Fujitora stepped onto the stool, ready to fly off, but Rubick hurriedly stopped him.
"Wait, Zatoichi."
"Is there something else Your Majesty wishes to say?"
Rubick said, "I promised my woman I'd save her father, defeat Doflamingo, and bring Dressrosa back into the sunlight."
Fujitora smiled. He was a man of pleasure himself. His three great loves were gambling, women, and ramen.
"It seems Your Majesty has won another princess's heart. How enviable."
"We can leave that aside," Rubick said. "When I beat Doflamingo to death, don't interfere."
"You're serious?"
"Yes. I'm going to kill him."
"Pirates kill people and steal money. That's nothing new," Rubick said. "But he turns people into toys and enslaves them in the Underground Factory until they die. No one even remembers them."
"I'll do my best," Fujitora said. "But people like him are usually sent to Impel Down. And he used to be a Celestial Dragon."
"That's fine. Just stick to your physical condition and pretend you can't see."
"Your Majesty, that was a little rude!"
Rubick burst out laughing. A hundred-meter Golden Dragon coiled upward and flew toward the Royal Palace in a tremendous display. Fujitora shook his head helplessly. He found that he didn't dislike Rubick.
The Royal Palace stood at the center of the country. It had originally sat atop a towering Stone Mountain, which had later been shaped into a crown-like plateau. The palace stood at its peak.
Rubick had barely reached the air above the Royal Palace when Doflamingo sensed him. Furious, he kicked open the palace doors and strode out.
"Rubick, I've put up with you long enough! Who gave you permission to fly over my palace?"
Rubick returned to human form and landed with Fujitora at the palace entrance. Seeing a parapet behind him, he took out