"Let's leave that for now. Everyone, come inside." Loa clapped to get their attention, then turned to Chopper behind the sleigh. "Chopper, come here."
"No!"
Chopper refused at once. "You'll pluck out all my fur!"
Pfft!
Hearing Chopper protest in his childish voice, the Marines burst out laughing. Loa's face darkened. He used Soru to appear in front of Chopper, scooped him up, and tucked him under one arm. "Hmph. Since you've said that, I'm not eating today until I've plucked you bald!"
Ignoring Chopper's protests, Loa carried the little guy into the Royal Palace with the Marines.
As for Mole, he trusted Simon to handle him.
In the Royal Palace's reception hall, everyone took their places at the upper and lower seats. Arudo had returned from the prison after checking the list, bringing the smell of blood with him.
Despite the Marines' attempts to stop him, Arudo had executed the worst of the criminals. That was why he had arrived a little late.
It was a minor matter. Even if word reached Fleet Admiral Sengoku, no one would care. Once Arudo sat down, Loa cleared his throat and began the meeting.
There was only one item on the agenda: how to put Kureha on the throne.
If there was anyone the people wanted to step forward after Wapol's death, it was Dalton. But Wapol had threatened him into investigating Cannibal Island the previous night, and Jones had captured him. He could not return. His strength was pitiful, too, so Loa did not consider him a candidate for king.
For now, they would treat him as though he had died on Turtle Island and leave it at that.
Also attending were the mayors and residents' representatives from the towns across Drum Kingdom. As citizens, they had the right to voice