"Hahaha! This feels amazing!"
"It's like lying on a soft couch."
A group of pirates lounged comfortably, their faces full of satisfaction.
...
After some time, they passed through the underground tunnel.
Cricket and his crew finally arrived at the true borders of the Tontatta Kingdom. Despite being underground, the place was well-lit and welcoming. The ground was covered in lush greenery, and high-tech structures designed for insects dotted the landscape.
"What a fascinating sight."
"So beautiful..."
For Cricket, however, the most important thing was the statue of Mont Blanc Noland. His ancestor's efforts had not been in vain. Even if the world saw him as a liar, there were still those who remembered him.
"Cricket, please, have some."
A group of tiny Tontatta carried oversized plates, offering them to their benefactors.
"Ah, thank you!"
Still a bit lost in thought, Cricket accepted the food before asking, "King Gancho, what happened to the Tontatta in the past? What did my ancestor do when he arrived here?"
Gancho stroked his beard, recalling the history passed down by the royal family.
"That was a long time ago. Four hundred years ago, we lived in relative peace under our alliance with the Riku royal family. People were friendly, and life was stable."
"But after the Donquixote Family, others also set their sights on our people. We suffered greatly for a time."
"However, the hero Noland led us to victory."
"Donquixote?" Cricket felt numb. How was this family involved in everything?
"Yes, over 900 years ago, this land belonged to the Donquixote lineage of the Celestial Dragons. We were enslaved under their rule."
Thinking about the recent changes in Dressrosa, Gancho frowned before continuing.
"Recently, when pirates invaded our borders, we fought back, but King Riku still perished. Now, the family that repelled the pirates is the Donquixote Family. While they are no longer Celestial Dragons, I can't shake off a feeling of unease."
Cricket sighed in relief. If the Tontatta were to fight Doflamingo, that would be a problem he couldn't handle.
"It's probably just the same surname. The current Donquixote leader even saved us. He was born in the North Blue like us and has nothing to do with the Celestial Dragons."
"Oh? He's your benefactor, Cricket?"
"Then he must be a good person!"
Sitting nearby, Smoothie remained expressionless as she continued eating the special ice cream prepared by the Tontatta. However, internally, her mind was in turmoil.
She knew the truth—her husband was a Celestial Dragon. These Tontatta were their enemies.
But here, considering their speed, strength, and the pirates who betrayed her husband…
If they discovered her connection to Doflamingo, not only would she fail to deal with them, but she might even become a hostage—a weakness for her husband.
So, she endured.
...
Calm Belt.
As dusk fell, a faint firelight flickered in the heart of the island. This land, a mix of ancient and modern creatures, was not only a haven for beasts but also a paradise for plants.
Humans, with their remarkable adaptability, had left their mark here.
These islanders resembled normal humans, except for the bird-like feathers on one arm. Their way of life was primitive, far below even the simplest towns and nations of the outside world.
However, they had one advantage—the special plant known as Daft Green. Thanks to this plant, they were protected from the island's frenzied beasts. Combined with the Calm Belt's isolation, their settlement had remained untouched, like a paradise hidden from the world.
That is, until the Great Pirate Era began.
A certain sky-faring pirate had arrived here by chance, and from then on, everything was ruined.
The island's massive creatures had drawn the attention of the Golden Lion, Shiki. And the reason behind their unnatural size was none other than a special plant—IQ.
This plant could stimulate the brains of animals, forcing them to adapt and mutate according to their environment.
From that moment on, the island's animals, plants, and even its people had a new master.
The beasts became the test subjects of Indigo, while IQ was placed under Shiki's strict control. The strong men and women were enslaved, forced to build his new stronghold.
In just over a year, the once-thriving settlement was rapidly deteriorating.
First, the workforce was gone, with only the elderly and children left behind. In a place like this, lacking labor was a death sentence.
Second, Daft Green, their supposed protection, was a double-edged sword.
The reason it kept the beasts at bay was due to the strange trees that released special airborne particles. Any living creature that inhaled too much would develop green spots, become paralyzed, and lose all mobility.
This condition was not incurable. Like antidotes found near venomous snake dens, the cure for Daft Green's effects was IQ.
The problem? The villagers had always relied on hunting to obtain IQ from the beasts. But now, they could do nothing but wait for death.
Today, however, they had unexpected visitors.
A small sailing ship descended from the sky, gradually approaching.
Just like a year ago—when the Golden Lion first arrived.
Gathered around a campfire, the elderly villagers shielded the children, their faces full of fear.
"The Golden Lion! He's come to take more from us!"
"He's here to take our lives this time!"
"Damn it!!!"
However, the ship's movement was unaffected by the villagers' cries. It landed gently on the ground, barely stirring up any dust.
"Fuffuffuffuffu. I must say, hearing you curse that old bastard makes me quite happy."
Doflamingo stepped into view.
Like the Golden Lion, he had golden hair. But unlike the aged pirate, he wore crimson sunglasses and possessed a far more imposing physique.
If the Golden Lion was an old king, then this man was a rising sun.
But one thing was certain—they were both extremely dangerous.
The villagers swallowed nervously. He wasn't the Golden Lion, but that didn't mean he was a good person.
Doflamingo's Observation Haki swept across the island like an X-ray.
He didn't see Shiki's floating islands or his extravagant sky palace.
However, the green spots on the elderly, the gigantic and mutated animals, and a well-hidden Den Den Mushi told him all he needed to know.
This island was undoubtedly the one that would later be transformed into a floating fortress.
Shiki was definitely here—or had been.
"Now then, can anyone tell me where that old bastard is hiding?"
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