Tsugikuni Yoriichi's arrival allowed Dressrosa's national defense forces, who had been bracing themselves for battle, to breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Although the defense forces had successfully driven back the pirates after a day of fierce fighting and at a terrible cost, the pirates' brutality had left a deep shadow over them. After the battle, many had already begun writing farewell letters to their families. Clearly, they did not hold much hope for the outcome of this "war."
However, when dusk fell, towering golden flames suddenly rose from Dressrosa's harbor. The sudden change drew everyone's attention. After King Riku sent people to investigate, they discovered that the pirates occupying the harbor had vanished without a trace.
Although pirate ships still densely filled the harbor, there was no sign of pirates either in the coastal town or aboard the ships. The civilians captured by the pirates informed King Riku that Tsugikuni Yoriichi had returned.
Yet by the time King Riku led his men to the harbor, Tsugikuni Yoriichi was already nowhere to be seen.
Night fell.
A small boat rode the waves across the sea.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi sat at the stern, golden flames spraying from his palm. Propelled by the golden fire, the small boat sped forward so quickly that, from afar, it looked like a seabird skimming across the ocean's surface.
At the bow, the captured Bella was tightly bound by his own chain weapon, staring hopelessly at the sea.
Bella had deliberately revealed the powerful figures on Hachinosu Island in the hope that Tsugikuni Yoriichi would hesitate upon hearing the news, buying him some breathing room.
If Tsugikuni Yoriichi could not make up his mind, Bella would most likely merely be imprisoned by the New Marines, without having to worry about losing his life.
But after learning of