As dusk fell, the events of the day were still a topic of conversation among the residents.
At the Royal Plateau, King Riku knelt with tears streaming down his face, lowering his noble head as he pleaded with the shadowy figure on the throne. The man sitting there looked down on him with disdain. Around them, various intimidating figures stood in the shadows, exuding a powerful aura.
“King Riku, your time is almost up,” the cold voice from the throne spoke. Doflamingo leaned forward slightly, a smirk playing on his lips, radiating arrogance and cruelty.
“I gave you three days. Where is the 100 billion berries?”
“Please, give me a bit more time! I promise I can gather the money!” King Riku pleaded desperately, his hands clenched tightly. Despite his fury, he knew he was powerless against a Warlord of the Sea. Doflamingo alone could annihilate the entire royal family, let alone if he decided to use force. King Riku couldn’t allow Dressrosa to be plunged into chaos and suffering.
“Fufufu~” Doflamingo straightened up, his face once again shrouded in shadows. “I’ll give you three more hours. Maybe you should try asking your citizens for help.”
King Riku wanted to plead further, but Doflamingo cut him off. “You have no choice. Only three hours. If I were you, I wouldn’t waste time here.”
Mocking laughter echoed around the room, nearly breaking King Riku’s resolve.
Leaving the Royal Plateau, King Riku rode his horse to the busiest street in the city. His appearance immediately drew the attention of many citizens, though they hardly recognized their king.
In the past, King Riku was known for his benevolent rule, but something had changed. The people no longer loved or trusted him.
“Everyone, I am King Riku. Please lend me any money you have. Once this crisis is over, I will repay you,” King Riku begged. He couldn’t reveal the truth; Doflamingo had warned that if he did, Dressrosa would face a massacre.
The street fell silent. Many citizens, though skeptical, felt a twinge of pity seeing their king in such a state.
“What kind of crisis?” A man holding his wife and daughter asked seriously. If King Riku could explain, he was willing to help. He longed for the benevolent king of old.
“I can’t say, but please, believe in me one more time.” King Riku clung to his horse’s reins, hoping his plea would reach the hearts of his people.
“If you don’t tell us, how can we trust you again?”
Nods of agreement came from the crowd, disillusioned by King Riku’s recent actions.
No one noticed the thin, transparent thread connecting the back of King Riku’s neck. On a nearby rooftop, Doflamingo watched, unseen.
“Please, I beg you…” King Riku’s expression turned to horror as he realized he couldn’t control his body. His right hand moved to his sword, drawing it and slashing at the man who had spoken.
The blade cut through flesh quickly, warm blood spraying into the air, splattering the man’s wife and daughter. The world seemed to hold its breath.
“AAAAAHHHHH!!!” The wife’s scream pierced the night, the little girl too shocked to react. King Riku’s sword flashed again, beheading the girl in one swift motion. The peaceful street erupted into chaos.
“King Riku, what are you doing?!”
“Damn it, you even kill children now?!”
“No, no, it’s not me! I can’t control…” King Riku cried, tears streaming down his face as he continued his rampage, cutting down the girl’s mother and anyone else in his path.
“King Riku has gone mad!”
“You tyrant!”
“Please, don’t kill me!”
Screams and curses filled the air as King Riku, covered in blood, rode through the streets, killing indiscriminately and setting fires.
From the rooftop, Doflamingo controlled King Riku like a puppet, his fingers manipulating the strings. “Fufufu….”
He was dismantling King Riku’s influence step by step, making him commit unforgivable acts, preparing to swoop in as the hero who saved Dressrosa. Doflamingo saw himself as the rightful king, merely reclaiming his kingdom.
“It’s starting,” Hermes observed the rising flames and growing chaos from afar. He knew Doflamingo had begun his plan.
By morning, King Riku’s reputation would be in ruins, and Doflamingo would emerge as the savior, becoming the new ruler of Dressrosa.
No one could stop King Riku because the Donquixote Family was holding them back. King Riku was fighting alone.
Hermes wasn’t interested in meddling. His target was Doflamingo, and now was the perfect time!
As Hermes appeared, Doflamingo immediately noticed, seeing Hermes nonchalantly standing on a nearby rooftop.
“Fufufu! Hunting King Hermes Jormungandr?” Doflamingo’s voice held a hint of curiosity. He had a good guess who it was.
A head of tousled hair, a white shirt, black pants, and a faint tattoo on his neck—it matched the aura he had sensed earlier.
“Nice to meet you, Donquixote Doflamingo,” Hermes said, scanning Doflamingo from head to toe.
Indeed arrogant and brazen. Golden hair, sharp sunglasses, the signature pink feather coat, cropped pants, and pointed shoes. He exuded defiance and danger.
One of the most tragic and charismatic villains, also the most stylish.
“Fufufu! I admire your courage, but after harming my family, it will be hard for you to leave Dressrosa!” Doflamingo’s voice was filled with cold admiration.
Whether it was foolishness or sheer audacity, Hermes had shown up openly, a courage that Doflamingo couldn’t help but respect.
“I have no other intentions, just here to test the strength of a Warlord of the Sea. Either you kill me, or I kill you,” Hermes said calmly, his tone provocatively arrogant.
Doflamingo laughed louder. He had met many arrogant fools before and had crushed them all. He saw no reason why Hermes would be different.
Glancing briefly at the rampaging King Riku, Doflamingo vanished.
Become a Patron read up to 40 chapter ahead public release ^_^
Please join Discord Server so we can talk ^_^
