One Piece: Rayquaza of the Beasts Pirates

When the music ended, Kane clapped softly.

Wearing a flamenco costume and with a flower in her mouth, Violet performed a beautiful dance step and, on the last note, gracefully bowed in homage.

"As expected of a country of love and passion, even their dances are full of passion."

Kane couldn't stop praising it.

But of all those present, only Kane appreciated the dance.

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Jack closed his eyes to rest, completely unmoved by the music and dance around him.

Runti listlessly swiped at the steak on her plate, not even glancing at Violet.

Peggy Van examined a plate of grilled fish, a specialty of Dressrosa, and even inquired about the origin of the maid fish, seemingly wanting to go there to get a catch.

Speed ​​silently jotted down notes in his notebook—Lord Kane likes flamenco.

Collecting Lord Kane's preferences was something she, as a subordinate, should be aware of.

"A bunch of guys who don't know how to appreciate beauty."

Kane muttered a sarcastic remark, then turned to Violet, his true intentions revealed: "Hey, you'll be working for me from now on."

Torrepol, who was serving nearby, narrowed his eyes; his worst fears had come true.

Before Violet could speak, Torrebol immediately said, "Lord Kane, we still have use for Violet. Could you grant us some time? You may choose any other dancers in the palace."

If we can stall for time now, and wait until Kane leaves, maybe he'll forget about it eventually.

Even if they haven't forgotten, they can easily get away with it by making up some excuse about resisting arrest and being killed.

Violet's Devil Fruit ability is simply too strategically valuable.

If he could, he would never hand Violet over.

The next second, Kane's reply made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

"Trebol, do you think I'm some kind of fool like King Riku?"

Kane smiled and said, "I probably don't need to elaborate on the importance of the Stare-Stare Fruit user."

He laid his cards on the table: all he wanted was Violet.

Kane's earlier evasive manner was simply because he didn't want to go through the trouble of finding someone; enjoying the dance was just a side thing.

He... he actually knew!

Torrebol forced a smile: "It is Violet's good fortune to be chosen by Lord Kane."

A strategic Devil Fruit user and the entire Don Quixote family.

He still knows which side is more important.

"What? Kane, you were just trying to steal him. I thought you..." Runti suddenly realized.

"What do you think I am? Do you think I'm a lustful monster?!"

Kane rolled his eyes.

He doesn't want a pretty face that's all looks and no substance.

Chapter 25: The Deal is Made

On the other side, Violet was jolted awake by the sudden turn of events. She immediately knelt down and pleaded with Kane.

"Lord Kane, please save my family. I'll do anything to save them."

Wow, this flavor is amazing!

This makes me feel like a villain.

Kane stroked his chin and readily agreed: "I'll protect King Riku's family. Trebol, no problem?"

If gaining Violet's loyalty can be achieved through a simple matter, then this deal is worthwhile.

What can Torrepol say?

“Of course, no problem, Lord Kane.”

Young Master, please wake up! I can't hold on much longer!

Torrepol groaned inwardly.

"Thank you, sir." Violet was overjoyed.

She never expected that what seemed like an insurmountable problem just a second ago would be solved by Kane's casual remark the next.

However, it's not that simple.

King Riku himself is still in the palace, but his eldest daughter and her family have successfully escaped and are now hiding in a corner of Dressrosa.

Kane casually instructed, "Runti, Pagevan, you two go and help Violet bring her family onto the ship."

"Finding people is the most troublesome thing."

Despite complaining, Runti obediently stood up and left with Page Van and Violet.

Meanwhile, Torrebol's long-awaited young master finally awoke and returned.

"Fuchu, Lord Kane, excuse me."

Despite his head being wrapped up like a dumpling, Doflamingo was incredibly humble, as if the head injury and his public appearance had never happened.

No wonder he's the kind of guy who'll thrive in the new world.

His ability to be flexible and adaptable alone is enough to justify his growth and success.

Kane smiled slightly, without getting up, but simply raised his glass in a gesture of acknowledgment.

Doflamingo bowed respectfully, picked up his wine glass, and gently clinked it against the glass below him.

"I'll take it, you can do as you please."

After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp.

Kane took a sip of the red wine in his glass. "Now we can talk about the specifics of the collaboration."

Doflamingo pulled out a pre-prepared cooperation plan from his pocket, handed it to Kane, and began to explain it.

To show his sincerity, Doflamingo even voluntarily reduced his commission.

Kane readily agreed and didn't try to lower the price further.

Although Doflamingo is willing to forgo profits or even lose money to save his own life, he always has to leave people a way out.

"A pleasant collaboration?" Seeing how smoothly things were going, Doflamingo felt much more at ease, his condition improved, and his tone became much more confident.

"Happy cooperation!"

Kane changed the subject: "I heard you used to be a Celestial Dragon? I'm very curious about the Holy Land Mary Geoise and the Celestial Dragons. Tell me about it?"

"The intelligence capabilities of the Beasts seem to differ from what's rumored."

Doflamingo sighed, acknowledging the fact.

His origins weren't exactly a top secret. Although the Celestial Dragons intended to keep the news under wraps, the man didn't hide it from the common people around him after he fell into depravity.

If you're determined to find out, you'll eventually find out.

Thinking of this, Doflamingo unconsciously recalled that embarrassing childhood, and his face immediately darkened.

Kane didn't urge him, but waited quietly to the side.

After a long while, Doflamingo came to his senses. "Sorry, I was daydreaming. Since Lord Kane wants to hear it, I'll tell you."

"The Celestial Dragons were supposed to have twenty branches, corresponding to the twenty kings who founded the World Government, but the Nefertari family of Alabasta gave up this right and chose to stay in their own country."

"And these nineteen families, after eight hundred years of reproduction, probably number more than three thousand orthodox Celestial Dragons."

Oh? Eight hundred years have passed, and all nineteen families combined are only this many?

But thinking about it, it makes sense. In order to maintain the purity of the bloodline, only offspring born from intermarriage between families can be considered true Celestial Dragons.

Children born from unions with non-Celestial Dragons are definitely not included.

Just like Bonney, who has half Celestial Dragon blood, the Celestial Dragons don't care about her existence; they just continue their experiments on Saturn.

Judging from the Doflamingo family and the Roswald family, the Celestial Dragons have a good control over their birth rate, with only two children per family, which is just enough to maintain the population size without excessively increasing it.

It's likely that even the Celestial Dragons themselves are aware that the world cannot support too many of them.

Doflamingo continued his explanation: "Even among the Celestial Dragons, who are at the pinnacle of world power, there are still beings of even higher status—the Five Elders!"

"Below the Five Elders, there is a mysterious force—the Knights of God. They even have the right to judge and execute Celestial Dragons."

At this point, Doflamingo's expression grew increasingly grim, clearly having suffered a loss at the hands of the Knights of God.

Years ago, in order to return to the Holy Land, he brought that man's head back to Mary Geoise.

However, he was rejected by the Five Elders and even expelled from Pangu City by the Knights of God.

He'll hold this grudge for the rest of his life!

Kane, on the contrary, smiled.

Finally, something interesting has appeared.

"Tell me about this Order of the Gods."

"The Knights of God are composed of the Celestial Dragons, who are the most powerful warriors in the world. Naturally, they are also exceptionally strong; any one of them could cause a huge storm on the sea."

A deep sense of dread flashed in Doflamingo's eyes: "The entire Knights of God combined are enough to overturn the balance of power in the sea."

Who's in there?

"I do not know."

"Ok?"

Kane frowned. How come it turns out he knew more than Doflamingo?

At least he knew about Figarando and his son, the Saint of Chiringom, the Soldier's Palace, and others.

Doflamingo felt a surge of displeasure at Kane's questioning. But was he to blame?

“I was taken down from the Holy Land when I was a child, and my understanding of the Holy Land is limited to that man’s description. How could I possibly have access to something like the Knights of God?”