"'Why', you ask?", Rosse looked calmly at the young man, the corners of his mouth lifting into a faint arc.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Dodo! Captain of the Arabasta Reclamation Team!"
Dodo puffed out his chest, proud and honored by his identity.
"Dodo, huh."
A trace of fluctuation flickered through Rosse's eyes. This wasn't someone he had arranged, but he did need someone to step forward.
"Dodo, step down!", The captain of the royal guard stepped out from beside Cobra's spirit vehicle and shouted angrily, "If it weren't for Saint Rosse, everyone in Erumalu would've been killed by that man. You have no idea how strong that man is."
The guard captain suddenly tore open his clothes, and the dark purple bruise on his chest made the crowd gasp.
And that was just from rubble struck by the aftermath of the battle. If he'd been in the midst of it, even ten thousand lives wouldn't have been enough to survive.
"How strong?", Dodo asked instinctively.
Thinking of yesterday's battle aftermath, the guard captain couldn't help but shudder, his voice trembling as he said, "The one who killed King Cobra was the legendary pirate, Red Count. He alone could destroy our entire Arabasta."
"Even his casual attacks could turn hundreds of meters around him into ruins."
This was also the first time Red Count's identity had been revealed to the public.
At the time yesterday, only a small number of people knew the Red Count had come to Arabasta and had even died at Rosse's hands.
"Red Count?"
"The Red Count, on par with Whitebeard and Roger?"
"It was actually him? Why did he come here?"
"..."
The nearby citizens were in an uproar upon hearing the guard captain's words.
Living on the Grand Line, they'd at least heard some names of powerful individuals.
Someone as strong as the Red Count, within their understanding, was even more terrifying than an admiral.
"Then why didn't you stop the Red Count...", Dodo looked at Saint Rosse, his voice noticeably softer.
Everyone knew how difficult it was to stop a top-tier powerhouse from killing ordinary people.
This couldn't be blamed on Rosse at all.
Rosse merely glanced calmly at Dodo, then walked past him alongside Sakazuki.
At the same time, Zephyr drove the running duck cart, pulling the ice coffin storing the Red Count, and followed the two of them.
Dodo opened his mouth to say something, but then heard the guard captain speak solemnly and mournfully, "How do you know Saint Rosse didn't try to stop him? The Red Count moved too fast, none of us had time to react, and he was already in front of King Cobra."
"At that time, only Saint Rosse and Lady Gion made it in time to act. Just one attack, and Lady Gion was blasted hundreds of meters away, crashing through dozens of homes."
"Saint Rosse also intervened, but the Red Count's attack was too powerful. Even just the aftermath of the attack completely destroyed the platform and killed both King Cobra and the Red Count."
"Besides, you're in no position to criticize Saint Rosse!"
"After King Cobra died, it was he who fought the Red Count and protected the rest of Erumalu."
Hearing the guard captain's words, the crowd was struck dumb with astonishment, the shock was almost written all over their faces.
What kind of joke was this?
A Celestial Dragon like Saint Rosse actually stepped forward to intervene, and even fought a legendary pirate?
That kind of thing completely upended their understanding.
"What happened to the Red Count in the end?", Dodo asked urgently.
"You'll see soon. Let's head to the palace gates first."
The guard captain glanced reverently at the backs of Rosse and Sakazuki. In his eyes, besides respect, there was even a trace of fanaticism.
"Huh?"
"What the heck is going on?"
Some were unhappy with the guard captain playing riddles, but many clever folks had already guessed the outcome. And expressions of excitement suddenly spread across their faces.
Dodo was one of them. A sudden realization struck him, and he hurriedly looked back.
When he saw the running duck pulling the ice coffin, which seemed to contain a corpse, Dodo suddenly burst into tears.
"That's great! King Cobra, SOMEONE AVENGED YOU!"
He kowtowed heavily a few times in the direction of Rosse and Sakazuki, showing the depth of his excitement and emotion.
Others, seeing Dodo's actions, quickly followed suit, with many making similar gestures.
Afterward, they followed behind Rosse and the others, all heading toward the palace, faces full of anticipation.
At the same time, news that King Cobra's death had been avenged spread rapidly throughout the royal capital.
Before long, hundreds of thousands gathered before the palace gates, packed tightly together.
At this moment, Rosse and the others were already standing atop the palace wall.
Cobra's unexpected death yesterday had turned today into a state funeral day for him.
Queen Titi pressed her lips together and also stepped up to the palace wall. A trace of sorrow could be seen deep in her eyes, but more than that, she was calm.
She had known something would happen to Cobra, just not this soon, and not from such an unexpected incident.
Yesterday, she had already learned that the one who killed Cobra, the Red Count, had also been slain by Saint Rosse and Sakazuki.
All things considered, Rosse had avenged Cobra.
Just this favor alone made Rosse taking over Arabasta seem not much of a problem.
Thinking of this, Queen Titi gave a self-mocking smile.
A few days ago, she had already understood: even as the royalty of an allied kingdom, without power, one was still just livestock to be slaughtered.
Just like she once was, utterly powerless in front of Rosse.
Just like Cobra yesterday, facing the Red Count with no chance of escape.
The reason they had lived well up to now was simply that someone had been maintaining order, and those powerhouses hadn't bothered to harm them.
"Titi, it's your turn," Sora stood beside Queen Titi, gently holding her hand and speaking softly.
Today was the day of Cobra's funeral, and as queen, Titi was surely the one to preside over it.
"I know..."
Listening to the clamor of the people below, Queen Titi pressed her lips tightly together, took a deep breath, and slowly stepped to the front of the palace wall.
Looking down at the slowly quieting crowd, a complex emotion flashed through Queen Titi's eyes.
But in the end, she chose to trust Rosse.
'With Rosse watching over it, Arabasta will surely be better...'
"I am very sorry to be standing here today to deliver heavy news to you."
"His Majesty of Arabasta, my husband, was killed yesterday in Erumalu."
"My feelings, like yours, are deeply heavy..."
"..."
Queen Titi quickly entered her role and began mourning King Cobra.
Rosse stood atop the palace wall, clearly able to see.
Everyone below had sorrow written all over their faces, and many were crying bitterly.
This scene was enough to show how much Cobra had won the hearts of the people.
But unfortunately, in this world where strength reigns supreme, without strength, no amount of public love means anything.
For the powerful to kill an ordinary person was far too easy.
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