"Whoa! That was it? It's already over?!"
Most of the audience hadn't even processed what happened before the battle ended.
"That's the might of a true powerhouse—the new era's king! The Heavenly Yaksha!"
"Those pirates really asked for it. Absolute morons!"
"Heavenly Yaksha! Heavenly Yaksha!!"
...
Among the contestants, Fujitora gripped his shikomizue blade and looked up at the sky.
With his Observation Haki, he sensed something that made his brow furrow.
This wasn't some opportunistic faker, as the rumors suggested.
This was a monster—one with terrifying power.
Doflamingo noticed the sharp gaze directed his way and turned toward it, offering a warm smile to the man watching him.
As the arena calmed back down, Tesoro stepped forward to continue the proceedings.
"Now then, please welcome Lord Doflamingo to distribute the prizes!"
"OHHHHHH!!"
Nobody dislikes money. In an instant, the contestants were swept up in the thrill of victory.
These were the champions from all across the islands—they had earned their rewards.
"Fufufufufu... Line up now! Come and collect your winnings!"
Countless Belly, bundled up in nearly invisible strings, appeared in the sky like a divine blessing.
Now came Doflamingo's favorite part—making it rain.
Meanwhile, Baccarat had quietly appeared at the identification counter, verifying the contestants one by one.
All of this was transmitted via spy Den Den Mushi straight to Marine Headquarters.
"What a headache," Sengoku muttered, his frown deepening.
As another possessor of Conqueror's Haki, he could see it clearly—what Doflamingo had just unleashed was no ordinary intimidation.
And someone that young, with such control over Conqueror's Haki... the future...
But this was not the time to dwell on it. Sengoku couldn't let those thoughts show—not in front of the new generation of Marines.
Pushing down the pressure he felt inside, he looked straight ahead and spoke with calm authority.
"Everyone, Red the Aloof—Patrick Redfield—has been spotted in Demon Valley of the New World."
"Commander-in-Chief Kong and Vice Admiral Garp are leading the operation to corner him."
"Soon, yet another of the Four Legendary Pirates will be captured by the Navy!"
"We will personally bring an end to the pirate era!"
"We are the true order of the seas!"
"For justice!"
With blood boiling and hearts ignited, the Marines shot to their feet and roared in unison.
"For justice!!!"
"Excellent," Sengoku nodded in satisfaction. This level of morale would take them far.
"Maintain strict control over Sabaody. Don't let Commander Kong be distracted."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
...
Green Bit.
"What?! Cricket got captured by the Donquixote Family?!"
Gancho's eyes went wide as he listened to the scout's report.
They had just left Green Bit. How did Cricket end up captured so quickly?
Nearby squad leaders were abuzz with concern.
"What do we do?"
"Obviously, we rescue him! Are we just going to abandon our savior?!"
"Damn it! Why would the Donquixote Family target Cricket?!"
The scout interjected.
"It's related to that giant woman named Smoothie. She's with the Charlotte Family!"
"Charlotte?!"
"You mean that Charlotte?! BIG MOM?!"
"I heard she's collecting all sorts of humans from across the world. She must've set her sights on the Tontatta Kingdom!"
"Quiet!"
Gancho raised his voice, cutting through the clamor.
"Prepare to attack the Donquixote Family and rescue Cricket."
...
Nightfall.
The Tontatta scout teams, using their size, superhuman speed and strength, and favorable conditions, stealthily bypassed the weak replica soldiers and approached the King's Plateau.
Step by step, they slipped into the shadows.
Time passed.
Not one member of the scouting party returned.
The main Tontatta force began to stir up a diversion.
Gancho, realizing what was happening, quickly gave the order to retreat.
Even in his naivety, he knew by now—the Donquixote Family had already spotted them.
...
King's Plateau.
Tiny Tontatta warriors were forced into grotesque shapes, sculpted from dense stone to mimic some kind of monkey-like figure.
"Despicable giants!"
"We'll win in the end!"
"What kind of coward uses traps?!"
The replica soldiers said nothing. They silently tossed stones into pre-prepared baskets.
But the stoic stone-faced one finally spoke.
"This isn't a trap. It's a Devil Fruit power. Doffy always said—victory is ability."
"Also, your army has already retreated. You're on your own, captives."
...
Beneath the King's Plateau, in the dungeons of Dressrosa.
Why is it that no matter where we go, we always seem to live under Doflamingo's shadow?
Cricket and the others, still recovering from their wounds, looked up at the sky, despair gnawing at their hearts.
If only that first strike had ended them, maybe that would've been easier.
But they lived—and now, emotions twisted between hope and utter hopelessness.
Clack!
The prison door swung open.
Before Cricket could even make out the figure, a bunch of rocks was hurled inside.
The already injured crew groaned in pain, hit by another wave of blunt trauma.
But the other Tontatta prisoners, recognizing Cricket by his distinct features, cried out in shock and guilt.
"Waaah! Sorry, Cricket! We failed!"
"What do we do without Cricket?! What about our people?!"
"The Charlotte Family will round us all up now!!"
"I heard BIG MOM eats people!"
After listening to all that wailing, Cricket finally understood what had gone wrong.
Last time, when they were on Skypiea, he had divine protection on his side—and didn't have to sell his soul to survive.
This time? All of this happened because he got involved with the Tontattas.
But how was he supposed to save them like his ancestors did?
...
Time passed.
More and more of the Tontattas were captured.
Dressrosa fell quiet—for now.
Back at Sabaody, the God of Gamblers tournament was entering its final stage.
But, against the Marines' expectations, throughout the ten-day event...
Aside from a few pirates who failed to stay hidden and tried to flee through the harbor...
Nothing else happened.
It genuinely seemed like Doflamingo had no ulterior motives this time.
If Doflamingo knew what the Marines were thinking, he'd burst out laughing.
What he wanted... he had almost achieved.
All it cost was money.
And Doflamingo? He had more than enough money to burn.
...
Sabaody Grand Theatre, VIP Lounge.
Baccarat leaned against Doflamingo's solid chest, her eyes dreamy as she traced the lines of his jaw.
"Boss... This time, I know I can be of real help."
After hearing her report on the tournament's results, the satisfied smile hadn't left Doflamingo's face.
He gently caressed his lucky lady's head, his tone uncharacteristically soft.
"Of course. You've always helped me. Haven't you?"
This way of siphoning luck was faster than killing.
Turns out... gamblers really do have the best luck.
This tournament?
Oh, it was definitely going to keep running.
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