Sabaody Archipelago, Island No. 13.
The Red-Haired Pirates, along with Rayleigh and Shakky, stood at the entrance of the Rip-Off Bar, looking toward Island No. 1 with serious expressions.
"Why now of all times...?" Shanks couldn't understand.
Nine Celestial Dragons had died here, Doflamingo had been captured, and the timing was just too much of a coincidence.
Out of the seven Warlords of the Sea, two had already fallen.
"I have a feeling this is related to the Dream Exploration Team, but I'm not sure exactly how," Beckman said after thinking for a moment.
Hearing this, Rayleigh glanced at Shakky without making it obvious.
Shakky also had a good idea of what was going on, but she didn't dare say anything. She never expected that the people from the Dream Exploration Team, who seemed so friendly, would be capable of causing such chaos behind the scenes.
She had no intention of leaking their secret and becoming a target herself.
Among everyone here, she was the only one with strong intelligence-gathering abilities. If it weren't for her special connections, she wouldn't have even known about this.
Lucky Roux glanced around. The spies had already disappeared, and he turned to Shanks. "Boss, the Marines should have pulled back by now. Should we get moving too?"
Shanks frowned and said, "Let's wait a few more days. I have a feeling something else is going to happen in Sabaody Archipelago."
~~~~~~
Meanwhile, at a villa hotel on Island 70.
Sugar was already awake. As soon as she got up, she wanted to settle the score with Ryuen. Right now, she was angrily glaring at him.
Everyone else was busy with their own things. Nami, Nojiko, and Lia stood to the side, watching the two figures—one big, one small—arguing.
Sugar was furious. This guy knocked her out, and now all her dolls had probably turned back into humans.
"Hey, kid! What are you staring at?" Ryuen raised an eyebrow.
"I'm staring at you! And by the way, I'm almost twenty now—I'm older than you! You should call me big sis!" Sugar shouted with her hands on her hips.
"Call you big sis?"
"Yeah, right! No way that's happening!" Calling a girl who looks like a ten-year-old his big sister?
Ryuen instantly jumped in protest.
"Waaahhh~~~"
"You bullied me! You even knocked me out! Now all my dolls are gone."
"I'm sorry, young master! Waaahhh~~~" Sugar was heartbroken.
She was more important than any other officer in the Donquixote Family, and now that her 'family' had fallen apart, she felt lost.
"Sugar, listen carefully. From now on, Doflamingo is no longer your young master," Ryuen said coldly, his eyes sharp.
Seeing that look in Ryuen's eyes, Sugar immediately ran behind Nami, peeking out with a wronged expression. "You're still bullying me~~~"
"Ryuen, you can't bully Sugar! She's so cute," Nami said, protecting her.
"If I hear her call him 'young master' again, I won't hold back on Monet. And as for Doflamingo, I'll take him down myself. Sugar, if you keep this up, you'll be sent straight to Impel Down!" Ryuen glared fiercely at Sugar.
"Waaahhh~~~"
"I won't say it anymore! Just don't hurt my sister..." Sugar wailed even louder, completely terrified.
"Ryuen~~~"
*BAM!!*
"Ahhh!!!"
Nami, furious, punched Ryuen so hard he went flying. He soared through the sky before crashing into the sea with a loud splash.
At the entrance of the Ransom Bar.
Shanks and his crew were stunned.
"That guy flying through the air just now... that was Captain Ryuen, right?" Lucky Roux was so shocked he dropped the meat bone in his hand.
"Who the heck is that strong...?"
"Shakky, is there really someone like that in Sabaody Archipelago right now?" Rayleigh looked at Shakky in surprise.
"N-No... I don't think so..." Shakky said uncertainly.
~~~~~~
Back at the villa hotel, Sugar was standing there with her mouth wide open in shock.
She stared at Nami in disbelief. She had thought Ryuen was the strongest in the Exploration Group, but it turned out Nami was the real powerhouse!
Inside the hall, Nojiko was nowhere to be seen—she was always the one in charge of fishing people out of the water.
Nami turned to Sugar and gave her a warm smile. "Don't worry, Sugar. He won't bully you anymore."
"R-Really?" Sugar was still doubtful.
That punch just now… if it had landed on her, it would've hurt—a lot. After all, she was so small…
"Of course!"
"But Ryuen wasn't wrong. You're no longer part of the Donquixote Family. You need to adapt to your new life as soon as possible."
"Think about your sister. And trust me, when he said he'd take down Doflamingo, he wasn't joking. He really could do it. If that happens, the entire Donquixote Family might be wiped out!" Nami said seriously.
"Ahhh!!!"
"I-I-I... I get it! I swear I won't shout again. I was born a Dream Team member, and I'll die as a Dream Team ghost!" Seeing that Nami wasn't joking, Sugar quickly promised.
And that look Ryuen just gave— it really scared her. She was truly afraid that her sister and the others would get taken out too.
Hmph~ Got her!
Nami felt very proud of herself. Ryuen just couldn't handle it, but things were different when she stepped in.
~~~~~~
Not long after, Nojiko came back carrying Ryuen.
"He passed out?"
"No way!" Lia's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Nami, can you go a little easier next time? We're in the Sabaody Archipelago. If he falls into deep water, I won't be able to fish him out," Nojiko said, annoyed.
The ocean here is over ten thousand meters deep!
"Huh?"
"Uh... I forgot. I'll be more careful next time. Just leave him to me." Nami said apologetically.
Then she picked up Ryuen and carried him to the room.
Once inside, Nami suddenly said, "I know you're not actually knocked out. If you don't get up now, I'm kicking you right there next time!"
"Hahaha!"
"Nami, you're too sharp. You saw through me right away. But look, my waist is all swollen," Ryuen immediately got out of Nami's arms.
"Hmph!"
"Serves you right. Oh, by the way, I've taken care of Sugar, but are you sure this will work?" Nami asked, a little doubtful.
"Why wouldn't it? Those two sisters have a really strong bond.
But Nami, can I be the 'good guy' next time?
I'm always the bad guy—it's getting old," Ryuen said, trying to negotiate.
"You really think... a delicate and fragile woman like me could ever look like a bad person?" Nami asked with a pitiful expression.
"N-no... not at all!" Ryuen replied, going against his better judgment.
~~~~~~
On the rooftop of the villa, Kuina was practicing her sword swings.
In a day or two, Garp would return to the Sabaody Archipelago, and by then, her Devil Fruit would have arrived.
Once she got it, her final weakness would be gone!
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