Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece.

Violet raised her head and boldly looked at Bai Yu, her cheeks slightly flushed, and said softly, "Lord Bai Yu, I have long admired your reputation, and seeing you today, I can confirm that it is indeed well-deserved."

Bai Yu simply nodded and didn't say anything more.

But to Violet, this aloofness only added to its mystery and charm.

Upon entering the royal palace, a banquet had already been prepared.

The feast was a dazzling array of delicacies, and the air was filled with the aroma of fruit and wine. King Riku personally accompanied them, constantly pouring wine and serving food to Bai Yu and his party, speaking with the utmost courtesy.

During the meal, Princess Violet focused her attention on Bai Yu almost the entire time.

Seeing that his wine glass was empty, she immediately stood up, took the wine jug, and carefully filled it for him with gentle movements and tender eyes: "Lord Baiyu, please try our Dressrosa specialty wine, it has a very smooth taste."

Seeing that Bai Yu had no cutlery, she immediately offered him clean silver cutlery. Her fingertips inadvertently brushed against the back of his hand, and she immediately blushed and withdrew them, apologizing softly, "I'm sorry, I was rude..."

Connor sat to the side, munching on his dessert, watching curiously as the princess, who always lingered around Bai Yu, continued to fawn over her.

Robin saw all of this, a knowing smile playing on her lips, but said nothing more.

Artoria focused on enjoying her food, only occasionally glancing up at the princess who clearly had a crush on Shiraha before silently lowering her head again.

She was still quite curious about this overly enthusiastic princess.

Retsu Unohana looked at everyone gently, her eyes calm.

Rangiku rested her chin on her hand, observing Violet with great interest, a hint of admiration in her eyes. After all, she liked girls who were straightforward.

Bai Yu naturally noticed Princess Violet's deliberate attempt to get close, but remained silent.

He was only passing through Dressrosa on his way there, but if the other party was so proactive, he wouldn't let Doflamingo have it so easily. To Bai Yu, that kind of guy was just a roadside dummy.

Violet did not back down in the face of Bai Yu's indifference.

She mustered her courage and asked softly, "Lord Baiyu, you've traveled all the way from the Western Sea to the New World. You must have experienced many thrilling things, right? Could you... tell me about your adventures? I'd love to hear it."

Her eyes were full of expectation and admiration, like a kitten longing for a response.

King Riku understood his daughter's situation but did not stop her. In his view, if someone like Bai Yu could establish a good relationship with the royal family, it would be a great benefit to Dressrosa, especially since it was his daughter's own initiative.

Bai Yu spoke calmly, briefly mentioning his experiences at sea, his tone indifferent, as if those earth-shattering battles were nothing more than commonplace.

But the more this happened, the more Violet was moved.

She moved closer to Bai Yu, laid out some fresh meat for him, and said softly, "Lord Bai Yu, you must have had a long journey. Please eat more. Our Dressrosa barbecue is famous in the New World."

"If you are not comfortable staying in the palace, please tell me and I will arrange a room for you personally. You can ask me for anything you want."

"This little girl next to you is so cute. Is she a relative of yours? I have lots of candy here, I'll give it all to her."

She was extremely attentive, and the adoration in her eyes was almost undisguised: Just how strong must this guy be who could kill a Celestial Dragon and yet no one came to capture him?

He's strong and handsome, and Violet is completely smitten.

She envied Robin for being able to walk naturally alongside Shiraha, envied Artoria for being able to stand beside him without any reservations, and envied Connor for being able to rely on him without any defenses.

She wanted to be like that person.

Halfway through the banquet, King Riku exclaimed, "Lord Shiraha, your courage in confronting the World Government single-handedly is truly commendable."

In today's turbulent world, the Celestial Dragons are becoming increasingly arrogant, and there are very few people like Bai Yujun who dare to resist.

Dressrosa may be small, but it also yearns for freedom and peace. Alas, the Celestial Dragons... although we are also a member state of the World Government, the Celestial Dragons... sigh..."

Bai Yu put down his wine glass and raised his eyes slightly: "King Riku is very kind. Dressrosa has been quite peaceful under your rule, but this peace may not last forever. Before some storms come, we should make ourselves stronger."

King Riku did not fully grasp the deeper meaning of his words at first, taking it as a lament about the dangers of the new world.

Violet, who was standing to the side, took this opportunity to whisper, "No matter what storms may come in the future, as long as Lord Baiyu is in Dressrosa, there will definitely be no problem."

Her gaze was fixed on Bai Yu, filled with undisguised devotion and determination.

The setting sun streamed through the stained-glass windows of the main hall, casting dappled light upon Princess Violet and bathing her in a gentle glow.

She gazed at the man who had captivated her at first sight, secretly hoping that this encounter might be the most wonderful surprise of her life.

As Bai Yu gazed at the setting sun outside the window, a cold glint, unnoticed by anyone, flashed deep in his eyes.

Doflamingo...

The day you set foot in Dressrosa should not be far off.

Beauty is only meant for the strong...

A grand banquet was in full swing inside the royal palace. Warm yellow lights illuminated the table full of delicacies, and laughter and soft music intertwined, perfectly showcasing the peace and warmth of Dressrosa.

Hundreds of thousands of meters away in the dark sea, a strange ship is silently lurking on the surface of the water.

This is the Don Quixote family's ship. The core members of the Don Quixote family, who had been pursued by Vice Admiral Tsuru many times, finally gathered here.

In the dimly lit and spacious council chamber, several figures sat upright, the atmosphere oppressive and suffocating.

In the main seat, Donquixote Doflamingo leaned back lazily in the large chair, a pink feather coat casually draped over his shoulders, his gold glasses reflecting a cold light, and a cruel and insane smile playing on his lips.

He tapped the armrest lightly with his fingertips.

Below, Diamanti, Pica, and Torrepol, the three top executives, stood quietly, their auras calm, their eyes filled with absolute loyalty and awe for their young master.

"Young Master, everything is ready."

Torrepol's sticky voice rang out, his bloated body slightly hunched over: "Over in Dressrosa, all our spies are in place. That old bastard King Riku is still immersed in his peaceful dreams and knows nothing about our plans."

Diamanti gently stroked his cloak, his tone dismissive: "A king who only preaches peace, a bunch of fools immersed in fantasy—the new world will not allow such a naive nation."

Pica nodded in a muffled voice, and then a strange voice rang out: "Young Master, you can make your move at any time."

Doflamingo chuckled softly, his laughter hoarse and chilling, like a viper flicking its tongue.

"What's the rush?"

He slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked in the direction of Dressrosa, a hint of greed and tyranny flashing in his eyes.

Chapter 165 Confession

“King Riku, that hypocritical old man, has occupied Dressrosa for so many years, it’s time for him to give up his position.”

"The Kingdom of Love and Passion? Hmph, they're nothing but lambs to the slaughter. Only when they're in my hands will this kingdom have any real meaning."

His plans for Dressrosa are not only for the land and its wealth, but also for its geographical location and as a key piece in his future strategy to control the world order.

"The plan remains unchanged."

Doflamingo turned around, flicked his finger, and an invisible String-String Fruit power wrapped around his fingertip.

"First, shake King Riku's rule, create chaos, and make the people lose faith in him."

"Then, I will appear as a savior and, naturally, take over everything."

He had already calculated everything perfectly. The people of Dressrosa were kind and simple-minded, and with just a little provocation, he could get them to overthrow their own king.

Torrepol suddenly remembered something and blurted out, "Young Master, the pawn we planted in the Dressrosa Palace..."

"You mean, Monet?"

Doflamingo's smile deepened.

"Yes."

Torrepol nodded.

"She has successfully infiltrated the palace and become an ordinary palace maid. With her around, we can receive the most accurate intelligence and even take direct action against the royal family at crucial moments."

Monet, a user of the Snow-Snow Fruit, is fiercely loyal to Doflamingo. For his sake, she willingly infiltrates the foreign kingdom's palace, enduring humiliation and waiting for the moment to deliver a fatal blow.

"very good."

Doflamingo raised his hand and waved it lightly, his tone carrying an undeniable domineering authority:

"Pass down the order to inform Monet to be on standby at any time."

"The plan is officially launched."

"It won't be long before Dressrosa changes its name to Don Quixote!"

Diamanti, Pica, and Torrepol bowed simultaneously, their voices in unison and respect:

"I will obey your orders, young master!"

In the dim light, Doflamingo threw his head back and laughed, his laughter filled with madness and ambition.

He could almost see King Riku kneeling and begging for mercy, the people of Dressrosa worshipping him, and the entire Kingdom of Flowers becoming his plaything.

Meanwhile, as night deepened at the Dressrosa Palace, the grand feast continued.

Violet blushed slightly and said softly to Bai Yu, "Lord Bai Yu, the night is beautiful tonight. Would you like me to show you around the palace? The night view of the palace is the most beautiful place in Dressrosa..."

Her tone was expectant, her eyes shy, and her heart was filled with the person in front of her.

Bai Yu raised her eyes and looked out at the deep night.

He had a premonition that a conspiracy was rapidly approaching this peaceful kingdom.

The lights in the royal palace were still gently flowing when Violet's shy yet expectant invitation fell, and the atmosphere of the entire banquet paused subtly for a moment.

King Riku looked at the undisguised excitement in his daughter's eyes, a knowing and gratified smile appearing on his aged face. He gently stroked his beard, his eyes full of tacit approval and encouragement.

Princess Scarlett looked tenderly at her sister and nodded gently, as if to encourage her.

The royal family members tacitly slowed down their movements and even lowered their voices, as if afraid of disturbing this rare moment of beauty.

The expressions of the people around Bai Yu were all quite varied.

Robin held his wine glass, took a small sip of the fragrant wine, and a knowing smile appeared on his lips. His gaze swept between Violet and Bai Yu, carrying a hint of gentle teasing.

She wasn't jealous. Robin had her own logic when it came to things. With the outstanding Artoria, Retsu Unohana, and Rangiku Matsumoto by her side, it was clear that Shiraha wouldn't belong to her alone. Moreover, Robin was able to judge that Dressrosa was actually very dangerous, and that the country's geographical location was destined to be exploited by ambitious people.

If Violet and Shiraha can get together, perhaps Dressrosa in the future will also help Shiraha, becoming one of everyone's fallback options.

Artoria put down her knife and fork, her golden eyes sweeping over the blushing princess. There was no displeasure in her eyes, but rather a hint of approval for the princess's straightforward affection.

Unohana Retsu lowered her eyes and smiled gently, as tender as flowing water under the moon, quietly watching the scene before her.

The most straightforward example is Matsumoto Rangiku.

She rested her chin on her hand, her golden eyes curving into mischievous crescents. She gave Violet a knowing, suggestive raise of her eyebrows and subtly mouthed, "Good luck!"

That teasing yet encouraging gaze made Violet's ears burn, but she stubbornly raised her head, staring intently at Bai Yu, waiting for his answer.