At this moment, the old butler, Abbott, stepped forward and bowed slightly, his tone carrying a hint of difficulty:
"Duke, there is a problem. The Kingdom of Vodka, which previously supplied Oni Race Slaves, has recently fallen into civil war, and that channel has been cut off.
According to the latest news from Sabaody, I'm afraid... there will be no new Oni Slaves available for purchase in the near future."
"What?" Duke Ditet's brow furrowed again, his fat fingers tapping the armrest irritably.
"No Oni? Then what about the 'Horn' position? Those noble lords who come to watch the gladiator fights are counting on seeing these rare races bleed!"
Abbott pondered for a moment, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as he whispered, "My Lord, it's true the Oni channel is temporarily cut, but hasn't Dressrosa just happened to receive two... 'guests' who are even rarer than the Oni and more capable of igniting the crowd?"
Duke Ditet's cloudy eyes rolled as he looked at him inquiringly.
Abbott's face broke into a flattering and sinister smile as he continued, "I'm referring to those on that large ship in the harbor... those two Female Giants! They are the guards of that beautiful 'Princess.'
As long as we find a way to 'invite' that princess... then those two giant guards will be like shackled beasts, forced to be at our mercy just like the current 'Horn,' becoming the Colosseum's new cash cows. And..."
He paused, his gaze becoming even more lewd as he added meaningfully,
"My Lord, don't you think that Small Giant-sized 'Princess' herself is a peerless work of art?
Though her face is hidden, that unique temperament... if one could get close and taste a Giant Race princess, that's an experience even the Celestial Dragons might not have had?"
A nearby guard, hearing this bold plan, showed a hint of worry on his face and couldn't help but interject:
"But Butler... behind the Giant Race is Elbaf! That's the homeland of warriors known as the 'World's Strongest Nation.' Can we... can we afford to provoke them?"
"What are you afraid of!"
Duke Ditet reacted like a cat whose Tail had been stepped on, slamming the armrest. The fat on his face trembled with excitement, his voice filled with the arrogance of a "High Noble."
"Open your dog eyes and look clearly! I am a noble with the blood of the esteemed Celestial Dragons! My ancestors once intermarried with the Donquixote family, one of the twenty kings who created this World Government!
What are those barbaric giants living in trees? Even if they really dare to come looking for trouble, is the Marine stationed in the royal palace just for show?
Vice Admiral Zephyr is in Dressrosa right now! He will protect us, the legitimate nobles of the World Government Affiliated Nations!"
The guard trembled all over from the shouting and quickly lowered his head, flattering him repeatedly:
"Yes, yes, yes! This subordinate is foolish, I deserve to die! I almost forgot that such noble blood flows within you, Duke!"
Although Duke Ditet was talking tough, there was still an unnoticeable hint of hollowness deep in his eyes. He wasn't actually sure if that thin sliver of Celestial Dragon blood could truly provide protection; he just couldn't show weakness in front of his subordinates and these women.
As someone who had looked after Ditet for a long time, Abbott saw the lack of confidence in his eyes and spoke up at the right time:
"In fact, the Duke has no need to worry about this at all."
"Oh?" Duke Ditet looked at him, his tone softening slightly.
"Abbott, what other insights do you have?"
Abbott cleared his throat and analyzed logically:
"My Lord, as far as I know, Elbaf is a pure giant kingdom, and its citizens are all massive, pure-blooded giants.
However, the 'Princess' who came to us is much smaller than a normal giant, closer to the legendary 'Small Giants' or a specific half-breed.
Furthermore, there are many normal-sized human members on their ship. This is enough to show they are not from Elbaf, but from some unknown overseas kingdom where giants and humans live together."
A cunning light flickered in his eyes as he threw out the most crucial point:
"And most importantly, among the list of all World Government Affiliated Nations, no such country where giants and humans cohabitate exists!
Therefore, their country is a non-Affiliated Nation! An 'illegal' place not recognized or protected by the World Government!"
"Against such non-Affiliated Nations, we, as members of the noble World Government Affiliated Nations, possess natural advantages and rights!
Even if we take some... ahem, 'necessary' measures against them, it would be a 'just act' to maintain the Order of the World Government!
If their country dares to resist, we can fully request the Marine to mobilize and completely annihilate them!
When the time comes, not only can we harvest more giant Slaves and wealth, but we can also add a merit of upholding 'justice' to your name, Duke!"
He concluded at last, his tone full of incitement:
"And that princess, if my guess is correct, has a giant father and a human mother. Her size is very similar to the Bacania Tribe; she could be called a Bacania Tribe member of the new era. We can directly define her as a Bacania. Given the habits of those lords, they certainly won't investigate in detail.
With this sensitive identity, plus the background of a non-Affiliated Nation, as long as we 'polish' the news a bit and report it to the World Government, do you think those high-and-mighty lords will let her and the country behind her go?
So, My Lord, we are not looking for trouble; we are clearing out potential 'unstable factors' for the World Government! We are performing a great service!"
Listening to Abbott's analysis, the doubt on Duke Ditet's face vanished completely, replaced by a red glow of greed and excitement. He laughed heartily and slapped the armrest hard:
"Good! Good! Good! Abbott, you truly are my strategist! Your analysis is penetrating! We'll do exactly that!"
His fat body leaned forward with excitement, his eyes flashing with a determined light as he instructed Abbott:
"Go down and make the arrangements immediately! The personnel must be capable, the operation must be secret, and the methods must be 'clean'!
I want to see that charming 'Princess' and her two powerful giant guards in my castle as soon as possible!
They will become the new aces of my Colosseum and the most dazzling collectibles of Duke Ditet!"
"Yes, Duke! I will certainly handle it properly and not fail your expectations!"
Abbott bowed deeply, a sinister smile of a successful plot on his face, as he respectfully exited the room... Meanwhile, on the sunny streets of Dressrosa filled with laughter.
Charlotte Linlin, who was currently sampling local specialty juices with Gloriosa, suddenly frowned slightly and subconsciously looked back at the grand silhouette of the Colosseum building.
"What's wrong, Linlin?" Gloriosa noticed her abnormality.
"It's nothing," Charlotte Linlin withdrew her gaze and took a sip of the cold juice, the look under her sunglasses becoming a bit sharper,
"I just suddenly feel that this kingdom of 'Love and Passion' doesn't seem as... simple as it appears on the surface."
Just a moment ago, a thick sense of malice, like the flicking tongue of a venomous snake in the dark, was perceived by her.
And in the deepest part of the underground Colosseum, in a corner of a dark, damp cell reeking of rot and blood.
That Oni warrior known as 'Horn' lay curled up, his massive, scarred body bound by heavy chains that bit into his flesh.
Endless pain and hunger tortured his body, but at this moment, a groundless, profoundly deep sense of sorrow suddenly flooded his already numb heart like a tide.
As if sensing something, he suddenly raised his head in the endless darkness, his bloodshot eyes piercing through the stone walls to look in a certain direction.
A drop of cloudy, hot tear fell uncontrollably from his resolute face, which was covered in old and new scars, mixing with the clotted blood and hitting the cold, dirty ground with a 'patter,' shattering into a puddle.
He didn't know where this heart-wrenching sadness came from; he only knew a premonition that something important was about to be lost forever, like an invisible hand tightly clutching his throat.
A strong sense of unease was growing wildly in the field of his heart.
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