Hanafuda and the Kuja
Dressrosa Alley House
Night fell, dark clouds filled the sky, and the moonlight was completely swallowed up.
In a secluded, dark alley on the outskirts of the Royal City, an old hut lies shrouded in darkness.
Outside, all was silent, save for the occasional flutter of bat wings, adding an eerie touch to the deathly stillness.
Inside the cabin, torches burned low, the walls were mottled, and the dim yellow light made the faces in the shadows appear particularly distorted.
More than ten men in black stood upright, their figures hidden in the darkness, and none of them dared to make a sound.
Sudden--
"Crunch--"
The dilapidated wooden door was slowly pushed open, and a dark figure, as imposing as a mountain, stepped into the room.
The air seemed to freeze instantly, and the temperature appeared to drop several degrees.
The firelight illuminated the silhouette of the newcomer:
Standing five meters tall, with a back as straight as an iron tower, his steps are heavy yet steady.
He wore a wide-brimmed black hat shaped like a bat's wing, completely covering the upper half of his face, revealing only a jawline that looked as hard as if it had been carved by a knife, and tightly clenched, cold lips.
His upper body was bare, revealing muscles scarred by battle, each scar telling a story of life and death.
The black cloak draped down to her ankles, swaying gently in the wind like night wings.
Wearing iron arm guards, he tapped the giant scythe beside him with two fingers. The heavy Meteor Hammer was attached to the end of the scythe. It scraped the ground and made a "crackling" sound of metal scraping against metal, which made one's scalp tingle.
It is indeed -- Hanafuda, one of the Shichibukai!
The Shichibukai - Hanafuda (Hanafuda)
Everyone in the room immediately stood up and bowed in unison. "Hanafuda- sama!"
Hanafuda's gaze remained unmoved, as if he didn't even notice the others.
He walked straight to the Head Seat in the room, and with a loud clang, the sickle slammed heavily onto the ground, causing the floor to crack like a spider web.
He slowly sat down, his back resembling that of a colossal beast, his voice like Thunderclap rumbling in the enclosed space:
"Have you gotten any results regarding the matter I asked you to investigate?"
A gaunt intelligence officer stepped forward, trembling, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He clutched an intelligence scroll in his hand, his voice barely a whisper:
"Reporting to Hanafuda... We have confirmed that the Devil Fruit User of the Healing Fruit is none other than Princess Mansherry of the Tontatta Tribe!"
Hanafuda slowly raised its head, and two points of cold light seemed to flash in the shadows.
The intelligence officer was so nervous he could barely breathe, but he managed to swallow hard and continued his report:
"However... recently, it seems there has been a leak in our underground intelligence channels. Mansherry is now under tight protection by the King Riku Royal Family, and the entire Royal Palace is heavily guarded. Our people... our people were driven away as soon as they approached..."
Before she could finish speaking, Hanafuda had already slowly raised one hand, her thick fingers gripping the armrest of the chair tightly—
"Snap--!"
The entire armrest of the chair shattered with a crack, sending splinters flying, and no one dared to look up.
He slowly rose to his feet, as imposing as a mountain, his voice like the striking of a cold iron bell. "A mere member of a small royal family dares to obstruct my request?"
His gaze swept over the crowd, his eyes like icy Razor: "What I, Hanafuda, want, I never fail to get!"
As he spoke, he slowly walked towards the torch, his black trench coat billowing behind him, the shadows seemingly swallowing the entire hut.
His hand landed on the giant scythe, and he said coldly, "Pass down the order—"
"Tomorrow is the Dressrosa Fireworks Festival, which nobles and royalty will certainly attend."
"At that time, we'll seize the opportunity amidst the chaos—and take the Healing Devil Fruit User directly!"
One of his men tentatively asked, "What if we encounter guards who try to stop us...?"
Hanafuda gave a soft, low, and chilling snort, "Kill."
"But remember— Mansherry must live."
I will personally oversee the operation.
"Yes!!"
The crowd responded in unison, and the firelight inside the dark room suddenly flickered. Hanafuda turned around, and the giant scythe dragged a trail of sparks along the ground.
He stepped into the darkness, disappearing with only the words, "Dressrosa... it's time to stir things up a bit more."
New World Seas - Perfume Yuda
Night fell, the sea was as black as ink, only the bright moonlight shone down, casting a silvery trail on the shimmering waves.
The Perfume Yuda, like an elegant behemoth, sails silently, pulled by two giant serpents, its hull cutting through the waves and leaving a trail of dreamy white wakes.
On the deck, the night wind howled, and the battle flags fluttered gently.
Shakky stood at the bow of the ship, her black hair dancing in the wind, her eyes cold as a blade as she gazed at the distant sea.
"Boa Hancock, you don't need to come with me."
"I'm fine on my own. Making too much noise would only give away my whereabouts."
Her voice was deep, carrying an undiminished seasoned experience and caution.
Behind her, Boa Hancock crossed her arms, her red lips slightly upturned, her expression haughty. "Rayleigh saved my life, how could I stand idly by?"
Even if it means searching the entire New World, we must find the 'Heal-Heal Fruit'.
As soon as she finished speaking, Sandersonia and Marigold immediately stepped forward. "Sister is right!"
"We were able to escape from the Celestial Dragons back then; without you and Rayleigh, we would have been dead long ago!"
Flash of tenderness crossed Shakky's eyes, and she nodded almost imperceptibly, but her tone immediately turned cold. "Of course I remember back then... but the situation is different now."
She slowly gripped the railing, a heavy name appearing in her eyes. "I'm worried that once news of my appearance gets out..."
"Roy will definitely notice."
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere on the deck suddenly froze.
The three sisters' faces all darkened, each thinking of the man who could Teleportation at will, descend from the sky, and subdue enemies with a wave of his hand—
Marine Vice Admiral Roy, a "monster" possessing overwhelming strength and speed.
Even the Four Emperors wouldn't dare to provoke them easily.
Sandersonia gritted her teeth and whispered, "That guy... he's too strong... if he senses us approaching Dressrosa— "
Marigold's pupils contracted, and she said almost inaudibly, "Then we will gain nothing, and may even be completely wiped out..."
However, Boa Hancock suddenly chuckled, her voice clear yet carrying an air of arrogance.
She walked forward slowly, a graceful smile playing on her lips, "Hmph... no matter how strong he is, he's still just a stinky man."
She turned her head, haughtily raised her chin, revealing her signature "looking down her nose" posture, her voice seemingly coming from the heavens:
He has no chance against me!
"Because I am so beautiful, I can be forgiven for whatever I do!"
This overwhelming aura of confidence seemed to instantly dispel the oppressive atmosphere.
Inspired by their sister's imposing presence, Sandersonia and Marigold clenched their fists in excitement. "Yes, yes! Our sister is invincible!"
Even if the other person is Roy, there's no way he could resist his sister's charm!
Shakky was speechless for a moment, and could only look at Boa Hancock's arrogant posture, which was like that of a god descending, and sigh with a mixture of helplessness and amusement:
"... You're still the same."
Her eyes softened, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. "But... that's true."
"The power of the Love-Love Fruit, combined with your 'confidence,' truly puts people at ease."
The wind blew across the deck, and the four men stood silently at the bow, gazing at the distant horizon.
--That place is Dressrosa.