Dressrosa's docks were particularly sweltering under the noon sun. The scorching rays mercilessly baked the wooden planks, causing faint cracking sounds.
Laborers hauling cargo were drenched in sweat, their coarse cloth shirts long soaked through. They paused their work from time to time, wiping the beads of sweat rolling down their foreheads with calloused hands.
This era of Dressrosa had not yet experienced the false prosperity brought by Donquixote Doflamingo. Under the rule of the Riku Dynasty, the entire country appeared simple and poor. Lacking the wealth to attract pirates, even the most down-on-their-luck pirates seldom visited this peaceful island nation.
The scent of salty sea breeze and fish hung in the air at the docks. Workers were methodically loading baskets of fresh seafood onto carts, preparing to transport them to the city's market.
Suddenly, a middle-aged man counting inventory jerked his head up, squinting at the distant horizon. His pupils contracted sharply, and the ledger in his hand thumped to the ground.
"Tha... that's..." His voice trembled with fear before he mustered all his strength to shout, "A pirate ship! A pirate ship is coming!"
This cry was like a stone thrown into calm water, instantly rippling out across the dock. Workers halted their tasks, looking out to sea in panic. They saw a sailing ship flying a black flag slowly approaching. Though its hull was worn, it exuded a fierce aura, casting an ominous shadow under the sun.
The emblem painted on its sails flapped loudly in the wind, its ferocious pattern sending a chill down the spine of everyone present.
"Tha... that's the Beasts Pirates!" an older fisherman recognized the flag, his voice laced with unconcealed terror. As soon as his words fell, chaos erupted on the dock. Workers dropped their cargo and scattered in all directions. Some tripped, others shouted the names of their families.
"Oh God! Quick, go notify King Riku! The Beasts Pirates are here!" a man who looked like a foreman yelled, his voice piercing through the noisy crowd.
Several young men immediately turned and sprinted toward the city, their figures soon disappearing down the dusty road.
Inside the Dressrosa palace, sunlight streamed through stained glass windows onto an ornate carpet. King Riku Dold III was bent over his desk reviewing documents, a quill pen scratching softly on parchment. Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps shattered the palace's tranquility.
"Your Majesty, King Riku!" A man in a royal guard uniform rushed into the great hall in a panic, a fine sweat breaking out on his forehead. "A pirate ship is headed for the kingdom!"
The young king's head snapped up, a flash of astonishment in his deep blue eyes. He set down his quill and asked in a grave voice, "What's going on? Dressrosa hasn't suffered a pirate attack in a long time. Which pirate crew is it?"
The guard swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly. "It's... it's the Beasts Pirates."
"The Beasts?" King Riku's face paled. The quill on his desk was swept to the floor by his sleeve. "You mean the Beasts Pirates led by that 'Beast' Kaido with an 850 million Berry bounty?"
"That's them, Your Majesty," the guard's voice was almost a whisper. "The watchtower has confirmed their flag."
King Riku took a deep breath, his slender fingers tapping unconsciously on the desk. After a moment of silence, he stood up abruptly, his cape fluttering behind him. "Immediately summon all royal guards and come with me to the docks."
"But, Your Majesty..." the guard hesitated, looking up. "They are vicious pirates. We..."
"No 'buts'!" King Riku's voice was like a sword leaving its scabbard, echoing in the empty hall. "As the king of this country, protecting my people is my duty. Whatever they want, we must ensure the safety of our citizens!"
Shaken by the king's resolve, the guard straightened his back. "Understood, Your Majesty! I will make the arrangements at once."
King Riku strode to the window, gazing out at the blue sea. The sunlight fell on his resolute profile, reflecting the determination of a young king to protect his homeland.
However, by now, all of Dressrosa had descended into unprecedented chaos. The streets were filled with panicked citizens. Some ran carrying children, others pushed carts loaded with belongings. Shop windows were smashed, goods scattered everywhere.
"Run! The Beasts Pirates are coming!"
"Don't grab that, it's mine!"
"Get out of the way! Pirates are coming, this country is finished, run!"
On the streets of Dressrosa, chaos was spreading. Shop glass shattered, panicked crowds fled in all directions, and some lawless individuals took the opportunity to rob. In a dilapidated wooden hut on the city's outskirts, two youths were engaged in a fierce struggle with intruders.
"You bastard, daring to steal my Berries? Die!" A youth named Carue roared, raising a rusty machete and charging at the invader. His eyes burned with angry fire, the blade gleaming coldly in the dim room.
"Carue, don't be reckless!" His friend Kyros, seeing this, immediately grabbed a thick wooden club and followed close behind. The two coordinated seamlessly, and after a fierce scuffle, finally subdued the intruder. Panting heavily, they leaned against the wall, sweat dripping down their cheeks.
"Whew... Kyros, what in the world is going on? The whole country has gone crazy all of a sudden." Carue wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, asking in confusion. His eyes scanned the mess of overturned items in the room, his brow furrowed.
Kyros walked to the window, looking out at the chaotic street. "I heard from people coming into the city that it's because a pirate ship is heading toward Dressrosa." His voice held a trace of unease, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the club.
"What? Just because a pirate ship is coming, the whole country falls into chaos?" Carue's eyes widened in disbelief, the machete in his hand trembling slightly. He had never seen such a scene; the entire nation seemed to have lost all order in an instant.
"That's right. I heard it's a major pirate crew. The captain has a bounty of over 800 million Berries." Kyros lowered his voice, looking around warily. "It's the Beasts Pirates."
"A bounty... over 800 million!" Carue gasped, nearly dropping his knife. This number was far beyond his imagination; he had never heard of such a high bounty.
Kyros nodded gravely. "It's precisely because the pirates coming are so powerful that many believe this country is already finished. That's what caused such a big riot." Worry was evident in his gaze, anxious for the nation's future.
Carue's eyes suddenly lit up. He leaned closer to Kyros. "Hey, Kyros, what if... what if we joined the Beasts Pirates? Such a powerful pirate crew... if we joined, we wouldn't have to live hand-to-mouth anymore." His tone was filled with excitement and anticipation, as if he saw a chance to change his destiny.
"Carue, are you crazy?!" Kyros grabbed his friend's shoulders, his voice rising in shock. "They're pirates! If we approach them recklessly, we might just get killed on the spot!" His fingers tightened involuntarily, betraying his inner tension and fear.
***
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