Arrival at Dressrosa
New World Seas - On Marine warships
A gentle sea breeze caressed the deck, and the blazing sun shone brightly.
The Marine warships docked smoothly next to the transport ship that had lost its combat capability, and with Roy's assistance, they quickly transferred all the prisoners and spoils back.
Standing still on the deck of Gion, her pink kimono fluttered gently in the sea breeze, while the scabbard of her "Kompira" sword tapped softly against her waist.
Her gaze swept over the Pirates who were bound hand and foot and lying on the deck, her expression calm yet sharp.
"Roy, you're really quick!" She watched Roy leap onto the deck and land steadily beside her, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Roy clapped his hands lightly, as if he had just done a little morning warm-up. "Those who resisted have been dealt with; the rest of them didn't even have the guts to run away."
Gion's gaze shifted to the enormous creature among them, its hands and feet bound by special Seastone chains and fixed to iron rings on the hull.
That was Jack, severely injured and unconscious, his face a bloody mess, his fangs all broken.
"It's so big, and you still have to carry it around?" Gion raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were going to just kill it."
Roy walked over, gently nudged Jack's mountain-like frame with his toe, and chuckled, "This isn't just any ordinary Pirate; he's practically the fourth-in-command of Kaido Pirates!"
Upon hearing Gion, Gion's gaze sharpened instantly.
"Kaido Pirates?"
She stared at the giant for a moment, then slowly said, "To be completely helpless against you with just three punches, just how strong have you become?"
Roy simply shrugged and smiled without answering.
"Hmph." Gion snorted softly, her gaze still carrying a complex mix of scrutiny, surprise, admiration, and even a hint of wariness.
He turned and ordered, "Take an inventory of the transport ship. Take all the weapons, supplies, and logbooks with you. Send a small team to the nearest Marine Branch for filing and registration."
As for this guy...
Roy pointed at Jack, his eyes cold and stern.
"I'll personally oversee it."
With that, he moved his Right Hand slightly, and a Spatial Ripple suddenly opened up. Accompanied by a slight tremor, Jack's massive body, along with the chains, vanished instantly.
A loud bang suddenly echoed in the stern prison, the steel cage trembled, and Jack fell steadily into it.
Gion, witnessing this, said with a grave expression, "You're using this ability more consistently than before."
Roy smiled faintly, "If it's unstable, how can we fit such a big thing inside?"
He immediately composed himself, slowly walked to the bow of the ship, looked towards Dressrosa, and said in a low voice, "Since Jack has appeared on this route... it means the intelligence was correct. Doflamingo has indeed reached some kind of cooperation with the Kaido Pirates."
Gion frowned slightly, her gaze turning completely serious. "Then this matter is not so simple."
She turned and strode quickly toward the Warship's Intelligence Room: "I have to report to Tsuru immediately, this is no small matter! Kaido isn't the kind of man who would easily abandon his subordinates."
"Once he learns that Jack has been captured, he might do something unexpected."
"We must reassess our subsequent tactics," she said gravely.
Roy nodded, watching her figure gradually disappear into the distance, then looked ahead again—
"Gion- nee is right..."
He murmured to himself, "This situation is no longer just about eliminating a single Doflamingo."
The Warships cut through the waves, their armor as solid as mountains, their objective unchanged.
Meanwhile, in Wano Country on the other side of the New World, a gigantic black shadow slowly opened its golden eyes, which resembled those of a hellish beast...
Dressrosa Royal Palace Square
The setting sun was like blood, bathing the entire Royal Palace in the deep twilight. Wailing and cries echoed in the square, and the firelight carried the acrid smell of burning.
The shattered crown rolled to King Riku's feet, and he knelt on the stone floor, covered in blood, his eyes vacant and his arms trembling.
Blood dripped from between his fingers as he gripped the knife, and on the blade lay the gruesome flesh and blood of his own soldiers.
All around, terrified voices of accusation rose and fell.
"The king has gone mad!"
"He actually killed the Guards with his own hands!"
We entrusted him with our Trust... and all we got in return was betrayal?!
The crowd dispersed in fear, and the area around the Royal Palace teetered on the brink of chaos and riot.
And the source of all this --
From the high balcony, Doflamingo looked down at the scene, his shadow elongated by the evening light, like a silhouette cast by a demon.
He was dressed in a deep red feathered robe, his face hidden behind sunglasses, and a chilling smile played on his lips.
"Fufufu... What a deeply moving scene."
He slowly bent down, manipulating the lines to King Riku up like a puppet, and lightly flicked his fingertips.
"For the sake of the so-called 'people,' you're willing to kneel and beg for mercy, even to be unjustly accused... But look at these ordinary people..."
"They hate you, they humiliate you, and they want to tear you to pieces with their own hands."
Is this what you're meant to protect?
Doflamingo tightened his fingers, causing the threads to taut, King Riku's body instantly stiffened as if possessed.
His face was deathly pale, his eyes trembled, and he watched helplessly as he raised the torch and walked towards a house.
"Let it burn... burn a few more houses, and then there will be no turning back!"
However--
Just as the flames were about to reach them, a sharp sound of footsteps suddenly shattered the oppressive atmosphere.
"Dover!! Something terrible has happened!!"
Trebol stumbled in, his face smeared with snot and his eyes filled with terror.
"Warships... Navy Warships are here!!"
Doflamingo didn't even turn his head, only sneering, "So what if Warships are here? I am Shichibukai, the ruler recognized by the World Government..."
Trebol interrupted him, his voice trembling with fear. "But... but... that's Roy standing on that Warship!!"
"What?!"
Doflamingo's smile froze instantly, and a chill ran down his spine!
With a sudden tremor of his fingertips, the controlled threads became erratic, and King Riku fell to the ground in the square, his torch rolling away and sparks flying.
Doflamingo whirled around, his gaze fixed intently on the western harbor.
There, the sea churned, and a warship approached in the afterglow of the setting sun, a white cloak fluttering in the wind atop its bow.
He recognized the figure standing at the bow of the ship at a glance—it was the man he both hated and feared to the core, Rear Admiral Roy of the Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral!
"Damn bastard...!!"
His Adam's apple bobbed, his jaw clenched, and his fists turned white.
"Why... why is this person here?! Is it Tsuru? Or Sengoku?!"
"The plan has been disrupted!"
"Trebol!" Doflamingo instantly regained his composure, his eyes sharp and ruthless.
"Activate the Defense Perimeter immediately! Sugar, take cover underground! Everyone else, prepare for battle!"
Trebol nodded shakily, "Yes, yes! But Dover, we..."
"Shut up!!" Doflamingo abruptly interrupted, his gaze icy.
"What's the panic? Don't forget, we have Kaido behind us!"
"Even if Roy comes, I will never let Dressrosa slip away!"
He took a deep breath, put his sunglasses back on, and said in a tone as cold as the abyss, "Roy... since you dared to come, don't even think about leaving Dressrosa alive!"
In the distance, on the deck of Warship, Roy stood with his hands behind his back, gazing towards the Royal Palace.