Sensing that something was terribly wrong, Doflamingo wasted no time. Furious, he personally led his men straight toward Punk Hazard.
By the time he set foot on the island the next day and stormed into the empty research facility, a wild surge of Conqueror's Haki raged uncontrollably across the desolate grounds.
"Who was it?! Who the hell did this?!"
Doflamingo's roar echoed with rage. He had only just managed to rescue Caesar not long ago, and now both Caesar and Monet had been taken. The laboratory was stripped bare, everything gone.
Who could possibly pull off something with such speed and precision?
He had been counting on the artificial Devil Fruits to strengthen the Donquixote Family and expand his business dealings with Kaido of the Beasts. Yet before things had even begun, his plans had been completely crushed.
He'd even lost Monet, his loyal snow-woman, along with a precious Axolotl Zoan Fruit.
"Boss, the corpses left behind… they all look like they were struck down by lightning."
"Boss, we also found some tiny footprints—it could be the Tontatta dwarves."
"There's no trace of the equipment being shipped through the port. Chances are, they flew everything away."
…
As report after report came in, the connections clicked together in Doflamingo's mind. His face twisted with fury.
The Tontatta dwarves. Enel, the so-called God of Thunder. And… that damned dragon, Souta Kiryuu.
That bastard had already raided his underground port once, extorting him. Now, Souta had ruined an entire business venture.
It was obvious now—Souta Kiryuu was targeting the artificial Devil Fruits.
The dwarves skilled in cultivation. The vital equipment of Punk Hazard.
"Souta Kiryuu!! I'll kill you with my own hands!!"
Doflamingo no longer harbored even the faintest thought of cooperation with Souta. All he wanted now was revenge—to butcher Experiment No. 88, reclaim Caesar, and recapture the dwarves.
"Back at the underground port, Souta kidnapped Keeper Kun," Gladius added, analyzing further. "Looking at how thoroughly this facility was stripped, he must have been the one behind it all."
"Then we're heading back. I'll meet with Keeper Sen and the undertaker Pakuro. Together, we'll find a way to crush Souta Kiryuu."
Doflamingo's expression was ice-cold as he left Punk Hazard. Perhaps Souta had only stumbled across Caesar and Monet while reclaiming the equipment. But that didn't matter.
The fact remained: Souta knew Monet was one of his own, yet still captured her. There was no turning back.
Souta Kiryuu had declared war on the Donquixote Family.
Keeper Kun—brother of Keeper Sen—was already in Souta's hands. Pakuro, the dark undertaker, had lost one of his subordinates to Souta.
Now, Doflamingo would unite these two shadow emperors of the underworld against him.
He had originally planned to let Souta clash with them, bleeding each other dry. But since he himself had suffered heavy losses, he would instead wield the combined might of the underworld and the World Government to strangle Souta Kiryuu.
Seething with hatred, Doflamingo returned to Dressrosa. There, he began plotting his retaliation, even instructing Vergo to report the Punk Hazard incident to higher authorities.
He wanted the World Government and Marines to tighten the noose, cutting off Souta's access to supplies.
Several days later.
Souta Kiryuu and his crew returned safely to Skypiea.
The Tontatta dwarves joyfully resettled in the primeval forest of the God's Land, Upper Yard, establishing their second homeland.
The four surviving members of the Riku royal line also found their place. King Riku himself was entrusted to Gan Fall, becoming part of Skypiea's governance. Violet joined the Kiryuu Pirates, handling aerial reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
Cyrus the soldier and Rebecca both entered Kuma's training corps. Cyrus served as a swordsmanship instructor, while Rebecca trained alongside Jewelry Bonney, Aisa, and the others to grow stronger.
The Punk Hazard equipment, restored under Keeper Kun's powers, was swiftly reassembled on the Sky Island. Dr. Vegapunk and his scientists were thrilled to have their familiar tools back.
"You even brought Caesar along," Vegapunk muttered, glaring with open disgust at the man shackled in seastone cuffs.
"Vegapunk?! You actually escaped the World Government's grasp?!" Caesar exclaimed in disbelief.
Vegapunk ignored him, turning to Souta. "So you captured this vermin. Good. Make sure he's properly put to use."
Souta smirked, holding the leash of his new poisonous slime creature. He revealed the Elemental Devil Fruit Weapon Project he intended Caesar to continue.
"Fine," Vegapunk sighed, weary. "Assign him those tasks. I'll focus on developing new energy sources to power colossal robots. I don't want to see him again."
"You'll regret underestimating me!" Caesar barked, only to be silenced a moment later when Souta's massive fist slammed into his stomach.
"Shut up and work. Or else." Souta's cold glare cut through him.
"Yes, yes! I'll behave! I'll finish every project you ask for!" Caesar stammered, instantly shrinking into submission.
He was fitted with special low-grade seastone cuffs—strong enough to suppress his Gas powers, but not so much as to rob him of stamina. Escape was impossible.
Keeper Kun and Monet soon realized Souta's territory was on Skypiea. The revelation crushed any hope they had of escape. Keeper Kun, especially, despaired—he might never return to his family.
Baby 5 moved into Souta's temple, serving as his personal maid.
Monet, however, was confined to the laboratory, treated like a living research subject, much like the dissolving man, Bakk.
She remained loyal to Doflamingo to the core. Worse, she was Sugar's sister, which only strengthened her devotion. Winning her over would be nearly impossible.
If necessary, Souta would have her memories wiped—just as he had done with Enel—using Vegapunk and Kuma's abilities. Until then, her worth as experimental material would decide her fate.
"These two Zoan fruits are yours to study as well," Souta said, handing over a Frog-Frog Fruit and a Sheep-Sheep Fruit to Vegapunk's team.
Such ordinary Zoans held little value to him.
Meanwhile, grand projects rolled forward: the Pacifistas, the Seraphim, the artificial Devil Fruits, the Elemental Weaponized Creatures…
Souta's ambition only grew fiercer. With these scientific armies at his command, even surpassing the Four Emperors was within reach. Storming the Holy Land of Mariejois itself was no longer just a dream.
Before that day came, Souta trained relentlessly, determined to rise beyond even Bartholomew Kuma's strength.
Only then would he stand as an equal against the Yonko—and the Five Elders themselves.