Chapter 132: A Game of Minds
Perhaps on this island, one could stay forever young, with tears of joy always in their eyes!
At the same time, outside a roadside open-air café, a beautiful woman in a purple polka-dot dance dress held a small Den Den Mushi, reporting the town's situation to Doflamingo.
"Hey, Violet, have you encountered Jock Ian and his group?" Doflamingo's low voice was thick with anger. "See through them. What are their plans?"
Violet!
User of the Glare-Glare Fruit, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit!
A killer of the Donquixote Family's Trebol Corps!
"Don't worry, Young Master. Leave it to me," Violet replied calmly. "Let's start with the girls around him..."
As she spoke, Violet formed a circle with her fingers and placed it in front of her eye. The supernatural ability of the Glare-Glare Fruit activated silently...
Mind Reading!
As long as the target was within a certain range of Violet, their innermost thoughts would be instantly laid bare. No matter how strong-willed the person, the ability user could read what they were thinking at that very moment.
"Hmm? These people..." Violet's brow furrowed. "Are they deliberately hiding their battle plans? Young Master, Jock Ian's subordinates are currently thinking... 'Lieutenant General Ian, what are you planning to do next?!'"
She reported truthfully, not lying, but transmitting the information as she received it. Simultaneously, Violet was deeply shocked. What a chaotic group of people, with no battle plan at all. How could they follow a teenage Vice Admiral and so recklessly intrude into the territory of a Warlord of the Sea?
"Young Master, should I continue reading Jock Ian's inner thoughts?" Violet inquired. If she didn't act now, she would have to wait until they passed by and were out of her ability's range. A "chance" encounter might easily attract suspicion. That was why she hadn't used her ability directly on Ian initially—powerful individuals often possessed strong Observation Haki and heightened vigilance. If discovered, it could cause greater trouble.
"Do it. Use your ability," Doflamingo ordered without hesitation.
Violet repeated the gesture, locking onto Ian with her mind-reading ability.
"This... these are..." she stammered, her eyes widening. "Five... ten... No, there are even more... naked women... Ah... eek!"
Violet nearly cried out, quickly covering her mouth and turning away, her face flushed.
"Violet, what did you see?" Doflamingo asked, suspicious and confused.
"How filthy! How obscene!" Violet exclaimed, utterly appalled. "Young Master, I saw... Tch! I saw Jock Ian and a group of naked women..."
She was simply stunned. Wasn't Jock Ian here as an enemy of the Donquixote Family, to cause trouble for them? His mind was full of... that! If Ian had deliberately avoided the thought or tried to deceive himself, he still couldn't have escaped the Glare-Glare Fruit's mind-reading ability. It could only mean... he was genuinely thinking about some very... pleasurable things! And it seemed some of them were his own teammates? How revolting!
Doflamingo hung up the Den Den Mushi: "..."
Violet, disgusted, patted her chest and slowly turned around.
She started! Right behind her, Ian, riding on Speed, had stopped directly in front of her.
Violet quietly put away her Den Den Mushi and put on her usual charming smile. "Hello, Mr. Marine. What can I do for you?"
Ian flicked his wrist, unfurling the wanted poster of Caesar Clown. He stared sharply into Violet's eyes. "Beautiful lady, have you seen the criminal in this portrait? My mother told me since I was a child that the more beautiful a woman is, the less likely she is to lie. I hope you can answer honestly and not deceive me."
Behind Ian, his subordinates watched with varying expressions.
Peacock looked at him disdainfully: "Is Little Ian really here on a mission?"
Nami looked skeptical: "A mission? I've never heard of such a 'mission.'"
Skylark felt a little wronged: "Could it be he fell for the beautiful lady and can't walk away?"
Doll was quite shocked: "Lieutenant General Ian, so... you like women too?"
His team was highly suspicious of his actions. But Violet, the one being questioned, was so nervous her breathing quickened.
What's with this man's eyes? Though his face wore a lecherous smirk, his eyes were as cold and sharp as blades. As a user of the Glare-Glare Fruit, Violet was an expert at observing micro-expressions. Could his lecherous appearance be just a disguise? No! He was genuinely depraved at heart!
"I'm sorry, Mr. Marine. I'm afraid I can't help you," Violet answered calmly, her words and expression flawless. "I don't know this man. Has he done something bad? The king of this kingdom is one of the Warlords of the Sea. He should be able to assist you."
"What a pity," Ian sighed, a mock-hurt expression on his face. "To be lied to so blatantly by a beautiful lady... It truly wounds me... Violet! I possess the same talent as you—I can see through people's hearts!"
Violet: "!!!"
Jock Ian knows her true identity?! Impossible! He shouldn't have any intelligence about this island! Unless... he really can see through her heart? The thought of fleeing crossed Violet's mind.
However, Ian's next words shattered any hope of escape. "Would you mind acting as my guide? Lead the way for me. Serve as a guide, and simultaneously, as a hostage. I wish to go to the Royal Plateau and meet the king you mentioned. You may also choose to run, provided you can escape from me."
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