Dressrosa — the famed Kingdom of Love and Passion in the New World.
Located in the central region of the New World, this tropical island nation was unlike most lands in these seas, where weather shifted violently without warning. Here, the climate was steady — a textbook example of the tropical monsoon zone.
It was mid-April now, and daytime temperatures soared to 38°C.
Endless summers, no winters; rainfall plentiful; fields fertile enough to yield three harvests a year, vegetables thriving through all four seasons.
The sharp difference between day and night temperatures gave rise to Dressrosa's most renowned export — its fruit, said to be the finest in the entire New World. These were shipped far and wide, bringing prosperity to the island.
Such abundance, coupled with thriving trade, had made Dressrosa's citizens among the most comfortable and well-off in these seas.
On this foundation of wealth, culture, too, had blossomed.
When a people no longer worry about food or shelter, they turn their attention to life's pleasures — cuisine, fashion, and art.
Thus, Dressrosa became a land of indulgence: cuisine and clothing industries flourished, and grand spectacles like the colosseum emerged as symbols of excess and entertainment.
And as the women of this prosperous land gained independence through wealth, they no longer needed to rely on men to survive. Confidence brought freedom — the freedom to choose love on their own terms.
That was the true meaning behind "Love and Passion."
Love — born from the open, fiery spirits of its women.
Passion — embodied by the blood-boiling battles of the colosseum.
"Dressrosa is a member nation of the World Government," Garp said as the ship neared the harbor.
"After the Donquixote family abandoned their people to join the Celestial Dragons in Mariejois, the Riku family took over the throne."
"The current king — Riku Doldo III — has ruled for over a decade now, and he's done a damn good job."
"In a world where most kingdoms collapse just trying to pay tribute to those leeches in the Holy Land, Dressrosa's the only one where the people can still live well."
The Doghead warship finally docked at the eastern port of Dressrosa. A long wooden plank was lowered from the deck to the pier.
Garp descended first — wearing a loud floral shirt, black knee-length shorts, and a pair of worn-out slippers.
As he ambled down the ramp, he lazily scratched his head and continued explaining the lay of the land to Yoriichi and Aokiji, who followed behind him.
Compared to the sailors in their crisp Navy uniforms, their commanding vice admiral looked more like a man on holiday than a soldier on assignment.
Yoriichi and Aokiji, too, had changed into lighter attire — the tropical heat made uniforms unbearable.
Yoriichi didn't have much clothing to begin with, so he borrowed a short-sleeved sailor shirt from another seaman, the back printed with the word "Deckhand."
He'd considered asking Aokiji for one of his shirts, but they were far too large.
Aokiji himself wore his summer uniform — loose, white, and casual.
"First, we'll head to the local branch and see if there's any fresh intel on Roger," Garp ordered as his sandal hit the pier.
"Bogart, assign men to guard each port. Keep an eye on every incoming and outgoing ship — especially pirate vessels."
Then he turned back with a grin.
"Oh, and Kuzan, Yoriichi — you two don't have to tag along with me."
"It's your first time in Dressrosa, isn't it? Then make sure you enjoy yourself," Garp said, waving dismissively. "Hey, Kuzan—take the transponder snail with you. If I need you, I'll call."
From his chest pocket, Garp pulled out a small Den Den Mushi and tossed it casually to Aokiji.
The marines behind them couldn't help showing envy at the scene, but none of them felt resentment.
After all, Kuzan wasn't truly part of Garp's command. He'd boarded the ship mainly to learn from the famous vice admiral, to observe and gain experience. Sometimes, when pirates appeared, he'd lend a hand—but he wasn't under Garp's orders. If anything, Kuzan was simply an admirer tagging along with his idol.
As for Yoriichi Tsugikuni—he wasn't even a marine yet.
"Vice Admiral Garp, wouldn't that look a bit… improper?"
Aokiji asked awkwardly, catching the snail in his hands. He didn't want others to get the wrong idea.
"Quit the yapping," Garp replied, picking his nose with no shame. "I don't need you telling me how to do my job."
Kuzan gave an awkward laugh, stuffed the snail into his pocket, and turned to Yoriichi with a grin.
"Come on, it's been a while since we've had time off."
Once they entered the city, the two parted ways from Garp's group. The vice admiral headed for the local branch, while Yoriichi and Kuzan simply wandered wherever the crowd seemed liveliest.
"Man, these uniforms stick out too much," Kuzan muttered after a while, glancing around as passersby kept staring. "Let's change into something less obvious."
Spotting a clothing store nearby, he dragged Yoriichi inside.
When the two reemerged, their naval uniforms were gone.
Kuzan was now wearing a bright green shirt, only buttoned halfway down, his chest fully exposed. Below, a pair of baggy red shorts hung loosely around his knees, and his boots had been replaced with a pair of beach sandals.
Yoriichi, by contrast, looked modest—wearing a plain white T-shirt and zebra-striped shorts, paired with simple flip-flops.
They carried their folded uniforms and boots in paper bags, strolling down the sun-baked streets.
Yet even in casual clothes, they still drew curious looks from the crowd—not because of any intimidating "aura of dominance," but because…
Kuzan's outfit was simply atrocious.
Red and green—the kind of clash that could blind a man.
He looked like a walking tropical disaster, though Kuzan himself had no idea. He actually assumed the stares were because of Yoriichi's cold expression and the sword at his hip.
Dressrosa's streets brimmed with life. Food stalls lined every corner, the air rich with the scent of spices, grilled meat, and fruit wine. Before long, both men were loaded with snacks and drinks as they wandered through the festive townscape.
"Hey, Kuzan—look over there."
"Hmm? Oh, that place?"
Ahead stood a massive, oval-shaped structure that dominated the city center—the colosseum, Dressrosa's greatest symbol of passion and pride.
Its outer walls, built of limestone and bluestone, gleamed faintly yellow under the tropical sun. Though weathered and spotted with age, it carried a solemn grandeur. The building stretched nearly 500 meters long, 350 meters wide, and 50 meters tall, its countless arched entrances swarming with people.
To Yoriichi, it looked remarkably like the Roman Colosseum from his memories—only larger, grander, and far more alive.
The very fact that Dressrosa could sustain such a massive entertainment complex spoke volumes about its wealth.
"Ohh! So that's the famous Dressrosa colosseum!"
Kuzan's eyes lit up. "Garp-san talks about it all the time, but I've never seen it in person."
"Let's go!"
Excited, he bought two tickets, and they entered the roaring arena.
Inside, Yoriichi was momentarily stunned. The oval colosseum's interior was a ring of tiered stands, filled with tens of thousands of spectators. In the center stood a wide battle platform surrounded by a circular moat, where monstrous fighting fish occasionally surfaced—gnashing teeth or slicing the water with their razor-sharp fins.
The crowd's cheers shook the air as two warriors clashed on the platform, their blades ringing loud above the roar.
"Whoa…"
"Now this is spectacular!"
Kuzan could hardly contain his excitement, his normally lazy demeanor overtaken by youthful thrill. The thunderous cries of the crowd sent adrenaline coursing through his veins—and even Yoriichi, normally so composed, felt his blood stirring.
As they found seats, the duel ended. One heavily armored fighter collapsed, too exhausted to rise. His opponent raised a spear high in triumph, basking in the deafening applause.
After the victor left the ring, a booming voice filled the arena through a loudspeaker:
"And now, ladies and gentlemen—the moment you've all been waiting for!"
"Entering the arena is Dressrosa's strongest gladiator—the undefeated champion of four hundred and forty consecutive victories—Kyros!"
"His challenger! The raging sea bear himself—winner of eighty-one battles—Rachet Muran!"
"Now then—let the match begin!!!"
The audience erupted, the cheers for Kyros rising like thunder.
Everyone stood, fists pumping the air, voices uniting in a single name:
"Kyros!"
"Kyros!"
"Kyros!"
(End of Chapter)
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