Upon returning to Alabasta, Michael recounted the whole story to Sora before handing over the five wailing little troublemakers to their furious mother.
He then officially attended the banquet for the princess of Alabasta.
The fully recovered Queen Titi and Princess Vivi both made their appearance.
The baby clung tightly to the feather she had plucked from Michael, refusing to let it go.
Michael could only sigh in resignation...
Was his feather really that coveted?
At this grand social banquet, the royals took turns extending invitations to Michael and his companions.
After all, though they could afford to be haughty nobles before the festivities began, the banquet itself was their battlefield—not a single misstep could be tolerated.
The Marines had to be given respect on such formal occasions.
Wearing a practiced diplomatic smile, Michael bid farewell to yet another chattering royal before exhaling wearily.
But he still had to save face for Cobra.
"Ahahaha! It seems even the famed Vice Admiral Michael isn't fond of these social banquets."
A hearty voice rang out beside him.
Michael turned to see a man with an exaggeratedly broad physique approaching.
His sheer build alone made it clear he wasn't cut from the same cloth as those spoiled royals.
"You are... King Riku?"
"Indeed! Riku Doldo III, King of Dressrosa." King Riku nodded with a grin.
"I had some ties with Cobra in my younger days, so I brought my daughter along to attend this full-banquet."
As he spoke, a timid little girl peeked out from behind him, eyeing Michael shyly.
This "Viola," who had yet to experience the tragedy of her homeland's ruin, was still just an innocent, bashful child.
But even now, it was clear she would grow into a beauty of unparalleled grace—one so captivating that even a madman like Doflamingo couldn't resist making his move.
"People really are different, huh... You don't look much older than Cobra, yet you already have a daughter this big."
"Ahahaha! That's just Cobra slacking off in his duties!"
King Riku laughed heartily, revealing the genuine camaraderie between him and Cobra.
No wonder, in the original timeline, he had joined forces with Cobra to propose the abolition of the Warlord system at the Reverie.
Such a move would've been impossible without a solid bond.
Michael could tell King Riku's true purpose wasn't just to attend Vivi's banquet...
"So, King Riku, what brings you here? Surely you didn't seek me out just to flaunt your friendship with Cobra?"
"As sharp as ever, I see." King Riku showed no embarrassment at being called out, answering frankly.
"You're right. I came specifically to meet you."
"Figured as much." Michael nodded, then gestured toward the children at the table. "Just say what you need to. As you can see, right now, I'm less of a Vice Admiral and more of a babysitter."
At the table now, Crocodile was nowhere to be seen.
Bellemere and Stella, as Marines from the Alabasta branch, had gone out to inspect the defensive arrangements shortly after the banquet began.
After all, there were so many 'dignitaries and nobles' present.
Meanwhile, Sora, as the Queen of Germa, was purposefully engaging in conversations with the royal families of nations located in the Paradise.
After all, no country could afford to isolate itself from external relations...
Thus, the choice of neighbors was crucial.
But the disappointment in Sora's eyes made it clear that these nations... were far from ideal.
This left Michael alone at the table, surrounded by a group of children.
Five curly-browed nephews, the Boa sisters from Amazon Lily, Nojiko and Nami...
And Jack, whose body resembled a small mountain.
"Looking after children is wonderful. They are the hope of the world," King Riku said as he pulled over two chairs.
"You don't mind if my daughter and I join you, do you?"
Once seated, King Riku let out a sigh.
Michael immediately grew wary.
A sigh before getting down to business!
That could only mean this wouldn't be an easy conversation.
"Since you know my identity, I assume you're also familiar with Dressrosa?"
"Of course. Even in the New World, it's quite a famous country."
"Famous is an overstatement... We just have some flowers and a bit of good food, that's all."
Michael couldn't help but frown.
Modesty! Read complete version only at novel✦fire.net
This man was being modest!
What did he mean by "some flowers" and "a bit of good food"?
Dressrosa was renowned worldwide for its breathtaking floral landscapes and exquisite cuisine!
Beyond that, it was also known for its passionate artistic atmosphere.
Music filled the air and the island's beautiful women with their fiery, seductive dances were legendary across the seas.
Their dance style closely resembled flamenco from his past life.
For these reasons, Dressrosa was often called the "Island of Love and Passion."
Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? Full of excitement?
But this was a country in the New World!
And no country in the New World was ever "normal."
Because of their obsession with "love," the women of Dressrosa were known for their intense jealousy.
If betrayed by a man, they wouldn't hesitate to cut him down.
The more beautiful the woman, the stronger she was—this was common knowledge in Dressrosa.
Over there, emotional disputes were serious matters that could escalate into physical clashes or even bloodshed!
Sakazuki's G-1 branch suffered greatly because of this.
As a major tourist destination, Marines from G-1 often had to patrol Dressrosa.
If nothing happened, all was well.
But once trouble arose, it quickly turned into life-or-death battles.
And at the root of it all? Just emotional conflicts.
Over time, even the most battle-hardened Marines of G-1 couldn't help but grow weary of it.
"The famed 'Island of Love and Passion,' one of the biggest tourist hubs in the New World—why does King Riku speak of it so dismissively? Excessive modesty isn't a virtue, you know."
"That was the past," King Riku replied with a bitter smile. "Now, while Dressrosa isn't exactly deserted... let's just say fewer and fewer people are willing to visit."
"Really? Is it that bad?"
"How is it not?" King Riku gave Michael a resentful look. "Ever since Fish-Man Island rose to prominence under the joint protection of the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates, Dressrosa has completely fallen into decline."
Michael's lips twitched.
Damn, so it was all my fault.
"So, what you mean is..."
"I wonder if Dressrosa has a chance to ride this favorable tide?"