-Broadcast-
With the addition of Captain Leo, the Straw Hat Pirates gained crucial intelligence about the King's Plateau that revealed complexities none of them had anticipated.
"If Princess Mansherry remains in the Donquixote family's custody, no matter how many times you heroes defeat them, they'll simply be healed by her Chiyu Chiyu no Mi (Heal-Heal Fruit) powers," Leo explained with grim urgency. "We must cut off that advantage before engaging the main force."
The dwarf captain couldn't pinpoint the Tontatta princess's exact location, but his years of captivity had given him insight into Doflamingo's operations. Two possibilities seemed most likely: either the underground factory where his people toiled as slaves, or a secured chamber somewhere within the royal palace itself.
Luffy stepped forward with characteristic resolve. "Usopp and I will assault the palace directly. I'll handle Doflamingo while he uses his Observation Haki to locate the dwarf princess."
While the marksman had no problem with search and rescue, the prospect of facing a Shichibukai in direct combat made him visibly nervous. If they truly engaged Doflamingo within his own stronghold, Luffy would need to focus entirely on the battle—leaving Usopp dangerously exposed. His gaze shifted to their swordsman.
"Zoro, you should come with us. Intelligence suggests multiple senior officers will be defending the palace."
Leo immediately scrambled onto "Usoland's" shoulder, his tiny voice filled with desperate determination. "I want to accompany the three of you so I can witness Princess Mansherry's rescue with my own eyes. As warrior captain, I could die without regrets after seeing my people freed."
Brook stepped forward with theatrical flair, his skeletal frame somehow managing to convey confidence despite lacking facial muscles. "I shall take responsibility for the underground SMILE factory! My mission will be destroying their Devil Fruit production while liberating any enslaved Tontatta. I'm also perfectly equipped to search refuse areas for additional prisoners—the dead fear nothing, after all."
Leo's expression grew troubled as he shared another critical piece of intelligence. "There's one particular Donquixote officer you must be aware of. She appears to be a young girl named Sugar, though her actual age remains unknown. She possesses the Paramecia-type Hobi Hobi no Mi (Hobby-Hobby Fruit)—anyone touched by her hands transforms into a living toy that obeys her commands. These toys require no food or rest, making them perfect slave labor for Doflamingo's operations."
The dwarf's voice dropped to a whisper. "As the lynchpin of their entire black market industry, Sugar will certainly be protected by a senior executive—most likely that disgusting mucus-man Trebol."
Robin's lips curved into a knowing smile as she volunteered for the most dangerous assignment. "Her Devil Fruit activates through direct skin contact with both hands. I happen to be perfectly suited for dealing with such opponents." She glanced at their doctor. "Chopper should support me in this mission—when it comes to subduing women, I have the most experience among our crew."
With tactical roles decided, they established their three-pronged assault plan: Luffy's team would storm the palace and engage Doflamingo directly, Brook would single-handedly destroy the SMILE production facility, and Robin's unit would neutralize the secret weapon that was Sugar. Each team had clear objectives, and failure was not an option.
"Defeat Doflamingo and liberate Dressrosa!" Luffy declared with his signature optimistic grin. "See everyone back on the Sunny! Let's go!"
"Luffy, don't set up death flags!" Usopp protested, but his complaint was cut short as the captain's rubber arms wrapped around both him and Zoro. Leo quickly took shelter in the sniper's ammunition pouch.
The devil powered sandals on Luffy's feet responded to their owner's will, lifting the entire group skyward with casual defiance of physics.
The Straw Hat captain might not know "Geppou" (Moon Walk) from the Marine Rokushiki techniques, but his Chikara Chikara no Mi sandal named Kensei provided even greater aerial mobility. The team soared through the night sky with infectious enthusiasm as they approached the King's Plateau's summit.
Robin watched their captain's departure with the fond expression of someone observing a beloved younger sibling. "What an absurd ability he's developed. If someone else had consumed the Paramecia-type Chikara Chikara no Mi, they might have become a powerhouse through strength alone."
The Fruit compensated perfectly for Luffy's previous inability to fly, promising to make him a formidable opponent in aerial combat. Doflamingo and his officers were in for quite the headache.
Before the remaining duo, Chopper retrieved a yellow ball from his medical pouch and crushed the Rumble Ball between his teeth. His normally tiny antlers expanded dramatically, growing into three-meter spiraling horns while his body remained compact.
The Rumble Ballaltered his Zoan-type Devil Fruit's transformation wavelength, allowing him to enter "Horn Point" while maintaining his brain's cognitive functions. "Robin, I'll dig us a passage to the underground facility. This should be quick work."
His enhanced antlers began rotating like drill bits, boring effortlessly through solid rock. Within moments, Chopper had disappeared entirely underground, leaving only a perfectly circular tunnel entrance. The sounds of stone being pulverized echoed from the depths as the reindeer carved their route toward Sugar's location.
With only the skeleton and archaeologist remaining above ground, Brook seized his opportunity for mischief. The perverted musician sidled closer to Robin with exaggerated stealth, whispering conspiratorially in her ear.
"My dear lady, might I perhaps catch a glimpse of your panties?"
If Nami were present, Brook's skull would already be sporting multiple lumps courtesy of the navigator's legendary "fists of love"—punches that could somehow bruise rubber men, metal cyborgs, and skeletal musicians alike with equal effectiveness.
However, Robin was a far more cunning woman. A mysterious smile graced her lips as she formulated her response.
"I'm afraid that's impossible right now, Brook. But if you complete your mission flawlessly, I might consider granting that request when we reunite aboard the Sunny." Her voice dropped to a sultry whisper. "As a little preview—I'm currently wearing a thong."
"Truly?! My dear goddess..." Brook could scarcely believe his luck. What had begun as routine harassment had yielded unexpected dividends.
The manipulative archaeologist lifted the skeleton's jaw with one delicate finger, her eyes sparkling with mock sincerity. "Absolutely serious. Let's see how well you perform in Dressrosa, shall we?"
A thong! For a beauty like Robin, such a revelation filled Brook with supernatural energy. To achieve this goal, he would exceed even his own limitations. This was the first time since joining the crew that he felt such overwhelming motivation.
Ever since returning from the afterlife as a soul-powered skeleton, Brook's obsession with women's undergarments had become proof of his retained humanity. Perhaps maintaining these perverted interests was his way of clinging to mortal emotions despite his undead state.
The energized musician waved farewell to Robin with theatrical flourish. Though he didn't know the SMILE factory's exact location, the spirits of the deceased would surely provide guidance—after all, he was the king of souls and could simply ask them directly. Getting lost was impossible when he had such motivation waiting aboard the Sunny.
Whether Robin actually intended to honor her promise remained known only to the scheming woman herself. Logically speaking, both she and Nami frequently wore bikinis around the ship, and their male crewmates had glimpsed them in various states of undress during their adventures. What real difference did a layer of fabric make?
After several minutes, Chopper emerged from his tunnel with horn modifications still active. The Rumble Ball's effects allowed him to shift into another transformation—his fur expanded exponentially until he resembled a massive, mobile carpet.
"The passage is pretty rough, so I'll use this fur form to carry you down safely. Hop on, Robin!"
The archaeologist felt no resistance to such an adorable creature. Robin embraced the transformed reindeer with visible delight as his enhanced fur enveloped her completely.
After cocooning the archaeologist from head to toe, the enormous fur ball rolled into the underground tunnel. Chopper's speed rivaled that of an underground highway as he transported his precious cargo through the passage at tremendous velocity, heading directly for the subterranean facility where Sugar awaited their arrival.
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