Taking in everything happening on the tournament grounds, Meiser shook his head with some exasperation. "Luffy is even more reckless than I imagined."
Anyone with the slightest knowledge of Luffy could immediately tell this guy was the Straw Hat Boy himself.
Thinking of this, Meiser sighed in resignation.
Then, as if a thought had just struck him, he murmured, "Still, since the Donquixote Family hasn't sent anyone to stop him, it means they don't plan to make a move against us just yet."
Well, that was actually good news for them.
In a sense, time was something they were sorely lacking right now.
Right at that moment, memories from several of his Shadow Clones flowed into Meiser's mind. He temporarily looked away from the match and focused on sorting through them.
"How strange," Meiser muttered, stroking his chin. "I've searched all over Dressrosa. Why haven't I found the factory's location yet?"
Could it be hidden inside some special building?
With that thought, Meiser directed his gaze toward Doflamingo's royal palace.
Earlier, to prevent Doflamingo from sensing his presence, he had deliberately avoided scouting there.
But now...
After a moment's thought, Meiser said, "Doflamingo should have left the palace by now to find Law."
Scouting there at this time shouldn't pose any problems, and he could also look around for traces of the Diamond-Diamond Fruit while he was at it.
As for how to send a clone?
He had planned that out long ago.
His idea back then was simple: when it got close to three o'clock, send a clone to check out Dressrosa's royal palace, allowing him to steer clear of Doflamingo himself.
By now, the clone should almost be there.
Meiser smiled faintly at the thought. "Now all that's left is to wait for the results."
Then, as another thought crossed his mind, a bizarre expression crept onto his face.
"Wait, what are Sanji and the others even doing right now?"
Zoro and Perona were strolling around on a date?
And Sanji was... in a relationship with a complete stranger?
No, seriously, what kind of nonsense is this?
After processing the information in his head, Meiser couldn't help but complain, "Without me, this Pirate Crew is going to fall apart sooner or later."
Shaking his head, Meiser turned his attention back to the ring, planning to enjoy the tournament while waiting for updates.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town.
Somewhere in a Dressrosa town, Sanji was advancing toward his objective alongside Violet.
At this moment, Sanji felt utterly blissful!
This feeling of being nourished by love was simply magnificent~
The corners of his mouth curled upward, completely beyond his control.
Before he could even let out a laugh, he noticed Violet releasing his arm, turning around, and running back in the direction they had come from.
Sanji: ??
"What's wrong?"
Jolted from his daydream, Sanji looked at Violet with confusion, clearly unable to comprehend why she was doing this.
"I really can't do this after all," Violet said, covering her face. "You should go back."
"What?"
Sanji froze. What on earth was she talking about?
"Mr. Sanji, I was so foolish," Violet said. "To ask you to do something like this...
"It's horrible. To think I actually wanted to kill that person... How could I think of such a thing?
"No matter how strong you are, I shouldn't be using you...
"Please, just walk away.
"Don't get involved with me anymore.
"I don't want to lose you because of my own selfishness..."
By the time she finished, tears were streaming down her face.
Her performance was so convincing that no one could tell it was an act.
Faced with Violet's tearful plea, Sanji merely lit a cigarette in calm silence, seemingly unbothered by the gravity of her words.
Then, glancing at the warehouse ahead, he said, "Miss Violet, that man is inside the warehouse ahead, right?
"I'm going in."
With that, this true man wasted no further words, turning around and walking toward the warehouse.
"?"
Violet's eyes widened in shock as she watched Sanji stride forward without the slightest hesitation.
"Aren't you going to ask me for a reason?"
"A reason?"
"A reason why I want to kill that guy."
"No reason needed," Sanji said without looking back. "Your tears are reason enough."
"Mr. Sanji?"
Staring at Sanji's back, Violet was utterly stunned.
This man would actually take action just because of that?
Doesn't he know that a woman's tears can lie?
Is he...
"Wait for me," Sanji said coldly. "I'll go put an end to all this."
With that, he said nothing more, marching in silence toward the distant door.
Standing there, watching his departing figure, Violet felt an increasingly conflicted emotion welling up inside her.
Though she couldn't understand what drove this man, the fact remained that she was deceiving him.
With a silent sigh, her resolve hardened once she remembered what she had to do.
I'm sorry, Mr. Sanji...
BAM!!
Kicking the door open with force, Sanji walked inside with an unperturbed expression.
"Who the hell is that?!"
The men inside glared angrily toward the entrance. "You dare come here and make trouble?
"Do you have a death wish?!"
Faced with their threats, Sanji merely exhaled a calm smoke ring before speaking again: "I'll let you guys have one last smoke.
"I can at least grant you that much time."
"Huh?"
The men inside stared at Sanji in total bafflement. What was this guy rambling about?
Acting this arrogant?
"Who the hell are you?"
"Are you the one?"
Looking at the burly bald man who seemed to be the leader, Sanji's expression turned frigid. "Are you the one who made Miss Violet cry?"
Hearing this, the men in the room instantly realized what was happening. This was the idiot big sister Violet had lured over!
The bald man sneered, "Did that woman send you?
"Do you even know who she is?
"She—"
"Miss Violet is truly pitiful..."
"What?"
Cut off mid-sentence, the bald man froze. What did he mean, she was pitiful?
What kind of bullshit was this guy spouting?
Before he could voice his confusion, Sanji continued, "To be bullied by an eyesore like you... what a disgrace."
"You bastard!"
The bald man instantly flew into a rage. Who was he calling an eyesore?
He was a manly, handsome hunk, damn it!
"Boys, get him together!" the bald man roared. "Kill this loudmouthed bastard!"
"Yeah!"
Receiving the order, the lackeys raised their weapons and rushed forward, completely surrounding Sanji in the span of a few breaths.
Yet in the face of this encirclement, Sanji's expression remained completely unchanged.
"Small fry, stand down."
"What did you say?!"
"How dare you look down on us..."
"Get him! Waste him!"
"Yeah!"
The men roared and charged at Sanji with weapons drawn, each scowl more vicious than the last.
Sanji merely scoffed, offering no further words.
Flipping his cigarette lightly into the air, he unleashed his assault on the crowd.
"Eye!"
"Belly!"
"Cheek!"
"Breast!"
"Thigh!"
"Tenderloin!"
"Party Table Kick Course!"
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
Whirling like a windmill, Sanji unleashed countless strikes in the span of a breath, sending every charging thug flying through the air.
He then caught the cigarette that was falling back down and took an elegant drag, looking exceptionally cool and collected.
Inhale~
Exhale~
Blowing out a smoke ring, Sanji said casually, "I told you.
"Small fry, stand down."
If they wanted a fight, they at least needed to bring out someone capable.
Right then, Violet's scream came from behind him, immediately drawing his attention.
"Miss Violet?"
"Sanji!"
"Damn it!" The bald thug stared at Sanji in both shock and fury. "You bastard, you've really done it now!"
To wipe out all of his men in the blink of an eye... Was this the power of the Straw Hat Crew?
Truly terrifying!
"I'll only say this once," Sanji said, glaring at the bald thug with icy eyes. "Take your filthy hands off her!"
"Shut up!"
The bald thug barked, "This woman is in my hands now!
"If you want her to live, you'd better behave!"
As he spoke, the bald thug lowered his head, pressing the short pistol in his hand against Violet's temple to warn Sanji not to try anything funny, lest he blow her head off.
Sanji seized the fleeting instant when the man tilted his head down and vanished on the spot.
Violet: ??
Bald thug: ??
Where did he go?
How did he disappear in a fraction of a second?
Both wore expressions of utter shock.
"Damn it, where is he?" the bald thug raged. "Come out!"
"Hey."
"Huh?"
Hearing Sanji's voice, the bald thug froze, only to realize the man was already right in front of him.
Before he could react, Sanji's kick landed squarely on his chin, violently snapping his head back amid a chorus of agonizing shrieks.
"Aaargh!"
"A man who makes a woman cry is someone I will never forgive!" Sanji roared. "Take flight!"
"Devil Wind Leg!"
"Love Kick!"
BOOM!!
An overwhelmingly heavy kick slammed into the bald thug's gut, blasting him skyward. He shot toward the horizon and vanished from sight in the blink of an eye!
Watching this unfold, Violet was thoroughly dumbfounded.
Was this guy truly this powerful?
She quickly came to her senses, though. This was no time for awe; she still had a mission to complete.
With that thought, Violet instantly slipped back into her role.
"Mr. Sanji," Violet rushed up to him, tears glistening in her eyes. "That scared me half to death just now."
"You're not hurt, are you, Miss Violet?!"
"I'm fine.
"Thank you!"
"Ohohoho~"
Ahem...
Catching himself drooling like an infatuated fool, Sanji cleared his throat and said, "That is wonderful to hear."
"Mr. Sanji."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"I have a request," Violet said with downcast eyes. "A request that I hope you can grant me."
"Lay it on me~"
Sanji said excitedly, "If it's for you, Violet, I'll do anything!"
Was he about to unlock some special scene?
The mere thought made his whole body tremble with excitement.
"Heh, is that so?"
Seeing that Sanji was utterly captivated, Violet swiftly produced two sets of chains and bound his hands and feet, catching him completely off guard.
What was... the meaning of this?
"Then I'll state my request." Standing back up, Violet gave Sanji a sweet smile. "Could you... die for me?
"Black Leg Sanji!"
"Miss Violet?" Sanji looked at Violet in shock. "What are you talking about?"
What did she mean, die for her?
And... why was Miss Violet wearing an expression like that?
What was she getting at?
"What a foolish man," Violet sneered, looking down at him. "Even at a time like this, you still can't see the reality of the situation."
This time, Sanji didn't speak. He simply stared into Violet's eyes, his mind swirling with confusion.
Her eyes... why had the light vanished from them?
"What an idiot!"
"Hahahahaha!"
The lackeys who had scrambled back to their feet began mocking Sanji with hearty laughs, their expressions bursting with vindictive joy.
The tables had turned!
Grabbing Sanji, the men pinned him down and began raining blows upon him.
Throughout the beating, Sanji never resisted. He merely stared at Violet with a conflicted gaze, making her feel intensely uncomfortable.
"Even now, you're still eyeing our big sister?" one lackey said, sneering at Sanji. "You really don't know what's good for you!"
"Don't tell me this guy still hasn't realized what kind of mess he's in?"
"What a pathetic man."
"Hahahahaha!"
The surrounding men burst into laughter again, mocking Sanji's sheer stupidity.
Violet chuckled as well, then said, "Did you know, Black Leg Sanji?
"No one can keep secrets from me.
"From the very moment we met, I could already see right through you!"
She paused briefly, then looked at Sanji with open mockery before continuing: "Though I had long heard that women were your weakness, I never imagined it would be this absurd. It's truly pathetic.
"Look at you now!
"Your collar is wrinkled, your tie is crooked, and your shirt is soaked in blood. Your appearance couldn't be more disgraceful!" Violet sneered. "You are quite simply the most utterly useless excuse for a man!
"How could someone like you ever hope to win my heart?
"Stop dreaming!
"Black Leg Sanji!!"
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