"Does being my subject exempt me from kneeling?"
Ross's gaze held a half-smile, as if it could pierce through Igaram and reach Princess Nefertari Titi behind him:
"Your Highness, do you think so too?"
"Your Highness, Celestial Dragon, what Igaram means is also my meaning..."
Princess Nefertari Titi's voice trembled slightly, but she still managed to express herself clearly.
She had previously contracted a fever and was sent by Cobra to Drum Island for treatment by Igaram. However, upon arriving in Drum Island, all the doctors were suddenly summoned by the Celestial Dragons, and she was also sent to the Celestial Dragons.
Ross was said to be responsible for her follow-up medical care, but Cobra had told her about the Celestial Dragons, so she couldn't believe he would be so kind.
"Yeah?"
Ross's question hadn't even faded away.
Sizzle!
Igaram's back was suddenly ripped open with an incredibly long gash. He groaned and staggered forward two steps, nearly falling to the ground.
This gesture also revealed Princess Nefertari Titi behind him.
"Igaram!!"
Upon seeing this, Nefertari Titi panicked and cried out in great anxiety.
"Your Highness, I'm alright."
Igaram gave a dull reply, his gaze fixed intently on Ross:
"Your Highness, Alabasta is one of the member states!"
Are you that stubborn?
Ross was somewhat surprised.
It was somewhat unexpected that Igaram was so principled when he was young.
"Hmm? I can represent the World Government, but you can represent Alabasta? Or does Alabasta want to be an enemy of the World Government?"
Ross spoke casually as his Devil Fruit power activated once more.
The tiny, high-pressure water blades condensed once more, slicing another deep, bone-deep wound into Igaram's back.
This time, Igaram could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.
"Igaram, are you alright?"
Princess Nefertari Titi was panicked. She struggled to get up from her wheelchair and rushed to Igaram's side, tears streaming down her face.
"Your Highness, I am speaking on my own behalf. But I also hope that you will respect Alabasta, as we are one of the World Government's allied kingdoms."
Igaram's tone softened considerably, but he still emphasized it again.
They're not in Alabasta now; if something were to happen to them here, the truth probably wouldn't even get out.
It doesn't matter if he dies today, but Princess Nefertari Titi cannot be harmed.
"Your Highness, what do you think?"
Ross ignored Igaram and instead focused his gaze on the tearful Princess Nefertari Titi.
"Please, spare Igaram. He already knows he was wrong."
Princess Nefertari Titi pursed her lips and knelt down in front of Ross.
Igaram had stood in front of Ross to protect her, even though her actions might have been a bit excessive and offensive to Ross, because she didn't want anything to happen to Igaram.
"Since you're willing to plead for him, I can let him off this time."
This remark relieved Princess Nefertari Titi, but before she could express her gratitude, Ross continued:
"However, since he spoke to me on behalf of Alabasta, I will discuss the issue of compensation with the Queen. Celestial Dragons cannot be insulted; I think you are well aware of that."
"It is only right that Alabasta is willing to compensate for Igaram's rudeness."
Princess Nefertari Titi quickly nodded in agreement, saying that any compensation was a small matter, as long as the person survived.
She had accompanied Cobra to the World Government Summit, so she knew better what kind of villains the Celestial Dragons were.
If it weren't for Cobra protecting her last time, she would have been taken away by the Celestial Dragons. Even though a conflict broke out, the Celestial Dragon was completely unharmed.
So when she saw Ross this time, she was genuinely terrified.
"Since the princess has agreed, then drag him out. I'll discuss the compensation with the princess."
"Princess!"
Igaram panicked and tried to get up, ignoring the pain in his body.
But Ross only gave him a warning look, and in an instant, it felt as if a mountain had pressed down on him, making it difficult for him to even breathe, let alone get up.
"Your Highness, please stop making things difficult for Igaram."
Princess Nefertari Titi became anxious upon seeing this and could only resort to the same method that Cobra had used to plead with Ross, repeatedly begging him to let go.
"I am giving the princess face, so please don't put me in a difficult position."
Ross spoke slowly and deliberately, saying that Igaram was a valuable tool and he wouldn't be in a hurry to throw it away so soon.
"Igaram, you may leave now. I will continue my conversation with His Highness."
Even though she was still a little scared, Princess Nefertari Titi showed her responsibility as a princess and signaled to Igaram to withdraw.
Princess Nefertari Titi's words carried far more weight than Ross's. Igaram immediately fell silent, only looking at Princess Nefertari Titi with eyes full of worry and resentment.
Who knows what will happen after he leaves?
But he dared not disobey Princess Nefertari Titi's orders.
Ultimately, it was his lack of power that led to the princess's downfall...
"Princess..."
"Igaram, get out!!!"
Princess Nefertari Titi shouted angrily. She didn't know if Ross would dare to touch her, but Igaram was no different from those slaves in front of him.
When she last went to the Holy Land, the person protecting her was killed by the Celestial Dragons in front of her in a fit of rage, and even Cobra didn't dare to say anything.
She never wanted to see anyone die protecting her again.
"Yes, Your Highness..."
After Ross released his Conqueror's Haki, Igaram walked slowly and laboriously outwards, like a walking corpse.
He was supposed to protect Princess Nefertari Titi, but instead she protected him, which dealt him a huge blow.
If he weren't worried about Princess Nefertari Titi's safety, he would have fought Ross right now.
"Gion, for the sake of the Queen, have someone bandage Igaram."
Ross's lips curled up slightly, not minding giving a small handout.
"Understood!"
Gion gave Ross a speechless look, sized up Princess Nefertari Titi, shook her head, and followed Igaram out of the reception room.
Once Ross set his sights on a prey, no matter what its identity, it was ultimately impossible for it to escape.
However, Gion had to admit that Ross had a knack for choosing his prey.
Bang!!
The closed door immediately silenced the reception room.
"Your Highness..."
Princess Nefertari Titi was somewhat at a loss. This was the first time she had been alone with someone of higher status than herself, and she had no idea what to do.
"Your Highness, how is your illness now?"
Ross did not mention Igaram again, but got up from the sofa and walked to Princess Nefertari Titi.
"Your Highness, my illness is nothing serious; I'll recover after resting here for a while. What would you like to do?"
Princess Nefertari Titi became noticeably more nervous when she saw Ross approaching.
"The temperature on Drum Island is very low all year round, so it's not good to sit on the ground and catch a cold."
Ross chuckled and reached out to embrace Princess Nefertari Titi, who was kneeling on the ground, looking somewhat weak and helpless.
"Your Highness, I can manage on my own..."
When Princess Nefertari Titi was hugged by a stranger for the first time, she unconsciously began to struggle.
"Would you like me to treat you like Igaram?"
Ross's question immediately rendered Princess Nefertari Titi powerless to resist, and she simply let Ross pick her up and carry her to the sofa to sit down.
"Your Highness, we've arrived at our destination. I can..."
"Do you want to end up like Igaram?" Ross chuckled and asked in return.
"Your Highness..."
A pleading glint flashed in Princess Nefertari Titi's eyes. But feeling the strength of Ross's embrace, she ultimately gave up struggling.
If she resists, Igaram will surely die...
I'm sorry, Cobra…
…
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