The new king's coronation

Dressrosa Kingdom

It was the third day since Satoru Gojo had conquered Dressrosa. The weather was clear, without a cloud in the sky.

The Dressrosa Kingdom had a history spanning several centuries and a population of over five hundred thousand, which was not large compared with a major nation like Alabasta.

However, the kingdom had a full range of facilities, and its economy was more developed than those of most countries in the world. Its losses during the recent upheaval had not been particularly great, either.

Now, the people in the city of Dressrosa were brimming with enthusiasm, cheering and leaping with joy as they streamed toward the Royal Palace.

"Sir, everything is ready. The coronation is about to begin!"

Kalifa pushed open the door to the meeting room and reported to Satoru Gojo.

Satoru Gojo rose from his chair and said to everyone in the meeting room:

"Then let's go!"

With that, Satoru Gojo walked straight out of the meeting room, with Esdeath, Sasuke, and the others close behind.

As they walked along the passage leading to the coronation venue, Satoru Gojo asked:

"Have seats been arranged for the Three Admirals and the five Vice Admirals?"

"Yes. They've already arrived!"

"How are the security measures?"

"The Three Admirals and the Marine Vice Admirals are all locked to their chairs with Seastone. They won't be able to move at all."

"Very good! They're important figures in the Marines, after all. How could we not give them seats at the coronation?"

Satoru Gojo had arranged for the Three Admirals and the five Vice Admirals to attend precisely to make people think that Dressrosa's new king had taken the throne with the Marines' approval.

This would prevent the Marines from tearing up their agreement and denying that Dressrosa was a legitimate country.

If they denied Dressrosa's legitimacy now, it would mean going back on their word.

After all, the Marines had "enthusiastically" sent such heavyweight figures as the Three Admirals and five Vice Admirals to attend the new king's coronation. If they disavowed Dressrosa, they would lose all credibility.

Getting the Marines to recognize Dressrosa's legitimacy would be an enormous help with future diplomacy, trade, and so on, so Satoru Gojo attached considerable importance to it.

"Have all the newspaper representatives and reporters arrived?"

"Everything has been arranged! The whole world will know about today's coronation tomorrow!"

"Well done!"

At that moment, a tall, middle-aged man with white hair and a resolute gaze stood atop the Royal Palace's wall, wearing a blue cape.

He was King Riku, the former king of Dressrosa.

Seated a short distance to his left were the Three Admirals, Kuzan, Kizaru, and Akainu, while the five Marine Vice Admirals sat to his right. All of them were locked to their chairs with Seastone, unable to move.

But anyone looking up from below the wall could only see them sitting in their chairs. The Seastone binding them was just out of sight.

"These damned pirates actually want to seize a country!"

Locked there, Akainu spoke angrily, but he did not dare raise his voice too much. If people discovered that they were chained up here, it would only disgrace the Marines.

"It seems the Jujutsu Pirates have considerable ambitions!"

"A country ruled by pirates? How frightening!"

Meanwhile, the area beneath the palace wall was already packed with people who had come from all over, their eyes all fixed on the wall.

As people continued arriving below the wall, King Riku began his speech.

"Greetings to all the citizens of Dressrosa!"

"I am Riku Doldo III, the former king of Dressrosa!"

"Back then, Doflamingo used vicious means to seize Dressrosa, causing large numbers of its citizens to be killed."

"As king, I failed the trust you placed in me and could not give you peaceful lives! I was not a worthy king!"

"A few days ago, Satoru Gojo led the Jujutsu Pirates in defeating Doflamingo and saving Dressrosa!"

"We have no way to repay Satoru Gojo and the Jujutsu Pirates for their kindness!"

"As the former king, I offer them my most sincere thanks here!"

At this, King Riku bowed deeply toward Satoru Gojo and the Jujutsu Pirates.

"Jujutsu Pirates!"

"Jujutsu Pirates!"

"Jujutsu Pirates!"

The citizens of Dressrosa shouted, expressing their gratitude.

Smiling, Satoru Gojo raised his right hand and waved to the citizens.

"Hahaha! Are they all thanking me, their god?"

Enel seemed very pleased with the citizens' response.

"Yes. Make sure you protect Dressrosa from now on, Enel. After all, this will be our country!"

Satoru Gojo spoke in a voice only those near him could hear.

King Riku straightened and motioned for the citizens to quiet down before continuing:

"Now that Doflamingo has been overthrown, Dressrosa has escaped his clutches. But just as a household cannot go a day without a head, a country cannot go a day without a ruler! We now need a wise king to lead Dressrosa to strength!"

"I have already failed. I am unworthy of being Dressrosa's king again! Here, I wish to nominate a new king: Satoru Gojo!"

"I believe that under Satoru Gojo's leadership, Dressrosa will surely become prosperous and strong!"

"Please welcome Satoru Gojo to give his speech!"

"Satoru Gojo!"

"Satoru Gojo!"

"Satoru Gojo!"

Amid the cheers of Dressrosa's citizens, Satoru Gojo walked over to where King Riku stood.

"Greetings, citizens of Dressrosa! I am Satoru Gojo, captain of the Jujutsu Pirates!"

"Thank you, King Riku, for trusting me and nominating me as the new king!"

"Today, I will ascend the throne as your new king!"

"Here, I promise that Dressrosa will become an even better place!"

After finishing, Satoru Gojo bowed. Applause erupted below the wall, the citizens cheered loudly, and all kinds of ceremonial cannons fired together, resounding through the sky.

"Lord Gojo! Lord Gojo!"

Koratt led his men in cheering along with the citizens! He had never expected Satoru Gojo to defeat the Three Admirals, make his name known across the seas, and become a king in such a short time!

Having witnessed the birth of a legend with his own eyes, he felt deeply fortunate to have made the choice he had back then!

Not far away, Rebecca watched the scene with a smile as Satoru Gojo's words to her surfaced in her mind.

"Don't worry. I'll make Dressrosa the strongest country in the world. No one will dare attack this place again, and no one will dare bully you!"

At that moment, she believed Satoru Gojo could do it!

Then Satoru Gojo took the crown from King Riku and sat upright on the throne that had already been prepared.

Esdeath and Sasuke stood on Satoru Gojo's left and right, while Lucci's group of six and Enel also stood on either side.

"Click!"

"Click!"

The newspaper reporters captured this historic moment, which was sure to spread across the entire sea tomorrow.

Of course, the news spreading across the sea would inevitably include the Three Admirals and five Vice Admirals attending the coronation of Dressrosa's new king.