Bada held Liya for a moment, then remembered that Kong Tai and the others were watching.
This was not the way they treated guests in Bass.
"Alright."
He gently ruffled Liya's head and pulled her out of his embrace.
"The guests are watching!"
Liya's eyes were red and reluctant to leave Bada's embrace. She obediently stood to Bada's left, her hands tightly gripping his left hand, unwilling to let go.
She feared that if she let go, Bada would disappear again.
Forgetting someone important was truly terrifying, like having a piece of your heart ripped out. She never wanted to experience that again.
"Boss..."
"Don't call me boss. You're decades older than me, I can't accept that!"
Kong Tai quickly interrupted Bada.
"This won't do. One 'boss', a lifetime of being a boss."
Bada stared at Kong Tai with a serious expression.
"Didn't boss acknowledge me as his subordinate at the docks?"
He wanted Kong Tai's help, so he couldn't let him distance himself!
"You're really counting on me, aren't you?"
Kong Tai looked at the serious Bada and acted helpless.
He rolled his eyes. "Are you going to introduce yourself? I still don't know who you are!"
Bada's gaze swept over the elders around him and the subordinates kneeling on the ground.
"Alright, all of you, get up."
"Didn't we agree to be boss for life?"
"Even if my status changes, I am still your boss."
The subordinates looked up at Bada with surprise. While they liked the king, they liked their boss even more!
Bada's words made them realize that their boss was still the same boss, only his status had changed.
A smile flickered in the eyes of the man, Bada.
The subordinates all rose.
"Your Majesty..."
"Call me boss."
"Yes, yes, yes."
"Boss, I thought I wouldn't be able to call you boss anymore!"
"Yes! Being your subordinate is the happiest thing in our lives!"
As they spoke, they started crying again.
"Alright, alright."
"Men don't cry so much!"
"Mhm! Mhmm!"
The subordinates quickly wiped away their tears and nodded.
Bada's gaze then turned to the elders, finally resting on the elder kneeling on the ground before him.
He bent down, pulled the elder up with force, dusted off his clothes, and said to him.
"Clan uncle, don't worry! Since I'm back, I will definitely rescue our people."
The clan uncle grabbed Bada's hand, trembling all over. He wiped his eyes and stared into Bada's.
"As long as you're back, we believe Bass will get better."
"We don't know why you disappeared for the past two years and became someone else, but we believe it was for us."
"Do whatever you want. We will support you unconditionally."
As he spoke, he glanced around and then at the cave ceiling.
"We're old, but we don't want to die here!"
"Yes! I'll set off tomorrow."
Bada stared at the elder, a cold glint in his eyes.
He was indeed running out of time. Even if Kong Tai and his group hadn't arrived, he would have gone to rescue the citizens of his kingdom of Bass in the little time he had left.
His two years as a bounty hunter.
He had already found out where his people were imprisoned.
Bada released the elder, tidied his clothes, and adjusted the crown on his head.
He looked at Kong Tai with a serious expression.
"I, 'Bass Bada', the 25th King of the Kingdom of Bass."
"Hahahahaha!"
"You're really a king!"
Ah Hua, with his large belly, walked up to Bada and clapped him on the shoulder, his face full of surprise.
"A king would stoop so low to deal with pirates for his subordinates."
As he spoke, he extended his right hand to Bada, gave him a thumbs-up, and said with admiration.
"True man!"
"This boss, I'm not a true man!"
"Only someone as wise and mighty as you can be called a true man."
Bada looked at Ah Hua and said the most vulgar words with an extremely serious expression.
Kong Tai's mouth twitched as he looked at Bada.
"Alright, Bada, tell us what happened to the Kingdom of Bass."
"If you want my help, you need to tell me why!"
"Okay, boss."
"I told you not to call me boss."
Kong Tai couldn't help but roar at Bada.
"Okay, boss."
"I mean, can you stop saying vulgar things with that face full of righteous dignity?"
"It's very embarrassing!"
"Okay, boss."
"You... sigh!"
Kong Tai stared at Bada, suddenly as if all his strength had been drained. His back slumped, and he became completely dejected.
Did this guy really have to go this far?
He was the king of a country.
He couldn't understand.
However, he could see a resolve to die in this guy's eyes.
"Is this guy going to entrust his successor to me?"
Kong Tai touched his chin and thought. Then, he looked at Bada with surprise.
"You're not going to die, are you?"
Only those who were about to die would be so reckless.
Upon hearing Kong Tai's words, Bada paused, then, as if nothing had happened, turned to look at Liya, who was watching him with concern. He gently pried Liya's hand off his.
"Although our Kingdom of Bass has fallen, we are not so impoverished that we cannot host guests."
"Liya, go and prepare a banquet with the elders."
Seeing Liya's unresponsiveness, Bada's tone deepened.
"Liya..."
"Oh!"
Liya glanced at Kong Tai and the others, then turned and went to prepare the banquet with the surrounding elders.
Bada turned to look at his subordinates, a smile appearing on his serious face.
"You go help too. Take out all the 'Bass Wine' from the warehouse. Today, we're holding a grand banquet."
"Okay, boss."
The subordinates were very obedient. They answered and walked into a room inside.
It was clear that Bada's actions were to prevent others from overhearing their conversation.
"Kallakallak!!"
"Bass Bada, how did you make me forget your existence?"
Indigo chuckled and looked at Bada. "I remember when I came to the Kingdom of Bass eight years ago, you hadn't eaten a Devil Fruit yet!"
"Yes! I ate my fruit three years ago!"
"Gentlemen, please come this way. I will tell you anything you wish to know."
As he spoke, he took the lead and walked to the edge of the cave, standing by a rectangular table.
Seeing Kong Tai and the others approach, Bada quickly pulled out chairs for them, acting as if he were a waiter rather than a king.
This guy was clearly trying to please Kong Tai and the others in every way.
What kind of immense trouble could make a king act this way? Kong Tai and the others were all very curious.
After sitting down, they all stared at Bada, waiting for his explanation.