"That you know me?"
Rorschach looked down at the woman sitting on the ground.
He didn't need Hibari to introduce her—he already knew who she was.
Violet, princess of the Dressrosa Kingdom, daughter of former King Riku.
Even though she had already been shackled with Seastone and had become a prisoner…
She still resembled a blooming violet flower, exuding a noble and graceful aura as if she were born with it.
Her curvaceous and elegant figure radiated a mature charm, completely different from a young girl like Hibari.
Every glance, every smile, was soul-stirring.
At such close distance, gazing into her light brown eyes could easily make one think of bedsheets, bathrooms, and bushes.
The power of the Glare-Glare Fruit wasn't just about seeing far.
It was also extremely effective for seduction.
Unfortunately, it didn't work on Rorschach.
"Of course I know you. You probably don't know this yet, but on the Donquixote Family's hit list, you're now ranked number one. The person who used to be number one was Law."
Violet's expression faltered as she realized her charm had no effect on Rorschach.
And her eyes couldn't read the thoughts of this young Marine before her.
"Heh, to be so highly valued by a Shichibukai—what an honor for a little nobody like me," Rorschach said with a cold smile.
"Marine, can you tell me—why did you attack Magic Valley Town? All of the Donquixote Family's businesses there were destroyed by you. And you even killed Machvise. Aren't the Shichibukai your allies?" Violet asked in confusion.
"They are, technically." Rorschach nodded ambiguously.
"If they're allies—"
"This 'ally' thing…" Rorschach looked down at Violet. "If we think he's an ally, then he is. If we don't, then he's not."
Violet trembled slightly.
Rorschach's eyes carried an immense pressure, and combined with the brutal way Machvise had been killed earlier, Violet couldn't help but fear this young Marine.
Rorschach turned to look at the towering stream of water shooting up to the sky, connecting sea and sky like a heavenly pillar.
"The Flamingo's hand has reached too far. I merely helped trim it down a bit. The Four Seas, Paradise, the New World… A little Shichibukai doing business all over the world? Hmph, even Big Mom doesn't have an appetite that big."
He then looked back toward Magic Valley Town behind Violet.
"Look at this place—it used to be a central hub in Paradise, a place of great prosperity.
Now, what have you pirates turned it into? A cesspool. Not a single good person in there.
Even if we bombed it a hundred times with a Buster Call, we probably wouldn't find a single innocent soul.
Ever heard of the legend of the City of Gold? Four hundred years ago, it was right nearby.
Magic Valley Town sits next to the golden city of Shandora—at the very least, it's an ancient town with hundreds of years of history.
And look at what your young master turned it into—a pirate den in just over a decade."
As Rorschach spoke, a complicated storm of emotions surged through Violet's heart. Suddenly, as if something clicked in her mind, she took a deep breath.
She looked back at Rorschach with earnest eyes and, struggling to her feet, lifted her slender, pale chin.
"Marine, I… I have a request. If you grant it, I'll tell you everything I know about the Donquixote Family and Doflamingo's secrets."
Rorschach didn't respond, simply watching her.
Hibari frowned. "Pirate, we're not going to let you go."
"I'm not asking you to let me go," Violet shook her head gently.
"Then what do you want?"
Hibari disliked this beautiful woman before her.
A noble princess, yet she chose to fall and become a pirate—
And not just any pirate, but one who joined the enemy responsible for destroying her country.
The Navy's strategic division had studied the coup in Dressrosa in detail.
Anyone with a brain could see the truth. There was no way King Riku was just some incompetent tyrant who exploited his people.
With the wealth of Dressrosa, the royal family had no need for extra money.
Clearly, it was Doflamingo's doing.
And yet Violet, as King Riku's daughter, couldn't distinguish right from wrong and joined the very man who ruined her kingdom.
Based on Navy intel, Violet may have even developed a romantic relationship with Doflamingo.
Such behavior, in Hibari's mind, couldn't be chalked up to mere confusion.
But her judgment was quickly overturned by Violet's next words.
"I want you to kill Doflamingo and drive the Donquixote Family out of Dressrosa!"
The port instantly fell silent.
Rear Admiral Kadar's expression shifted.
Hibari was stunned.
Rorschach remained calm.
Law hugged Kikoku, silent, as if he had expected this.
"Aren't you a Donquixote officer? Why—" Hibari asked, puzzled.
"I joined the Donquixote Family to get close to Doflamingo. I want to one day kill him with my own hands—to avenge my sister Scarlet and my father, the king!" Violet said through clenched teeth.
Her eyes were now slightly red, her chest heaving—clearly, she was emotionally overwhelmed.
"I see…" Hibari suddenly felt a bit guilty.
She realized she had judged Violet too quickly and harshly.
Sometimes, you can't judge a person by appearances.
"Well? If you agree to my request, I'll tell you everything I know. You've already killed Gladius and Machvise—there's no going back now. And Law, too—there's bound to be a showdown between you and Doflamingo."
Violet stared intensely at Rorschach.
Her heart pounded. She was nervous like never before.
After witnessing Rorschach's strength, she couldn't help but think of modern Dressrosa.
It looked prosperous—but how could it be much better than this wretched Magic Valley Town?
If anything, it was even more filthy and dark.
Because that place had become the Donquixote Family's headquarters—the largest illegal trading hub in the New World.
Violet was terrified.
Terrified that Rorschach wouldn't agree to her request.
After all these years, this was the first time she'd seen a glimmer of hope.
"You want the Navy to eliminate Doflamingo?" Rorschach scratched his cheek. "I'm afraid that's not possible. He is one of our Shichibukai allies, after all."
Rear Admiral Kadar twitched at the corner of his mouth.
That's not what you said earlier…
Violet's face darkened immediately.
Was her hope shattered?
Was there really no one in this world who could take down that arrogant bastard Doflamingo?
Would the Dressrosa Kingdom forever remain under the shadow of the Flamingo—transformed from a romantic paradise into a dark pirate state?
No.
She wouldn't allow it.
Violet bit her lip, thoughts racing as she tried to find a reason that could convince the Marine before her.
Suddenly, she blurted out, "Doflamingo contacted Kaido of the Beasts. He told Jack the Drought about your activities in Water 7. Jack is coming from the New World to Paradise to capture you and take you back to Kaido's headquarters."
"Ka… Kaido?" Kadar's throat tightened, his face paling.
"The sea emperor of the New World. The world's strongest creature. Kid, you've been targeted by a monster," Law said grimly.
The Emperor Kaido—a terrifying force at the top of the sea.
Far stronger than Doflamingo.
Only an admiral could possibly fight someone of that level.
To be targeted by someone like that—anyone would lose sleep.
"Jack the Drought… is after me?" Rorschach looked puzzled.
He had heard from Sengoku during their last call that Jack's limbs had been broken by Jinbei, which also triggered a major clash between Whitebeard and Kaido.
In other words, if the Fish-Man Island incident hadn't happened, Rorschach would've already fought Jack.
How strong was Jack?
Rorschach didn't know.
His bounty was certainly high—800 million.
Higher than Chinjao and Gladius.
"Sixth of my mission quota… and Jinbei stole it." Rorschach felt it was a shame.
"Jack the Drought lost his legs and an arm on Fish-Man Island. Jinbei did it," Hibari added coldly.
The hope on Violet's face froze.
But quickly, as if remembering something, she said hesitantly, "Besides Jack, I think Doflamingo invited someone else to deal with you."
"Someone else? Who?" Kadar, Hibari, and Law all tensed and looked at Violet.
"I don't know who they really are," Violet frowned.
"At the time, Doflamingo dialed a Den Den Mushi. When it connected, the voice that came through belonged to a very beautiful woman.
Just hearing her voice through the Den Den Mushi, the entire Donquixote Family—Diamante, Pica, and the others—were all entranced.
Men and women alike fell into a whirlpool of desire.
Then Doflamingo flew away with the Den Den Mushi, and I don't know what happened after that."
"A woman?" Rorschach frowned.
"Yes! Absolutely. If you don't believe me, I swear on Dressrosa's future—every word I've said is true. And Doflamingo looked nervous. It was clear he feared her."
Doflamingo had invited a woman to deal with him…
And just hearing her voice bewitched people—regardless of gender…
And Doflamingo himself was wary of her.
"Pirate Empress?"
The three of them—Hibari, Law, and Kadar—spoke the name simultaneously.
"Has that bastard Heavenly Demon recruited another Shichibukai to go after Rear Admiral Rorschach? I'll report this to Vice Admiral Garp right away! Rear Admiral, if you're not urgently needed elsewhere, please stay at our G2 base. Even for a Shichibukai, it won't be easy to strike here," Kadar said angrily.
Even Rorschach started thinking it must be Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress.
After all, a woman who met all three of those conditions? Very few existed in the world.
"Big Brother Rorschach, what should we do?" Hibari looked anxious.
Being targeted by an unknown Shichibukai—how could anyone stay calm?
But Rorschach wasn't nervous.
He was no longer the rookie ensign who had been completely defeated by Doflamingo a year ago.
He didn't know how he now measured up against Hancock or Doflamingo—
But he was confident that, aside from the unfathomable Mihawk, none of the other Shichibukai could utterly overpower him.
He was 90%—no, 100% confident.
"So, what do you say? Can you agree to my request? About the Donquixote Family…" Violet asked quietly, lips pursed.
"Sorry. The Navy cannot easily act against a Shichibukai ally," Rorschach replied.
Violet's last hope died. Her eyes dimmed completely.
"But…" Rorschach's lips curved into a slight smirk, "if Doflamingo were to get struck by lightning on a rainy day—well, nobody could be blamed for that, could they, Princess Violet?"
(End of Chapter)
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