Hearing Sakura mention the One Piece World, Megumi and Robin couldn't help but start talking about their past adventures in that world again.
Hinata listened beside them with great interest.
By the time Makoto finished breakfast, not many more women had come to the dining room.
One could only say that yesterday's exertion had indeed been substantial.
Makoto opened the teleportation function in the player system and selected [Pirate World].
The scene before his eyes spun, and the sunlight changed angle in the same instant.
In less than two seconds, his vision steadied.
What came into view was a city full of exotic flair.
In the center of the town stood a massive towering hill… the King's Plateau.
Makoto recognized this place immediately.
Dressrosa!
'What a coincidence.'
Originally, he had not intended to get involved in the conflict between the Riku Family and Donquixote Doflamingo.
Although he had brought Rebecca onto his ship, if that girl wanted revenge, she would have to figure it out herself. He simply couldn't be bothered with this matter.
Rebecca hadn't objected to that either. She trained silently, hoping for an opportunity to defeat Doflamingo.
Unfortunately, her talent was lacking. After spending over half a year on Makoto's ship, her abilities hadn't improved much.
In the previous Summit War, the vitality of all the Warlords, including Doflamingo, had been drained by Imu. Makoto and Yu had become MVPs, letting Rebecca directly transform into a victory coaster.
After that, Rebecca didn't return to the real world with Makoto. Instead, she told him she wanted to go back to Dressrosa first to help her grandfather take back their country.
And now, it seemed she had succeeded.
Just then, the surrounding citizens and tourists began to notice Makoto.
One after another, they opened their mouths, eyes fixed straight on Makoto's face.
"King of the World—"
Someone shouted, and the entire street seemed to hit pause.
The next moment, people began to bend their knees. Some even prostrated themselves entirely on the ground, their foreheads pressed against the hot stone pavement, their lips trembling uncontrollably.
"The King of the World has graced Dressrosa with his presence!"
Makoto frowned and raised his hand to stop them. "Don't pull that Celestial Dragon crap."
Hearing this, those preparing to kneel were stunned, looking at each other in confusion.
Everyone looked at each other, and finally, after confirming that Makoto truly had no objections, they carefully climbed up from the ground.
But they still bent their waists, respectfully stepping back to the sides of the street, clearing the way in the middle.
"Who is the current head of Dressrosa?"
Makoto asked.
A brave citizen poked half his head out from the crowd, his voice still trembling slightly: "In-in answer, Your, Your Excellency, it is, is King Riku III."
Makoto was not surprised. He left them with a "Go about your business," and walked towards the Royal Palace the center of the town.
Just as he reached the city gate, a lovely figure in an orange dress rushed down the steps towards him.
It was Rebecca, who had chosen to stay behind in the One Piece World.
"Makoto-sama, I've missed you so much."
Before Makoto could respond, her lips were already on his, frantically taking.
King Riku III led a group of people out of the main hall.
His hair had turned quite white, but he was still spirited.
Behind him, Kyros hopped along beside the old king on his one leg, his movements agile, no less capable than an able-bodied person.
Seeing his daughter hanging off another man, turning into a crazy noodle-sucker, the old father was beside himself.
"Cough, cough!"
King Riku coughed twice, patted his son-in-law's hand, and quickly turned around. "Let's excuse ourselves first."
Half an hour later, Makoto, holding the hand of the swollen-lipped Rebecca, entered the main hall of the palace.
King Riku III, Kyros, and the others had been waiting there long ago.
Rebecca, rubbing her swollen lips, completely failed to notice her father's face, which had turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
"After the World Government and the Marine fell, what changes have occurred in this world?"
Makoto took his seat at the main guest seat, casually asked, accepting some juice from an attendant.
King Riku III sat across from him. He organized his thoughts before speaking. "Thanks to your Excellency's advice, the New Revolutionary Army, led by Miss Yukinoshita Yukino, established the New World Government and began reforms in various countries. Currently, all member nations of the New World Government no longer use a monarchy but follow a presidential system with a four-year term limit."
King Riku paused, then continued, "The first president of each country must undergo strict scrutiny by the New World Government before taking office."
"Oh, how does this scrutiny work?" Makoto asked with interest.
"Using the mind-reading ability of Viola."
At King Riku's explanation, Makoto remembered that Viola, Rebecca's beautiful aunt, was not present.
King Riku explained that Viola had now joined the New Revolutionary Army, responsible for using her mind-reading ability to examine whether new presidents were people of ill intent.
Using the mind-reading power of the Glare-Glare Fruit to see if these people truly wanted to serve the people or just wanted to advance their own careers.
Makoto nodded.
Yukino had made quite a bit of progress over the years.
Talented people don't necessarily have virtue, but virtuous people in power is always better than those with neither talent nor virtue.
This world was already rotten to the core... they could fix it slowly.
"So, you are Dressrosa's first president?" Makoto looked at King Riku.
King Riku shook his head. "You jest, Your Excellency. I am old now."
He looked at his son-in-law standing nearby, his eyes filled with a pride that emanated from his very bones.
"Kyros will be Dressrosa's first president. Tomorrow, he will take the oath of office in front of the New Revolutionary Army."
Makoto nodded silently.
He thought this decision was very reasonable.
Kyros was one of the few normal people in the One Piece World, especially in contrast to a certain pile of turd like Kozuki Oden, which made this one-legged warrior's image even more positively radiant.
Although a pure warrior didn't seem too suited for politics, it likely couldn't get much worse no matter what.
"The New Revolutionary Army will also come to Dressrosa tomorrow."
Kyros took over the conversation. "As it happens, I recall that Miss Yukino is an old acquaintance of yours, isn't she, Your Excellency?"
King Riku then said with a beaming smile, "Your Excellency can stay here and be reunited with Miss Yukino tomorrow."
Makoto nodded in agreement.
King Riku remembered something else and said something to a maid beside him. The maid nodded and quickly walked out of the hall.
"Not long ago, Dressrosa was fortunate enough to obtain a supreme treasure. I would like to present it to you, Your Excellency."
Makoto was a little curious.
Soon, the maid returned carrying a sandalwood box, its corners inlaid with gold foil, clearly meant for storing valuable items.
King Riku took the box, opened it, and turned the opening towards Makoto.
Inside lay an ice blue Devil Fruit, its outline resembling a mango, its color grading from ice blue to deep blue.
One of the top-tier Logia Devil Fruits... the Ice-Ice Fruit!
Its former user was former Marine Admiral, Aokiji Kuzan.
Makoto looked at that fruit, and an image from the Summit War came to mind: Imu using his life-absorbing ability to drain the vitality of Aokiji, Sengoku, and a dozen other Marine's high-ranking figures.
Holy crap. If King Riku hadn't reminded him just now, Makoto would have forgotten that Aokiji was already dead.
But honestly, Sengoku bore a large part of the responsibility for his death.
If not for Sengoku's decision, Aokiji wouldn't have made a contract with Imu.
One could only say, an incompetent commander dooms the entire army.
After that, Rebecca acted as the guide herself, pulling Makoto to the guest room. On the way, she leaned her entire body weight against him, like a kitten unwilling to let go of its paw.
Seeing this from behind, Kyros felt increasingly uncomfortable.
"Rebecca, go back now. Don't disturb His Excellency's rest."
Only then did Rebecca reluctantly release Makoto's arm. But just as she was about to leave, she ran back, stood on her tiptoes, and whispered in his ear.
"Makoto-sama, I just turned sixteen yesterday."
Whoa. If he didn't get that hint, he wouldn't be a man.
Kyros's Observation Haki wasn't very strong, but at this close distance, he heard every single word Rebecca said.
The old father's face turned even blacker.