A Perilous Battle, Law Gains the Upper Hand

"Even after learning the truth, even after learning the truth, we still wanted to protect ourselves in his so-called game. We don't even know what we were doing anymore. What's become of us? What will become of this country?" The citizens suddenly broke down in tears of remorse.

"King Riku, please save us!" A number of citizens painfully fell to their knees before King Riku.

"What's going on? What happened to you all?" Kin'emon and the others were utterly bewildered.

Kanjuro beside him was equally stunned. "What on earth is this...?"

"King Riku, what should we do? Just give the order, and we'll take up arms and fight them!"

"King Riku, we're willing to brave mountains of blades and seas of fire with you!"

"King Riku!" All the citizens burst into tears as they called out to King Riku.

"Could everyone wait just a little longer?" the former King Riku said quietly.

"Wait? Wait for what?" All the citizens were bewildered.

"It won't be too late to choose death after the outcome is decided," the former King Riku said.

The former King Riku recalled the backs of Luffy and Lu Yu as they left, as well as what Viola had told him: "They are the outlaws who will shatter this country's false peace. It wasn't in vain that I bet everything on them—not just on the Straw Hat Pirates. At the very least, the Straw Hats' words are sincere, and their actions show their true hearts."

The former King Riku shifted his gaze toward the royal palace. "I don't know when it began, but I too started believing that Luffy and the others would ultimately win."

Suddenly, the sound of dice rattling reached them. When they turned around, they saw that it was Marine Admiral Fujitora! Fujitora was already sitting