A few days later.
Port of Dressrosa.
The pedestrians nearby all had expressions of terror on their faces, watching a large ship sail closer from the distance, gradually becoming clearer.
"Hey, is it true? That's..."
"No way! Why would even they come here!"
The size of that battleship was comparable to a massive Navy warship, with its blue hull and a prow carved like a lion, its mane flowing like thunderbolts.
Most importantly, on the canvas and mast was a black flag with a skull that seemed to engulf the starry sky, its eye sockets burning like fire.
The Starry Sky Skull Flag!
The mark of the Four Emperors, Norton Sage!
"They really came..."
At the docking area, Baby-5 had a cigarette in her mouth, watching the ship approach, and a bead of sweat trickled down her forehead.
Gladius, with his explosive hairstyle, crossed his arms and said indifferently, "The Four Emperors really fear nothing, strutting around like this."
"Hehehe..." Dellinger covered his mouth and chuckled quietly.
"Alright, stop talking."
Diamante, taking the lead, stared at the already docked ship and said, "Doflamingo sent us to welcome them. It's an important person this time."
The large ship docked, the gangplank descended, and a group of pirates dressed in studded metal armor stepped out first. Then, a man wearing a coat and a military cap appeared.
One of the New Stars, 'Executioner' Suleiman!
Beside him was a blonde guy wearing sunglasses, dressed casually.
"Bellamy?"
Diamante looked at the man walking down and laughed, "You guy, you've made a name for yourself and were chosen by Sage, that's your luck."
"Heh, long time no see, Diamante!" Bellamy licked his lips and showed a vicious smile, "I think so too."
One of the New Stars, 'Hyena' Bellamy.
Having once followed Doflamingo, Bellamy knew these early followers of Doflamingo quite well.
"Hey, you're the important person?"
Dellinger looked Bellamy up and down, "You don't look like it at all."
"Kid, shut your mouth."
Bellamy glared at him fiercely, "Talking nonsense can get you killed!"
"Oh! It's been a long time, Dressrosa!"
After Bellamy and the others went down, a goofy-sounding voice came from the gangplank.
A man with a little round shield on his arm, wearing a crown of firefly stones, grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth as he walked down.
"I heard there's going to be a tournament soon. Can I participate? A seasoned and confident man like me is sure to win the championship!"
New Star, 'Iron Wall' Pearl!
Behind him appeared a giant carrying a massive hammer, wearing a horned helmet.
New Star, 'Giant Ship' Stansen.
And besides them...
"Focus on the mission, Pearl."
After Stansen and Pearl went down, another voice came from the gangplank.
Gin, wearing a cape with epaulets and a beard on his chin, walked down slowly, "Don't do anything unnecessary."
"Huh? Captain, the arena is also a rare opportunity," Pearl protested reluctantly.
"Seven Stars?"
Diamante saw Gin walking down and smiled, "Even Doflamingo didn't know who was coming this time, only saying it was an important person. So it was you, you could have just said so, why hide it? It's not good for this ship to stay here, the Navy will soon..."
Before he could finish speaking, his steps halted, his pupils constricted, and he was shaken to the core, frozen there with sweat pouring from his face.
Not only him, but all the assembled Donquixote Family cadres were also frozen on the scene, cold sweat dripping incessantly.
"Hey..."
Diamante unconsciously opened his mouth, stammering and finally trembling as he said, "Don't joke around, it's actually..."
Tap, tap, tap...
The crisp sound of white armored boots stepping on the wooden gangplank echoed, wavy blonde hair fluttered with his steps, a luxurious pearl ivory handle was at his waist, a hand resting on the sword hilt as he stepped down slowly.
It wasn't just familiarity with this person.
Renedia had said someone important was coming after delivering the Young Master back, but didn't specify who, and they hadn't paid much attention. The Disaster Pirates had a few important figures.
Even Doflamingo wasn't sure, only knowing that another figure would be sent to ensure the safety of the goods this time.
Excluding Renedia and Weevil, who escorted those apprentices away, the Disaster Pirates' important cadres were nothing but the Seven Stars and Three Phases.
Diamante had guessed it might be Hawkins and Urouge's combination, or maybe Moriah himself would come, but he never expected it to be this person.
Who was the most renowned on the seas?
The so-called Fifth Emperor, almost establishing himself as a major power and dividing the sea into five parts, yet not officially recognized by the sea, Blackbeard?
No, he gained fame last year.
Disaster, Norton Sage, had always been famous, not rising to fame recently. He had long held the position as one of the Four Emperors, a monster above standard, so not him either.
Swordsmanship enthusiast Straw Hat?
Law?
Kid?
These "Super Rookies" only recently arrived in the New World.
There was only one terror associated with the New World, famed for his reputation beneath the Four Emperors.
With exceptional command abilities, formidable swordsmanship, and a ruthless killing nature, he executed all who stood in the way of the Disaster Pirates, not leaving a single kin behind.
His atrocities surpassed even their Young Master, for even though their Young Master usurped this country, the former king and his lineage were left behind.
With him in command, no bloodline could persist.
The leader of Disaster Pirates' Three Heroines, head of the Three Phases, a veritable second-in-command, and the scourge behind the downfall of many royal families and nobles...
'Swords Princess of the Fallen Nation' Bienta Lily!
To think she, who was always by Sage's side, would easily take action, was a signal of... what?
"Diamante."
A cold voice echoed in his ear.
Diamante looked at the golden-haired, white-armored Sword Princess coming, forcing a stiff smile, "A very warm welcome to Dressrosa after a long time."
"You were just saying something about our ship?"
Lily stood firm on the ground, though not as tall as Diamante, her straightforward gaze made him feel shorter by contrast.
Just standing there was oppressive; her thirst for blood was overwhelming!
And... that sharp aura, what was it?
"I was saying, the Navy will be here soon, docking the Four Emperors' ship here... isn't it a bit inappropriate?" Diamante said cautiously.
"That's your problem, Diamante."
Lily brushed past Diamante with cold words: "Our ship won't avoid any existence."