https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1119-They-Are-the-Bottomless-Abyss/13541386/
Chapter 1120: The Devil's Rules
Chapter 1120: The Devil's Rules
As Kuro approached the Castle gates from the White Radiant Inner Wall, the massive doors swung open. Two attendants bowed deeply, gesturing for him to enter. They guided him through the corridors, eventually halting at a grand entrance midway down another hallway. With synchronized precision, they pulled open the doors and knelt on one knee, eyes closed.
"Seriously, all these formalities?" Kuro muttered, biting down on his cigar. He strode into the opulent banquet hall, its walls adorned with intricate murals and the floor covered in lavish carpets. At the center sat a man he’d encountered before—a striking young noble with rare golden eyes. Leaning back in the head seat at the long table, the man smiled. "Golden Lionadmiral, it’s an honor to finally meet a Daimyo of your legend. I am Doveridge Edmund, King of Dominica."
"Oh, I know who you are", Kuro replied, plopping down opposite him. "Anyway, let’s get this over with—I’ve got 100 million now." He leaned forward, adding casually, "But try to speak slowly, yeah? At 15 million per hour, I’d love it if you dragged this out for eight or ten hours. And hey, servant, bring me some food! The best dishes you’ve got, and the finest wine—if it’s not good, I’ll smash the place."
The attendant glanced at Edmund, who nodded with a faint smile. Waving the servant away, he said, "What a fortunate coincidence you’ve arrived in my territory, Golden Lionadmiral. You’ve already resolved a critical crisis regarding a World Noble for me. Naturally, I’m here to express my gratitude. Even if you doubled this sum, it would still be a mere token of thanks."
"Then double it", Kuro said, reclining as he bit his cigar. "Thanks for the sponsorship. The Navy won’t forget your contributions. Maybe I’ll even award you an Honor Marine medal. Acceptable, right? Even if you’re a king, in the Grand Line, you’re still just another man. The Navy, the authority on all men of the sea, can hand out a tiny medal no problem."
Edmund’s smile deepened. "If it pleases you, of course. Everything is to honor your rescue of Kemorike and the protection of Dominica."
"So what the hell do you want from me anyway?" Kuro snapped, narrowing his eyes. "Back when I gave you that support, you were so eager to cut ties. Now suddenly you’re dragging me back into this? If you’ve got money, why not use it to improve the lives of your citizens? Even pirates would weep at the plight of the people in your capital!"
Edmund’s golden eyes glinted. "Let me introduce myself properly. I am Doveridge Edmund, the youngest King in Dominica’s brief history. I ascended the throne at eight years old—and not as a puppet, but as a sovereign with firm convictions."
"What kind of convictions? Turning your subjects into scared little mice?" Kuro quipped.
"Indeed", Edmund said smoothly. "Through my policies, they’ve fallen from prosperity to destitution. That is my governance, my choice. As King, every action I take is justified. The people of Dominica entered an Agreement with the Crown: the King grants the right to live here, and in return, they offer everything to the throne."
The epitome of aristocratic rhetoric.
But in this world, such logic was common sense. Nothing to be shocked about.
Kuro exhaled a plume of smoke, silent for a moment.
Edmund continued, "If it pleases me, it is acceptable. I’m even willing to offer you half my kingdom’s wealth and rights—if you do me a small favor."
"Wait, seriously?" Kuro leaned forward, intrigued. "What kind of favor?"
He didn’t care about the kingdom’s current state—internal affairs were none of his business. But if half the nation’s rights and wealth were on the table? Of course, he’d say yes. He wasn’t an idiot.
"So, you agree?" Edmund’s eyes gleamed with golden light.
"Of course—" Kuro began, then paused. A sudden chill prickled his instincts. He shifted tone. "But what exactly is this favor? I’m not jumping into anything blind."
"Just a trivial task", Edmund said. "No need for strategic thinking. Just a bit of physical effort."
"Physical effort?" Kuro’s suspicion deepened. "What kind of effort?"
Edmund sighed, feigning disappointment. "The great Golden Lionadmiral, hesitating over such a small request? I’m offering half my kingdom’s wealth and rights. Surely a simple task of strength isn’t worth all these questions. Rest assured, it’s not to kill a World Noble. As a Member State’s King, I have no quarrel with them."
"Then spit it out already!" Kuro’s brow twitched, a blue vein throbbing. "You know Old Man’s the Admiral! If Old Man takes off to play hide-and-seek with you, I’m outta here!"
Edmund stared at him silently, then his gaze shifted as a servant wheeled in a food cart.
"Let’s eat first", he said, gesturing to the dishes being arranged before Kuro. The servant uncorked a wine bottle, pouring a glass.
Kuro eyed the wine. "Did he sober up yet?"
The servant flinched, nodding. "Of course, Admiral. I drank two nights ago—I’m perfectly awake now."
"I wasn’t asking you", Kuro said dryly, tugging his lips. "I meant the wine. Is it sober yet?"
"Of course! My apologies!" The servant bowed hastily, retreating with a pale face.
Kuro shot him a glare before lifting the glass. "You’re pretty lenient with your staff. Letting them drink two nights ago? I thought you were an authoritative ruler."
"For my people, I am generous", Edmund said. "But only for my own."
"Fascinating", Kuro murmured, raising the glass to his lips.
Edmund’s smile widened. "Speaking of wine, there’s a legend. A century ago, Dominica wasn’t yet unified. This main island was ruled by another nation, its King a devil. He made an Agreement: anyone who drank his banquet wine would become his servant, bound by the devil’s Rules."
"Sounds like nonsense", Kuro said without looking up. "There’s no such thing as devils."
The glass inched closer to his mouth.
"Perhaps", Edmund mused. "But consider this, Golden Lionadmiral—if you were the devil, you’d surely devise a more sophisticated trap than such a childish tale. Yet what if the legend were true? If drinking this wine binds you to the devil’s Rules, making you his servant… what would you do then? How would you, Golden Lionadmiral, break free?"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
