Kaido stood before the palace of the Kingdom of Flowers, his boisterous laughter echoing in the air. "Wororororo, interesting! It seems the Four Blues aren't as weak as I imagined!"
His sharp eyes swept over the attendants accompanying the King of the Kingdom of Flowers, noticing several among them possessed considerable strength. This somewhat surprised Kaido. After all, in his memory, the Kingdom of Flowers had once been defeated by an enemy nation's advanced weaponry. It seemed this sea was indeed full of unexpected twists.
"Your Majesty." Seeing the King's arrival, Chinjao immediately dropped his combat stance and bowed respectfully. The leader of the Happo Navy showed the proper deference to his king.
The King of the Kingdom of Flowers gave a slight nod, his gaze shifting to Kaido. He asked in a steady tone, "Mr. Kaido, may I inquire as to the purpose of your sudden visit to our Kingdom of Flowers?"
"Wororororo! I heard the Kingdom of Flowers is known as the strongest nation in the West Blue, so I wanted to come see for myself," Kaido laughed heartily, his voice making the surrounding leaves rustle.
Hearing this, a thoughtful expression appeared on the King's face. He pondered for a moment before saying, "Since Mr. Kaido harbors no ill will toward the Kingdom of Flowers, I must ask that you refrain from using force indiscriminately here. Of course, as a token of our gratitude, please accompany me to the banquet hall in the port city. I shall host a feast in honor of you, Mr. Kaido, and all the members of the Beasts Pirates."
After saying this, the King visibly relaxed, his gaze sweeping over Kaido and the figures behind him. He noticed the pirates behind Kaido, each with distinct features—some with beastly horns, others with strangely colored skin—clearly not ordinary humans.
Kaido laughed upon hearing this. "Wororororo, interesting! Then I'll gladly accept your hospitality." He turned and shouted to his crew, "You lot! We're going to a feast!"
The members of the Beasts Pirates cheered immediately, the scene becoming lively and boisterous. Some beat their chests in excitement, others let out beast-like howls.
Soon, everyone boarded the transportation provided by the Kingdom of Flowers. These carriages, pulled by special, powerful horses, were ornately decorated, the coachwork carved with exquisite patterns that displayed the kingdom's unique cultural heritage. The carriage curtains were made of high-quality silk, embroidered with the national flower of the Kingdom of Flowers.
The island occupied by the Kingdom of Flowers was quite large, though not comparable in size to a behemoth like Alabasta, it was still considerable. The port city alone covered a significant area. However, traveling in these exceptionally fast carriages, they reached their destination in just over ten minutes.
During the journey, Kaido learned from the King that this happened to be the time when the Kingdom's water armies set sail, which was why the King and the various Water Army Pillars were gathered in the port city. The King also made a point of introducing the kingdom's pride—the Happo Navy—a force renowned throughout the West Blue.
Upon entering the banquet hall, they were greeted by a resplendent, golden hall. Exquisite crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, portraits of past kings adorned the walls. In the center of the hall stood a massive round table of redwood, covered with a tablecloth embroidered with gold thread.
Soon, numerous waiters in traditional attire brought out a variety of the Kingdom of Flowers' signature delicacies: a fragrant, aromatic whole roasted lamb, a colorful seafood platter, exquisitely crafted pastries, and the kingdom's special, mellow, aromatic wine.
Kaido unceremoniously grabbed a roasted lamb leg and dug in, grease dripping down his beard. The other pirates also fell upon the feast with gusto, drinking and eating heartily, enjoying themselves immensely. The banquet hall filled with the sounds of laughter, chatter, and clinking plates and cups.
Seemingly influenced by the Beasts Pirates, the King of the Kingdom of Flowers and the various Water Army Pillars also ate with great relish, thoroughly enjoying the feast.
In the opulent banquet hall of the Kingdom of Flowers, the crystal chandeliers refracted dazzling light, bathing the entire hall in a golden, resplendent glow.
King Ramen personally poured Kaido a cup of fine wine. As the two clinked glasses and drank, the atmosphere of the banquet gradually warmed up. Servants wove between the guests, constantly refilling drinks and adding dishes. The banquet hall brimmed with cheerful conversation and laughter.
When the banquet was halfway through, King Ramen of the Kingdom of Flowers suddenly set down his wine glass, a troubled expression appearing on his face. He carefully broached the subject. "Mr. Kaido, if I may ask, how long do you plan to stay in the Kingdom of Flowers on this visit?"
Kaido laughed heartily, his voice even louder due to the alcohol. "Wororororo! The Kingdom of Flowers has deep roots. I plan to stay for a while. What? Is Your Majesty not welcoming?"
"Not at all," King Ramen hurriedly waved his hand. "Under normal circumstances, you could stay as long as you wish. It's just..." He hesitated, ultimately lowering his voice. "I've heard that you, Mr. Kaido, have recently... upset the World Nobles. The Marines have dispatched the 'Hero of the Marines,' Monkey D. Garp, to the West Blue to capture you."
"Garp?" A flicker of surprise crossed Kaido's eyes. His thick fingers rubbed the rim of his wine glass. "That old geezer would make a special trip to the West Blue just for me?"
The atmosphere in the banquet hall froze instantly. The members of the Beasts Pirates stopped their merrymaking, setting down their glasses one after another, their gazes fixed intently on their captain. The Water Army Pillars of the Kingdom of Flowers also unconsciously tensed up; some had already quietly rested their hands on their weapons.
King Ramen continued to persuade him. "According to reliable information, Vice Admiral Garp will arrive in the Kingdom of Flowers in a few days. So..." He took a deep breath. "...I must ask that you, Mr. Kaido, depart before Garp's arrival. You understand the level of destruction a confrontation between figures of your stature would bring to the Kingdom of Flowers."
Kaido was silent for a moment, then suddenly erupted with deafening laughter. "Wororororo! That old geezer Garp is coming? Interesting! Very interesting!" His laughter was so loud it made the crystal chandeliers sway slightly; a few crystal pendants tinkled as they fell to the floor.
King Ramen looked worried. "Mr. Kaido, you are..."
"Wororororo, this is getting more and more interesting. Is it just Garp coming this time?" Kaido asked casually.
"That I do not know. Although the Kingdom of Flowers is a member nation of the World Government, our relationship with the Marines is not that close," the King said.
"Fine, don't worry. I'll leave the Kingdom of Flowers before Garp gets here," Kaido said directly.
"That would be greatly appreciated, Mr. Kaido." King Ramen thanked Kaido. "Mr. Kaido, let me propose a toast to you."
Immediately, the atmosphere in the banquet hall improved once again.
The feast lasted late into the night. Kaido and King Ramen were thoroughly drunk. The members of the Beasts Pirates were also slumped here and there; some had simply lain down on the floor and were snoring loudly.
***
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