Ritter could almost feel the terrifying resentment hidden behind his big sister's seemingly gentle voice.
He could practically picture those three little brats, especially Ace and Sabo, running wild across the sea and completely forgetting their mother existed!
Kids, don't blame your uncle for being heartless.
I don't want this either! My heart hurts too!
Your uncle is barely surviving himself here!
Ritter cursed internally like crazy.
At the same time, his survival instincts instantly went into overdrive!
There was nothing he could do.
He had just finished committing a major offense and was still technically on probation.
"Sis! You're absolutely right!"
Shameless Ritter immediately adopted the most familiar tone imaginable and sold out his three nephews without the slightest hesitation.
"That's completely unacceptable!"
"How could they make you worry so much, Sis?"
"Don't worry. Once I run into the three of them out at sea, I'll definitely give them a deep and unforgettable lesson!"
"I'll make sure they go home and apologize properly!"
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Rouge seemed to chuckle softly.
"Oh?"
"Wouldn't that put you in a difficult position, Ritter?"
"After all, they're..."
"Don't know them!"
Ritter immediately interrupted.
"We aren't familiar at all!"
He sounded as if those three brats he had personally watched grow up had absolutely nothing to do with him.
Ace?
Sabo?
Sorry.
Never heard of them!
"Sis, your worries are the most important thing!"
"I promise I'll make sure they personally give you a sincere and heartfelt apology!"
"I'll even make them write ten thousand words of self-reflection!"
Ritter paused.
"No, make that one hundred thousand!"
In order to calm his sister's anger and divert any potential punishment headed his way, Ritter had no hesitation whatsoever about sacrificing his own family.
The Rouge-shaped Den Den Mushi seemed to curve its lips into an even gentler smile.
"Then... I'll leave it to you, Ritter."
"Leave it to me!"
Ritter thumped his chest and made his guarantee.
After hanging up, Ritter let out a long breath.
He even wiped away some nonexistent cold sweat.
Still...
It was a little unfortunate.
A real shame.
Roger never showed his face.
That bastard had actually escaped!
Roger: Am I somehow a really big deal here?
Ritter looked toward the direction of Foosha Village.
His expression slowly became dangerous.
"An, Ace, Sabo..."
"You three little brats better pray your uncle doesn't catch you!"
"Otherwise... hehehe."
"To calm my sister down, I might just have to show you three some Uncle's Forced Love."
After ending his call with Rouge, Ritter had barely relaxed when another heavy reality immediately came crashing down on him.
Yes, he was back.
But he had absolutely no intention of making a grand return.
Quietly going home.
Checking on his big sister.
Then hiding in Foosha Village for a while to recover...
Ahem.
To enjoy some peaceful rest.
That was the best plan.
Why?
First of all...
There was that battle maniac, Bullet!
Ritter had originally asked him to help govern the Blood Kingdom.
That bastard's Observation Haki range was absurdly large.
His sensitivity to other people's presence was practically on the level of a hunting hound.
Bullet: Do you have any manners?
The moment Bullet learned Ritter had returned to the Grand Line, he would absolutely howl with excitement and come charging over to fight him.
That bastard had basically challenged Ritter to a fight every single day when they were both on Roger's ship.
Ritter wasn't afraid of him.
The problem was that it was annoying.
He could accept cuddling with Veytte.
He could go home and eat Rouge's cooking.
But cuddling with Bullet?
Absolutely not.
Ritter had just returned.
He only wanted to quietly be a handsome man.
He did not want to go tearing islands apart with that muscle-bound freak.
Secondly...
And this was the most important point...
There was the mountain of government paperwork in the Blood Kingdom!
Ritter could already see Tesoro's kind smile.
And behind him...
A mountain of documents waiting for approval.
Ritter was the nominal king and captain.
He had disappeared for nearly ten years!
He had finally managed to go crazy and enjoy himself for several years.
Ah, but being a king had never been his original intention!
He was just a carefree pirate!
Besides, didn't he have Tesoro?
What were they doing all this time?
Anyone with half a brain could guess that all the documents requiring his personal review and signature had already piled up into a disaster.
Just thinking about dense pages of text, complicated national budgets, diplomatic agreements, territory planning, and all the other nonsense made Ritter's head hurt more than taking a direct punch from Bullet.
If someone told him to fight a Marine Admiral, Ritter wouldn't even blink.
But if someone asked him to handle administrative paperwork...
They might as well stab him directly.
"Tch."
"Absolutely cannot let Bullet know I'm back."
Ritter rubbed his chin and made up his mind.
"Otherwise, that bastard will immediately airlift the throne..."
"No."
"He'll airlift that mountain of paperwork straight to me!"
"Then he'll take Stella and little Latti on their Nth honeymoon!"
"Again!"
That bastard was absolutely capable of doing it!
The last time Ritter had spent a little time at Shakky's bar, he had wanted to go out that evening.
And Tesoro had been waiting there for him.
That spear had nearly pierced Ritter straight through.
Tesoro had always been exceptionally talented in the art of dumping troublesome matters on the captain.
It was practically his specialty.
"It's decided!"
"Low profile."
"I absolutely have to keep a low profile!"
Ritter controlled the speedboat and further restrained his presence.
He even used the power of the blood mist to disguise himself to a certain extent, lowering the boat's presence to the bare minimum.
He planned a relatively remote route.
He would take a small detour.
Then quietly slip back into the East Blue.
And sneak into Foosha Village.
As for the Blood Kingdom?
Tesoro, Moria, and the others were there.
The sky wasn't going to fall.
The paperwork?
He would simply pretend he had never seen it!
"Mm."
"Perfect decision!"
Ritter nodded with satisfaction.
He could already see his beautiful future.
Lying in the sun at Foosha Village.
Drinking a little wine.
Living a peaceful life.
What Four Emperors?
What king?
What standing at the top of the world?
None of that could compare to going home and lying flat!
Still...
He really should consider finding a few more people with brains to help him.
Right, Kuro?
Syrup Village.
Inside Kaya's luxurious mansion.
Kuro was dressed in a perfectly pressed butler's uniform.
With his glasses resting on his face, he slightly bent forward and handed Miss Kaya a cup of warm milk.
Every movement was precise.
Anyone who saw him would think he was the very image of a loyal and dependable butler.
However...
The moment he handed over the cup, a completely inexplicable and bone-chilling sensation suddenly shot up his spine.
His hand holding the tray trembled almost imperceptibly.
The milk inside the cup swayed gently.
"Mr. Klahadore?"
Kaya, sitting on the bed, noticed the tiny abnormality.
"Are you all right?"
"Are you feeling unwell?"
Kuro pushed up his glasses.
He gave her a gentle, apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry for worrying you, Miss Kaya."
"I'm fine."
"It was just that I suddenly felt... a draft."
"Perhaps the window wasn't closed properly."
His tone was perfectly calm.
There was not the slightest trace of anything unusual.
"Please drink your milk."
"And take good care of your health."
Kaya did not suspect a thing.
She obediently nodded.
Then she took a small sip of the milk.
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