LIGHTNOVELONLINE Master in Business
Oh my... now they have placed me on the spot. I wonder why it always turns up like this. Is this the fate of people with power? or is it because I'm too handsome? I mean... there is absolutely no reason to do this.
Marrying Viola would certainly have me pay more attention to Dressrosa instead of having it as a sideline ally. Familial ties are stronger than diplomatic ties, it is the whole reason why aristocrats did this in the past to begin with.
He wants Dressrosa to be independent from the world government and to do so his only option is for me to take them in. I'm the only person in this world the world government currently fears.
The world government doesn't fear the Yonko because the Yonko are always fighting among themselves, not against the world government.
They don't fear the revolutionaries because although Dragon is strong, he's far from capable of producing a real radical threat to them, moreover... Dragon's weakness is his lack of deterministic action. He doesn't directly attack the world government because he's afraid of the consequences his actions will have on the world as a whole, for example... plundering away the national tribute.
They're though, afraid of me... why? because they know I don't give two f*cks. I'm a nuclear warhead and I'm not afraid to retaliate. My only weakness is Rusukaina which for personal reasons I need it to be attached to the ground in its current location. I can't put Rusukaina in the skies as I did with Amazon Lily or how Shandora is. Those two islands are safe up there and their location changes frequently.
Three years ago they tried to exploit this weakness of mine. I already knew if they wanted to get to me, that was the only way. The reason for everything? Robin. They wanted me to give Robin away when she sailed and to compel me, they called a Buster Call in Rusukaina.
It didn't end well for them. I let them know that I was just as capable of obliterating an island as they were... I could do it faster. The moment I got the intel from Stussy and even before the ships surrounded Rusukaina... Enies Lobby was already out of the map and I was preparing the second bomb to fall in the G1 and give me the kinetic energy I needed to summon Astrape and Bronte again.
This is something everyone in this world including Riku knows: No one should piss me off because I'm a bit crazy. They said I had severe mental health issues, well they weren't wrong.
"Riku-" I wanted to reject the proposal with all the pain in my heart, Viola is a nice girl, she's sexy, she's cheerful and she looks like she's down to have a lot of fun... but I already have so many lovers... I'm not even worried about bringing in another one, I know the girls will understand and spoil me anyway.
But recently I have realised thanks to Robin that I'm not a good lover at all. I'm not a good husband and I want to fix this; getting another wife is not the way to fix it...
"R-Royal Father, it really isn't what you think!".
Viola emphasized and I sighed in relief, it is good to know she's not interested.
"It isn't?" Riku asked again, a bit confused. This time though there was no answer coming from the princess, instead she turned around to avoid both our gazes.
"..."
Can't be can it? I mean... we haven't been together that long.
"This is a complicated one, King Riku... I'm already married" I stated and saw how Viola lowered her gaze this time and bit her lips.
"But I heard you have multiple wives, surely adding my daughter shouldn't be a problem" He remarked, rubbing his beard... I don't know why but he winked at her as if saying 'I got this!'.
"Who told you that?".
"Admiral Aokiji".
I clenched my fists, since when does that lazy admiral pay attention to my love life? I was getting out of reasons to reject this engagement.
'Aokiji you bastard... thank you!'.
"H-Hmn... that's the truth but it is not easy for me to marry somebody else right away" I stated honestly. Right now I want to focus on my girls, I may not even be stepping on the workshop for a while just to spoil them a bit.
"You heard fa-" Viola seemed to be in the same tone with me.
We want this, but it can't be... nevertheless Riku seemed to be adamant on his claim.
"Veyron... we understand very well what a political marriage means. That's why I'm not asking you to marry my daughter right away. I merely hope you can both get engaged and I'll leave it to you two when this marriage shall take effect".
He's giving it his all, his gaze was fixed on her and at this point, Viola's lips were shivering. I see what's happening here. He's not only trying to convince me, he's trying to convince her too.
"Not only would our nations benefit from this alliance, but also... I'm sure my dear daughter will find happiness with you. You irradiate that sort of aura, Veyron... the aura of a man that cares for his people" He smiled at me with his shiniest smile.
Bullsh*t. Sure that's the truth but such an aura doesn't exist. I'm certain despite being a King you don't have Conqueror Haki to feel the residual 4th Haki aura I emit, so I call this one Bullsh*t.
"I understand Riku. But we still don't know what Viola thinks about this!"
At this point, I had run out of reasons to reject. To summarize, Dressrosa presented a good strategic commercial spot for me, more so if they produced everything I demanded at a cheap cost, it would allow me to sell my products in the underworld and ship them to the new world more efficiently. But at the same time, It wasn't easier for me to mobilise and defend Dressrosa if it was attacked as I'm most of the time in the new world and my armies are in Shandia and Rusukaina. Everything thanks to the bloody red line messing everything up.
Entering an alliance in these conditions would mean that Dressrosa would be vulnerable upon leaving their affiliation with the world government. Upon discovering their affiliation with me, they'd be raided, likely by the CP0. If Viola married me though, I'd be compelled due to my feelings for her to pay more attention to Dressrosa.
I'd have to make a statement and stick to it: 'If you mess with Dressrosa I'll mess with your wives' or something like that... to keep the world government at bay. Dressrosa would still be a bit vulnerable until I built up an army in here, but the fear of my name would protect them in the meantime.
That's why, Viola's answer would determine Dressrosa's future. They could decide to stick with the world government but they're currently in no condition to pay the next year's tribute and the celestial dragons don't care about that. This attack from the Donquixote Family cost them a lot... their status was likely to not increase in the next century and these people would struggle.
If they stick to me though... Dressrosa is going to be a modern kingdom in the next decade. Shandians, Amazonians and Skypeans are likely to move here too to have a taste of the new world and different cultures, eventually building up a nice army blessed by me and Hancock and the girls since she liked this place a lot too.
"I don't mind!".
And that's it, that's her answer. Viola held the centre of her chest and looked at me with determination, perhaps she didn't give the matter as much thought as I did. But she decided in the end to pursue her instincts.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! Leaving my personal feelings aside. For the last few days I bore witness of your loyalty, capabilities... the love for those around you and your unwavering determination to protect the people you care for. I don't want to give up on the chance to give Dressrosa the best backer it could get and also... to show you as well that our Kingdom can be of immense help to you. My people are passionate and hardworking, please allow me to show you this. Allow me to marry you".
She extended her hand forward towards me with the brightest of smiles. If I took it, it was the same as taking her into my family. But I didn't do it right away.
"One more question... what about your personal feelings?".
She blushed right away and fidgeted, playing with her long brown hair, "I... would like to spend more time with you and the girls. I want to get to know more about you, like the things you like... or the things you do, or about your powers. I want to know so many things about you, it feels like the last days we were together weren't enough, I could only look at you enthralled while you handled everything. I wished I could have helped more".
"..."
"At the same time... I thought that perhaps there was no space for me. There were so many ladies... all of them more powerful than me, more beautiful than me-".
'Maybe more powerful but more beautiful...' I sighed.
"But even then... I don't wish to give up at least until I know that my feelings are wrong. I have never met a man like you, Veyron".
"I'm going to be sixteen years old soon you know?~".
"Eh?"
"Ah?"
As expected they don't know. Well, my current appearance makes me look like I'm in my twenties, not face-wise but height-wise.
"You're so young... I'm twenty this year!~"
Contrary to what I expected, it seems that knowing I'm this young motivated her as she pulled me into a warm hug, guess even like this I still have the shota power that managed to take down the Strongest Swordswoman Alive and even Momousagi Gion, it is no joking matter. For some reason, it doesn't work with Sakazuki though.
"I would love to be your wife, Veyron... what do you think?"
She grew bolder in just a few seconds, maybe she thinks because I'm younger I'm going to be gullible and easily influenced by those two massive peaks of hers, and you know what? she's bloody right.
I held her hand with a smile before kissing the back of it. This is all your fault, Prim, if you had come here to do business instead of me, this wouldn't have happened. I'm an engineer, not a businessman... and for good reasons.
"I want to get to know you too, Viola... I accept this engagement Riku, but I hope you'll give me enough time to formalise the marriage".
!!!~
Viola hugged me and delivered the fiercest of kisses to my right cheek.
"Hahahaha! Of course, take all the time you need...! As long as it doesn't take you long to give me a grandson or a granddaughter, I don't mind! A pity you have to leave so soon, this matter should be celebrated in the whole Kingdom!".
He left the room dancing, leaving the two of us stupefied as I felt Viola's hug tightening around me.
"..."
"..."
I'm going to marry the princess of Dressrosa. In exchange I'll get almost complete control over this country's infrastructure and my child will be the future King or Queen. It is only requested by me to deliver protection... in addition, I was just asked to have children soon.
I know you will be proud of me once I tell you this, Prim... this is how I do business. I want to see if you're going to let me negotiate again after this.
**
**
With everything settled and done, Viola walked me around town looking for Yamato as now I had to depart for Wano. The faster I finish the faster I can be in Fishman Island and the faster I can hug my girls to sleep... I'm still extremely tired after using Astrape and Bronte. Although my body has nigh infinite energy, my mind still gets tired... creating trillion-volt lightning strains my Psychokinesis to the limit. If I don't go and sleep soon, I'll be experiencing migraines in a few hours.
"I hope that you can come to visit me, Veyron... I could teach you to dance~".
"You know how to dance, Viola?".
"That's right, the traditional foods of our country, our folklore and dance, I wish to show you everything so... please come visit me often... it won't be easy for me to go to you in the meantime as I want to help my father".
"I promise! You know, although I'm married to the girls... I haven't had a proper ceremony with them so... I'm hoping you will be included there when the time comes after we officialise everything".
"I'd love that~" She took both of my cheeks and after a certain degree of consideration she kissed my cheek again.
"You can kiss my lips if you want you know?" I suggested. It is not like I'm going to reject her, but she's good to decide the pace.
"I'm sorry... y-you're the first boy I've had this sort of relationship with" She blushed again like a little girl, "But since we won't have much time together... I don't know... how fast we should go".
She can be so cute and charming, I took the back of her palm and kissed it again, "We can go as fast as you want... I'm also not the most experienced person... when it comes to this so, let's make this work together, okay?".
"H-Hmn" She hugged me again, for some reason this time it was a lot tighter and warmer.
"It feels different to hug you now... I know you will be my husband, it feels giddy~ let's go, I don't want to keep you here longer than necessary, you look so tired... I'd have told you to stay with us tonight to sleep, but... you want to be back quickly, right?".
"Yes, thanks for understanding" I rejected her kindness respectfully, some other day I'll come here on my own and spend some time with ever, even stay to sleep, but it won't be now.
I had to sense Yamato's presence to find her, which made me a bit curious since her aura tells me that she's quite strong but I haven't seen her fight. We found her on what looked like an island next to Dressrosa.
"This Island is called Green Bit. It is the home of a tribe that has lived alongside us in Dressrosa for centuries, they're called the Tontatta. Back when you first found me, it was them who gave me the courage to speak to you" Viola explained to me as she led me by the hand after we crossed a bridge to arrive on this little island.
"Look Veyron! There are so many and they're so small!"
There were several of them surrounding Yamato and a teenage girl who was laughing alongside her, I recognised her, she was Rebecca. The girl was so enthralled by the games that she was pulled into the forest by the little guys to play.
The little creatures looked like fairies but without wings.
"Viola!"
"Leo!"
My fiance took the little fairy in her hands, it seemed they were acquainted.
"This little guy is Leo, Veyron... he's my childhood friend~ Leo, this is Veyron... he's m-my fiance".
"Fiance?!"
Just as quickly as those words were mentioned all of those little fairies started pointing their weapons at me, dang they're not friendly at all. I lifted my hands in defeat.
"You don't have bad intentions with the princess do you?!".
I don't want to lie but... I guess those other intentions don't count in this scenario.
"I don't, in fact, we have been engaged just a few minutes~ what are you guys, fairies?".
"What fairies? We're proud dwarves!".
This little guy had green attire and looked like a character you'd see in Peter Pan as a member of the Lost Boys.
They introduced themselves to me, as it turns out there is a Kingdom of those dwarves on this island beneath the ground. They are very strong for their size. I met the leader of the troops, Leo. Princess Mansherry and the King Gancho all seem to have prosperous relationships with the Riku Family.
"I didn't know small people like them existed all over the world! Nice to meet you all I'm Oden from the Country of Wano!" Yamato exclaimed although we had to clarify to her that dwarves aren't everywhere.
This is the first tribe I have found and according to Gancho, it should be the only one left as they're a race that has existed from even before the void century, although their records are mostly gone now.
'I should take Robin here some other day...' I thought. I don't have the time to explore their kingdom right now, but I'm sure Robin will be thrilled to ask Gancho some questions.
"Please take care of our Viola, she's a really good girl" Princess Mansherry requested me, flustering the princess yet again who seemed like she still couldn't begin to believe we had gotten engaged, even Yamato refused to emit any comment though I know she wants to ask me some questions.
"Don't worry, Mansherry, I'll make sure to make her happy..."
"H-Hmn".
"Oh look she's blushing again! You have done that about a dozen times in one hour!".
"Shut it, Leo!".
"Is it safe to leave Green Bit again, Lord Veyron?" Gancho asked me, it seems they had been secluding themselves here due to their inability to fight against the Donquixote Family, I don't blame them.
"It is safe now... you won't be seeing those bastards again and I'll make sure this territory is not attacked again, so thread the island to your heart's content".
"Father, I'd like to go and help!".
I thought her enthusiasm was rather hilarious, you'd think such a small little dwarf didn't have the power to help anyone but I valued their commitment, where there is a will there is a way.
"Mansherry... sure, we can all go and help King Riku".
"Mansherry has eaten a devil fruit that allows her to heal people's injures" Viola told me, leaving me astonished.
A devil fruit that can heal people? What exactly are its limits?
"We don't like using those powers, Young Lord. To heal people... Mansherry has to cry. Her tears have healing capabilities".
"If it is to help the people of Dressrosa I'll cry as much as necessary! Young Lord, do you have any wounds for me to heal!?".
"Heh..." I lifted my shirt, my body was marred with wounds. I didn't leave a fight against Kaido unscathed, although none of them were deep and they were more like swellings all over.
My body only had two sword scars and a single burning mark. They would never be gone but I wanted to see how her healing worked.
It took her a while to start crying, I guess I know why she doesn't like using it... she has to recall painful memories to cry first. A small dandelion was created and headed into my body... the feeling was slightly odd... it felt like water in the desert, like sudden freshness.
It was like having a deep sleep and waking up to realise you were rejuvenated although in my case -except for the mental fatigue- all of my wounds were gone in the next few minutes. What an interesting power.
"Are you feeling better?" She asked me, still crying a bit. I rubbed the little dwarf's chin with a happy smile, "I'm a lot better, Mansherry, thank you..."
Her gaze lit up with happiness and she bowed to me before pulling Leo and a bunch of her people towards the bridge. Who would have thought I'd encounter such a convenient Devil Fruit here?
The Tontatta huh? Dressrosa is going to be a great investment indeed.
**
**
Before Yamato could flee I pulled her into my arms and said my farewells to Viola, Rebecca and the King of the Tontatta, Gancho. I delivered a good nice kiss on Viola's cheek -very close to her lips may I add- before leaving as I embraced a shy Yamato.
BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!
"I want to come back here some other time... there was still a lot for me to see in this Kingdom, and I want to spend a lot of time with Rebecca too".
"You made a friend?~"
"Yes... we both lost our fathers".
"..." I still don't know what to think of this girl, of our relationship and our future. I'm holding her like this... but I also killed her father. Can I be completely certain that she didn't hold any familial feelings for him, the way I see it, she did... and it reflects in her face each time.
This girl is hurt that her father died. But she's also someone rational and knows that her father was not a good individual and that he deserved death.
"If it hurts you can cry, Yamato".
"I would never shed a tear for that monster...! I just need time, Veyron. Right now that's not even my priority, please take me to Wano... we have to let those people know they're free!"
"As you wish, hold on tight!".
"Y-You're already holding me tight, is it necessary to squeeze my bottom like that?!".
"I just want to make sure you don't fall~ this is for your security, the tighter you hold me, the better".
"Like this?"
She held me like a Koala again, going as far as to press my head in her cleavage, girl... I can't fly properly if you do that...!
*cough*
"Yes, like this..."
***
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