บท 76: 76. The Country Of Love And Passion

The sea in the early morning is consistently shrouded in a mystical haze. The sunlight piercing through the mist resembles golden specks suspended in the air, creating a truly stunning sight.

Dressrosa, a tropical island exuding a resort-like ambiance, is renowned as the "Kingdom of Love and Passion" within the New World.

The nearby coast is adorned with numerous mushroom-shaped rocks, posing a challenge for regular ships to dock. Nevertheless, a port has been specially established to facilitate ship docking. Kingdom Guards are stationed to patrol the port area, ensuring swift response to prevent unauthorized pirate docking and promptly report any speed-related incidents.

During this moment, a Marine-style warship was silently anchored at the port. After Gion organized the warship's supplies, she disembarked following Atlas. She, too, held a fascination for this realm known as the "Kingdom of Love and Passion."

"Hey, hey, hey! Rear Admiral Gion, being the highest-ranking officer for this operation, shouldn't you go and communicate with His Majesty the King about relevant matters?" Atlas jokingly remarked.

Observing that Gion seemed inclined to join him, Atlas swiftly intervened to stop her.

'Are you kidding me? I finally went out for some leisurely shopping. How could I bring along a troublesome creature like a woman?' Atlas thought.

Gion rolled her eyes upon hearing this. Initially, she intended to savor the resort-style atmosphere here first. However, she was well aware of the need to offer reassurance to King Riku promptly. After all, Dressrosa had caught the eye of the formidable pirate group ruling the New World.

"Rear Admiral Gion, I'll graciously handle the matter for you, hahaha." Atlas chuckled, offering to take care of the task.

Atlas had no inclination for false pleasantries with the king, and Gion happened to excel in interpersonal dealings, with scheming skills that exceeded Atlas's own.

After watching Gion depart towards King's Plateau, Atlas cast a satisfied glance over this distinctive tourist destination. The clothing and culture of Dressrosa bore a resemblance to the Spanish style in Atlas's previous life, and women adorned in vibrant dance outfits could be spotted everywhere, engaging in lively dances.

As Atlas admired beauties of various styles and indulged in tasting unique delicacies, he unwittingly found himself entering a building with a robust ancient Roman Colosseum style. Kingdom insignias adorned every entrance and exit of the structure, guarded rigorously by sentinels. The walls displayed stern warnings, proclaiming "No children allowed." Despite the thick walls, the deafening shouts from within nearly pierced the sky.

"Arena? Interesting!"

Atlas opened his mouth, swiftly finished the barbecue in his hand, tossed it into a nearby trash can, and then strode towards the entrance of the arena.

The guards stationed at the entrance didn't detain him much. Even though Atlas was still attired in a white suit and a cloak of justice, the present arena differed from the one later ruled by Doflamingo, where corruption and malevolence permeated every corner. The grounds were not tainted with sin, so the guards had no grounds to obstruct Atlas's entry.

The entrance fee wasn't exorbitant, but as a renowned tourist attraction in Dressrosa, the daily influx of visitors could be considered enormous, serving as a crucial financial resource for the country. It also served as a venue for numerous swordsmen to showcase their skills. Naturally, there were also less savory individuals. Some condemned criminals found themselves exiled here, with the most notable being Cyrus, the consort of Dressrosa.

Upon entering the arena gate, the resonant roar of the crowd immediately became audible. The layout of the entire arena was expansive yet straightforward, encircled by bustling stands, featuring a central circular ring surrounded by a moat. In this water-filled trench resided ferocious fighting fish. If a contestant happened to fall into the water during the battle, they would still have to contend with the relentless swarm of these aggressive fish, even if they were already eliminated.

Atlas located a seat towards the rear, and with his keen hearing and eyesight, he could easily discern the happenings in the ring.

The current combatants were two swordsmen wielding broadswords, presenting a rather ordinary spectacle. Their swordsmanship inclined towards straightforward slashing and thrusting, relying on sheer force to overpower their opponents. This was evident from their robust physiques.

The surrounding crowd was brimming with excitement. While the swordsmen's duel might lack the physical intensity of hand-to-hand combat, the visual spectacle of their violent aesthetics added a thrilling spice to the otherwise mundane lives of the onlookers.

After observing for a while, Atlas began to feel a bit bored. For someone of his caliber, personally participating in such matches held little interest; the skill gap was simply too vast. Although it was a landmark structure in Dressrosa, it lacked the allure of enticing prizes like those offered by Doflamingo. Consequently, it didn't attract high-caliber fighters from the seas, resulting in a lower overall skill level.

...

King's Plateau, in the main hall of Dressrosa Palace.

King Riku sits on the throne with a regal expression. Seated next to him is Rear Admiral Gion, who recently arrived in Dressrosa. Observing King Riku's contented demeanor, it's evident that the conversation between the two is quite amicable.

"Oh, by the way, wasn't there a Commodore accompanying us? Why haven't I seen anyone?"

A hint of curiosity flickered across King Liku's face as he asked in a slightly probing tone.

"Commodore Atlas went to experience the 'love and passion' of Dressrosa," Gion mentioned with a hint of helplessness. "He's quite the laid-back individual, not bothering much about anything."

"Thanks to His Majesty King Riku's excellent governance, Dressrosa has flourished. Even from afar in Marineford, we've long admired its reputation," Gion expressed with admiration.

"Hahahaha, that's too much praise!"

King Liku laughed heartily at this, a proud expression gracing his face. After all, everyone enjoys a bit of flattery, and even the wisest king is not immune to its charm.

To be honest, Dressrosa's governance isn't particularly commendable. Despite its surface prosperity, the citizens' lives aren't notably affluent. Ironically, during Doflamingo's rule, Dressrosa was far wealthier. It's a peculiar situation indeed.

"I'm curious how Rear Admiral Gion plans to respond to the Big Mom Pirates' invasion," King Riku inquired.

After engaging in conversation for sometime, King Riku couldn't resist asking the burning question on his mind.

"Please rest assured, King Riku. Our Commodore is a formidable force within the Marines, a rising star. He even defeated the Shichibukai Crocodile," Gion assured King Riku.

Gion pursed her lips and chuckled, offering a calm explanation.

"Is he the one known as Marine Supernova?" King Riku strained to recollect memories from his mind. He appeared to have some recollection of Atlas, and a sense of relief washed over him.

'Just a bit unreliable', Gion complained silently in her heart.

...

"Ah choo~!"

Atlas, strolling along the Avenue of Lovers with his mouth full of food, suddenly felt an itch on his nose.

"Really, who could be thinking about me..." Atlas mused, feeling the tickle on his nose.

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A huge thank you to Jaipal Prachothan for joining my Patr*on.

Here is the promised bonus chapter.

Also I have uploaded the image of our mc in my patr*on, you just need to visit the site to see him, I will also try to upload other needed image, do comment on which image you would like to see.

Read 20 chapters in advance in Patr*on: patr*on.com/Cosmic_Kaminari