Dressrosa

Though the New World’s climate was notoriously unpredictable, it had little effect on true powerhouses. On top of that, Yota’s Azure Dragon Fruit granted him control over the weather. Combined with the vast Chakra within him and enhanced through ninjutsu, he could almost completely manipulate the climate.

Thus, even though Page One’s navigational skills were only average by New World standards, the group reached the waters near Punk Hazard in a short time.

"This is the last island where we can rest before heading to Punk Hazard: Dressrosa, the Island of Toys and Passion."

Looking at the island, Ulti said, "Captain, shall we go have some fun? I heard the scenery and food here are both famous."

"Punk Hazard is only two days away. I think we should just resupply and leave… Urgh! Urgh!" The moment Page One voiced a different opinion, Ulti grabbed him around the neck with both hands. "Little brother, what did you say? Say that again!"

Yota’s eye twitched. With a sister like that, Page One must have either committed too many sins in his past life or owed money for eight lifetimes.

For some reason, Yota thought of a young swordswoman who had fallen down the stairs and died, then thought of Ulti and Page One’s usual "roughhousing."

"If Page One had the same constitution as Kuina, he’d probably have died hundreds of times by now!"

Ulti quickly physically persuaded her little brother, then turned her sparkling eyes toward Yota.

"If you want to go, then go." Yota rolled his eyes. "It’s not like I’m stopping you."

"Thank you, Captain! Come on, Little P." Ulti dragged Page One off the ship, and Yota turned to look at Queen. "Aren’t you going to take a look around?"

Queen gave a dry laugh. "I’ll pass. Quite a few people here know me, after all."

As one of Kaido’s All-Stars and also a researcher for the Beasts Pirates, Queen had indeed visited Dressrosa many times. After all, it was Doflamingo who supplied the Beasts Pirates with artificial Devil Fruits, and Queen had obviously been the one to first research and test those things.

With Queen’s strength, he naturally had no reason to fear Doflamingo. But he was now a traitor to the Beasts Pirates, and he did not want Doflamingo to see him in his current bedraggled state.

Yota did not particularly care what Queen thought. Still, since someone was staying behind to watch the ship, there was no way Yota would foolishly remain onboard.

Recently, Doflamingo had felt rather unlucky.

Some time ago, the Beasts Pirates had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Whitebeard Pirates. Dissatisfied with that result, Kaido had ordered a large batch of artificial Devil Fruits from Doflamingo.

Even the patron backing him had come personally. Naturally, Doflamingo did not dare neglect the matter. He rushed the work, spending vast amounts of money and resources, and finally produced another batch of artificial Devil Fruits before eagerly going to Kaido again for the transaction.

Then Kaido beat him up.

At the time, Kaido shouted something about artificial Zoan-type Fruits being animals, and how they would defect after eating a single millet dumpling. While doing so, he gave Doflamingo a savage beating and demanded that he produce artificial Devil Fruits that would not be countered by the Millet-Millet Fruit.

Heaven knew Doflamingo did not even know what the Millet-Millet Fruit was, much less the principle behind how it controlled artificial Devil Fruit users. Most importantly, he was no scientist. How was he supposed to improve them?

Of course, he would never have said that at the time. Otherwise, Kaido, who had been holding in a bellyful of anger, would have beaten him to death.

Although Doflamingo had agreed without hesitation at the time, once he returned and told Caesar about the requirement, Caesar was instantly dumbfounded.

Caesar had asked Doflamingo, at the very least, to get him a sample of a millet dumpling created by the Millet-Millet Fruit. Otherwise, what the hell was he supposed to research?

Well, then Caesar got beaten up.

This was called: I can’t mess with Kaido, but can’t I mess with you?

After getting thoroughly beaten, Caesar said he would immediately work hard on it. But Doflamingo was no fool. Even as a layman, he knew how unreliable the whole matter was. How could he possibly pin his hopes on Caesar?

Thus, Doflamingo, who was still wrapped in bandages, was now pondering what he should do.

Of course, Doflamingo still did not know everything that had happened in Wano Country. In truth, Kaido had only beaten him to vent his anger. Kaido had completely lost faith in artificial Devil Fruits by now. When the time came, at most he would extort a sum of money from Doflamingo to recoup his losses.

In fact, if Dressrosa had not occupied such a strategic position directly facing the Marines and the World Government, what Kaido truly wanted to do would probably have been to kill Doflamingo and seize this base for himself.

Doflamingo did not know what Kaido was thinking, so he was currently worried sick. He had even begun considering finding a new patron to seek refuge with.

"Young Master! Young Master, this is bad!"

At that moment, a shout interrupted Doflamingo’s thoughts. Veins bulged on his forehead as he turned around with an extremely displeased expression.

"Gladius, I’m perfectly fine. What could possibly have you in such a panic?"

Gladius, with his hedgehog-like hair and strange mask, took a slight breath and hurriedly replied, "Young Master, people from the Kaido Pirates have arrived! It’s Queen the Plague!"

"What?" Doflamingo rose to his feet with a grim expression. "Why didn’t the Beasts Pirates send us any message? Damn it, what exactly does Kaido want?"

After thinking for a moment, Doflamingo spoke to Gladius again. "Are you sure it’s Queen the Plague?"

"Violet saw him with her own eyes using the Glint-Glint Fruit!" Gladius said in a low voice. "Afterward, I sent people to secretly observe them. It really is Queen the Plague. His size makes him impossible to hide!"

Doflamingo’s expression darkened, and the last trace of luck in his heart was extinguished. "Could he be planning to force us to provide the goods already? But Kaido isn’t an idiot. He should know that’s impossible…"

But after thinking carefully about Kaido’s personality, Doflamingo could no longer sit still. Kaido was a pure and utter villain who would not care about any of his excuses. He might even be looking to start a war.

Doflamingo had once had his kingly delusions beaten out of him by Kaido. Otherwise, why would he be so obedient? Even knowing that Kaido was only outwardly brutish and not as simple-minded inside as he appeared, the impression of that war maniac still left Doflamingo unable to be certain.