In the Tontatta Kingdom, Princess Mansherry was doing her best to persuade Gancho to move the entire dwarf tribe to the Sky Island.
The primeval forests of God's Island—Apayado—could easily accommodate the whole tribe.
Meanwhile, Leo and the other dwarven warriors who had gone to sea were proudly showing off tales of their adventures, stirring envy in the hearts of many of their kin. The little ones looked on with longing eyes, eager for a taste of the outside world.
"Mansherry… if we all leave, what about the Riku royal family?
Are we to abandon Green Bit—and force the Rikus to give up Dressrosa as well?"
Gancho's expression twisted with conflict. If they moved to the Sky Island, the dwarves would surely live safer, happier lives. But their allies—the Riku royal family—were suffering under the oppression of the Donquixote clan.
Princess Violet had been forced into the Donquixote family to serve Doflamingo. King Riku himself had been thrown into the gladiator arena. Only young Rebecca was left struggling alone outside, watched over by a single toy soldier.
Were it not for the dwarves lending her aid from time to time, her life would have been unbearable.
"I suggest we bring Princess Rebecca with us to Sky Island," Leo said earnestly. "Let her train alongside our warriors. With Kuma guiding her, she'll grow far stronger than she ever would fighting in the Dressrosa coliseum."
"That's true," Mansherry added softly. "And remember—Souta Kiryuu already promised Lord Law he would topple the Donquixote family within two years."
Gancho fell silent, deep in thought. "Then I'll ask the toy soldier's opinion. Perhaps bringing Rebecca and the soldier with us to the Sky Island is best. Later, they can join Law to take revenge."
With that, he prepared to set off for Dressrosa. Their base in the sunflower fields was where Rebecca and the dwarves met in secret.
"Then hurry," Mansherry urged him. "Otherwise, Lord Souta Kiryuu will leave Dressrosa for another island."
She had already given orders for the tribe to prepare. Most of the youth and children eagerly packed their belongings, ready to leave Green Bit for the skies.
Only the elders hesitated, torn by their attachment to their homeland. But even they awaited Gancho's final decision. If the chief chose to move, they would follow.
Hearing that Gancho was heading to Dressrosa to negotiate, Souta Kiryuu and his companions decided to join. They planned to explore the underground port of Dressrosa, hoping to seize valuable spoils.
Dressrosa — Underground Port
The cavernous port bustled with activity. Countless toys labored under the weight of cargo, most of it weapons.
"Hurry it up! This time, the Kingdom of Sunzu will show the Flower Country our true might!" roared a general of Sunzu from the West Blue. His nation was at war with the Flower Country, a pirate kingdom that commanded the fearsome Happo Navy, led by eight generations of pirate warriors.
Outmatched, Sunzu turned to JOKER—the underground broker emperor—to purchase powerful weapons supplied by Kaido's Beast Pirates.
Guns, ammunition, poisonous gas bombs—they bought everything they could, desperate for victory.
"Oi, oi! Brothers, with so much cargo, why not let the Deep Current Fleet under the Sea Transport King handle your shipping? We've a fleet heading to the West Blue right now. First deal with us—I'll give you ten percent off!"
A middle-aged man in a black, double-horned captain's hat called out with a merchant's grin. After all, the voyage from Dressrosa to the West Blue was far from safe.
"Zhahaha~ Better to let our Storage Master's network handle it instead!" sneered a tall, skeletal man wielding a needle nearly three meters long. "We just took a huge contract from Doflamingo, but we can always make room for more business."
"Giberson! You trying to die? Dare to steal business from the Deep Current Fleet?"
Umit, the Sea Transport King, exhaled twin streams of mist from his nostrils, his beast-like pupils glaring at his rival.
"Zhahaha! Business is business. Customers choose freely. You'd force them otherwise?" Giberson scoffed. Both answered to underground emperors. Neither would back down.
And besides—this was JOKER's territory. No one would dare lift a hand here.
"Tch."
Umit clenched his fists but swallowed his rage. JOKER was too powerful, dealing with government, allied nations, and even Yonko alike. His network ensured money flowed into every hand.
"Hohohoho… JOKER's reach is truly vast. To think he could handle so many slaves at once!"
A blond man in a mask descended the steps, laughing as he counted stacks of cash. Behind him, masked subordinates carried chest after chest of money, drawing wary eyes.
"The Drago family… those lunatic kidnappers," muttered both Umit and Giberson, narrowing their eyes. Each subordinate carried a reaper's scythe across their back.
These were agents of Drago Peclo, the "Grand Undertaker," master of assassins in the New World. His clan monopolized contract killings, kidnappings, human trafficking—even organ sales.
Compared to them, the businesses of the Sea Transport King and Storage Master almost seemed respectable. Ruthless at times, yes—but still bound by rules.
The Drago clan, however, strode openly through the port, brash and arrogant, boarding their yellow lion-headed warship without a care.
It was then—
Crack!
A deafening bolt of lightning split the air.
A shirtless man with long earrings appeared in a flash atop the central mast of the lion ship.
"Yahaha~ So many ants gathered here!" Enel grinned, his half-lidded eyes gleaming with manic excitement.
Shrrk!
A masked man in a yellow work uniform swung his long scythe, severing the intruder in two with a single stroke.
Bzzzzt!
But instead of dying, Enel's body crackled and split into arcs of lightning, his torso already reforming in midair.
"So arrogant, aren't you…"
His voice was cold and fierce.
"Sixty Million Volts—Thunder Dragon!"
His split form fused into a colossal dragon of lightning, roaring down upon the scythe-wielding assassin.
"A Logia user?!"
Umit, Giberson, and the other underground leaders stared in shock.
The air itself shook as thunder descended.