Kakarot came out of the colosseum and swept his gaze around, finding that only a scattering of people remained outside.
He bent his knees slightly and pushed off hard with both legs, flying toward the hotel amid a faint ripple of air.
Landing lightly outside the hotel, Kakarot had yet to enter when he heard Viola's clear voice, full of delighted surprise, coming from inside:
"Wow! Lilith, so you're the Mink Tribe recorded in books!
"No wonder Simba and Ailik look so much like animals. I thought they were Zoan Devil Fruit users!"
"What fun things are you talking about?" Kakarot walked into the hotel lobby with a gentle smile as he spoke.
"Brother, you're back!" Lilith's eyes lit up, and she immediately called out cheerfully.
"Kakarot, you're back!" The others also looked delighted and greeted him warmly.
"Brother, we're chatting with Viola!"
Lilith ran over to Kakarot and linked her arm through his. "Did you know she's the princess of Dressrosa?"
"I did!" Kakarot smiled, a hint of mystery flashing in his eyes.
"Huh? But Viola said she hadn't told you who she was!" Lilith looked surprised, her mouth falling slightly open.
Viola also furrowed her delicate brows slightly and asked in confusion, "That's right! Kakarot, I don't remember telling you who I was! How did you know?"
Kakarot winked mysteriously and raised a finger to his lips,
saying softly, "Don't ask about that. I know plenty of secrets. You'll find out in the future."
Although curiosity remained on their faces after hearing this, no one asked any further.
"Oh, right, Brother, Viola invited us to play at the palace. She said her older sister is home too, so we can all go together!"
Lilith gazed at Kakarot with pleading eyes full of anticipation, gently shaking his arm with both hands.
The others also cast expectant looks his way, excitement sparkling in their eyes.
"Let's go! We don't have anything to do anyway, so let's all go have some fun!" Kakarot smiled and nodded, waving a hand.
Everyone immediately cheered and followed Viola toward the royal palace on the plateau in the center of Dressrosa, their spirits high.
After passing through one long street after another, they finally arrived at the foot of the King's Plateau, the highest point on the island.
The terrain here was extremely steep. At a glance, the towering stone steps seemed to lead straight into the clouds.
"Your Highness!" At the ascent to the King's Plateau, a squad of guards in neatly arranged armor saw Viola and immediately called out respectfully, their voices loud and in unison.
"Hello! I'm taking my friends to the palace to play. Drive a few carriages and take us up," Viola instructed gently, a friendly smile on her face.
"Yes!" the guards answered in unison, swiftly preparing the carriages.
Afterward, Lilith and the other girls boarded one carriage, while Kakarot, Simba, and Athena boarded another.
"Hahaha! Hades, you, Ailik, Slade, and the others will have to head up yourselves! There aren't any carriages you can fit in!"
Looking at Hades and the others, Kakarot couldn't help bursting into laughter, a teasing glint in his eyes.
Hades and the others didn't mind at all. The corners of their mouths rose slightly into unrestrained smiles. "Doesn't matter! We'll be faster going up ourselves."
With that, their figures flickered as they used Soru, instantly vanishing from in front of the carriages and leaving only trails of afterimages behind.
Before long, everyone had arrived outside the palace.
"Wow! This palace is huge! And it's pretty luxurious too."
Lilith tilted her head back to look at the magnificent palace before her and couldn't help exclaiming in amazement.
The palace had a grand exterior and lavish decorations. Standing at the highest point on the island, it seemed to overlook the rise and fall of the entire city.
Viola smiled softly and said, "It's really not that much! Our palace just looks a little luxurious, but it's all built from stone. There's nothing worth much.
"Come with me, everyone. I'll take you to play in my sister's Sunflower Flower Field!"
As she spoke, Viola took Vian's hand and excitedly led Lilith and the others running toward the back of the palace.
"Viola, have a guard take me to see your father. I have something to tell him," Kakarot called loudly, remaining where he stood.
"It's fine! Just tell a guard. He'll listen to you," Viola answered from afar, her clear voice echoing through the air.
"Hades, you should all go take a look too! The scenery there is pretty nice," Kakarot said, turning to Hades and the others.
Watching them gradually walk away, Kakarot nodded slightly and followed a guard to King Riku's office.
"Your Majesty! Princess Viola's friend says he wishes to see you!" The guard stood at the door and announced respectfully in a loud voice.
"Oh? Viola's friend? Let him in!" A strong voice that sounded very young came from inside the room.
Kakarot walked steadily into the room and saw that King Riku still had a full head of black hair. His face looked not quite forty, and he wore a kindly smile without the slightest trace of regal majesty.
Seeing Kakarot's extraordinary bearing and the powerful aura emanating from him, King Riku immediately grew attentive, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.
"Young man, you're a friend of my mischievous younger daughter? Come, have a seat on the sofa over there." King Riku greeted him warmly, pointing toward the soft sofa nearby.
Kakarot smiled politely, walked slowly over to the sofa, and sat down before saying, "There's no need to worry, King Riku. I really am Viola's friend.
"My name is Kakarot. We watched a wonderful match at the Corrida Colosseum today, and that's where I met her."
King Riku nodded slightly and asked with a gentle smile, "Then what brings you to see me?"
Kakarot straightened slightly, his expression turning serious as he said:
"Viola invited me and my companions over to play. They've gone to the flower field out back now.
"I thought I'd pay you a visit and tell you a few things while I was here."
Kakarot paused, his gaze fixed firmly on King Riku's eyes, then continued, "King Riku, I imagine you know Dressrosa's history, don't you?"
At these words, a sharp glint flashed in King Riku's eyes, and his kindly expression instantly grew quite serious. Leaning forward slightly, he asked, "What do you know?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Kakarot said directly, "I won't beat around the bush. You should know that Dressrosa was ruled by the Donquixote Family long ago!
"One of the families among today's Celestial Dragons!
"What I want to tell you is that someone from the Donquixote Family will overthrow your rule in the future and plunge Dressrosa into terrible suffering."
Silence filled the room. King Riku looked quietly at Kakarot without refuting his claims.
Since Kakarot knew those hidden parts of history, what he said was probably not false.
Before you continue