Under Don's gaze, Viola felt her nerves tighten.
Now that he was close, the overwhelming pressure radiating from him pressed against her chest.
"Yes."
Steeling herself, Viola nodded and admitted it.
"Well done."
Don gave a small nod, then turned and offered Robin a word of praise instead of questioning further.
"These people weren't very strong."
Robin shook her head slightly. None of them had posed any real trouble for her.
"For your first solo action, the results are already very good. Keep working hard."
"Yes!" Robin nodded firmly, her eyes lit with determination. She was ready to face whatever challenges came next.
"Um…"
Watching Don and Robin talk between themselves, leaving her completely aside, Viola hesitated before finally raising her hand to cut in.
"Doflamingo is planning to pit you against a Marine Admiral and the World Government. Are you really not concerned about that?"
She couldn't make sense of their indifference.
Even Doflamingo—though he always spoke lightly when mentioning the Admirals—Viola had sensed the gravity hidden in his tone.
And yet, these two before her looked as though they weren't worried at all.
That was a Marine Admiral!
Hearing her words, Don finally turned his gaze back onto Viola.
Princess of Dressrosa. Aunt of the brave young swordswoman Rebecca. User of the Giro Giro no Mi.
His impression of her was fairly deep.
And not because of her voluptuous figure—but because of her Devil Fruit.
The Giro Giro no Mi allowed her to peer into people's thoughts, and even see through clothing, flesh, and bone.
"Since it's just a plan, it can fail. And besides, we already know about it ahead of time, don't we?"
Don chuckled lightly, leaning against the railing in a relaxed posture. He passed the sword in his hand over to Robin to hold.
"Then you'd best hold back for now. The Navy and World Government forces are currently in the North Blue, in talks with Germa 66."
Viola pressed again.
"No way."
Don refused flatly, then countered with his own question.
"So, are you planning to betray Doflamingo?"
"I was forced into it from the start."
Viola's eyes hardened as she met Don's gaze.
"What I want to know now is—do you have the confidence to defeat him?"
"Well, that we'll only know once we fight."
Don shook his head.
At that, Viola didn't look disappointed. Instead, she began recounting what had happened when Doflamingo seized Dressrosa.
Robin listened closely. Comparing Viola's story with the intelligence Don had already shared with her, she was surprised—this so-called princess of Dressrosa, an actual eyewitness, was still less precise and thorough than Don had been.
He had even explained it from multiple perspectives.
"Sugar—the user of the Hobby-Hobby Fruit. She can turn anyone or any animal she touches into toys. Once transformed, that person is erased from the memories of everyone who knew them."
Viola's eyes fixed on Don as she shared the intel she had gathered about Doflamingo's crew.
Although Don already knew this, he didn't interrupt her.
"So if she transforms someone into a toy, then everyone who knew them forgets they ever existed?"
Robin's eyes widened in disbelief.
Such a power was terrifying.
"Yes. That's the information I currently have."
Seeing Robin's curiosity, Viola nodded, confirming the truth of it.
Robin turned toward Don, her eyes searching.
"I told you about this before, didn't I?"
Don understood her meaning and spoke with a nod.
"But this kind of ability is far too dangerous. If you were touched even once, you'd have almost no way to resist."
"That's true. Many Paramecia powers are strange and unpredictable. The question is whether Haki can counter something like this."
As Don spoke, his eyes turned toward Viola.
"I don't know either. Sugar is personally protected by top executive Trebol. It's almost impossible for outsiders to even get close."
Viola shook her head.
"If you really want to move against Doflamingo, then she is the simplest starting point. Those turned into toys aren't just Dressrosa's citizens—many powerful outsiders who came to the kingdom fell victim too.
Most of them were caught simply because they didn't know what her power could do. If you can undo Sugar's ability, those people might become valuable allies."
She gave her suggestion.
Don didn't comment, only tilted his chin slightly, signaling her to continue.
Robin, meanwhile, listened attentively, carefully organizing every piece of intel on Doflamingo in her mind.
It was clear Viola had prepared for this moment. Or perhaps, having just lost her country, she still hadn't let go.
"Your family is still there, and yet you dare betray him?"
When Viola finished speaking, Robin looked at her strangely.
"That's why I have to return."
Viola's gaze returned to Don as she spoke.
Whether she left here alive or not depended entirely on this young man.
"You may leave. How you explain today's events will be up to you."
Don glanced at her once before setting his foot on the railing.
"Wait. If you go to Dressrosa in the future, I can help you."
Viola knew this was her chance.
A man like Don, one who could fight Doflamingo, was the only hope she had left to save her country.
"Doflamingo's weapons factories in the North Blue—their locations."
Don spoke. Viola exhaled with relief and quickly pulled a sea chart from inside her bodice.
Robin accepted it and scanned it briefly. Countless islands were marked with red dots.
"As for your situation—we'll speak of it again once we reach Dressrosa."
Leaving only those words, Don leapt onto the nearby small boat.
Robin followed, forming an arm-rope with her ability to swing back aboard.
Watching the boat drift away, Viola's expression shifted.
So they still intended to destroy the factories. Did they really not care about the Admiral?
But the thought passed quickly, replaced by a troubled frown.
Now, she was the only one left alive on this ship.
How would she explain this to Lao G without arousing suspicion?
And her contact with Don—those memories would need careful concealment as well.
On the small boat
Robin formed arms to row while she studied the sea chart carefully.
"There are quite a lot. But earlier, she said Doflamingo is negotiating with Kaidou. He's one of the Four Emperors of the New World. Are you really not worried?"
Viola likely hadn't known much—she only mentioned in passing that Doflamingo was meeting Kaidou's people.
But if they truly allied, then in fighting Doflamingo, they might draw Kaidou into the conflict as well.
And that would be a disaster.
END OF CHAPTER
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