In the Underground Harbor, crowds of toys hauled cargo while scattered members of the Donquixote Family stood nearby.
Large cranes hummed as they worked. Pirates dressed in all kinds of outfits haggled with Donquixote Family members over the price of weapons.
Usopp was about to lead his squad of Tontatta straight into the Executive Tower when a patrol of fully armed guards came around the corner.
In a flash, everyone ducked behind a container.
It was pure instinct. Ever since arriving in Dressrosa, Usopp and Robin had both been on edge.
Usopp was simply a coward. Robin was afraid of Werther.
As for the Tontatta, years of oppression under Doffy had left them instinctively afraid of his troops.
Usopp cautiously peeked out from behind the container. When he saw that the guards had gone, he let out a breath.
"All clear. Let's stick to our original plan. This place is too dangerous. We need to be careful."
The squad's earlier enthusiasm had vanished. Now they moved with caution.
"Then we'll proceed as planned."
Leo, the leader of the Tontatta, took out a pill shaped like a grape.
Leo had the power of the Stitch-Stitch Fruit, but the Tontatta knew little of the outside world after so long in isolation. They had no idea it was a Devil Fruit power and called it a strange art instead.
The blue, grape-shaped pill Leo held was made from a Tabasco Pepper, then deliberately fashioned to look like a grape.
Werther had once had the dubious privilege of tasting a Tabasco Pepper. It was an exceptionally rare and expensive variety.
After eating one small piece, Werther had felt the world spin. There was no other way to describe it. The heat had nearly sent him into shock.
The Tontatta had tested the Chili Pepper