The entire tribe of tiny folk gasped, stunned.
Gancho's sunglasses almost fell off his face.
Doflamingo had killed the Golden Lion. How were they supposed to stand against someone like that?
"But," the voice continued, "that family clashed with the ideology of the Celestial Dragons and has since left the Holy Land. They bear no ill will toward you."
"Whew~"
Gancho finally exhaled the breath he'd been holding. He'd thought the Donquixote family might be here to wipe out the Tontatta Kingdom and end its 800-year legacy.
"Cricket, if there's more news, just say it all at once. My poor little heart can't take it," he muttered.
Cricket's conscience gave a small twitch as he nodded respectfully and continued his report.
"Lord Doflamingo is well aware of your tribe's talents. He knows how gifted the little people are when it comes to growing and cultivating plants. That's why he wants to hire you."
"That's it?" Gancho had braced himself for a return to the days of forced labor, like those recorded in the ancient histories.
"That's it," Cricket confirmed. "In fact, Lord Doflamingo has promised to give you a stretch of land, free from conflict, where you can live in peace."
"..."
"Sky Island?" someone echoed. "And if you don't like it, he'll move Green Bit ten thousand meters into the air?!"
Gancho's eyes grew wider and wider, his heavy brows unable to hide the disbelief in his gaze.
All the tiny people around him turned to him with hopeful eyes.
After all, their tribe wasn't the only branch of little people in the world.But the Tontatta Kingdom had long adopted seclusion as its national policy.
If they could escape to ten thousand meters above sea level…
That would be a dream too good to imagine!
Gancho grabbed Cricket's finger with trembling hands, his voice shaking with excitement.
"Cricket, we accept! Let's have a feast to celebrate!"
"No—wait—mrmph mmmph!" Cricket tried to protest, only to get a mouthful of food stuffed in by someone too eager to party.
Now was not the time to be throwing feasts!
What if Doflamingo thought he'd gone rogue and failed to report back?
...
Several days later.
"Smoothie, just a little more to the left."
"Like this, Doffy?"
"Yeah, yeah, perfect—set it down!"
BOOOOOOMMM!
With a deep rumble, the new IQ Grass cultivation base slowly descended onto the cloud island next to Upper Yard.
As soon as it touched down, Indigo sprinted up to it with exaggerated, cartoonish steps. This was his baby, his life's work!
Watching Smoothie sag from exhaustion, Doflamingo smiled and spoke gently.
"Go get some rest, Smoothie."
Not everyone had his limitless stamina.
"Okay, Doffy. I'll be back soon."
"Mhm. Take your time."
No sooner had he seen Smoothie off than a brrring came from the Den Den Mushi in Doflamingo's coat pocket.
Blorup blorup!
"Pica? Got any good news for me?"
"Cricket…"
"Fufufufufu... Cricket did great."
Doflamingo burst into laughter. He hadn't even left yet, and Pica was already bringing in good news.
He hadn't expected the land to be so appealing to the little folk.
"Pica, have Cricket ask if the tiny people are willing to visit Sky Island. Bring them with you on your next trip."
Let them taste a bit of the sweet life. That way, they'd obediently become his gardeners.
"I understand, Doffy!"
Click!
No sooner had he hung up than Judge appeared, soaring over the cloud sea with his newly upgraded boots.
Behind him trailed Caesar, in his gas form, billowing like a smoggy comet.
The two raccoon-eyed scientists didn't even acknowledge their boss. Instead, they dashed around the IQ Grass base, frantically recording data on every plant in sight.
IQ Grass had delivered surprise after surprise during this test run.
Enel, who had followed along out of curiosity, still couldn't wrap his head around the supposed "miracle grass." It looked like regular vegetation to him.
But Judge, Caesar, and that mad scientist looked like men possessed.
"Young master," Enel asked, frowning, "is this stuff really that important?"
"Enel," Doflamingo replied, a gleam in his eye, "this stuff is going to take your power to the next level.
It's time we embraced the new era."
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