Vivi's expression shifted when she saw the man approaching. She looked at Straw Hat and the others with reluctance.
"Um, I have to go back..."
Luffy stopped drinking with Ace and the others and rushed over.
"Don't worry, Vivi! I'll definitely rescue you from Crocodile..."
The others nodded firmly.
Vivi's eyes filled with tears.
"It's okay. Please take care of yourselves. We'll meet again someday."
Then, under everyone's reluctant gazes, Vivi followed the silent man to where Cross Guild was gathered nearby.
Seeing the tear tracks on Vivi's face, Doflamingo laughed.
"Fuffuffuffu! I was kind enough to let you have a banquet with those little friends of yours. Shouldn't you be smiling?"
Crocodile shot Doflamingo a contemptuous look and said irritably,
"Cut out the pointless games. You're wasting time..."
"You're no fun, Crocodile. Rosinante, my dear little brother, go get ready. We're heading to Laugh Tale... Fuffuffuffu..."
The man named Rosinante seemed a little flustered, but he nodded sharply and left.
What he did not know was that the moment he turned around, his elder brother, Doflamingo, fixed him with a dark stare.
Crocodile wore a mocking expression too. Only after Rosinante disappeared did he speak.
"Well? Want me to deal with your little brother for you?"
"Fuffuffuffu! I don't need your help with that, you bastard Crocodile. Once he's no longer useful, I'll deal with him myself..."
As time passed, pirate ships finally left Water Star Island one after another, following their Log Poses toward Laugh Tale.
A movement on that scale could not be hidden from anyone. Besides, there were bound to be spies from various factions among the pirate crews. Before long, the whole sea knew that a new King of the Pirates was about to emerge...
In the New World, on the Red Hair Pirates'