These past few days, Dressrosa had been in chaos.
With the Donquixote family destroyed, its members had become rats on the street, hunted down by the military.
A few clever ones managed to escape before the military blockaded the port.
But most were trapped on the island, desperately hiding from the military's purge.
For the majority of residents, however, this wasn't necessarily a good thing.
Previously, Doflamingo's rule over Dressrosa, backed by his status as a Warlord, had deterred most pirates from attacking.
Now that the Donquixote family was gone, unidentified ships had been spotted in nearby waters.
This sent the residents into panic.
After all, it hadn't been long since Doflamingo seized Dressrosa from King Riku, and many still remembered his incompetence.
Still, the presence of King Riku's military and the backing of the feared Fifth Emperor provided some reassurance.
On this day, the residents went about their lives as usual.
Suddenly, King Riku's voice echoed across the island.
"Citizens, I apologize."
The opening apology made the residents pause, looking up at the King's Plateau in confusion.
"I am not a worthy king."
King Riku held the Den Den Mushi, his voice heavy with emotion.
After being tricked by Doflamingo and losing his throne, he had spent years in self-imposed exile as a gladiator in the Corrida Colosseum, ashamed to face his people and family.
Looking back, he bitterly realized he had done little for Dressrosa.
Just as Reddy had said, he had lived off the people's labor to sustain the royal family's luxuries.
Take the Celestial Tribute, for example.
As a World Government-affiliated kingdom, Dressrosa had to pay a hefty annual tribute.
This wealth was entirely extracted from the people.
Once, he had believed himself a responsible king, protecting his people from pirates.
Now, he only saw his own incompetence.
"Father..."
Viola's eyes reddened, her emotions low as she hugged her niece Rebecca beside her.
With the Donquixote family gone, she had no more fears and had reunited with Rebecca.
Though young, Rebecca was already a gladiator and understood why her grandfather King Riku felt guilty.
Admittedly, she had resented him before, but her experiences had given her maturity beyond her years, allowing her to empathize with her family's struggles.
"I, King Riku Dold III, hereby formally announce that the Dold family relinquishes the throne. Dressrosa will henceforth be under the governance of Dr. Reddy."
King Riku didn't dwell on apologies. After addressing the people, he cut straight to the point, declaring Dressrosa's new ruler.
The people were stunned.
Though King Riku was seen as incompetent, he was still their king.
Now, he was abdicating—this shattered their expectations.
There had been similar cases in history, but that was 900 years ago, when the Donquixote family left Dressrosa for Mary Geoise to become Celestial Dragons.
Thus, Doflamingo's seizure of the throne had sparked discontent, with rebel forces loyal to King Riku persisting on the island.
Yet many had accepted it.
Though a pirate, Doflamingo had a legitimate claim to Dressrosa.
After the initial shock, the people erupted into heated discussions.
The Fifth Emperor's reputation far surpassed that of a mere Warlord.
But the World Government's propaganda painted Reddy as the most evil scientist in history.
No one could help worrying about their future.
After announcing his abdication, King Riku stepped aside, yielding the Den Den Mushi to Reddy.
Reddy took it and succinctly announced the three decrees previously issued in Loguetown.
The people were stunned again, then overjoyed.
Even the illiterate could see the benefits of the three laws set to take effect in Loguetown.
They had once envied Loguetown's privileges.
After all, the Celestial Tribute alone was a crushing burden on the people.
If not for Dressrosa's advantageous location, its residents would have long been bankrupted by the exorbitant tribute.
"What about the Celestial Tribute?"
Someone, knowing their voice wouldn't reach the King's Plateau, couldn't help but shout.
Others quickly joined in.
Soon, a deafening chorus rose across the island.
The people's cries varied, but all carried the same question.
Would they still have to pay the Celestial Tribute?
"Dr. Reddy, I apologize."
Hearing the uproar outside, King Riku bowed his head in shame.
Unable to protect Dressrosa's people, he could only pin his hopes on Reddy, the Fifth Emperor.
After abdicating, the Celestial Tribute became Reddy's most urgent issue.
"It's fine. If I dared to do this, it means the World Government is no threat to me."
Reddy waved it off, then announced that from today onward, Dressrosa would not pay a single berry in Celestial Tribute.
His voice, amplified by the Den Den Mushi, spread across the island.
The people erupted.
"Long live Lord Reddy!"
When the unified cheers rose, King Riku smiled bitterly.
This was the ideal he had pursued his entire reign.
Yet he had become the people's symbol of incompetence, while Reddy achieved what he had failed to do.
"Perhaps the monarchy truly has no place anymore."
King Riku quickly composed himself, watching Reddy's back with resolve.
Though no longer Dressrosa's ruler, the Dold family would continue protecting it in another way.
"Director!"
Beal rushed in excitedly.
Seeing his expression, Reddy knew the researchers had confirmed Sugar's limits through experiments and nodded with a smile.
Beal perked up and immediately contacted his colleagues in the temporary lab.
The next second.
Viola gasped, covering her mouth. "Kyros... brother-in-law!"
"Mr. Soldier is my father?"
Rebecca was equally shocked as the erased memories flooded back.
At the same time, the memories forcibly erased by the Hobi Hobi no Mi returned to the people's minds.
The toys on the island reverted to humans.
In that moment.
The people's hatred for the Donquixote family reached its peak.
Kyros, now missing a leg, stared at his hands.
The man who had once gone undefeated in 3,000 coliseum matches wept.
No father wanted his daughter to forget him.
He could never forget his wife Scarlet's dying wish.
"Rebecca..."
Kyros looked toward the King's Plateau and leaped forward, desperate to reunite with his daughter.
The reporters still scouring the island for leads were ecstatic.
This was huge news!
But an even bigger surprise awaited them.
Dressrosa suddenly trembled.
The panicked people froze, unsure what was happening.
"The island is rising!"
Someone quickly noticed Dressrosa lifting off the sea.
The news spread like wildfire.
More people watched in awe as rectangular stone slabs flew from the King's Plateau in all directions, forming wide staircases in the sky.
Soon, Dressrosa hovered 100 meters above the sea.
Eight broad stone staircases connected the island to the water below.
The reporters went wild!
Following Loguetown, Dressrosa's future looked bright!
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