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As the divine soldiers cheered, Nami expertly guided the Island Cloud in a swift descent.
Inside Dressrosa Palace, Doflamingo's composure broke as he heard the distant explosion. An unpleasant look crossed his face as he gazed at the rising smoke from the port, murmuring, "Viola..."
Leaving a thread clone in his place, his expression darkened as he flew towards the commotion at the port.
Meanwhile, the soldiers of King Riku Doldo III's army, hidden within the flower fields, also registered the sound. After a brief hushed discussion, Kyros, the former captain of King Riku's defense force, decided to dispatch his men to the port to investigate.
In another part of the flower field, Kyros, the one-legged toy soldier, remained steadfast, his daughter Rebecca's safety his paramount concern.
Within the Corrida Colosseum, the gladiator known as "Ricky," the alias of King Riku Doldo III, held a gaze as sharp as an eagle's and a demeanor as fierce as a wolf's. Revenge burned in his eyes, perhaps the only thing that could rekindle their light.
Back with Hikaru, he held Viola securely by the waist as he flew towards an unoccupied high-rise. The expansive view from there might allow him to utilize Viola's Devil Fruit power to expedite their search.
Upon landing, Hikaru maintained his hold, leaning close to Viola's ear to whisper softly, "Miss Viola, can you tell me the locations of Sugar from the Donquixote Family and the princess of the Tontatta Kingdom?"
Hikaru's proximity caused a visible blush to creep up Viola's ears. She muttered to herself, "Humph, I'm not naive... The rumors of the Divine Emperor Hikaru being a lecher, spread by the Marines, weren't exaggerated after all. I had hoped they were just that – rumors. Especially since... his bounty poster image is so commanding, it looks like he specifically posed for it..."
The thought crossed her mind: if she placed her hopes of dismantling the Donquixote Family on Hikaru, would that necessitate a personal sacrifice? She had intended to gauge his intentions first before committing!
A quiet sigh escaped her lips. It seemed she might have to part with her "precious" virtue... Although she couldn't fathom why Doflamingo hadn't touched her after forcing her to join his ranks, she suspected it was because he valued her Gaze-Gaze Fruit ability and feared her potential suicide.
[The real reason: Doflamingo, a former Celestial Dragon, held himself in high esteem and looked down on such "common women."]
Now, still possessing her most treasured asset, she might be able to garner some "special attention" from Hikaru. Besides, Hikaru had already infiltrated deep into Dressrosa; events had progressed beyond her control from the very beginning!
In mere moments, Viola had envisioned her potential future. True to her Devil Fruit's power, she could glimpse possibilities ahead.
Hikaru noticed the slight tremor in Viola's ears and the rosy hue of her cheeks, recognizing her shyness. He remained patient, admiring her captivating, watery eyes as he waited for her to collect herself.
Finally, Viola gently grasped Hikaru's collar with one hand, while her other hand formed a circle with her index finger and thumb over her left eye.
Scanning the surroundings, she detected Sugar's presence, but Mansherry was nowhere to be seen...
She meticulously considered every location within Dressrosa, including places she had explored in her youth, before a possibility dawned on her: the depths of the palace's chapel, a place she had never ventured before.
Indeed, the distressed image of Mansherry appeared in her vision!
"Mansherry, you're there!" she exclaimed softly, a wave of relief washing over her. Then, in a gentle, almost clinging tone, like a queen making a concession, she responded, "Gomen, I apologize for the delay. Sugar is being guarded by Trebol, one of the Donquixote Family's top executives. He's currently in the underground factory beneath the Corrida Colosseum..."
She seemed slightly uncomfortable being held by Hikaru, her breath catching softly as she added, "Mansherry is imprisoned alone in a small confinement room deep within the palace chapel."
"Oh? Doesn't Doflamingo have anyone watching over Mansherry?" Hikaru inquired, not surprised by her betrayal. Instead, he found himself more intrigued by her alluring demeanor.
"No, usually Doflamingo is in the palace... hmm~"
"You... actually..."
"It's truly wonderful~" Hikaru released her with a smile. Viola's bashful reactions clearly indicated her inexperience and discomfort with his touch.
Such reactions couldn't be faked; no matter how convincing the pretense, subtle flaws would betray it. Shyness lent a unique charm to her eyes.
With his "experienced" and discerning gaze, if he couldn't recognize that Viola was a "treasure" worth cherishing, then all his past conquests would have been in vain!
However, to truly win Viola's heart, to make him even more significant to her than her once-beloved (former) Dressrosa Kingdom, he would need to employ more finesse!
Afterward, Hikaru briefly glanced towards the King's Plateau before turning his attention towards the Corrida Colosseum.
Sugar and Mansherry – which one should he pursue first?
Both of their Devil Fruits possessed abilities at a truly broken level.
The most notorious was Sugar's Hobby-Hobby Fruit. Its power allowed her to transform any living being she touched into a toy, regardless of their consciousness. Furthermore, it erased all memories of the transformed individual from the minds of everyone else in the world, though physical records like photos, writings, and statues remained.
She could also impose contracts, preventing the toys from acting independently and forcing them to obey her commands. However, the toys retained their own consciousness, emotions, and memories of their former lives, remaining as toys permanently as long as Sugar was conscious.
Evidently, World Trigger (WT) felt this fruit ability was too overpowered, leading to a subsequent emphasis on Haki (Armament Haki), resulting in the following amusing debate:
[Rational discussion! Everyone's opinions are valid! Ultimately, the power dynamic between Haki and Devil Fruit abilities, and between different characters, isn't definitively dictated by WT's statements, right?]
Law: Big Mom and Kaido's Haki is too strong; my (Op-Op Fruit) abilities can't affect them.
Yet, Kidd could apply magnetism to the formidable Big Mom, turning her into a magnet, and Law could still use his fruit's power to draw his sword and pierce her.
One moment it's stated that Big Mom's Haki rendered her immune, and the next, that a Devil Fruit's framework could affect her powerful Haki – an undeniable contradiction.
Then came Law's fight against Blackbeard.
Law: The power of a Devil Fruit cannot overcome excessive Haki!
Yet, he reversed the effects of the Disease-Disease Fruit, transforming him back into a man after he had been turned into a woman.
The inconsistencies are numerous...