The two were already on edge, so they immediately became fully alert to the approaching party.
A figure strode forward on the waves, white waves parted to both sides, and the wind blew the bangs on the forehead, revealing a slightly immature face.
As Damon's figure drew closer and he came within a short distance of the armed vessel, the two finally got a clear look at his appearance and were immediately awestruck.
King Elizabello II boasted of his extraordinary talent, possessing the terrifying power of the King Punch, which he claimed could be unleashed with a single hour of warm-up, capable of piercing through steel fortresses. Yet, he lacked the courage to sail the seas alone.
Not to mention, judging from the other person's age, he seemed to be less than ten years old, which was even more shocking!
Elizabello II was dumbfounded, but as Vasco da Gama, his strategist, he couldn't just stand there staring blankly, otherwise how could he be worthy of the high tributes from the Prodence Kingdom?
"Where's my Italian cannon?"
"Blow the hell out of him!"
As Vasco da Gama's slightly high-pitched voice rang out, the navigator quickly turned the rudder, directing the armored ship's side toward Damon's location. The muzzles of the three rows of giant cannons roared in unison, and solid, dark-colored cannonballs were fired one after another, drawing graceful arcs in the sky before crashing down around Damon and creating waves several meters high.
To their astonishment, Damon was as light as a feather, his feet skimming the water like a dragonfly, his movements nimble and graceful. He easily dodged the dense bombardment, and instead of widening the distance between himself and the armed ship, the distance actually grew closer.
A bead of cold sweat suddenly trickled down King Elizabello II's forehead. He instinctively clenched his fists into a boxing stance, his gaze grave.
Damon took a step, did a somersault in mid-air, and landed firmly on the deck, where he was warmly welcomed by everyone.
"Boom!"
A gunshot rang out suddenly, signaling the start of the attack.
The soldiers of the Prodence Kingdom were well-trained and lined up in an orderly fashion. The soldiers in the front row would empty their bullets in one go and then immediately squat down to reload. The soldiers in the back row would follow suit, and so on, making the sound of gunfire incessant. A hail of bullets enveloped the small figure.
Damon felt somewhat helpless.
He just wanted to hitch a ride, but he didn't expect to stir up a hornet's nest.
"That's enough!"
Suddenly, King's Haki was unleashed, causing the entire armed ship to shudder violently, and bullets rained down from the sky.
On the deck, a group of soldiers foamed at the mouth, rolled their eyes, and fainted.
Elizabello II and Vasco da Gama, this pair of brilliant strategists, lay on the ground, their faces filled with horror.
"My lord, I surrender! As long as you don't kill me, I'm willing to offer everything, whether it's gold and silver jewelry or beautiful wives and concubines, you can choose whatever you want!"
Damon walked up to the two of them, his face showing even more helplessness.
"Please, I'm a navy officer."
Elizabello II: (;′д｀)ゞ
Vasco da Gama: o(╥﹏╥)o
The blue waves rippled, and fish swam in the shallows.
A three-masted warship and a privately armed vessel sailed side by side, slowly making their way towards the Dressrosa Kingdom.
On the deck of a warship, a shirtless boy was twisting a barbell with a weight far exceeding that of ordinary people. This was a product ordered from the Sabaody Archipelago, with each barbell plate weighing 500 pounds. Even an ordinary adult would have difficulty moving it, but now this dumbbell had twenty barbell plates embedded in it, yet it was as if it were nothing in the boy's hands.
With each swing of the barbell, faint arcs of electricity flickered on the boy's arms, stimulating his muscles and helping him increase his strength.
This was a rather terrifying training method.
King Elizabello II leaned back against the railing, looked down at the muscles in his arms, then glanced at Damon's hellish training, his face numb, the shock he felt when he first boarded the warship long gone.
Because, after this period of contact, he was completely stunned!
He single-handedly wiped out the Donquixote Family's Diamond Legion!
The youngest captain in naval history!
He is the only one to lead an army with the rank of captain!
A peerless genius who awakened King's Haki!
Most importantly, the other person is just a child!
Every single event and every single incident pointed to the fact that this person was a rising superstar in the Navy, and there was even a high probability that he would become a future Admiral of Marine Headquarters!
"How could I have encountered such a monster just by going out for a short trip?"
King Elizabello II gazed at the sky, wondering if this was a stroke of good fortune or bad luck he had encountered because he hadn't checked the almanac before going out.
He turned to his trusted confidant, Vasco da Gama, the strategist of the Prodence Kingdom, and asked:
"My dear minister, tell me, what exactly is the Navy's purpose in ordering us to lead the way to Dressrosa Island?"
Vasco da Gama adjusted his sunglasses, a hint of struggle flashing across his chubby face.
"You're making things difficult for me, Vasco da Gama!"
Vasco da Gama knew very little about Damon. He had only managed to glean some information from Smoker and others. It was quite a test of his intelligence to deduce the full purpose of Damon's trip based on these fragmented pieces of information.
But since the king had asked him for advice, Vasco da Gama would suffer a significant drop in his image in the eyes of Elizabello II if he could not provide a satisfactory answer. He could only rack his brains and ponder for a moment before replying:
"Your Majesty, I observe that this person is no ordinary individual and often does unexpected things. However, whenever I reflect on his every move, it seems to conceal some profound meaning. Those who oppose him almost never have a good ending, but if one sincerely befriends him, one will reap rich rewards."
"Look at Shu. He's just an average-looking man. He once tried to intimidate Damon. He should have been mediocre. But now, because he took the initiative to join Damon's ranks, his life and work are thriving. He's quite remarkable."
"Regardless of the purpose of this trip, Your Majesty must treat everyone with sincerity, do your best to befriend Damon, and leave a good impression on him."
"This may be an opportunity for Your Majesty, and perhaps even a chance for the rise of our Prodence Kingdom!"
If it were anyone else, King Elizabello II would definitely have rebuked him for spreading heresy.
Let alone the fact that he was the king of the mighty Prodence Kingdom and was already quite old, it was ridiculous that he would take the initiative to befriend a little kid who could be his grandson!
Vasco da Gama was not strong in combat, but he was intelligent. Although he lacked strategic acumen, he helped Elizabello II, a muscular but simple-minded king, avoid many pitfalls and was highly regarded by him.
After careful consideration, King Elizabello II adopted Vasco da Gama's suggestion.
He then joined Damon's group of trainees.
What could be more exhilarating than a group of grown men sweating it out together?
Running together at dusk—that's our lost youth!
Living in the New World was no easy feat, and those who could survive in such a chaotic and disorderly place were all exceptionally capable.
Despite his advanced age, King Elizabello II possessed a striking and powerful physique.
Seeing that the other person, despite his advanced age, could easily lift a heavy barbell, Smoker bit down hard on his cigar, his previously tired body seemingly infused with new strength.
"How could I lose to an old man!"
The addition of Elizabello II, this "catfish," not only spurred Smoker on, but also ignited the passions of Drake and the others!
Hina stood to the side with a towel in her hand, watching helplessly as the boys inexplicably became so determined, her arms crossed over her budding chest, creating a breathtaking silhouette.
"I really don't understand these guys!"
As Damon finished his day of training, Hina took the initiative to step forward and wipe his body.
Girls were always much more attentive than boys. The subtle fragrance emanating from the towel made Damon feel completely relaxed.
Ten slender fingers rested on Damon's strong arm, and with Hina's gentle kneading, the muscles that had been tense due to the hellish training began to move and improve blood circulation.
"Captain, the soldiers in charge of supplies have recently reported that the food reserves on our warship are being consumed abnormally, much more than normal. The soldiers suspect that thieves have broken into the warship, but they can't find any evidence and don't know if they are embezzling."
Hina breathed softly into Damon's ear, her feminine scent making his ear tingle.
Damon didn't take it to heart; a little loss of supplies was insignificant.
He was now preoccupied with his plans against Doflamingo and the Dressrosa Kingdom, looking for any gaps or shortcomings that needed to be addressed.
Seeing that Damon was absent-minded, Hina didn't pay much attention. She just looked at Damon's taller stature than his peers and thought to herself:
"In a few years, the captain will probably be as tall as me."
"I heard that boys start developing at the age of 12."
For some unknown reason, Hina's face flushed slightly, and she inwardly cursed.
The sea voyage was tedious and boring. After several days of sailing, the outline of Dressrosa Island came into view ahead.
Dressrosa was a tropical island with a resort atmosphere. The surrounding waters were sunny all year round with a comfortable temperature. There was a long and narrow beach along the coast, which attracted tourists from all over the world every year.
When people mentioned the Dressrosa Kingdom, they often thought of a few keywords: dancing girls, samba, rum, beautiful flower fields, and bullfighting arena.
This was a city of love, a city of food, a city of competition, and a city of dance.
As the warship approached the harbor and docked, Damon's feet touched the pier. In the distance, he could see a row of magnificent palaces standing on the King's Plateau. That was the Dressrosa Royal Palace. From there, one could climb high and take in the beautiful scenery of the entire island.
The Donquixote Family's pirate flag, now bearing the insignia of the royal family, flew above the palace, replacing the Riku royal family's flag.
The city still bore the scars of battle; many buildings were damaged, and bloodstains remained in some unknown corners. A faint smell of blood and mildew lingered in the air.
Clearly, the Donquixote Family did not have it as easy as they had imagined in taking over the Dressrosa Kingdom.
After all, Doflamingo had lost the Diamond Legion and the Plum Blossom Legion in succession, and nearly a thousand brave and skilled pirates and several important family executives had been killed by Damon. The armed forces he could mobilize had shrunk by half, and it would not be an easy task to wipe out the royal guards who supported the Riku family, as well as the Riku royal family.
When Damon landed and walked along the wide Lovers' Avenue, he could clearly feel the gazes that were secretly watching him.
These people were Doflamingo's spies planted in the city, partly to wipe out the remnants of the Riku clan, and partly to keep a close watch on any unfamiliar powerful outsiders.
The navy's blatant arrival in the Dressrosa Kingdom naturally couldn't escape Doflamingo's notice.
Perhaps because he had now been granted the title of Shichibukai, even though the leader of this group of marines was Damon, Doflamingo did not send anyone to intercept him, so as to avoid giving others grounds for criticism.
Coconut trees provided shade, the streets were wide, and crowds thronged the area.
The change of dynasties did not seem to affect the daily lives of the residents, who continued to work at sunrise and rest at sunset, and occasionally saw women performing dances in the streets and tourists watching.
In the daily lives of these residents, the only variable might be those toy puppets of various shapes.
This was a member of the Donquixote Family's Plum Blossom Legion, embodying Sugar's Hobby-Hobby Fruit ability.
Once a user consumed the Hobby-Hobby Fruit, their growth would cease, and even their mind would be affected.
While its drawbacks were obvious, the Hobby-Hobby Fruit also possessed formidable power. Anyone touched by the fruit's hand would be turned into a toy, and all memories of that person by everyone else in the world would be completely erased.
Some even suspected that the void of the past century was caused by the Hobby-Hobby Fruit user of that generation.
Ignoring the watchful eyes around him, Damon led his navy to the palace gates.
Doflamingo stood on the wall, letting out a series of strange, gurgling laughs.