[~1300 Words]
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"Hmph~ My lord… you…"
James gave Violet's butt a playful pinch before gently consoling her.
"Don't worry, Violet. We'll have plenty of time together in the future."
"Mmm~…"
Violet's voice came out soft and weak, like that of a fragile beauty humming faintly.
The sound alone was enough to stir carnal impulse in James—to tease her even more—but now was clearly not the time.
While the two chatted, they soon arrived at the location Violet had indicated.
Without hesitation, James raised his hand and casually opened a small door in the wall, just wide enough for two people to pass through.
"What's going on…? People?"
As he floated through the opening, several Donquixote Family grunts immediately noticed them.
⚡ Ten Million Volt – Lightning Chain ⚡
James didn't even spare them a glance.
Electric currents erupted from his feet, racing across the ground like living serpents before spreading through the guards.
"Ugh—Aaaah!" ×20
Screams erupted almost instantly.
James continued flying deeper into the palace without slowing down.
However, Violet's attention was elsewhere.
Her gaze remained fixed on the door in the wall James had just created.
She murmured in shock,
"This… what kind of ability is this…?"
"A Mythical Zoan? No… that's impossible."
"Isn't James supposed to be a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user?"
"Could it be… he can use multiple Devil Fruits?"
Her intuition was frighteningly accurate.
Unhindered, James quickly carried Violet through the palace until they arrived at the chapel's front hall.
The interior was vast and solemn.
A towering dome stretched overhead, decorated with golden patterns and magnificent murals depicting religious scenes.
Soft red carpets covered the floor, extending all the way toward a towering statue at the far end.
Beautiful floral arrangements surrounded the area, giving the sacred hall an elegant and dignified atmosphere.
"So this is the chapel?"
James glanced around before turning toward Violet in his arms.
"Violet, is Mansherry still behind here?"
"Yes," Violet replied softly.
"She's right behind this area."
"There's a wooden door further inside. Once you go through it, there's a prison cell built into the wall specifically designed for the Tontatta Tribe."
"Mansherry is being held there."
"I see."
After flying forward for a few more seconds, they entered a narrow, dimly lit corridor.
Quite a few guards were stationed here to watch over the hidden prisoner.
James's lightning illuminated the darkness, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
"Who's there?!"
No answer came.
Only the crackling sound of electricity.
⚡ Crackle! ⚡
With each burst of lightning, another guard collapsed to the ground, their bodies twitching before falling lifeless.
Within moments, the corridor was silent again.
James stopped in front of a wooden door.
Violet whispered softly,
"This is it."
Creak—
The wooden door slowly opened.
James's lightning illuminated the gloomy room inside.
From the darkness came the sound of quiet sobbing.
It was Mansherry.
⚡ Splat! ⚡
A flash of lightning struck down the few remaining guards who had turned toward the door.
The sudden brightness startled Mansherry, causing her to gasp.
"Eh!?"
James followed the sound of her voice.
Embedded in the wall was a tiny arched prison cell, its entrance blocked only by a few thin iron bars.
Moments later, a small, delicate face appeared at the entrance.
The tiny princess peered curiously at the outside world.
James's lips curved into a faint smile.
The Princess of the Tontatta Kingdom, huh?
She should be… the easiest one to deceive.
—or rather—
The easiest one to capture.
"Are you Mansherry?"
"Don't worry. I'm the world's number one good person."
"Your father asked me to come and rescue you."
"Wow!!"
Mansherry's eyes sparkled instantly.
"You're really the world's number one good person?!"
"Arigato! Thank you so much!"
"Boo-hoo! I can finally leave this place!"
Her soft, delicate voice was surprisingly lively, and she accepted James's explanation without the slightest doubt.
This wasn't because James had forgotten to activate some hidden cheat ability.
It was simply because the Tontatta tribe naturally trusted others too easily.
The reason Mansherry had been captured and exploited by Doflamingo was exactly the same.
Gancho, the King of the Tontatta Kingdom, had once trusted Doflamingo's lies.
He believed that King Riku, the man who had always treated their people kindly, had suddenly gone mad and begun slaughtering his own citizens.
Because of this misunderstanding, the Tontatta Tribe drew closer to the Donquixote Family.
And the result?
More than five hundred members of their tribe—including Mansherry—were enslaved.
For such an innocent and trusting race to have survived in this harsh world without going extinct…
It was honestly quite miraculous.
James gently set Violet down before approaching the prison cell.
With a casual wave of his hand, the cell door opened effortlessly.
He extended his right hand toward the tiny princess.
"Come out, Mansherry."
Mansherry nodded gratefully and jumped forward, intending to land in his palm.
But the moment she moved—
Her legs suddenly gave out.
"Ah!"
She slipped and began falling toward the ground.
This wasn't because she was clumsy.
In fact, the Tontatta Tribe was famously agile and nimble, often referred to as "fairies."
But Mansherry had been trapped in this prison for far too long without proper food or movement.
Her body simply lacked the strength.
James casually caught her mid-air.
"Phew~ That was close!"
Mansherry sighed in relief.
"Thank you again, great benevolent Oni-chan! I almost fell!"
James felt the tiny weight resting in his palm.
The twenty-centimeter princess felt incredibly small.
Like a delicate little doll.
Curious, he gently poked her tiny face and the fabric of her princess dress with his thumb.
"Hmph~ Great benevolent one!"
"Don't poke my face, it feels weird!"
Mansherry's cute protest had absolutely no effect.
If anything, it only made James more curious.
"I'm sorry, Mansherry."
"I've always been very interested in the Tontatta Tribe."
"Could you bear with me for a moment and satisfy my curiosity?"
His expression looked extremely sincere.
As the princess of the Tontatta Tribe, how could Mansherry possibly refuse such a small request from her rescuer?
"Mmm…"
"If it's a request from the great benevolent one… then of course!"
"But could you be a little gentler?"
"My body is very sensitive. I'm really afraid of getting hurt…"
Mansherry hesitated briefly before agreeing in her usual pitiful tone.
James's sincerity was so convincing that even Violet couldn't tell whether he was truly curious… or simply tricking the naive princess.
But Violet herself was technically still his prisoner.
She barely dared to protect herself, let alone interfere with James's actions and risk drawing his displeasure.
So she remained silent.
Fortunately, James didn't go too far.
He simply poked Mansherry a few times out of curiosity before letting her sit comfortably in his palm.
After all…
There would be plenty of time in the future to explore the fascinating differences between humans and the Tontatta Tribe.
At least now he had confirmed one thing.
The Tontatta Tribe felt very different from the artificial toys he used to play with.
This real softness and warmth simply couldn't be replicated by lifeless creations.
Mansherry had long golden hair braided into two pigtails, decorated with small flowers.
From behind, the twin braids looked enormous compared to her tiny body, almost covering her entirely.
The only slightly regrettable detail was her nose.
Like most members of the Tontatta Tribe—just like Porche before her—
She had a small pointed nose.
It somewhat disrupted the otherwise perfectly cute appearance.
Mansherry:
Princess of the Tontatta Tribe.
Kind-hearted, gentle, and incredibly adorable thanks to her tiny body.
Of course, that little pointed nose…
Would probably become the least noticeable detail the moment she met Nojiko.
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