The Night of the Tragedy in Dressrosa Exposed
Meanwhile, in the video footage, another secret is being slowly revealed from the mouth of the One-Legged Toy Soldier.
"It all started that night, no, or rather, it had been brewing for much longer! From the time that woman named Monet entered the Royal Palace, the country underwent a dramatic transformation in ten years, both in its landscape and its people..."
As the One-Legged Toy Soldier's words slowly resounded, the tragedy of Dressrosa ten years ago came to light.
The scene then shifts back to Dressrosa ten years ago.
Although Dressrosa was hard at that time, the people lived in peace and contentment, all thanks to the benevolent rule of King Riku, who thus earned the support and love of his people.
However, all of that was shattered that night!
That night, Doflamingo approached King Riku, who was fast asleep in the Royal Palace, and threatened him with his former status as a member of the Dressrosa royal family, demanding that he hand over the throne or he would massacre the entire Dressrosa.
Of course, he wasn't some cold-blooded demon. In exchange, King Riku could gather 10 billion Beli and give them to him in exchange for the country.
However, there is a prerequisite: King Riku cannot seek help from outsiders; he can only raise the money from among his citizens. Otherwise, he too will massacre the entire Dressrosa. The deadline for the transaction is the following day.
Therefore, in order to raise 10 billion Beli, King Riku had no choice but to borrow money from the entire nation.
At first, the people didn't King Riku was trying to do and didn't lend him the money right away. However, after King Riku knelt down and begged for the money through the Image Bug and because they firmly believed in the good reputation of the King Riku clan over the past eight hundred years, the people lent him the money unconditionally.
The money was immediately and continuously transported to the Royal Palace.
On the screen, a barrage of angry comments immediately appeared: {Seriously, how dare Doflamingo ask King Riku for the throne! His entire clan relinquished the throne themselves! And now he suddenly wants it back? Does he think the throne is some kind of vegetable at the market?! It's disgusting!}
{Holy crap! This is outrageous! It's someone else's country, yet they expect them to pay money to exchange it. Doflamingo is utterly shameless!}
King Riku is such a coward! If it were me, I'd fight Doflamingo to the death! But honestly, to protect the safety of his people, this was the only option he could have!
{ The King Riku family enjoyed immense prestige among the people of Dressrosa! But why did they later hate him so much?!}
{...}
{...}
The New World, Dressrosa, King's Plateau, Inside the Royal Palace.
"What... what is this God from Beyond the Domain trying to do?! Stop it right now!" Pica's shrill voice roared at the screen in the sky.
"If this continues, everything our clan has built up over many years will be destroyed! We must find a way to stop that God from Beyond the Domain," Gladius said through gritted teeth.
"Pica, can your Stone-Stone Fruit make you reach as big as the screen, G?" Rao G suddenly looked at Pica beside him and asked.
"I haven't tried this before, but I can give it a shot," Pica said as she strode out of the room.
"We'll go with you to take a look." The others followed Pica out of the room.
For a moment, only Doflamingo was left in the room, sitting calmly and coldly staring at the screen.
However, in his palm, a ball of yarn was faintly visible; this was his last resort.
If those damned fools in Dressrosa, after learning the whole truth, want to rise up against him, then he will use this ball of yarn to wash them all away in blood.
Inside the Corrida Colosseum.
"Finally... finally, the truth about everything from back then has come to light!" King Riku exclaimed, tears streaming down his face.
On the shore of a lake.
"It's time to wipe away the mud that was smeared on King Riku back then!" Kyros exclaimed excitedly.
Then, an unexpected scene appeared in the video: King Riku suddenly left the Royal Palace, rode his horse, and rushed towards a town in Dressrosa called Saibio.
However, something was wrong with him. Tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes, and he struggled to raise the knife in his hand. Although he kept telling the crowd of onlookers to run, he slashed the knife down at them.
In an instant, many people collapsed to the ground, bleeding and screaming in agony.
Not only that, King Riku took the bow and arrow off his back, lit them, and fired them at a gunpowder magazine. Instantly, a violent explosion occurred, and a thick pillar of fire shot into the sky like an angry dragon. The flames that splashed out then fell like fireworks to other parts of the town, igniting them all at once.
However, it was not over yet. Suddenly, the Riku Army, who had been sent by King Riku to collect money from the people, also drew their swords and pointed them at the people closest to them.
In an instant, the entire Dressrosa was engulfed in a massacre. Screams, cries, and curses filled the air, and amidst the raging flames, Dressrosa resembled a hellish scene.
Suddenly, the camera shifts to a high point on a building—atop the chimney—where Doflamingo is twisting his fingers incessantly, grinning cruelly as he looks down at his prized creation.
Several dark figures stood beside him, pointing at him and asking, "I'll talk, I'll talk, okay, Dover?"
"Idiot, don't be in such a hurry, Fufu." Doflamingo laughed. "When this country is completely shrouded in fear, when the people genuinely hate King Riku, then it will be our turn as heroes to step in!"
As he finished speaking, the camera shifted to Dressrosa not long afterward.
By this time, the entire country was littered with corpses and wounded soldiers.
Just as a group of the King Riku Army, who had been restrained, were about to charge at a group of citizens, Doflamingo and his group of the Donquixote Family's top executives appeared and protected them.
However, initially, because they were pirates, no civilians dared to approach or trust them.
Just then, Doflamingo, controlling King Riku, charged towards him, brandishing his sword.
Amidst the terrified screams of the crowd, Doflamingo chuckled smugly, "It's almost time for the hero to make his appearance!"
With that, he leaped up and charged toward King Riku.
As they passed him, they couldn't resist whispering sarcastically in his tear-streaked ear, "What a fine dance you performed, King Riku!"
Having said that, he sent King Riku flying with a single palm strike.
Then, he lifted him high into the air and, addressing the group of the Donquixote Family's top officials, commanded, "Trebol, Pica, Diamante, clean up the garbage of this country!"
In a short time, the Riku Army, which was originally under Doflamingo's control, was easily dealt with by the top executives of the Donquixote Family.
Their actions were like a ray of light among the desperate citizens, instantly winning their love and respect. People began to chant the name of their leader, Doflamingo.
Then, the camera shifts back to the secret base beneath the Flower Field.
"... This country, in just one night, became Doflamingo's possession." The One-Legged Toy Soldier provided the final ending to this tragic story.
"How could this happen!" Usopp exclaimed in horror. "It's a nightmare!"
"What a cunning fellow!" Robin, stroking his chin, said with displeasure.
"Waaaaah, I... I absolutely cannot forgive Doflamingo!" Franky cried, his face a complete mess of tears.
As soon as he finished speaking, the video feed shifted, and the camera returned to the Corrida Colosseum.
"Bang bang bang..."
A series of loud noises were coming from the street not far away, gradually approaching.