"Quick! Faster!"
"Sugar-sama, please come with us!"
Inside the underground factory, a group of Donquixote Family executives tightly surrounded a small girl as they hurried toward the exit.
Ever since Doflamingo learned that Rolan and the Ion Tempest had arrived in Dressrosa, he had given a single order, Sugar must be protected at all costs. If possible, she was to be evacuated from Dressrosa immediately.
The violent tremors and deafening impact that had just shaken the entire island made everyone's expressions tense. There was no doubt about it, that sound could only have come from the battlefield above, where the top executives were clashing with Rolan and his crew.
"What are you afraid of?" Dellinger snarled, grinding his teeth. "With so many of us here, are we really scared of just one Yonko?"
With that, he took a step forward, clearly intending to rush back toward the surface.
"Dellinger!" Gladius reached out and yanked him back. "Don't be reckless. Rolan is not someone we can handle."
Senor Pink spoke from the side, his voice calm despite the tension. "Our priority is Sugar. Once she's safely out at sea, we can talk about everything else."
Lao G shook his head slowly. "You escort Sugar away. I'll stay behind and stop the pursuers, seriously, G!"
"No," Gladius said firmly. "Enough talking."
He looked around at everyone present, his expression resolute. "I'll stay. All of you leave now."
Among this group, only Pink and Gladius were capable of staying rational under pressure. Gladius also held the highest status here, and his strength surpassed the others.
If the Young Master had fallen, and the elite officers above had been defeated, then this responsibility naturally fell on him.
They were monsters to the outside world, but within the Donquixote Family, they were still family.
"No!" Dellinger shouted immediately. "Gladius, I'm staying with you!"
Gladius had always treated him well, and Dellinger refused to let him face this alone.
Lao G stepped forward heavily. "No. I'm the oldest. You are all my juniors. This burden should be mine."
Pink sucked on his pacifier, then raised a hand to stop them. "Since Russian is gone, there's no meaning left for me either."
"Enough!" Gladius roared.
The underground factory fell silent.
"The most important thing right now is getting Sugar out to sea," he said coldly. "I'll handle this. All of you leave. If you hesitate any longer, it will be too late."
Just then, a calm female voice echoed through the factory.
"None of you are leaving."
"Who said that?"
Everyone turned sharply.
Two women stood at the entrance.
One had orange hair, a windmill and orange tattoo on her left shoulder and arm, and wore a red-and-white bikini that highlighted her confident, fiery figure.
The other wore a black cowboy hat, a strapless top, and a long skirt, her presence elegant and composed.
They were Nami and Robin.
After learning that the remaining Donquixote executives were hiding in the underground factory, they had separated from Rolan and arrived here together.
Seeing the scene before them, both women felt a fleeting sense of irony.
They had never expected to witness such mutual sacrifice among a group responsible for so much cruelty.
Even so, neither of them felt the slightest intention to show mercy.
The blood on these people's hands could not be washed clean, even if thrown into the sea.
"You're… White Fist Nami and Demon Child Robin from Rolan's crew!"
The sudden appearance of the two women caused instant panic.
Their reputations preceded them.
Despite their beauty, both women carried bounties that surpassed even Donquixote Doflamingo's.
More importantly, the pressure radiating from them was suffocating.
Dellinger let out a shrill cry and charged forward. "It was you! You destroyed our family! I'll tear you apart!"
Lao G, Buffalo, and the others rushed forward as well.
At this point, Gladius knew there was nothing left to say.
"Sugar, go!" he shouted. "We'll hold them back!"
With that, he charged forward too.
From the moment Nami and Robin appeared, he understood the truth. One-on-one, none of them stood a chance. Their only hope was overwhelming numbers.
But hatred and fear had already robbed them of coordination.
Robin sighed softly and raised her hands.
"Blooming."
In an instant, pale arms sprouted from their bodies, from the ground, from every surface around them.
Gigantic arms rose from the floor, seizing the charging executives and lifting them into the air.
"A human wave tactic doesn't work on me," Robin said calmly.
She pressed her hand downward.
"Impact."
The arms slammed every executive violently into the ground.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
The underground factory shook as dust exploded into the air. The fate of the executives was impossible to discern.
In the center of it all stood a small girl, holding a bowl of grapes in one hand and a single grape in the other. Her cheeks were puffed as she chewed.
She looked no different from an ordinary child.
She was Sugar, the user of the Hobi Hobi no Mi.
Watching the executives crushed into the ground, her pupils contracted sharply.
She froze for a moment, then quickly adjusted her expression.
Tears welled in her eyes as she slowly walked toward Nami and Robin.
"Big sisters… it's so scary," she said softly. "Those people want to capture me. Are you here to save me?"
Nami and Robin were briefly taken aback.
If it were anyone else, they might have believed her.
But they already knew exactly who Sugar was.
She was the core of Dressrosa's nightmare.
Nami glanced at Robin. They exchanged a silent nod.
Nami crouched down in front of Sugar, her voice gentle and warm.
"Little sister, are you lost? Where are your mama and papa? Do you want big sister to take you home?"
Her acting was flawless.
Even Robin had to admit it was impressive.
Sugar's lips curled almost imperceptibly.
'So easy,' she thought smugly. 'As expected, it's still up to me when everything falls apart.'
She wiped her tears and stepped closer, holding the bowl of grapes forward.
Behind her, the dust settled.
The executives lay broken and bloodied, restrained by Robin's arms, all of them staring at Sugar with desperate hope.
The factory grew eerily silent.
When Sugar was only a few steps away, she reached out toward Nami's hand.
Just as her fingers were less than ten centimeters away, Nami's head suddenly dropped straight down.
"Ahhh!"
A scream shattered the silence.
Sugar's eyes rolled back as she collapsed stiffly to the ground, grapes scattering everywhere.
"Sugar!"
"Sugar-sama!"
"It's over! Sugar-sama fainted!"
…
As Sugar lost consciousness, the entire island of Dressrosa trembled violently.
It was as if something fundamental had finally collapsed.
...