The royal succession ceremony was not particularly complicated or troublesome, but it did take time.
River had to deal with reporters and other attendees from all over-some from Dressrosa, others from foreign countries, and still others from the World Government.
On an occasion like this, there was naturally no distinction between friend and foe. He even keenly sensed that there were Marines in the crowd.
They were not wearing uniforms, but he could clearly recognize their air. He knew the Marines all too well.
Still, River paid them no mind. He had never intended to hide this, nor was there any way to do so.
"Your Majesty, how do you intend to govern this country going forward?"
"We heard that during the war a month ago, you declared yourself opposed to the World Government. Does that mean Dressrosa will be hostile toward the rest of the world in the future?"
"We have recently noticed that commoners in Dressrosa seem to have greater access to education and receive a higher standard of schooling than those in other regions. Is that not unfair to the nobility?"
"Your recent crackdown on the nobility seems rather ruthless and heavy-handed. Does this mean you are setting yourself against society's entire middle and upper classes?"
"..."
The reporters posed their questions one after another, some mild and others pointed, making the expressions of the ministers beside and behind River shift slightly.
On a small scale, this succession ceremony concerned Dressrosa. On a larger scale, however, it would draw the attention of the world, particularly certain powerful figures.
Its significance was extraordinary, and these questions were clearly difficult to answer. In a sense, they could be seen as subtle probes.
"There are too many questions for me to answer them all, but saying nothing hardly seems appropriate