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Dressrosa is a tropical island full of resort charm, known as the "Country of Love, Passion, and Toys."
"Daichi, it's so beautiful here!"
Yamato was incredibly excited, running around the clean and tidy streets. Compared to the heavy industrial style of the Labor Country, this island clearly pleased her more.
"Look, so many toys!"
"I see them."
Daichi glanced around.
The most peculiar thing about this country was the toys everywhere, and these toys, like humans, possessed souls.
Daichi shook his head. "Yamato, almost everything in this world that defies common sense is related to a Devil Fruit."
"Devil Fruit?"
Yamato tilted her head in confusion, failing to understand Daichi's meaning.
Speed recalled Daichi's instructions before they landed on the island and immediately understood the key, her expression turning serious.
"Are these toys the products of an ability?"
"Exactly."
Daichi nodded.
"The Hobby-Hobby Fruit can turn any touched living being into a toy."
Speed felt a chill down her spine.
Turning living beings into toys!
They had seen countless toys along the way, and according to Daichi, the number of victims would be astonishingly high, and judging by the toys' intelligence, most of them were humans.
"Has no one discovered it?"
"They should have, right?"
Daichi pondered.
Although all memories of the victims disappear when they are turned into toys, the traces left on physical objects do not.
Files, items, names...
Before landing, he had specifically prepared a list of personnel. If any unfamiliar names appeared, he would immediately be notified. If his name became unfamiliar...
Call the Beast Pirates Grand Fleet, and annihilate the island!
Although he felt Doflamingo wouldn't dare provoke him again, it was always better to be prepared.
Among the toys, there were government personnel and envoys from other countries. It was impossible for there to be no records.
A few could be considered supernatural occurrences, but when the number grew, it was impossible for various factions, especially the World Government, not to notice anything.
They were all just pretending not to know.
After all, Doflamingo's power was quite formidable, even capable of making the Celestial Dragons compromise, just like the farcical incident of him resigning from the Warlords.
"So that's how it is, how despicable!"
Yamato stood with her hands on her hips, fuming.
"Daichi, should we go defeat that despicable ability user?"
"Mind your own business!"
Daichi glared at Yamato with annoyance.
"If you weren't so eager to play, we wouldn't even need to disembark. We're here to pick up Caesar, and we're leaving immediately."
"Hmph, I won't listen!"
Yamato turned her head and walked away angrily.
"I'll go play by myself!"
After a few steps, most of Yamato's irritation faded, and she secretly slowed her pace, her eyes constantly darting back.
Come on, pull her back!
However, to her annoyance, Daichi simply sat down at a nearby cafe, not even sparing her a glance.
Speed, on the other hand, followed her.
"Yamato-sama, I'll accompany you for a stroll."
"Alright... alright."
Yamato walked forward grumpily. She would have preferred Daichi to accompany her.
"Hey, it looks lively up ahead!"
"That's the Colosseum!"
Speed looked ahead, seeing a large colosseum in the distance. According to intelligence, it was one of Dressrosa's main attractions.
Yamato's eyes lit up.
"Let's go have some fun!"
At the cafe, Daichi sat in the outdoor seating area, flipping through a fashion magazine, waiting for Caesar.
"Ding-a-ling-ling~~"
The sound of a bicycle approached from afar.
Then, a rather lazy uncle's voice sounded in his ear. "Arara, handsome young man, may I sit down?"
"Be my guest."
Daichi glanced at the person, continuing to flip through the fashion magazine.
It was an afro.
"Miss waitress, two coffees, with one-third milk, six ice cubes, and one sugar cube."
When the coffees were brought, the afro-haired man pushed one towards Daichi, smiling amiably. "Want to try it? This is my unique recipe."
"Thanks."
Daichi didn't stand on ceremony, picked up the coffee, took a small sip, and frowned, commenting with disdain.
"Too cold, not good."
"Really? I think it's quite good."
The afro seemed quite deflated.
Daichi put down the magazine, observing the uninvited guest: an afro, a sleeping eye mask, and an old bicycle.
"An Admiral specially coming over, it can't be just to treat me to coffee, can it?"
"Was I recognized?"
Aokiji scratched his head.
"Don't worry, I haven't received orders to capture you. I was just taking a walk and happened to pass by here, young Daichi."
"You're cycling, not walking."
Daichi pointed to the bicycle beside them, seriously correcting Aokiji's choice of words. Walking and cycling were different.
Aokiji's forehead beaded with sweat.
"That's not the point, is it?"
"Of course it is."
Daichi sneered.
If they wanted to find him, they could. He wouldn't mind.
Even Shanks had sought him out.
They all didn't trust him, did they? How disrespectful. He wasn't Jack's younger brother, causing destruction wherever he went.
"Boom!!!"
Houses beside the street suddenly exploded, and smoke and dust enveloped the two.
"Cough, cough, what happened?!"
When the smoke cleared, several houses had completely collapsed, and a tall, thin figure lay in the center of the ruins.
The people on the street recognized the person.
"It's Diamante-sama!!!"
"Hey, what happened?"
"Diamante-sama seems to have flown from the Corrida Colosseum!"
Daichi calmly picked up his coffee.
"You saw it, it has nothing to do with me."
Aokiji's face darkened, and he stood up and left.
"Anyway, it was good to see you."
"Good in what way?"
Daichi asked, intrigued.
Aokiji waved his hand, got on his bicycle, and leisurely rode away.
Daichi frowned.
"A warning, then."
Clearly, the Marines were keeping an eye on him.
Aokiji's visit was likely a warning not to cause trouble, and an Admiral personally showing up was enough to indicate that the Marines were prepared for war.
It was inevitable for the Marines to be nervous when he was near their territory.
"Shurororo~~"
Not long after, Caesar, looking radiant, found him. "Daichi-sama, it's been a long time!"
"Wow, you're quite spirited."
Daichi was a little surprised.
According to his predictions, Caesar, having been passed around so many times, should have been dispirited and resentful by now.
"Thanks to you, shurororo~~"
Caesar's face twisted in a smile.
Under the guise of researching the giant drug, he had swindled a large sum of research funds from Big Mom, ensuring he could enjoy himself for the next few years.
How could he not feel relaxed?
As for the future...
When Big Mom eventually came looking for him in a few years, Joker definitely couldn't be relied upon, so he would then seek refuge with Daichi-sama!
He had already planned his escape route!
Daichi-sama was his kindred spirit!
Shurororororo~~