Fake Liquor Harms People, Steel Knight

The next day,

"Um?"

When Roman opened his eyes, he found himself:

"Seastone chains?"

Roman, bound to a pillar like a dumpling, frowned. What happened? How did I get tied up? Did Four Emperors launch a sneak attack?!

And in the surrounding area:

"What are you doing...?"

"Hehehe, you're awake."

Aside from Luffy and Zoro looking energetic, the rest of the Straw Hat crew lay sprawled in the ruins, including the group of arena fighters who were covered in wounds and barely alive. The banquet... well, forget a banquet, the palace had been reduced to an open-air venue.

"White Knight, are you awake?"

Roman raised an eyebrow as Sanji approached carrying a bowl.

"When did I lose my senses?"

"And why was I tied up?"

Ah, this...

"Alright, I'll unlock the chains for you."

As Sanji unlocked the Seastone chains binding Roman, everyone around him shuddered and instinctively shifted away. Roman was completely bewildered; what were these guys up to?

"Give,"

"Thanks,"

Roman took the soup Sanji offered and drank a sip, then pursed his lips.

"It tastes sweet and sour, what is this?"

"Hangover soup".

?!

"Did I... drink alcohol?"

Although the helmet covered the upper half of his face, Roman's doubts were still clearly heard by everyone, making the others even more conflicted.

"Hehehe, Roman, your drinking manners are just too—waaaaah!"

"It's alright, it's alright."

Roman stroked his Luffy as he watched Luffy being dragged away by Old Sai and the others, who covered his mouth with their hands and feet.

"Could it be...?"

That can't be right.

How could someone who blacks out and acts crazy while drunk be my persona?

But why are these guys still covered in injuries? Roman remembers what happened before:

"Didn't I already treat you? Or should I use a few more healing herbs for blue flames... By the way, were you beaten up?"

"Fall, fall, fall..."

A group of 'experts' waved their hands in shame, all saying that their minor injuries were nothing and they didn't need further treatment. After all:

It's too embarrassing to say that so many people were beaten to a pulp by the Straw Hat crew's strategist, the 'White Knight'!

Although he couldn't go all out because he was only trying to 'stop' him, the 'White Knight' was still drunk and fighting purely on instinct. So many people couldn't subdue him; in the end, it was Luffy's rubber-binding technique that finally stopped him...

I regret it now.

Tears streamed down the faces of the group of experts. How could there be such a poor drinker on the high seas? The banquet had instantly turned into a battlefield, and their bodies, which had just been healed, were now covered in injuries. What a waste!

Counterfeit alcohol is harmful!

I will never again persuade the Straw Hat crew ' "strategist" to drink...

"Hmm, it seems necessary to let everyone rest for another two days."

Although Roman was puzzled by the strange situation of having treated everyone before, only to Awakening a scene of wounded again, he let it go since everyone was evasive and unwilling to talk about it. After all, injuries were minor matters for the people of this world, just a matter of wrapping up some bandages.

"But your health isn't very good; you even managed to fall and injure yourself at a banquet—"

Faced with Roman's words, everyone dared not speak out in anger:

If you say so, then so be it!

Forget it, forget it, we couldn't even beat them in a group fight, let's not talk about it~~~

"Hehehe, we used to go straight to sleep after a banquet."

Luffy had run back again, excitedly put his hands on his hips and looked around at the arena masters who were covered in injuries.

"So you guys like to exercise after banquets, is it to help with digestion?"

·······

"Yes, yes, we can't sleep if we don't exercise after eating!"

"That's right, life is all about movement!"

?!

What on earth are these guys up to? Roman looked at their 'excited' yet bitter faces and felt like he couldn't keep up with their train of thought. But if he couldn't figure it out, he wouldn't think about it anymore; he had other things to do anyway.

"I'll go scout out the situation first; you all rest."

Brush--

With wings unfurling behind him, Roman, clad in White Knight armor, soared into the sky. The group of experts who had been 'unharmed' just moments before were instantly sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain. Luffy with a wistful expression.

"The last time I had this much fun with Roman was on Enies Lobby."

Faced with Luffy reminiscing about his 'glorious past', everyone lying on the ground was speechless.

Only your Straw Hat crew would think this is 'playing around', right?

"Yes, it's only at times like this that Roman is willing to spar with me at full strength."

Seeing Zoro's 'still wanting more' expression, the others could only remark that birds of a feather flock together...

"See? I told you long ago that Roman shouldn't be allowed to drink."

Nami rubbed her forehead, while Usopp and Chopper nodded in agreement. Fighting enemies was something they could grit their teeth and do, but fighting Roman was truly hopeless, since Roman knew them inside and out. —And it was completely unnecessary!

"However, the Straw Hat is the most important thing."

As a doctor, Law, who was lying to the side, had to warn the Straw Hat crew from a professional perspective.

"The situation with the White Knight in charge... Cavendish's. I can sense that the 'one' who appears after getting drunk... isn't just a simple second personality. It's more like an independent one..."

"I know,"

Luffy tugged at his Straw Hat.

"But Roman is our partner, our partner for life!"

So your name is 'Roman' again? You keep calling him 'Roman'. Your advisors are going to cry; they'll be betrayed by you, the captain, sooner or later!

Splash splash~~

White doves fluttered throughout Dressrosa, taking in everything. For example:

Fujitora once again drew a '1' and remained inactive, along with his two Vice Admiral, Bastille and Maynard, who were left with no other options.

For example, in Doflamingo's dilapidated palace:

"After experiencing Doflamingo's brutal control and death threats, people sincerely hope that you can lead this country anew."

The speaker was King Elizabello II of the Kingdom of Prodence.

This king, nicknamed the 'King of War,' and King Riku, known as the 'King of Peace,' were longtime friends. War and peace are two sides of the same coin: one sought peace through war, while the other used peace to stop war.

"Come back, King Riku."

"Without you, this sea area has been engulfed in war for ten years, and everyone has had a hard time."

Because Doflamingo trafficked in arms and constantly instigated wars, the entire Dressrosa Kingdom and the surrounding countries were living in misery. In comparison, Doflamingo was the true 'King of War'.

The underground kingpin who sells war!

"Can I bring happiness to people?"

However, after Doflamingo's ten-year reign, King Riku, whose entire royal family consisted of only one daughter and one granddaughter, was no longer as convinced as before that he could maintain peace.

"If only I could become that kind of king: like a 'god,' able to control even natural disasters..."

!?

"Hey! Don't say such scary things, okay?"

King Riku shook his head as Elizabello II's expression changed drastically.

"I was just kidding."

Is this a joke?

The white dove perched on the rooftop next to them tilted its head. "Gods again, controlling natural disasters... It seems the kings of the Affiliated Nation aren't entirely ignorant after all."

Plop plop~~

With flapping its wings, the white dove flew into the palace, into a complete room:

"So beautiful. Girls really should wear skirts. They're much prettier than armor."

A white dove landed in the room and looked at Rebecca in her long dress. The girl finally looked like a 'princess,' but:

"Western-style clothing is certainly nice, but in this world, having power is definitely not a bad thing."

A white dove, flapping its wings, landed in the room, startling a group of maids. Just as they were about to call for the guards:

"You may all step back; this is our friend."

Rebecca's aunt, the dancer known as 'Violet'... no, now the real princess Violet, walked over.

"Mr. Roman, thank you very much for your kindness."

As a user of the "Glint-Glint Fruit," Violet had noticed the Straw Hat crew from afar and had already seen Roman's true face when he wasn't disguised. Furthermore, as a former scout for Doflamingo's family, she naturally guessed the true identity of the white dove before her.

"If it weren't for your intervention, sir, perhaps our country..."

"This is not my doing," the white dove flapped its wings, "It is everyone's own will."

Roman never took credit for others' work. Perhaps Violet saw Roman as a go-between between the Navy and the pirates. But Roman knew that even without him, everything would have turned out for the better, albeit with its share of twists and turns.

"Mr. Roman,"

Rebecca, dressed in a Western-style dress, bowed respectfully—though she didn't perform the ladylike etiquette of lifting her skirt.

"Well, personally speaking, the armor suits you quite well."

Unfortunately, Rebecca's father, aunt, and grandfather all didn't want to see her fight again. However, Roman still had to say:

"As I have said before, being strong is never a bad thing in this world."

In fact, the tragedy of Dressrosa was due to the country's weakness. If there were three or five Kyros -level powerhouses, Doflamingo would have to carefully consider the losses if he wanted the Riku Royal Family.

The same logic applies to Fish-Man Island: if there were three or five Jinbe, who would dare to go to Fish-Man Island to capture mermaids? They'd be asking for trouble!

"Therefore, it's best not to neglect swordsmanship and such."

Roman made a special trip because he didn't want Rebecca to become just a "pretty face".

"This world has 'Empress' Boa Hancock and 'Big Mom' Charlotte Linlin, so why can't there be a Princess of Dressrosa who is a great swordsman? Even if she doesn't use that power to kill, using a longsword to protect her country and her family would be a good thing."

After saying that, the white dove spat out a book.

"This is a training method for 'Armament Haki'. You can't become a strong person just by dodging. Of course, the rest of your life is your own choice. I'm just giving you another 'option'."

Get stronger, so that next time you encounter a powerful enemy, you won't have to kneel down and cry helplessly.

"I understand, Mr. Roman."

Rebecca put away her book, watched the white doves take flight, and then turned to smile at Violet beside her.

"As expected, Mr. Roman is not a 'knight'."

The princess has to become stronger on her own...

What kind of knight is that?

However, thank you. Mr. Roman, you are indeed a good person.