Sanji stood in the somewhat empty warehouse, surrounded by a silence that felt oppressive. Sunlight, creating a Tyndall effect through the dust, made the warehouse exceptionally bright.
The problem was, Violet's supposed enemy wasn't inside.
Helpless, Sanji could only return to the alley.
Violet was there, trying her best to maintain her pose. Her figure was tall and graceful, and a form-fitting long dress accentuated her curves.
She slightly raised her slender neck, her delicate collarbone gaining an extra touch of charm in the light. Every movement exuded an elegant demeanor.
However, Violet, waiting for a signal, didn't hear the sound of battle, but instead heard Sanji's returning footsteps. Though his steps were hesitant, his direction was clear.
Violet's heart skipped a beat, and the delicate facade she had just put on almost crumbled. She couldn't help but inwardly complain, lamenting that men were indeed unreliable, and her carefully crafted pose had been wasted.
Sanji must have gotten scared at the door, ruining her 'deeply emotional' performance.
However, she quickly composed herself, took a deep breath, and the tearful expression instantly returned to her face.
She first gently raised a hand, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, with a nonchalant yet captivating allure.
Her hands were clasped in front of her, her gaze seemingly indifferent as she looked into the distance, but the corner of her eye constantly watched Sanji's movements.
Sanji cleared his throat, trying to break the somewhat delicate atmosphere, and spoke with a hint of awkwardness: "Miss Violet... um..."
Upon hearing this, a trace of imperceptible sadness flashed across Violet's beautiful eyes, and then a slightly bitter smile appeared on her lips.
She took two steps closer to Sanji with light, graceful steps, each one steady and elegant.
Once she stopped, she slightly raised her gaze to look at Sanji, her voice on the verge of tears yet tinged with stubbornness.
"Sanji-kun, I understand. Perhaps you regret getting involved in such a situation with me now.
It was my oversight to drag you into this trouble. This is indeed my fault."
Sanji was a little confused... That's not how it was, but seeing Violet like this, Sanji couldn't help but swallow, unable to speak.
Violet looked at Sanji's expression, paused slightly, then let out a soft sigh, her demeanor seemingly carrying a great deal of helplessness, and then continued.
"I shouldn't keep you here any longer. You don't have to worry about me; you can leave at ease before those people discover us.
I actually had the terrible thought of killing that man. I will turn myself in.
Sanji-kun, I don't want you to sink deeper into the mire because of me."
At this point, she lightly bit her lower lip, as if suppressing her inner emotions, yet a hint of barely concealed expectation shone in her eyes. However, this expectation was cleverly hidden beneath her facade of strength, making it difficult to detect.
She continued, "It's just... Sanji-kun, deep down, I still held a glimmer of hope, wishing you could stay for me a little longer, even if only for a moment.
But how could I be so selfish as to force you? Never mind, never mind. Do as you wish. I only hope that when you recall today, you won't think of me as such a wicked woman..."
With that, she slightly turned her head away, presenting Sanji with a profile that seemed carefree yet tinged with a hint of melancholy. Her fingers unconsciously fiddled with the hem of her dress.
She appeared indifferent, but in reality, she was secretly hoping Sanji would break the stalemate, allowing her 'retreat as advance' strategy to proceed as she envisioned.
Sanji saw Violet, feigning strength yet revealing hints of sadness.
His heart felt as if it were being fiercely clutched by an invisible hand, immediately throbbing with pain. His overwhelming pity almost spilled out, and he no longer cared about anything else.
He took a few large strides, crossing the distance to Violet in an instant, and tightly grasped her hand.
Violet was still secretly calculating in her mind.
Seeing Sanji rush over so eagerly, she was first slightly startled, then couldn't help but inwardly curse.
"coward," could this guy really not go to the warehouse? That look in his eyes was sickening. She had set up the ambush, but he backed out. And he's a pirate of the Straw Hat crew?
But Violet's face still maintained that delicate, pitiful yet elegant and serene expression.
Before Sanji could speak, she interrupted him again, her tone seemingly helpless, yet also containing a hint of imperceptible reproach.
"Sanji-kun, why are you doing this? I told you to go. If you stay like this and encounter any trouble later, what will I do?... The people in the warehouse could discover us at any moment... You... hurry and leave."
As she spoke, she slightly lowered her gaze, avoiding Sanji's ardent and sincere eyes.
In her mind, however, she was pondering how to better manipulate the heart of the person in front of her.
This acting was truly exhausting. How could she save the kingdom without inciting conflict between the Straw Hat and Doflamingo?
Sanji gazed at Violet in this state, his heart overflowing with pity that he hadn't yet had a chance to express properly.
Her act of interrupting him again made him even more awkward. His face flushed red then paled, his embarrassed expression was truly comical.
Sanji scratched his head and stammered,
"But, Miss Violet, there's no one in the warehouse... And it's very clean, with no signs of any men. I feel... I feel like we might have gone to the wrong place."
As he spoke, he cautiously observed Violet's expression, afraid that his words might cause embarrassment.
After all, in Sanji's opinion, it wasn't Miss Violet's fault for getting lost.
It must be that Mosshead's problem, who let that guy wander around this city?
It must be that his directionally challenged person virus spread everywhere, and accidentally infected Miss Violet, which led to this situation.
"But, it's okay if we went to the wrong place. We'll just go look again. I will definitely help you deal with that man."
Sanji cautiously comforted the person who was somewhat dazed.
And at this moment, Violet was truly stunned.
A moment later, she no longer bothered to maintain her elegant composure. She suddenly broke into a run, rushing forward and directly into the warehouse whose door Sanji had kicked open.
When she stood in the warehouse and looked around, she found that the entire warehouse had been completely renovated, bearing no resemblance to its previous familiar appearance.
In an instant, something in her heart seemed to collapse with a crash. She understood immediately; she had been abandoned.
She had already had a premonition of being marginalized, having not returned to Dressrosa for the past two years.
Violet's eyes became utterly blank. She stared blankly at the unfamiliar and cold surroundings, her legs gave way, and she sank to the ground.
"Doflamingo!!!!!"
Her face was filled with a mixture of disbelief and resentment, her lips trembling slightly, and then she screamed Doflamingo's name with all her might.
The sound, full of hatred, echoed continuously in the empty warehouse.
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