Chapter 250: Target: Sugar
Riku Doldo, the former king of Dressrosa before Doflamingo, was a competent ruler beloved by the people of Dressrosa. He maintained peaceful relations with neighboring countries and was highly respected among other monarchs. Like the king of Alabasta, he cherished the well-being of his subjects.
Ten years ago, Doflamingo appeared before King Riku Doldo, revealing his lineage as a member of the Donquixote Family. He threatened to invade Dressrosa with his army unless King Riku Doldo could gather one hundred billion Berries within a day.
In order to protect his people, King Riku Doldo borrowed one hundred billion Berries from his loyal subjects. However, on the same evening, he and his royal guards were manipulated by Doflamingo's Devil Fruit power. They killed their own soldiers and citizens and even started fires in the town. The glorious and noble king became a tyrant, and the people had no choice but to believe that the Donquixote Family was their savior. Doflamingo seized power smoothly, the Riku Doldo dynasty fell, and King Riku Doldo was despised by the citizens. Even after so many years had passed, Rebecca, standing in the arena, still faced the people's disgust.
People often believe what they see firsthand and sometimes overlook the hidden truths behind events. Those who resisted Doflamingo and believed in King Riku Doldo were turned into toys by Sugar, rendering them unable to speak or express their true identities and anger.
The people of this country had been deceived and manipulated by Doflamingo, like marionettes in his hands. Regardless of their actions, as long as Doflamingo maintained his image of glory, he remained the perfect king in their eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not a king, and I can't remember you all," King Riku Doldo's spirits were low, his body covered in wounds, and his emotions were somber.
He couldn't remember who these toys were, just as he couldn't remember the one-legged toy soldier who had rescued him from the Donquixote Family's encirclement. His memories were filled with emptiness, or one could say that every resident of Dressrosa had gaps in their memories.
He looked at Rodney, "I've heard of your name, but why did you come here?" With Rodney's strength, the temptation of a Devil Fruit shouldn't be enough, and he shouldn't have come here.
"Of course, I came on my own. Doflamingo is my target now. King Riku Doldo, your daughter Viola has already agreed to my terms. As long as I defeat Doflamingo, Dressrosa will become part of my territory. What do you say? Will you agree?" Viola couldn't represent the people of Dressrosa, and King Riku Doldo was the most suitable person to shut the mouths of the Marines and the World Government.
"You also want to rule Dressrosa?" "No, not rule. I want the rule of kings to become the rule of the people. King, will only be a symbol, not someone with absolute power," Rodney's voice was resolute as he said, "You can guarantee that you are a just king, and your successor is a just ruler. But what about the successor's successor, and beyond that? Will they all be just rulers? It's impossible, right?"
King Riku Doldo fell silent. He could ensure his own justice, but he couldn't guarantee that his descendants would always be just rulers.
"Power slowly corrupts the human heart, King Riku Doldo. Not everyone can lock away the beast in their hearts like you. Dressrosa is just the first step. I want this world to transition from the rule of kings to the rule of the people. Kings should only be symbols, not those who hold absolute power," Rodney continued, "I want a world where there are no more nobles, no Celestial Dragons. I can't adapt to the current world, so I want the world to adapt to me."
"You're a madman!" King Riku Doldo made that assessment, and others around him echoed it. Rodney laughed heartily, "So what? In the end, the one with the strongest fist gets to speak in this world. I am the strongest!"
With an air of confidence, Rodney extended his hand and said, "Losing the power of a king in exchange for a reborn Dressrosa. I promise you, if I can't make this country better, I'll die for it!"
It was this unwavering confidence that drove the wheels of history forward. Feudal monarchies would eventually be overturned one day, and he was here to accelerate that process.
Once again, King Riku Doldo fell silent, looking at Rodney's outstretched hand, his body marked by wounds. His aged hand grasped the strong, young hand, and he said, "It can't get any worse than this."
It couldn't get any worse than it already was!
Rodney smiled, "A clear choice, now wait and hope. Your hope has arrived!"
He looked up, and from above, a pale-blue mucus descended, sending shivers down their spines. He spewed flames, incinerating the mucus, and slammed his hands onto the ground. A stone pillar shot up, breaking through the thick layer above, creating an opening to the surface.
"Everyone, use this exit. After all the toys have turned back into ordinary people, try to evacuate the citizens and head towards the sea. If you encounter Admiral Fujitora, tell him Rodney asked him to evacuate the citizens."
"You mean Doflamingo will..."
"He will face Dressrosa head-on!" Rodney rushed up through the newly formed hole in the ground. King Riku Doldo stood up, addressing the toys, "Believe in him. He is our only hope now."
Yes, their only hope!
Clank, clank, clank, clank!
Rodney ascended, stepping on the slippery wall, relentlessly moving upward. Sticky mucus kept descending, but he incinerated it all with flames.
In a room filled with childlike innocence, a man wearing a cape resembling a quilt, with a pair of small sunglasses and a dangling piece of mucus from his nose, complained, "What's going on? Who burned up all my mucus?"
It was Trebol, a member of the Donquixote Family, the highest-ranking officer in the Trebol Army. He was a user of the Stick-Stick Fruit ability and was responsible for protecting Sugar, the user of the Hobby-Hobby Fruit ability, and overseeing all matters in the underground factory.
Unfortunately, even the most overpowered fruit could succumb to defeat in front of a loli killer.
"What's happening?" "I don't know. Probably some strong fighter from the Colosseum. My mucus is all gone. If I could turn it into toys, they'd be incredibly durable. No, something's coming up." Trebol's expression changed, and he used Kenbunshoku Haki, sensing a figure rapidly approaching from below, getting closer and closer.
"Sugar, step aside for now!" Trebol encased the passageway with his own mucus. Shortly after
, there was an explosion, and a shadow burst through, wrapping their legs in Busoshoku Haki and kicking Trebol in the face, sending him flying out of the Officer Tower.
"Next up is you, little girl."
Unfortunately, he was a step too slow. Sugar's hand had already touched his leg.
(End of this chapter)