foreign aid. This is a test for you as the king!"

After saying that, Doflamingo's figure disappeared, leaving only one sentence lingering in King Riku's ears.

"Remember! Don't tell the people about my existence, otherwise... fufufu!!!"

Late at night.

The palace hall was brightly lit with candles.

King Riku, who was awakened by Doflamingo, stood in the center of the hall, flanked by some palace guards and ministers.

"Can't you choose to fight? Your Majesty the King!"

The captain of the guard, who was kneeling on one knee, said angrily.

"Absolutely not! The word 'fight' sounds high-sounding, but in essence, it is just killing, and it is definitely not something done by humans!!"

King Riku refused sternly.

In fact, he had thought about it, but he knew the opponent's strength very well.

There was probably no one in Dressrosa who could compete with him.

Unless... that man could come back.

"Dressrosa has not had a war for 800 years! This is proof that we are not beasts!!"

"You must not fall into wild nature! Since you are a human being, you are absolutely not allowed to kill!!"

King Riku scolded him sternly.

Then he waved his hand and announced loudly to everyone: "There is no time! Disperse to various towns immediately and collect 10 billion berries from all over the country!"

"If we can't do that, this place will become a country of pirates! If we do this, we may lose the trust of a large number of citizens for a while, but it will only be a few hours!!"

King Riku almost burst into tears.

"When everything is over, I will sincerely make amends to the people! There is no other way!"

"Relying on lies and cleverness won't work, right? Your Majesty the King!"

"But there are no rich people in this country at all..."

King Riku helplessly interrupted the discussions among the soldiers: "Recycle as much as possible before the time limit comes! This will matter to Dressrosa's life and death."

"…Survive for Dressrosa!!"

I don't know who shouted first, but the remaining soldiers also shouted:

"For Dressrosa!!"

"For Dressrosa!!"

"For Dressrosa!!"

————

Dressrosa towns all over.

"It's the army... it's so late..."

"Commander Tank!!"

The influx of a large group of soldiers finally made the residents feel that something was wrong.

Boom--! !

Under everyone's surprised gaze, the army commander named Tank threw a torn sack on the ground and shouted loudly:

"Put all the cash in town here!!"

"..."

The people were at a loss for a while, and then anger emerged from deep within.

"Hey! What happened?!"

"If you do this... His Majesty will not sit idly by and watch!"

Commander Tank had grief eyes in his eyes. He took a deep breath and shouted at the loudest decibel:

"This is the king's order!!"

"Eh?!!"

Upon hearing the order from Tank, the people around him were immediately shocked.

What... did they just hear?!!

This kind of order was actually issued by His Majesty King Riku, whom they have always loved!!

Why?!!

"We have no way to explain and no time!!"

"Quick!!"

"——Only because of your trust in His Majesty King Riku! Please take out all the cash in your hands!!"

Although this felt ridiculous in his heart, Tank had no choice but to do it.

Suddenly, a burst of exclamations woke up the stunned people.

"It's a video den den mushi!!!"

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