"Just go without worry, Yamato."

Hancock stepped closer. She called Yamato's name after a long time.

"After you leave, I'll take good care of Ian."

The black-haired beauty emphasized the word "take care" with a special weight.

A vein twitched at the corner of Yamato's eye.

"Ian! Let this guy come with me too!"

Ian rubbed her head.

"Don't be silly. That guy Doflamingo isn't worth both of you going together."

Honestly, Yamato alone was already more than enough.

Jinbe, Enel, and Viola were all sent along for Yamato's safety.

If Hancock really went with Yamato, Ian deeply doubted whether this ship could safely reach Dressrosa.

Judging by their daily brawls and fights every three days, it was likely the ship would have to be dismantled before leaving Hive Island on a normal voyage.

"Ugh!"

Yamato puffed up her cheeks again and glared fiercely at Hancock.

Hancock just smiled sweetly, not even looking at Yamato. Her eyes lingered only on Ian.

"You better not cause trouble, snake woman!"

Yamato shot Hancock a fierce glare, then turned and stomped onto the ship.

"I'll be back soon!"

"Leave it to me, Lord Ian."

Jinbe, who had been waiting nearby, walked over with a serious expression.

"I absolutely won't let Miss Yamato get into trouble."

"Then I'll leave it to you, Jinbe."

Ian trusted Jinbe very much.

Not just because of his strength, but because his personality was reliably solid.

"And Enel," Ian spoke without caring whether Enel was there.

"Remember this: your mission is to knock out that little girl named Sugar immediately. Don't give her any chance to touch anyone."

On the ship's cabin roof, Enel sat cross-legged, biting into an apple with a cold snort.

"Then let's set off quickly!"

By the ship's railing, Viola was already restless. "We need to hurry back to Dressrosa!"

She didn't know exactly why, but she felt a deep unease, as if she couldn't wait to get back immediately.

"Alright then,"

Ian turned and looked toward Kuma, who was wrapped in a thick cloak that concealed his form. "Kuma, I'm counting on you."

"Hm."

Kuma nodded lightly and walked toward the stern of the ship.

The entire harbor was now empty, so he could freely use his abilities.

"Bye-bye!"

Hancock smiled sweetly and waved at Yamato standing on the deck.

"Hmph!"

Yamato snorted unhappily and turned her head away, refusing to look at Hancock.

Bang!

Kuma's ability activated, and the ship shot straight up into the sky, piercing through the clouds.

In just a blink, it disappeared from sight, and after two more blinks, even Kenbunshoku Haki could no longer detect it.

Ian quietly gazed toward the horizon.

Suddenly, he said, "Hancock."

"I'm here."

The black-haired beauty carefully leaned close to Ian, the touch of their shoulders causing her cheeks to flush rosy red.

Sometimes Hancock secretly cursed herself, wondering why she didn't have the thick skin of that damned white-haired guy.

"Is it time to build each of you your own ship?"

Ian said, "Otherwise, every time you set sail, you have to pick a random ship. It's embarrassing."

"I only want to sail with you, Ian," Hancock said softly, with warmth in her voice.

Ian said nothing.

He thought to himself, this kind of thing always happens.

Like this time, it might be a bit over the top for him to personally get involved, but ordinary officers are hard to take down, so it required heavy hitters like Hancock and Yamato to step in.

Just like how Kaido-sensei had early on built the Golden Dragon for him.

Yamato and Hancock definitely deserved their own flagship.

Before long, they might even need more.

Jack's, Enel's, maybe even Solem's and Himir's.

But this time, there wouldn't be any more sailing warships.

Once Uncle Queen's energy research is close to completion, they'd go straight for armored battleships.

"Ian," A sudden heat whispered near his ear, an unexpected tickle making his ear twitch.

Hancock, already famous for both her power and beauty, leaned close and softly whispered, "Want to go swimming? I bought some new swimsuits."

Ian glanced back at her, a little puzzled. "We're DF ability users. Why swim?"

Hancock froze for a moment, then her face flushed bright red.

She immediately realized the flaw in her plan!

How could she forget that DF ability users can't swim?

But then, the girl shyly added, "At least help me see if these swimsuits fit."

Ian sighed lightly.

Maybe Hancock and Yamato really should go together.

"Alright, let's go get the float rings."

Dressrosa.

A land of love and passion.

Today, the country was decorated with bright lanterns and colorful banners.

The new king was about to ascend the throne.

Though many citizens didn't understand how Donquixote Doflamingo, a pirate, could become the new king of this land, or what the World Government was thinking,

Overall, the atmosphere inside the country was calm and stable.

Mainly because no one remembered who King Riku was anymore—his entire family had been completely forgotten.

Dressrosa had no heirs. Even if the people wanted to rebel, they had no leader to follow.

Besides, in a recent pirate attack, it was the Donquixote Family, led by Doflamingo, who protected the country. This lowered the citizens' resistance to him to the minimum.

Thus, with the government's recognition and the people's obedience, the Donquixote Family smoothly took control of the country.

Today was the day for the new king's coronation.

But deep inside the palace's underground prison—

Bang bang bang!

The prison door rattled loudly.

An iron soldier doll, shackled in chains, was desperately banging on the door.

But the sturdy prison gates were clearly not something he could break open.

Inside the cell behind him, a pink rabbit doll gently comforted a smaller pink cat doll in its arms.

Around the prison, many other dolls were also imprisoned.

Doflamingo!!

Kyros, the iron soldier and legendary gladiator of the Dressrosa kingdom, roared silently in his heart.

At the same time, above in the palace—

"Heh heh heh! Your presence really brightens this place up," Doflamingo, about to ascend the throne as the new king, greeted someone warmly.

"Crocodile!"

The man sitting on the sofa, wearing a long red coat, sneered coldly.

"So, what business do you want to discuss with me?"

**********

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