Kaidou stood before the royal palace of the Flower Country, his rugged laughter echoing through the air: "Wororororo, interesting! It seems the four seas aren't as weak as I imagined!"
His sharp eyes scanned the attendants following the King of the Flower Country, noticing several individuals with remarkable combat prowess among them. This surprised Kaidou somewhat, as in his recollection, the Flower Country had previously been defeated by an enemy nation's advanced weaponry. It appeared this vast ocean was indeed full of unexpected developments.
"Your Majesty." Upon seeing the king's arrival, Chinjao immediately withdrew from his combat stance and bowed respectfully. The leader of the Eight Treasure Navy showed proper deference to the King of the Flower Country.
The King of the Flower Country gave a slight nod, then turned his gaze to Kaidou, asking in a steady tone: "Mr. Kaidou, may I inquire about the purpose of your sudden visit to the Flower Country?"
"Wororororo, I heard the Flower Country claims to be the strongest nation in the West Sea, so I came to see for myself." Kaidou laughed heartily, his voice causing the surrounding leaves to rustle.
Upon hearing this, the King of the Flower Country showed a thoughtful expression. After a moment of contemplation, he said: "Since Mr. Kaidou bears no ill will toward the Flower Country, I must request that you refrain from acting recklessly within our borders. Of course, as a token of our appreciation, please accompany me to the banquet hall in the port city, where I shall host a feast for Mr. Kaidou and all members of the Beasts Pirates."
After speaking these words, the king visibly relaxed, his eyes sweeping over Kaidou and the people behind him. He noticed the diverse appearances of the pirates following Kaidou - some with beast-like horns, others with strangely colored skin - clearly not ordinary humans.
Kaidou laughed heartily at this invitation: "Wororororo, interesting! Then I'll gladly accept your hospitality." He turned and shouted to his crew members behind him: "Listen up, everyone! We're going to a feast!"
The members of the Beasts Pirates immediately erupted in cheers, creating a lively scene. Some excitedly beat their chests, while others let out beast-like howls.
Soon, everyone boarded the Flower Country's transportation. These carriages, pulled by special steeds, were ornately decorated with exquisitely carved patterns on their compartments, showcasing the Flower Country's unique cultural heritage. The carriage curtains were made of premium silk, embroidered with the national flower of the Flower Country.
The island occupied by the Flower Country was relatively large in size, though not comparable to the massive scale of Alabasta, it was still quite substantial. The port city alone covered considerable area, but riding in these extremely fast carriages, they reached their destination in just over ten minutes.
During the journey, Kaidou learned from the king that this coincided with the Flower Country's Marine Force deployment period, which explained why the king and numerous Marine Force leaders had gathered in the port city. The king specifically introduced the Flower Country's proud Eight Treasure Navy, a Marine Force renowned throughout the West Sea.
Upon arriving at the banquet hall, they were greeted by a magnificent golden hall. Exquisite crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, while portraits of previous kings adorned the walls. In the center of the hall stood a massive redwood round table covered with a gold-threaded tablecloth.
Soon, numerous waiters in traditional attire brought forth an array of Flower Country's specialty delicacies: aromatic whole roasted lamb, vibrant seafood platters, exquisitely shaped pastries, and the rich, fragrant local wine unique to Flower Country.
Kaidou unceremoniously grabbed a roasted lamb leg and devoured it voraciously, grease dripping down his beard. The rest of the Beasts Pirates followed suit, feasting heartily on meat and wine, reveling in the merriment. The banquet hall filled with laughter, chatter, and the clinking of plates and cups.
Seemingly influenced by the Beasts Pirates, the king of Flower Country and the key figures of the Marine Force also indulged in the feast with hearty appetites.
In the opulent banquet hall of Flower Country, crystal chandeliers refracted brilliant light, casting a golden, resplendent glow throughout the grand room.
King Ramen personally filled Kaidou of the Beasts' cup with fine wine. As they exchanged toasts, the banquet atmosphere gradually warmed up. Servants weaved through the crowd, continuously refilling drinks and replenishing dishes, while the hall buzzed with joyous laughter and conversation.
Midway through the banquet, King Ramen of Flower Country suddenly set down his wine cup, his face clouded with concern. He carefully broached the subject: "Mr. Kaidou, if I may ask, how long do you plan to stay in Flower Country this time?"
Kaidou laughed heartily, his voice booming even louder from the alcohol: "Wororororo! Flower Country has deep heritage - I plan to stay here for quite a while. What, is Your Majesty not welcoming me?"
"Not at all," King Ramen quickly waved his hands, "Under normal circumstances, you could stay as long as you wish. However..." He hesitated before continuing in a lowered voice: "I've heard that you've recently crossed paths with the World Nobles. The Marines have dispatched the 'Naval Hero' Monkey D. Garp to the West Sea specifically to capture you."
"Garp?" A flicker of surprise crossed Kaidou's eyes as his thick fingers rubbed the rim of his wine cup, "That old bastard would actually make a special trip to the West Sea just for me?"
The atmosphere in the banquet hall instantly froze. The Beasts Pirates members ceased their revelry, setting down their cups as their gazes uniformly turned toward their captain. The Flower Country Marine Force leaders unconsciously tensed up, some already quietly resting their hands on their weapons.
King Ramen continued his persuasion: "According to reliable information, Vice Admiral Garp will arrive in Flower Country soon. Therefore..." He took a deep breath, "I must ask you to leave before Garp's arrival. You understand what kind of destruction would befall Flower Country if someone of your stature were to clash here."
After a moment of silence, Kaidou suddenly erupted with deafening laughter: "Wororororo! That old bastard Garp is coming? Interesting! Very interesting!" His laughter was so powerful that it made the crystal chandeliers tremble slightly, causing several crystal ornaments to fall and shatter with tinkling sounds.
King Ramen looked worried: "Mr. Kaidou, you're..."
"Wororororo, this gets more interesting by the minute. Is Garp coming alone?" Kaidou casually inquired.
"I'm not certain about that," the king replied, "Although Flower Country is a World Government affiliate nation, our relationship with the Marines isn't that close."
"Very well, rest assured - I'll leave Flower Country before Garp arrives," Kaidou stated directly.
"That is most generous of you, Mr. Kaidou." The king expressed his gratitude to Kaidou, "Mr. Kaidou, let me propose a toast to you."
Immediately, the banquet hall's atmosphere became lively once again.
The feast lasted until late into the night, with both Kaidou and King Ramen thoroughly drunk. Members of the Beasts Pirates were also stumbling about, some having collapsed directly onto the floor in deep slumber.