Robin simply stood there watching Kaito put on his little performance. When Kaito finally returned with Viola in tow, she immediately greeted the woman with a warm smile and introduced herself.
"Hello, I'm Robin. I'm a friend of Danzo."
Viola responded politely and offered Robin a courteous greeting, but soon found herself sizing up this beautiful woman who seemed to be about her age.
Robin's beauty went without saying, but due to her feminine intuition, Viola couldn't help but feel that there was a subtle, almost imperceptible hostility in Robin's gaze.
Not that it surprised her. Viola was quite confident in her own looks and figure—men lined up for her could probably stretch all the way to the end of the street.
Clearly, this Robin had a thing for Danzo. A hint of hostility was only natural.
Still, while she understood it, that didn't mean Viola was going to back down. She stared right back at Robin, and the atmosphere between the two women grew tense and delicate.
Kaito picked up on it instantly and quickly tried to lighten the mood.
"Let's not just stand around. Time to get moving!"
Viola realized she was being a bit childish and shifted her gaze, nodding.
"Mm. Let's go now. But I have to ask—Danzo, you're not a Marine, right?"
"Nope. Why?"
"Good. Marines and police officers aren't allowed inside. If they find out, it'll be a hassle."
"Huh. That's a strange rule. If there are no Marines or cops, who keeps order in the arena? Doesn't it get chaotic?"
"Not really. The Donquixote Family handles security there. No one dares stir up trouble on Doflamingo's turf."
"I see... sounds like Doflamingo has quite the reputation."
"Heh, of course."
At the mention of Doflamingo, a flicker of barely restrained hatred passed through Viola's eyes. That bastard had fooled the people with lies, and his so-called reputation was built on top of King Riku's downfall.
Kaito didn't linger on the subject. After a few more words, the three of them headed toward the arena.
At the entrance, Kaito casually threw down a stack of cash and bought three premium spectator seats. The staff greeted them with utmost respect as he led the two beauties inside.
They arrived at their seats, and Kaito took the center spot. Viola sat to his left, and Robin to his right.
Since Kaito had paid extra, their seats were set apart from the rest of the audience to avoid unnecessary disturbances.
Once they settled in, Kaito turned toward Viola and asked,
"Miss Viola, who are the tournament favorites this time around?"
Viola had been staring absentmindedly at a statue of a gladiator inside the arena. Hearing Kaito's question, she snapped out of it and shared what little information she knew.
"I've only heard of two names—Bellamy and Spartan."
The names weren't unfamiliar to Kaito. Spartan had been a minor character in the anime who got beaten up by Luffy for bullying Rebecca.
As for Bellamy—no explanation needed. He was practically Doflamingo's lapdog, though he only realized at the end that he'd been a clown all along.
Still, it was surprising to see him in the tournament. Was he trying to use this opportunity to prove himself and earn a place under his idol?
Kaito had guessed correctly. After the incident on Minion Island, the Donquixote Family had been nearly wiped out by Kaito, leaving Doflamingo short-handed. He was now desperate to recruit strong new blood.
The arena had become the best place to scout talent, and Bellamy saw that. There was no way he'd pass up the chance.
Today's match was especially important. Spartan had already been monthly champion eleven times. If he won today, he would be crowned the annual champion and earn the chance to join the Donquixote Family.
But if Bellamy beat him, all of Spartan's previous victories would become mere stepping stones for Bellamy's rise.
...
In the contestant prep area, Bellamy and Spartan had already locked eyes. The disdain in their gazes was mutual—each believed only he would emerge the victor.
They both wanted to crush the other right now and prove their strength, but that was against the rules. Breaking them meant certain death at the hands of Donquixote Family officers.
So they had no choice but to eliminate the riffraff first and meet each other in the final.
Outside, the battle had already begun. A pair of hulking, beast-like men were going at it with wild ferocity, drawing cheers from the crowd.
To Kaito, though, it was no better than a schoolyard brawl—just a gorilla fight for entertainment.
Viola was mentally checked out, while Robin seemed thoroughly entertained. Every so often, she would ask Kaito who he thought would win.
Kaito always gave his opinion, and his predictions never missed. After he accurately called another match, Robin couldn't help but exclaim,
"Danzo, you're amazing!"
Kaito's lips twitched. He was starting to regret using the name "Danzo." That guy was basically public enemy number one for the Uchiha. Even though Robin meant it as a compliment, it still felt awkward.
Viola also agreed with Robin. She was impressed by "Danzo's" sharp insight—he always nailed his predictions.
She figured he must be pretty strong himself. Maybe he could do well in the arena, too.
As the rounds went on, the matches gradually wrapped up. Finally, it was time for the grand final.
Just as expected, the two championship contenders were the top favorites—Spartan and Bellamy. They had both bulldozed their way through the competition and now stood as the last two standing.
As the pair entered the arena, the crowd erupted into cheers. Bellamy remained expressionless, but the boar-like Spartan reveled in the attention.
He spread his arms wide to show off his chiseled body, full of pride. When his gaze landed on Kaito's section, his eyes lit up.
Of course, he wasn't interested in Kaito himself—he instantly classified him as a pretty boy, the kind he despised most.
What caught his eye were the two stunners sitting beside Kaito: Viola and Robin. Easily the most beautiful women in the entire arena, with curves to match. Spartan couldn't take his eyes off them.
With his usual arrogance, he whistled toward their section, then pounded his chest, flexing his muscles harder as if putting on a show.
But what he thought was an irresistible display of manliness just made Robin and Viola grimace. To them, he looked no different from a chest-thumping gorilla.
Kaito chuckled and said casually,
"Let me guess who's gonna win... That Bellamy guy looks like he's got a real shot."
Viola and Robin were briefly surprised. Up until now, they had always asked him first. Now he was offering his opinion unprompted.
But they quickly realized the reason—Kaito was clearly annoyed by Spartan's behavior.
Robin giggled, covering her mouth.
Kaito continued as if to himself,
"Suddenly, this match doesn't seem so suspenseful. I'd say Bellamy might finish it in under three seconds."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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