In the pitch-black library, the little Dwarf warrior named Ron finished speaking and, unable to contain his excitement, flapped his wings and darted wildly around the room.
No one paid him much mind, nor did they worry that his commotion might cause a disturbance. The Dwarf warrior was simply too small, even when speaking, his voice would likely go unheard unless one was very close, let alone in such a vast library.
Still, everyone felt some curiosity, especially Ayala. Although Ron was a Mushi Mushi no Mi user in Ant Form and looked somewhat like an ant from the outside, he didn't appear very threatening. In fact, he seemed almost cute, like a small toy.
"Brother Yemu, Tiger-san, are there really Dwarves in this world?"
Although Ayala had read many books, extremely rare species like the Dwarves were not recorded in any of them.
"Mm."
Tiger-san answered. Yemu also knew of the Dwarves' existence, but aside from the Princess with the Chiyu Chiyu no Mi ability, he had little impression of the others.
"The Dwarves, also known as the Tontatta, live on an island in the New World called Green Bit. Like the Snakeneck Tribe, Longarm Tribe, and Longleg Tribe we've seen on this island, they're an extremely rare race. I'd only heard of them, I never expected to actually see one today."
Yemu didn't seem particularly surprised.
"Let's not worry about him for now. I've already tested it, Kuromu's Devil Fruit ability can indeed open the cages within this book. Let's move quickly. We don't have much time, and space on the ship is limited, so we can only rescue a portion of them for now. Everyone, choose according to your judgment. Later, when we have the chance, we'll come back to fully liberate this place."
"Understood."
Everyone naturally grasped the reasoning. Rescuing the imprisoned beings wasn't difficult, the challenge was arranging their departure.
So everyone sprang into action. For safety, they didn't open the books directly, instead judging the general nature of the creatures inside from the titles.
"Alright, Kuromu, please create a passage to the Mirror World. Once these creatures are rescued, we'll place them there for now, and take them with us when we leave."
"No problem, leave it to me, Boss!"
After giving instructions, Yemu began to look around. It had to be said that, although Charlotte Linlin possessed immense power, at her core, she was a mischievous child. Judging by these book titles, this place was less a library and more a prison.
The vast majority of the "books" contained rare plants and animals. These creatures were all living beings, subject to birth, aging, sickness, and death, ranging from ancient species to modern ones.
The sheer variety was dizzying, making it hard to decide which to release. But Yemu left that task to Tiger and the others.
Yemu didn't intend to release them for no reason. Now that he had arrived in the New World, he naturally needed his own territory. He had too few people under his command to control an island fully, but with these rescued creatures, his power could grow rapidly.
Just then, Yemu heard the sound of flapping wings nearby and looked up to see Ron, the little Dwarf warrior, returning with a dejected expression.
"What's wrong?" Yemu asked.
Ron, looking deeply ashamed, pleaded,
"My lord, my younger brother isn't here."
"He's not here? Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Ron nodded firmly.
"I couldn't find the mark my brother left here."
"A mark!?"
"Yes. My brother and I are both Mushi Mushi no Mi users. We can release a unique hormone that serves as a marker to guide each other's location. Humans can't detect it, it can't be washed away, and it lasts for over three months."
"Over three months? Then when were you captured by Big Mom and imprisoned here?"
Ron shook his head.
"We weren't captured by pirates under Big Mom's command. The one who captured us was a pirate named Doflamingo!"
He explained carefully.
"My younger brother, Gaos, is a Mushi Mushi no Mi Bee Model user. Though not skilled in combat, he has exceptional talent for producing honey. Just over a month ago, we were still on Green Bit Island when that pirate Doflamingo suddenly appeared."
A mixture of anger and fear crossed Ron's face.
"I was no match for him. He captured both my brother and me, then handed us over to Perospero from Big Mom's crew in exchange for an entry ticket! If Gaos isn't here, he must have been imprisoned by Big Mom somewhere else to produce honey. Please, my lord, help me rescue my brother..."
Yemu looked puzzled.
"Oh? Why are you asking me for help? You're free now, can't you rescue your brother yourself?"
Ron's expression darkened.
"I can't do it!"
"What do you mean?"
Tears of helplessness ran down his face as he said,
"Whether it's Doflamingo or that monster Big Mom, I'm no match for them. They're too strong."
"I see! I'll help you. Those two really are too strong for you."
"Huh!?"
Ron was stunned, he hadn't expected this human to agree so readily.
Though simple, Dwarves weren't completely ignorant, so he hesitated.
"Um… thank you so much. I wonder what I can do for you, sir?"
Yemu asked in return.
"What could you possibly do for me?"
"That?"
Ron was left speechless, unsure how to respond. He had nothing to offer except his strength and speed, but recalling how easily this man had just grabbed him, he realized his power was insignificant in comparison.
"Alright, there's no need to rush with thanks. We'll talk about that after we save your brother. But before that, we have another task!"
Yemu glanced at the vast library.
"We didn't come here just to rescue your brother. The plan is only halfway complete..."