Chapter 185: 185. The Small Banquet

Words : 1381 Updated : Oct 6th, 2025

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari ---------- A little distance from the open-air palace in the Flower Capital, within the inner palace, a special banquet hall had been set up. This private hall was designed for those who preferred to avoid mingling with the underground forces and catered to the preferences of the younger attendees. "Pay-tan! If you lose, just wait and see how I deal with you later!" Ulti bellowed, her voice loud and slightly muffled as she devoured the delicacies on the table. Her eyes were fixed on the competition display on the video screen. "He can't hear you," Perona remarked with a teasing smile from her seat nearby. "And I don't think he's exactly eager to come, considering how much torment you put him through daily." "Pay-tan loves me! Besides, if I didn't have my little brother to tease, my daily fun would drop by at least ten percent!" Ulti declared confidently. "I'd be forced to run all the way to the military base every day just to find some excitement." Perona giggled at Ulti's unabashed confession, while Law, sitting nearby with Zoro, couldn't help but comment. "You're not even trying to hide it. That's just plain terrible." Zoro leaned slightly away from Ulti as well, nodding in agreement. Both of them regarded her as an outright violent woman. They had seen enough during training sessions with the younger members—Ulti's sheer strength and the enhancement of her Mythical Zoan abilities often left an impression, one that was sometimes literal. Law had his Room to rely on, and Zoro's swordsmanship, though formidable, had not yet reached the advanced level needed to match Ulti's raw physical power. "Is this just the 'bad taste' of being an older sister?" Kuina, her long ponytail swaying, chimed in with a smirk. "I'd say it's more like Ulti's unique brand of bad taste," Nojiko replied with a wave of her hand. As Nami's elder sister, she seemed to sympathize with the plight of younger siblings. "Speaking of older sisters," Lami interjected with a mischievous grin, "shouldn't Kuina count as Zoro's 'annoying big sister'? I mean, she's always pushing him so hard, it feels like she's teasing him too." Lami's comment drew curious glances from the others, who couldn't help but agree upon reflection. Zoro and Kuina's dynamic did bear some resemblance to sibling antics. Zoro, however, flushed a bright red and immediately blurted out, "You... you idiot! She's not my sister!" (T/N: Is this what I think it is) "More like a reluctant teacher trying to keep a troublesome student in line," Kuina countered with a calm expression. "Although I've inherited Master Alex's swordsmanship, Isshin Dojo will ultimately fall to either me or Zoro to continue. As my father's only direct disciple, it's my duty to guide him." Kuina's composed response redirected the attention, especially as she spoke of responsibility and training. "Now, let's spar again! I'll show you just how much I've improved in the last week after my previous defeat!" Zoro declared. Despite his determination, the gap between them was still evident. Kuina, now a full-fledged swordsman, had honed her skills to a remarkable level. After eating the Insight-Insight Fruit, her ability to exploit weak points with precision rivaled even Mihawk's renowned Hawkeye technique. "Don't you dare ruin the festival with your antics!" Nami suddenly shouted, her temper flaring as she delivered a single, devastating punch that sent Zoro crashing to the ground. "One-hit knockout!" Carina exclaimed with mock terror, shrinking back playfully. "Nami's scary when she's mad!" "Horohorohoro! This is too entertaining!" Perona laughed, clearly enjoying the chaos. Baccarat glanced at the group of younger individuals surrounding her, a warm laugh escaping her lips. Despite the age difference, she blended seamlessly into their lively banter. Her unique "lucky" attribute seemed to make her a favorite among both the future pillars of the retainer corps and the Royal Court. Taking a sip of the wine she could now enjoy as an adult, Baccarat's thoughts wandered. A certain topic came to mind, and she spoke up. "Tell me, does Princess Hiyori have a big brother?" Although Hiyori was not of Lord Alex's bloodline, her position as Toki's descendant and her status as a true princess earned Baccarat's utmost respect. Hiyori was regarded with as much reverence as any Royal Court ace. Still, Hiyori's eccentricity often caught her off guard. Despite her regal position, Hiyori loved nothing more than performing music as a musician by Lord Alex's side. It was this passion that explained her absence tonight—she was likely in the open-air hall, performing alongside Maria for Alex. "Yes, she does. Though time has blurred much of the story, as one of Lord Alex's early retainers, I know the general details," Perona chimed in, lifting her chin proudly as she joined the conversation. Law, sitting nearby, raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Approximate? Can you really be sure of anything?" "Who said I can't be sure?! So rude!" Perona puffed her cheeks indignantly. Encouraged by the eager curiosity of the other girls, she cleared her throat dramatically before launching into her recounting of what she knew. When she finished, Perona added quickly, "Maria told me the gist of it, anyway..." Maria's reputation for being calm, kind, and reliable, coupled with her origins in Wanokuni, gave her words a credibility that swiftly reassured everyone present. "Lady Toki's powers are truly miraculous," Baccarat said with a touch of awe. "So, if I understand correctly, by the time he reaches his twenties—just a little more than ten years from now—the other party and the Scabbards will return?" Baccarat's words carried a sense of wonder, but Law was quick to interject coldly. "The real concern isn't just their return—it's the disruption they might bring. I've researched Wanokuni's history. Before Lord Alex, the Kozuki family ruled as generals." He crossed his arms and continued, "Between Princess Hiyori's brother and those Red Scabbards, there's no guarantee they won't try to reclaim the position Lord Alex rightfully holds. They've never experienced the transformation of this new era under Alex's leadership—they're relics of the past." "If they dare threaten Lord Alex's rule, I'll turn every last one of them into ice sculptures!" Ulti slammed her hands on the table, her expression blazing with fury. "That brat Momonosuke had better not try anything funny!" Ulti's fierce loyalty wasn't surprising to anyone who knew her. Despite living in Flower Capital for less than a year, she had quickly come to appreciate the life it offered, the kindness Alex extended to her and her brother, and the sheer power he wielded as the world's strongest figure. Her years of survival in the beastly jungles had taught her to respect strength, and Alex had earned her complete devotion. "Speculation is pointless right now," Kuina said, her tone ice-cold. "But if their return does disrupt Master Alex's reign, even if it saddens Princess Hiyori and Lady Toki, I will kill them myself." The resolute declaration left no room for doubt. Her words prompted Shirahoshi, who had been listening quietly with her coral-coated body floating nearby, to raise her fists determinedly. "Me... Me too!" she said, her voice soft yet firm. "Shirahoshi, you don't have to join in," Nami said with a gentle smile. She had always been close to the mermaid princess. "We might not even need to act. There are already aces protecting Alex." Before Nami could continue, both Law and Ulti exclaimed in unison, "By then, I'll be an ace of the Royal Court myself!" "Sure, sure," Nami sighed, adopting the tone of a weary older sibling. "Why do we have to talk about such unpleasant things at a party? Speaking of which, where's that Pudding girl? Shouldn't she be here by now?" "Oh, Sister Robin called her away earlier," Lami recalled. "She said it was for a task Master Alex had assigned."

Chapter 185: 185. The Small Banquet

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