Xi Yan's Helplessness, Truly Out of Options.

"We're almost at the Bullfighting Arena, aren't we?" Merry said. "Where are Luffy and the others?"

"We're not going to the Bullfighting Arena."

Perona's Little Ghost pointed to the street beside her and said, "Luffy and the others have successfully made it out of the Colosseum."

"Ah?"

"You're out?"

Merry was taken aback. They got out so easily?

However, when Merry thought about Luffy having Xi Yan by his side, it made sense.

After all, that guy knows Earth Release Technique, so it was quite easy for him to bring Luffy out.

Then, Merry changed direction and flew towards the street in the distance at an extremely fast speed.

Soon, thanks to Merry's efforts, the group successfully found the two dolls running around in the street.

"Um?"

Looking at the dolls below, several question marks popped into Merry's head.

What is that?

Don't tell her that these are Luffy and Xi Yan.

Zoro rubbed his temples, looking rather exasperated. What on earth were these two doing?

"Go down, this is them," Perona explained.

After hearing Perona's explanation, Merry confirmed that the two guys below were indeed Luffy and Xi Yan, and quickly flew down.

"We're here!"

"Hey, it's Merry and Zoro!"

Luffy looked up at the two people landing and exclaimed in surprise, "You're here!"

Xi Yan looked at the two with some surprise and said, "Weren't we supposed to meet at the Royal Palace? Why are you looking for us here?"

He had originally thought they would meet at Doflamingo's Royal Palace, but they ended up meeting here?

"I'm with you," Perona said. "I know your exact location, so I brought Merry to find you first."

"I see."

Xi Yan nodded in understanding; there was indeed no problem in coming to find them first.

He was about to say something more when Perona said, "Oh no, Franky's side has a lot of enemies."

"What's wrong?" Luffy asked quickly.

Has something gone wrong with Franky?

Xi Yan and Zoro also looked at Perona, waiting for her answer.

"Two Donquixote Family executives have appeared on Franky's side," Perona explained. "A large number of naval personnel have also appeared, including a Vice Admiral."

Upon hearing this, the expressions on the three people's faces immediately changed.

This lineup might not be something Franky could handle.

After all, they knew Franky's strength, so...

"I'll go," Merry said.

"You?"

Xi Yan turned to look at Merry. Was it really a good idea to send Merry alone to support Franky at a time like this?

"You've spent the most time with me, don't you know what I'm capable of?" Merry looked at Xi Yan and smiled, "With me here, we can definitely help Franky defeat them."

Xi Yan paused for a moment after hearing this, and upon careful consideration, realized that Merry's abilities were indeed quite formidable.

At least he didn't think that Vice Admiral could threaten Merry.

Of course, this assumes that the Vice Admiral isn't someone like Garp.

Seeing Xi Yan remain silent, Merry assumed he disagreed, so she continued, "Besides... all three of you have things to do, so this time only I can go."

Luffy's Luffy to the Royal Palace is solely to defeat Doflamingo, so he has to go.

As for Xi Yan and Zoro?

Zoro is going to deal with the Top Executive of the Donquixote Family, so he has to go too.

Xi Yan, on the other hand, needs to deal with the Marine Admiral, so he also has to go.

In this situation, she has no choice but to go back and provide support.

"Then go ahead," Luffy said.

As the captain, he had to make a decision at this point.

"Okay!" Merry nodded, then prepared to leave.

"Wait a minute," Xi Yan said, "If you encounter an enemy beyond your control, remember to use the Reverse Summoning Technique."

He didn't want a repeat of what happened in Sabaody Archipelago.

Some things, experiencing them once is enough.

"Don't worry, I'm not stupid either." Merry stuck out her tongue at Xi Yan, looking incredibly cute.

Then, she soared into the sky and quickly disappeared from the scene.

One of Perona's Little Ghost quickly followed, thus guiding Merry in the right direction.

"Can we set off now?" Vika asked, peeking out from under Zoro's collar.

"Huh?"

"Eh!!!"

Looking at this tiny person, Luffy's eyes lit up and he exclaimed, "So this is the Tontatta?"

"This is so interesting!"

As he spoke, Luffy reached out to touch Vika's face, but Vika pushed him aside.

"This is not a good place to cause trouble."

"Wow, that's incredibly strong!"

Luffy looked at his hands, then at Vika, his eyes shining even brighter.

Upon hearing this, Zoro laughed and said, "This guy is incredibly strong."

After all, this guy personally smashed down a building, so his strength is quite terrifying.

Upon hearing this, Xi Yan moved closer and carefully examined the little creature, pondering how such a creature came to be.

Could it be... the offspring of a Devil Fruit User Awakening their powers?

That's possible.

"Hey, you two," Perona said, looking at Luffy and Xi Yan speechlessly, "Is this the time for curiosity?"

"If you really want to understand them, then let's have a proper talk after the battle is over."

They don't have time to waste here now.

"Yes, you're right." Xi Yan nodded and said, "Then let's set off."

As he spoke, Xi Yan turned to look in the direction of the Royal Palace, and at the same time, the routes his clones had taken appeared in his mind, pondering which route would be the safest.

Vika, however, stated directly, "Let's go this way; it'll save the most time."

Upon hearing this, Zoro and Luffy ran in the direction Vika had indicated without hesitation.

Seeing that the two of them had run away, Xi Yan followed them.

"Zoro," Luffy asked, "Would you like to wear one of these too?"

Zoro blinked upon hearing this, then turned to Luffy with a puzzled look and asked, "Do I have to wear it too?"

Although he didn't mind wearing these strange clothes, there was no need for him to.

"Is this necessary?" Perona asked doubtfully. "We're already out of the navy's Surrounding Circle, what's the point of wearing these?"

The purpose of Xi Yan taking out this doll was precisely to help Luffy break through the Navy's Surrounding Circle.

Is it still necessary to wear it now?

"But I find it very interesting."

Luffy wrinkled his nose, clearly finding the outfit quite amusing.

Perona's lips twitched slightly upon hearing this; only Luffy would find this kind of thing amusing.

"It doesn't really matter whether Zoro wears them or not," Xi Yan said. "After all, Doflamingo knows that Zoro has been active outside the Colosseum from the beginning, so as long as Luffy and I wear them, it's fine."

From Doflamingo's perspective, he and Luffy were still fighting in the Colosseum, so wearing this would make it easier for them to infiltrate the Royal Palace.

"Then I won't wear it," Zoro said decisively.

If he could, he wouldn't want to wear this strange-looking doll costume.

After all... this thing should remind him of certain things that happened in the previous two years.

Thinking of this, Zoro subconsciously glanced at Perona's Little Ghost.

Perona also looked over at that moment, clearly thinking of what Zoro had thought of as well.

Then, the two tacitly looked away, pretending that nothing had happened.

Vika, oblivious to the subtle exchange between the two, looked at them intently and said, "Now I'll tell you about the situation at the Royal Palace."

"First of all, Doflamingo's Royal Palace, the Toy House, and the Trade Port where the SMILE Factory is located are all connected."

"Ha?"

Xi Yan was taken aback for a moment, then asked in confusion, "Then why can't I find the entrance?"

His clone had deliberately wandered around Doflamingo's Royal Palace, but found no entrance to the Underworld.

Could it be... that the Royal Palace also has mechanical doors?

"You've been to the Royal Palace?"

Vika glanced at Xi Yan with a puzzled look. When did this guy go to the Royal Palace?

Didn't they just arrive in Dressrosa today?

"That's not important," Xi Yan waved his hand and said, "You should tell me what's going on over there first."

"All right."

Vika nodded, then explained, "The entrance connecting the Royal Palace and the Factory is hidden in a very secret place. Even we, the Tontatta Tribe, searched for a long time before finding it, so it's normal that you don't know its location."

"Is it also a mechanism door??"

"Yes."

"Then it's not surprising."

Xi Yan stroked his chin; his clone had indeed not specifically searched for hidden doors in the walls.

After all... he hadn't thought that way at the time.

"Speaking of which... I wonder how Kin'emon is doing," Zoro said.

"Kin'emon?"

Xi Yan paused for a moment, then looked at Zoro with a puzzled expression and said, "Isn't he with you guys?"

"No, he went to the Toy House."

"He went to rescue people himself." Recalling what Kin'emon had said earlier, Xi Yan had a look of Satori realization, and then said, "Don't worry, with that guy's strength, he won't be taken down by the enemy anytime soon. He can probably hold out until Usopp and the others arrive."

As long as that guy can reunite with his companions, there's no need to worry about his safety.

This time, Zoro simply nodded and said nothing more.

"Our companions went along too," Vika said. "They entered the Trade Port with Uso Landu and should reunite with us soon."

"Uso Landu?"

Several question marks appeared above Luffy's head. What kind of strange title is this?

"Um..."

Zoro stroked his chin and then said, "This is a bit complicated to explain, but basically... all you need to know is that he is Uso Landu."

"And I am Zoro Landu."

"He is Perona Lando."

"Then I'll be Luffy Landu!" Luffy exclaimed excitedly.

Although he didn't know what the name meant, he found it very interesting.

Xi Yan looked at Luffy with a hint of helplessness. "What are you so excited about?"

After shaking his head, Xi Yan turned to Zoro and asked, "What about me?"

Before Zoro could answer, Vika spoke first, "You must be Sunglasses Landu!"

Looking at the pair of Sunglasses peeking out from the toy's opening, Vika nodded her little head very seriously.

Xi Yan:???

What... what Lando?

Sunglasses Landu?

If he's not a buddy, doesn't he even deserve a name?

Even using the alias he used in the Colosseum this time would be fine.

"Hala hala hala~"

Perona, understanding the meaning behind Xi Yan's expression, burst into laughter.

Xi Yan looks really funny.

"What's wrong?"

Vika looked at Xi Yan and Perona with a puzzled expression, not understanding what was wrong with what she had said.

That man is Sunglasses Landu, she's not mistaken.

Xi Yan paused for a moment upon hearing this, then sighed and said, "You're right, I am Sunglasses Landu."

What else can we do? We can't just undermine our partner.

He's truly at his wit's end.

"Looks like I didn't mistake you for someone else," Vika said with a smile.

Then, Vika said seriously, "In short... the SOP Operation has already begun, so we need to hurry."

"What is this SOP Operation?" Luffy asked, puzzled.

Xi Yan retorted, "What a strange name."

Is this an abbreviation of a certain operational plan?

"This is too complicated to explain, let's talk about it later," Vika said. "Alright, we can see the Royal Palace now!"

"Look, that's the elevator that leads to the entrance to the Royal Palace!"

"That will take us to the Royal Palace."

"It can even reach that high?" Luffy exclaimed in surprise, looking at the elevator in the distance. "Wow, that's Lihai!"

Is this where Doflamingo lives? That's amazing.

Zoro remarked, "That's too cautious."

He had initially thought the Royal Palace would be accessible via a huge staircase or an uphill path, but it turned out to be just a staircase?

That's a height most people couldn't reach.

"That's right, Doflamingo is extremely cautious in protecting Sugar." Vika pointed to the elevator ahead and said, "There are guards here 24 hours a day."

"To use the elevator, you need to show your pass to the guard here."

"That's too much trouble," Luffy inside the doll said with a frown. "Why don't I just beat them all up?"

"Of course not!"

Vika quickly jumped onto Luffy and said, "That would cause a huge commotion, and then the enemies would keep rushing in."

"Isn't that great?"

Vika:???

What do you mean by "Isn't that great?"

What's so good about luring the enemy here?!

"You're an idiot too!" Vika complained. "Honestly, you guys are a constant source of trouble."

"A directionally challenged idiot plus a brainless moron... it's such a headache!"

"Who are you calling a directionally challenged idiot?!" Zoro exclaimed, his eyes wide.

"Oh."

Vika merely gave a cold laugh and said nothing more, but her meaning was quite clear.

That's right, I'm talking about you, Zoro Landu!