White Ghost and the others were welcomed into the capital with the kingdom's highest ceremony.
White Ghost also met this rather perceptive king.
But why was the man so ridiculously thin? His eye sockets were deeply sunken, and he even had dark circles under his eyes.
It wasn't until the banquet began that White Ghost understood why the king looked like that.
He looked at the flock of beauties in the king's harem, then at the skinny king himself, and gave him a sympathetic look.
The king, in turn, gave White Ghost the pained look that only one man could understand from another, because he could see several beauties by White Ghost's side as well.
White Ghost cursed inwardly.
If your strength isn't enough, don't force it. Did you think you were me? Dragon bloodline, absurd combat power, the whole package.
Just as White Ghost kept glancing at those noblewomen and their wives, Elena's little hand viciously twisted the soft flesh at his waist.
White Ghost's mouth twitched, and he hurriedly pulled his gaze back, turning instead to Chopper, who was stuffing himself.
That little glutton truly had no way of staying away from sweets.
Every time they went somewhere new, the first thing he did was try the local pastries. Whether they were good or bad, he always finished them immediately.
Beside him, Nami was holding the little Lapahn and drinking milk.
That was because White Ghost had discovered the little girl actually liked alcohol from a very young age. No wonder she had such a high tolerance in the original story.
After White Ghost found out, he strictly forbade her from drinking before adulthood.
Ever since getting the Lightning Fruit, Nami had developed a fearless, nothing-in-the-world-can-touch-me attitude.
But she still listened to White Ghost.
So during banquets, she could only obediently drink milk.
Sneak a drink?
She had no desire to experience White Ghost pinning her down and spanking her a second time.
If Stella and the others hadn't stopped him that day, White Ghost's golden belt definitely wouldn't have stopped.
That same golden belt had even been mocked by the women afterward.
What kind of person forges a golden belt for no reason? But now it seemed it was meant for disciplining children.
Didn't they see that Nami had been beaten until tears brimmed in her eyes?
Afterward, Nami herself had said that, as expected of gold, that thing hurt like hell when it hit people.
Back to the point—
This old bag of bones, Brook, ended up being invited by many noblewomen and young ladies to dance.
Judging by their expressions, White Ghost was certain they had long wanted to see what a living skeleton actually looked like.
Their husbands weren't worried in the slightest.
After all, what kind of crime tool could a skeleton possibly have? Bone?
During the banquet, many noblewomen and young ladies also invited White Ghost to dance.
Under Ain and the others' watchful eyes, White Ghost declared in the most righteous and upright tone possible that he would not dance with other women.
Only after hearing those words did the odd look in the eyes of the ever-gentle little squirrel and Stella gradually ease.
The noblewomen all left in disappointment, sighing inwardly that they had lost their chance to connect with such a handsome big shot.
After all, they read the newspapers too.
Quite a few noblemen were practically jumping in frustration.
Damn Morgans and his nonsense in the papers! Didn't that man look completely impervious to temptation?
What a perfect chance to build a connection, wasted just like that.
Those nobles mourned inwardly. If they could establish a relationship with him and somehow get their hands on that miracle potion, they'd be set for life.
Of course, none of them dared try to build ties by inviting the women at White Ghost's side instead.
As long as they weren't blind, they could all see how close White Ghost was with those women.
By now, the medicine in White Ghost's hands had become even harder to buy.
It simply couldn't be mass-produced, and the materials were too scarce.
The only people who could still get it now were major figures.
So wherever White Ghost went, nobles and merchants all desperately tried to curry favor with him.
Every one of them dreamed of buying a bottle from him.
After all, everyone longed to recover their youth.
When the route through women failed, the nobles tried the route of gifts instead.
They sent every kind of gift imaginable.
Some even noticed the slight change in White Ghost's expression earlier and secretly slipped him a room key, then gave him the sort of knowing look only men understood.
Without changing expression, White Ghost slipped the key into his pocket and returned a knowing look of his own.
During the banquet, the king also discussed the concert with White Ghost and suggested holding it three days later, so that more people would have time to arrive.
White Ghost asked Brook and Uta what they thought, and both of them nodded, saying they had no problem with it.
The others didn't mind either.
It was fine to stroll around here and rest properly for a few days. No one had rested well during their time in the South Blue.
Once the banquet ended, Elena and the others returned to their arranged rooms to sleep.
White Ghost, meanwhile, was invited by the king to continue talking.
Stella and the others understood the situation too.
At home, they could throw little tantrums if they wanted, but outside, they knew it was better to give their man face.
Still…
Why did their eyes look a little off?
Then White Ghost saw the room key in Ain's hand, and his face darkened.
This…
You really trust me that little?
He shot them a look that clearly said just wait, and only then did they finally leave.
Nirizabello—that was the king's name.
After inviting White Ghost into a secret chamber, he dismissed all the servants and stayed behind with White Ghost alone.
Then Nirizabello opened a book and pushed it across the table.
White Ghost took it with a puzzled expression and flipped it open, not understanding what this man was getting at.
The first thing he saw was:
Royal Secret History — The Elf Race.
As he read on, White Ghost gradually learned that the elves had not always lived here.
They had only arrived a few centuries ago.
At the time, the king had been forced by the pressure of the elven powerhouses to yield, allowing the elves to occupy the forest region.
From that day on, humans were forbidden to enter that area, and only the royal bloodline was permitted to visit it once upon taking the throne.
When White Ghost reached the part about one king coveting an elven maiden and sending troops to attack the elves—
Nirizabello finally spoke.
"That was an excuse. A ridiculous excuse.
"If he hadn't used that excuse, and had instead openly tried to drive them out, this kingdom probably wouldn't even exist anymore."
As he said this, Nirizabello's face darkened.
"What 'Kingdom of Spirit Wings'? The name was forced on us by them."
White Ghost could understand how the kings of each generation must have felt.
After all, if a group of strangers suddenly moved into your home, no one would be comfortable with that.
After finishing the book, White Ghost closed it and said, "What do you want me to do? Or rather, what are you offering in return?
"That's the elf race. They have quite a few strong people. I don't like taking action unless the value is equal.
"And why didn't you report this to the World Government?"
Nirizabello let out a cold laugh.
"You think the kings before me never reported it? The World Government wanted to win them over."
White Ghost thought it over and nodded.
That made sense.
The elf race naturally produced powerful individuals, and their bloodline was excellent. They were born close to nature and capable of many things.
Not like those stupid fish-men.
Not strong enough, yet always hopping around arrogantly, never knowing when to keep their heads down, always acting like they had to go lick someone's boots.
Nirizabello looked at White Ghost. Gone was the casual, womanizing image he showed outside. Instead, the king spoke with complete seriousness.
"Mr. White Ghost, you are very strong. I may not have a precise measure of it, but I know you are not weak.
"You are a smart man, and I'm not foolish enough to demand anything from you.
"I merely received some information."
A mocking expression appeared on Nirizabello's face.
"I received word that the treasured granddaughter of the current Grand Elder of the elf race is at the harbor.
"I wonder whether Mr. White Ghost might be interested? That elven girl is very beautiful."
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