Dressrosa, the Land of Love, Passion, and Toys. This isn't Lily's first visit. Accompanied by Diamante, they quickly arrived at the Royal Palace.
Inside a meeting room, Doflamingo was already waiting. Seeing Lily, his expression clearly stiffened, but he quickly regained his sinister smile:
"Fufufufu, you're actually here in person. Sage really holds me in high regard..."
"Because what you do significantly affects us."
Lily wasn't courteous either. While they were still standing, she sat down first, saying, "Baby-5, get me a cup of tea."
"Eh? Yes... alright, I feel needed again, so happy."
A blush spread across Baby-5's cheeks as she obediently went to prepare the tea.
"Fufufufu, really not shy, you seem to have grown a lot compared to before, Lily."
Doflamingo laughed twice, also sitting down across from Lily, his tone carrying a hint of malice: "So, why are you here this time, is Sage not confident in me?"
Both were smart. Suddenly dispatching a heavyweight here and not coming alone implied that Sage didn't have high hopes for this operation.
Lily didn't reply immediately but first took the tea Baby-5 handed over, lightly sipped, and placed the cup on the small table beside her before saying:
"No, we're just here to ensure there are no accidents with this shipment, and there can't be any issues with the compensation you owe us either. We are rule-abiding. Since you compensated, the remaining half of the goods will still be yours, but..."
She raised her eyes to Doflamingo, "You better be aware, don't go too far. This is our development phase, not a place for you to act capriciously."
"Hehehehe..."
Doflamingo's brow twitched, not sure if it was due to Lily's distrust in his abilities or her offensive words.
After a brief low laugh, he raised his head, a sinister smile playing on his lips: "Fail? I will not fail! Do you still think I'm some hot-blooded rookie? You know my identity, Lily!"
"Whatever you say, I'm just giving you a reminder. What you choose to do is your business. Sage has granted me the power to make decisions here, to handle everything entirely. Dofla..."
Lily said, "No, Donquixote Doflamingo, I don't like you. Although we are both evildoers, I really don't like you. Whether you see it as my impression or think I'm pretending, I don't like you at all."
"I don't like what you've done in Dressrosa, don't like your oppression of the people here, and don't like your arrogance and disrespect."
She truly didn't like Doflamingo. She hadn't liked him since the first time Sage approached him.
At that time, their cooperation wasn't deep, but later they spent time in Dressrosa, allowing Lily to delve deeper into the country and understand the deeper oppression it concealed.
She liked it even less.
It wasn't about the people's well-being. Most people here lived fairly well, and the few who didn't were in miserable situations only because they defied Doflamingo.
But as a Pirate, there was nothing to say. This wasn't their turf.
But like or not, she still didn't like it.
She didn't like Doflamingo's posturing like a small-time thug, obviously having better ways to resolve things but insisting on taking pleasure in tormenting others.
She didn't like this guy's indecisiveness. The dancer Viola, whom Sage admired, was actually part of the former Royal Family...
It seemed even King Liku was still alive.
The Royal Family, the nobility... these still existed under the rule of a Pirate.
Heavenly Celestial Dragon?
Can you be so arrogant?
If failed, everything here would disappear!
As a member of the Royal Family, more than anyone, she understood what shock would be caused if a person with royal or noble blood remained in the world.
Not just decades, but even after a century, there would still be people loyal to them. In this world, with bloodline paired with force, one could achieve unstoppable results.
Just like Doflamingo, as a Heavenly Celestial Dragon, forcibly occupied Dressrosa.
This ostentatious and potentially catastrophic way of ruling, once defeated, would lose everything.
She looked at Doflamingo, who deeply furrowed his eyebrows, and said:
"However, my likes and dislikes are not important. What's important is that Sage's plan cannot be disrupted. No matter what your final outcome is, I will have your back, and that's also Sage's promise."
"Fufufufu, you're even more arrogant than I am, Bienta Lily."
Doflamingo chuckled lowly: "You didn't come here just to scold me, right? I can't stand being scolded, I won't be defeated, absolutely not! You don't know what I'm holding!"
With that, he paused for a moment, then said: "Forget it, let's each do things our own way. I'll open up the smuggling factory and let your people in, and I'll prepare the two hundred billion Belly."
"The rest, we'll wrap it up today. Why don't you take a good look, the prizes are plentiful... Are you interested in joining?"
"I have no interest in being watched like a beast in the Bullfighting Arena."
Lily raised her teacup, elegantly sipping, "But if the people under me are interested, they may do as they wish."
After taking a sip, Lily put down the teacup, stood up, and left the meeting room.
Seeing her figure leaving, Doflamingo lowered his head, his sunglasses obscured his eyes, pondering something unknown.
"Dof..."
Snuggled under the blanket, the slimy man resembling a slug leaned closer, "That woman is too arrogant. Should we teach her a lesson?"
"You all aren't capable of that; I've heard this woman can even slash Marco's abilities. Honestly, I'm not confident of beating her..."
Doflamingo grinned, revealing a menacing look:
"Fufufufufu! Just like she said, personal feelings don't matter, only interests are vital! Ignore her, let's proceed with our plan! As for Law, I know exactly what he's trying to do. Just use the Flame-Flame Fruit to lure the Straw Hat, and those guys who are trying to investigate me..."
"Let them stay there!"
...
Every day, Dressrosa holds arena battles, a popular event designed to stir the residents' bloodlust.
This time, it's unprecedented because Doflamingo has offered the Flame-Flame Fruit as a reward for the winner.
Lily wasn't interested in this fruit, but if she got it, it wouldn't be a bad thing.
This powerful destructive fruit, one of the top-tier ones in existence, is so invaluable that it can even serve as a strategic weapon for a country.
Once it appears, it will undoubtedly attract attention from multiple parties.
Though Lily doesn't participate, that doesn't mean her subordinates aren't interested. Once they heard they could win the Flame-Flame Fruit, they were determined and entered the arena to compete.
If they obtained the Flame-Flame Fruit, perhaps they could become top cadres!
"It's the sign of disaster..."
At the front of the deck, Guernica, the CP0 agent with black-and-white eyes, lowered his binoculars and said calmly, "The Four Emperors' ship has arrived here. Should we report to higher-ups?"
"It should be reported."
Gismonda, a CP0 agent wearing a chieftain-like mask, said, "Let the higher-ups worry about specifics; our priority remains completing the task."
The misreported news of Doflamingo resigning from the Seven Warlords of the Sea and his king position requires us to explain it to Dressrosa's citizens and to broadcast it worldwide, and...
"This matter requires thorough investigation. Besides that disaster, we need to find out the names of others involved too."
At the center of the deck stood a man with half a mask covering his upper face, sporting a tuft of upturned whiskers on his chin. He crossed his arms, maintaining his silence.
The World Government's ship docked parallel to Lily's, as if unseen, and a group of people disembarked, heading toward the center.
Soon after, the famous Bullfighting Arena in Dressrosa sealed its doors, and the participants gathered completely.
Wearing a white-beard mask, Luffy arrived at the arena's preparation area, his eyes glowing as he looked at the assortment of equipment, "Can I take all of these?!"
"They're all useless items; whether you take them or not, it's irrelevant to you, Straw Hat."
A voice came from behind him.
Luffy paused and instinctively turned his head, "No, I'm called Luccy... Who are you?"
Bellamy, arms crossed, smiled as he stared at Straw Hat, "Straw Hat, I've heard you found a wealth on the Sky Island. Initially, I didn't believe in Sky Island or Golden Land, but I later went and discovered traces of you. It's true..."
"I once mocked those dreamers, but later I realized, until you pursue some things, you'll never know the answers. Two years ago, you were, to my knowledge, the first to ascend to Sky Island via the upward ocean current. That's impressive."
"Sky Island? Gold?"
Luffy's expression changed, "What did you do to those people?"
"Who knows... You and Master Sage were peers. I hope you'll show your strength in the arena; I really want to meet you."
After Bellamy finished speaking, he turned and left.
For some reason, every time he saw Luffy, he felt a slight pain in his face.
And Luffy also puzzled, looked at his fist...
Feeling as if his fist was meant to land a punch on this guy's face.
The Sky Island's gold, after O'hara got on track and Renedia clamored to visit Sky Island, prompted Sage to let Urouge take Renedia there, accompanied by Bellamy.
Though it took some time, they eventually found the Sky Island with the Golden Pillar.
As for Sage...
He didn't go.
His bad luck, going to the skies or the seas couldn't include other people; otherwise, it would lead to big trouble.