Chapter 241: Target - Doflamingo
Sugar, a member of the Donquixote Family, was a legitimate loli with the Toy-Toy Fruit ability. She could turn anyone she touched into a toy, and these transformed individuals would lose all memory of themselves, as long as someone else knew about them.
This ability had created a unique phenomenon in Dressrosa - an endless supply of tireless toys, the lowest-class and free labor force in the country.
The nation's prosperity was built upon the vanity of these toys.
Viola clenched her fist as Rodney gnawed on a chicken leg, saying, "I have a proposal for you. I'll help you overthrow Doflamingo's rule, and Dressrosa will become part of my territory. You won't be required to do anything special. We'll apply our Avileon laws here, establish trade, and assist you in restoring Dressrosa's economy to normalcy after losing its dark dealings with Doflamingo."
"Just that?" Viola asked.
"Just that. Sanji has been in my Avileon and knows what kind of place it is."
Sanji puffed on his cigarette and said, "Ah, it's a great place, with well-established laws and no injustices. It's a very suitable place for ordinary people to live. Honestly, Miss Viola, if you're considering seeking refuge with a power, Mr. Rodney is indeed an excellent choice." He wasn't the same inexperienced newcomer he used to be.
Avileon had educated him about many things. He knew that the New World was entirely different from the first half of the Grand Line. Only Rodney, with his massive family fortune and solid footing, was capable of standing tall among this group of people. And he was the only one with a conscience.
The New World was a place filled with monsters.
Viola fell silent. She didn't trust Rodney, nor did she trust Sanji. She was a naturally suspicious woman and needed more convincing.
"Hehe, don't trust me? Doflamingo will die today, and as I've said before, no one I want to kill has ever survived. So, there's no turning back now!" Rodney's eyes glinted.
"Mission: Eliminate Doflamingo
Mission Rank: A
Mission Rewards: Bloodline Limit - Explosion Release, Bloodline Limit - Steel Release, Wind Release - Rasenshuriken, Fire Release - Dragon Flame Song Technique, Fire Release - Grey Ash Accumulation, Sealing Jutsu - Fire Release - Heavenly Prison, Water Release - Water Cutting Wave, Water Release - Rain Bullet, Lightning Release - Kirin, Chidori Sharp Spear, Lightning Release - Hell Stab Four-Fingered Penetration, Earth Release - Ground Penetration, Earth Release - Earth Flow Slice, Eternal Chakra Fruit, Sword of the Thunder God, Mission Points: 10,000."
Sanji blew a smoke ring and said, "Miss Viola, Mr. Rodney has made up his mind."
Yes, his mind was set. Rodney said, "If you don't choose to submit, then I won't mind repeating what Doflamingo did back then. I can do it just as easily. Dressrosa is mine; it will become my testing ground. Whether you agree or not, don't count on the World Government. They didn't intervene before, and they won't now."
He needed Dressrosa for an experiment, to prove to the world that it no longer needed kings.
Viola felt a deep sense of powerlessness. This was being forced upon her. But she had no choice. If she had one, Doflamingo wouldn't be sitting in the palace now.
She sometimes regretted why she had eaten the Doki Doki no Mi, a Devil Fruit with no combat capabilities, instead of something like a Logia or a powerful Paramecia. Then, she wouldn't be so helpless against Doflamingo.
"Mr. Rodney, is this behavior appropriate towards a lady?" Sanji asked, puzzled. He understood that Rodney had his reasons, but he didn't like the idea of threatening a woman.
"Sanji, you're just too gentle with women. The more beautiful a woman is, the more deceitful she can be. Viola has her difficulties, and I will help her defeat Doflamingo. But I want this country, this nation! I want this country without a king! I want to show the world that it doesn't need kings anymore! I want to... ignite this world!"
He exuded an astonishing aura, an overpowering presence that made people not dare to oppose his will.
Sanji lowered his head; Rodney had become even stronger.
Viola, filled with resentment, finally raised her head and said firmly, "Very well, I agree. If you can kill Doflamingo, eliminate all the Donquixote Family members, and clear my father's name, then all of Dressrosa will submit to you, and you will be the ruler of this nation."
Just a change of rulers, that's all it was. Compared to Doflamingo, Rodney was indeed a much better choice.
"A wise choice."
Rodney stood up, smiled, and said, "This is a straightforward matter. Some people I will leave to others to deal with. I'll let your brother-in-law handle the person who killed your sister."
"My... brother-in-law?" Viola tried to recall. Her sister had married someone and had a daughter, Rebecca. But... who was her brother-in-law? She couldn't remember. She faintly remembered he was tall and a good man, but who was he?
She held her head, unable to remember. She remembered that before the incident, her family had been very happy, and her sister had looked at her brother-in-law with such tender eyes. At that time, she had envied them and thought of finding a husband like that in the future. But... who was the man who made her sister so gentle?
Who was Rebecca's father?
Her memories were blank. She couldn't remember who Rebecca's father was. The Hollow-Hollow Fruit's ability was so terrifying that even if two people were deeply in love, if one of them turned into a toy, the other would forget.
Rodney approached the window, overlooking the bustling streets, and said with a smile, "Dressrosa will soon be in turmoil, very chaotic. Viola, witness the change of power once again. The fury of Dressrosa will devour that flamingo, and the entire Donquixote Family will be buried beneath the flames of anger. Hahaha! Digging a hole for oneself and burying oneself in it, Doflamingo will surely enjoy that feeling, won't he?"
Doflamingo had used Sugar's ability to turn everyone opposing him into toys who worked tirelessly day and night. They were forced to watch as their family members and loved ones became strangers. The anger within these toys was about to explode!
Once they gained their freedom, Dressrosa would be set ablaze, consuming Doflamingo, the cunning kingpin, in its rage!
A Dressrosa filled with smoke, Doflamingo alienated from his subjects!
It was coming, it was nearly here. Rodney licked his lips, looking forward to the spectacle. It would be quite interesting,
wouldn't it?
(End of this chapter)