"I heard that Donquixote Doflamingo became the King of Dressrosa six years ago?"
Hina frowned slightly as she looked through the information contained in the dossier.
"Then how exactly did the previous king step down?"
The question had been bothering her ever since she read the brief summary of Dressrosa's recent history.
According to the official records, the country had undergone a sudden change in leadership, with Doflamingo taking the throne after the previous king was supposedly driven from power.
But the circumstances surrounding that change were far too vague.
"You can't seriously believe that the previous king simply went mad one day, and then Doflamingo suddenly displayed his divine power, rescued the people from their suffering, and naturally became King of Dressrosa, can you?"
Bruce chuckled as he glanced at the report.
"Something must have happened behind the scenes. Otherwise, how could Doflamingo have taken the throne so easily?"
His words made sense.
A royal family that had ruled Dressrosa for centuries would not simply surrender its kingdom to an outsider without a reason.
"What was the previous king's name?" Saint Roselith Seraphina asked after thinking for a moment.
"I believe his name was King Riku," Bruce replied.
"Looks like you guessed correctly, Bruce."
Seraphina smiled knowingly.
"Huh?"
Bruce stared at her in confusion.
"Wait… it really was King Riku?"
"Yes."
Seraphina nodded.
"King Riku Doldo III was the king of Dressrosa before Doflamingo seized control of the country."
Bruce's expression became strange.
"What a coincidence."
"It isn't really a coincidence."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed as she recalled the information she had once encountered in the World Government's records.
More than a decade ago, she had gained access to extensive information concerning the monarchs who attended the Reverie.
King Riku was among those rulers.
Although Seraphina had never personally met him during that period, his name and position had appeared in the records available to the World Government.
"According to the official records, King Riku suddenly lost control of himself one day and attacked his own people. Doflamingo and the Donquixote Family then appeared, defeated him, and took control of Dressrosa."
Seraphina's expression became thoughtful.
"That's the version recorded by the World Government."
Hina's eyes narrowed.
"If that's the case, what exactly caused King Riku to suddenly lose his mind?"
She clearly didn't believe the explanation.
A king who had ruled his country for years suddenly becoming insane overnight was far too convenient.
"Who knows?"
Seraphina rested her chin lightly against her hand.
"I'm curious about that as well."
Her eyes became slightly more serious.
"Could it have been a Devil Fruit ability?"
"Devil Fruit?"
Bruce immediately understood what she meant.
"You think one of the Donquixote Family's abilities might have been responsible?"
"It's possible."
Seraphina considered the possibility.
"Perhaps Doflamingo possessed some method of manipulating people's minds. Or maybe one of his subordinates had a Devil Fruit capable of altering a person's behavior."
She paused.
"Another possibility is that the incident involved some kind of chemical or biological weapon. We shouldn't rule anything out simply because the official records don't mention it."
The more Seraphina thought about it, the more suspicious the incident became.
King Riku's sudden collapse had been far too convenient for Doflamingo.
"In that case, we should investigate the Devil Fruit abilities of the Donquixote Family's senior officers," Bruce suggested.
"That would be wise."
Seraphina nodded.
"Doflamingo isn't merely the King of Dressrosa. He's also known throughout the underworld as 'Joker.'"
"He has connections to weapons dealers, pirates, brokers, and other criminal organizations throughout the New World."
"Someone like that deserves our full attention."
"I agree."
Seraphina's expression became serious.
"Knowing your enemy is half the battle."
Bruce immediately retrieved another collection of documents from the cabin.
Before departing for Dressrosa, he had already consulted several restricted files concerning Doflamingo and the Donquixote Family.
Some of the information had been gathered by Marine intelligence.
Other portions came from classified World Government reports.
And because Doflamingo had once been a Celestial Dragon himself, the amount of information available about him was considerably greater than what would normally exist for an ordinary pirate.
"Then let's start with Doflamingo himself."
Bruce opened the first file.
"Donquixote Doflamingo is a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user. His Devil Fruit is the Ito Ito no Mi, the String-String Fruit."
"He can generate and manipulate extremely thin strings from his body."
"Those strings can be difficult to perceive with the naked eye, allowing him to attack opponents without them immediately realizing what is happening."
Bruce paused.
"If the information is accurate, he can also use those strings in a variety of ways during combat."
"That's all?"
Seraphina's expression remained indifferent.
"Generating strings doesn't sound particularly impressive."
Bruce's mouth twitched.
He suddenly realized that explaining Devil Fruit abilities to someone like Seraphina was somewhat pointless.
"Even if the strings are difficult to see, that doesn't mean they can threaten me."
Seraphina's Observation Haki had already reached a level where relying solely on ordinary vision was unnecessary.
She could sense the presence and movement of opponents through Kenbunshoku Haki.
Invisible attacks were not automatically effective against someone capable of sensing their source.
"What about the other senior officers?" Seraphina asked.
Bruce turned another page.
"The Donquixote Family has several powerful officers."
"The first is Diamante."
"His Devil Fruit is the Paramecia-type Hira Hira no Mi, the Ripple-Ripple Fruit."
"It allows him to give objects the properties of cloth or a flag. He can manipulate objects as though they were flexible fabric while retaining their original physical properties."
Bruce continued reading.
"Diamante can also use this ability to conceal weapons beneath the ground or manipulate his cape and other objects during combat."
Seraphina considered the information.
"Not particularly dangerous."
Bruce nodded and moved on.
"Next is Pica."
"His Devil Fruit is the Ishi Ishi no Mi, the Stone-Stone Fruit."
"It allows him to assimilate with stone and manipulate it as an extension of his own body."
"He can move through stone, control enormous quantities of it, and create massive stone structures."
"When he merges with enough stone, he can create an enormous stone body, dramatically increasing his effective size and destructive power."
Seraphina remained calm.
"A large target."
Bruce looked at her.
"That's your assessment?"
"Yes."
Seraphina nodded.
"The larger the target, the easier it becomes to sense."
She had no reason to fear an opponent merely because that opponent could increase his physical size.
"A large stone giant is still made of stone."
Bruce silently turned the page.
"Trebol."
"His Devil Fruit is the Paramecia-type Beta Beta no Mi, the Sticky-Sticky Fruit."
"He can produce a highly adhesive mucus from his body. The mucus can bind objects and immobilize enemies."
"His mucus is also extremely flammable."
Bruce's expression became slightly uncomfortable as he continued reading.
"With the right conditions, even a small flame can ignite the substance and produce a powerful explosion."
Seraphina's expression changed for the first time.
"That's disgusting."
Bruce nodded.
"I had a similar reaction."
"How can someone even tolerate having that kind of Devil Fruit?"
Seraphina shuddered slightly.
"It's one of the most unpleasant abilities I've encountered."
Bruce continued through the file.
"There is also a user of the Bomu Bomu no Mi…"
He suddenly stopped.
"Oh."
Seraphina looked at him.
"What?"
"That person is already imprisoned in Impel Down."
Bruce turned the page.
"The Donquixote Family also has another extremely unusual member."
His expression became serious.
"Sugar."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow.
"She appears to be a young girl."
Bruce nodded.
"But appearances are deceptive."
"Sugar possesses the Paramecia-type Hobi Hobi no Mi, the Hobby-Hobby Fruit."
"The ability allows her to transform people into toys."
Seraphina's expression immediately became serious.
"Transform humans into toys?"
"Yes."
Bruce nodded.
"According to the intelligence report, once someone is transformed, the memories of that person can also be affected. People who knew the victim may forget that person ever existed."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed.
"That is far more dangerous than the other abilities."
Bruce agreed.
"The report indicates that she may also be capable of controlling the toys through contracts."
Seraphina's gaze became cold.
"What are the activation conditions?"
"That part is unknown."
Bruce shook his head.
"The intelligence available to the Marines is incomplete."
Seraphina remained silent for several seconds.
"Then Sugar is the most important target."
"Doflamingo's other officers may be dangerous, but her ability is fundamentally different."
She looked toward Hina and Bruce.
"If the battle begins, I will incapacitate Sugar immediately."
"But all of you must remain careful."
"Do not allow her to touch you."
"Understood."
Hina nodded seriously.
Bruce closed the file halfway before looking back at Seraphina.
"Doflamingo's subordinates certainly are an unusual group."
"The only person we absolutely cannot underestimate is that girl."
Suddenly, a voice came from behind them.
"Wait."
Everyone turned.
Kuzan had been sitting nearby, listening to the conversation.
"The Hobby-Hobby Fruit?"
His normally lazy expression had disappeared.
"It turns people into toys?"
"Yes."
Seraphina nodded.
Kuzan's eyes narrowed.
"So that's what those toys are."
During his time around Dressrosa, Kuzan had encountered numerous living toys throughout the kingdom.
He had always found their existence strange.
They behaved like ordinary citizens, worked throughout the country, and interacted with humans as though nothing was unusual.
Yet something about the situation had never felt right.
Now the pieces were beginning to fit together.
"If that's true…"
Kuzan's expression darkened.
"Then those toys aren't toys at all."
"They're people."
Seraphina nodded.
"That's what the intelligence suggests."
Kuzan became silent.
He had already spent considerable time observing Dressrosa.
He had seen how the kingdom functioned.
He had seen the toys working in the streets.
He had even seen how some of them were treated.
But he had never imagined that many of them could actually be human beings who had been transformed against their will.
"And what happens to them if something goes wrong?" Kuzan asked.
"The intelligence reports indicate that some of the toys are treated as disposable property."
Kuzan's expression became colder.
"If they're damaged or considered useless, they can be discarded."
"That means…"
"They're human lives."
The atmosphere aboard the warship became noticeably heavier.
Kuzan had always been a man who preferred to avoid unnecessary conflict.
But this was different.
If the information was accurate, Doflamingo had not merely manipulated the political structure of Dressrosa.
He had built part of his kingdom upon the forced transformation and exploitation of human beings.
"That's right," Seraphina said.
Kuzan looked toward her.
"Where did you obtain this information?"
He frowned.
"You really haven't been to Dressrosa before, have you?"
Seraphina shook her head.
Kuzan continued.
"I've spent quite a bit of time around Dressrosa, and even I didn't know the true nature of those toys."
"I've seen the Marine reports concerning Doflamingo, but they weren't nearly this detailed."
"At least not when it comes to the Devil Fruit abilities of most of his senior officers."
Seraphina glanced toward Bruce.
Bruce smiled faintly.
He did not need to explain.
Kuzan immediately understood.
"…The World Government knows?"
The question was quiet.
Seraphina did not answer immediately.
Kuzan's expression gradually became more serious as the implications sank in.
If classified World Government intelligence contained detailed information about Sugar's ability, then someone within the World Government had known what was happening in Dressrosa.
And if the World Government knew that human beings were being transformed into toys, yet Doflamingo remained the recognized King of Dressrosa…
Then the situation was far more complicated than it appeared.
"Doflamingo is a former Celestial Dragon," Kuzan muttered.
"He has connections to the underworld."
"He supplies weapons throughout the New World."
"And the World Government has maintained its relationship with him despite all of that."
Kuzan's eyes narrowed.
"Could it be that the World Government has been deliberately turning a blind eye to what happens in Dressrosa?"
Seraphina's expression became unreadable.
"That's what we need to determine."
Kuzan suddenly remembered Sengoku's orders.
The former Fleet Admiral had specifically warned him against acting recklessly.
At first, Kuzan had assumed Sengoku was simply being cautious because Doflamingo was a former World Government-affiliated pirate and a powerful underworld broker.
But now he understood that there might be another reason.
Doflamingo was not an ordinary pirate.
His status as a former Celestial Dragon gave him connections that most pirates could never obtain.
His position as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea had provided him with additional protection.
And his role as Joker had allowed him to build a vast network beneath the surface of the New World.
If the World Government had tolerated his actions for years, then confronting him directly could create consequences far beyond a simple Marine arrest.
"So that's why Fleet Admiral Sengoku didn't want me acting alone."
Kuzan's voice became thoughtful.
He looked at Seraphina.
"But he sent you."
Seraphina's eyes remained calm.
Kuzan finally understood.
Sengoku had not simply sent another Marine officer.
He had sent a Celestial Dragon.
Saint Roselith Seraphina was not merely a Vice Admiral with extraordinary strength.
She belonged to the Roselith Family, a Celestial Dragon lineage with authority and connections within the World Government's highest circles.
If Doflamingo's relationship with the World Government became an obstacle, Seraphina's very identity could change the political equation.
Kuzan exhaled slowly.
"So that's the reason."
"Because you're a Celestial Dragon."
Seraphina did not deny it.
However, deep within her mind, another thought surfaced.
If the World Government truly knew everything happening in Dressrosa, then the problem was no longer simply Doflamingo.
Someone had deliberately allowed the situation to continue.
And if that was true, then the enemy waiting for them in Dressrosa might be much larger than the Donquixote Family.
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
[System Notification: Hidden information concerning Dressrosa has been detected.]
[Main Objective Update: Investigate the connection between Donquixote Doflamingo, the World Government, and the underground weapons trade.]
[Warning: The current investigation may trigger a chain reaction involving multiple major powers of the New World.]
Seraphina's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
The System had awakened.
And judging from the notification, Dressrosa was hiding far more secrets than she had initially expected.
The warship continued sailing toward its destination.
Ahead of them lay Dressrosa.
Behind them, the Revolutionary Army was also beginning to move.
The pieces on the board were gradually converging.
And soon, the kingdom ruled by Donquixote Doflamingo would become the battlefield where several powerful forces collided.
WE ARE CURRENTLY ON CHAPTER 257 ON PATREON.
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCED CHAPTERS BEFORE PUBLIC RELEASE OR PURCHASE THE BOOK FOR LIFETIME ACCESS!
Patreon.com/HACKDWORLD