Chapter 225: Birdcage... and the Tournament Begins!
King's Plateau, Dressrosa Royal Palace, inside a hidden palace.
"Fuffuffuffuffu."
Hoarse laughter echoed; Doflamingo and Donquixote Family executives gathered here.
Clap! Clap!
They applauded respectively.
"Look—Baby 5, an important family member... so glad you could come back."
Doflamingo opened his arms, welcoming his 'Family'.
"Young Master..."
Now, Baby 5, who finally returned to Dressrosa with difficulty, stammered, "Sorry, my previous mission in Neverland... but please rest assured, I said nothing, you can have someone interrogate me to confirm..."
She was clearly nervous.
"Behehehe~ I say I say, no need for that, Baby 5 slurp."
Now, Trebol chuckled, slurping snot by the way.
"Yeah yeah—we are 'Family', how can family interrogate each other?"
Aside, Diamante laughed too. "If the opponent was that Hitsuji (Sheep), that's a Zodiac Top Executive—a guy even Four Emperors find troublesome, it's normal you weren't an opponent..."
Hearing this, Baby 5 naturally felt warmth in her heart.
"Th... thank you, Trebol, Diamante."
"Thank you everyone for trusting me."
She knew it—she was a family member; Young Master wouldn't abandon her.
"Compared to this, watch with us now."
Now, Diamante continued.
"Watch?"
Baby 5 was somewhat dazed. "You mean this duel tournament? Speaking of which, I wanted to ask, isn't that Caesar an important chip for cooperation with Beasts Pirates? Why make him... I saw several impressive ships outside the island just now."
"Behehehe, some accidents happened—Young Master discovered some interesting facts from him."
Trebol chuckled. "That's why there's this feast."
"Next, let's see if the 'Guests' we expect will come to this feast."
"Expected guests?"
Hearing this, Baby 5 was stunned too.
And unknown why.
Looking at the family members welcoming her with smiles.
Uneasiness always rose in Baby 5's heart.
"Young Master... what exactly does he want to do?"
Just as Baby 5 said.
Now, outside Dressrosa's port.
Numerous ships cruised in the sea, observing Dressrosa's situation from afar.
This was inevitable.
Devil Fruits were 'Treasures of the Sea'.
Each unit price calculated in hundreds of millions; even with the side effect of becoming a landlubber, they were treasures pursued by countless people.
Because on this sea, Devil Fruits symbolized 'Power'.
Power was authority, power was wealth, power was everything.
But now—World Economic News Paper's report told the whole world.
Devil Fruits could be manufactured artificially.
World Economic News Paper even displayed a photo of an artificial Devil Fruit in the newspaper—the effect of that Devil Fruit called SMILE was confirmed.
So naturally...
Dressrosa became the focus of the entire sea at this moment.
Various kingdoms, pirates, Underworld forces, Mafia, even merchants—whether ambitious schemers or profit chasers, all came to this passionate country now.
But speaking of the angriest among all... it must be the three renowned figures already arrived at the southern port.
Southern port, flames burning.
Surrounding buildings completely destroyed—three huge pirate ships should have landed at this moment.
On ships looking like Pteranodon, Brachiosaurus, and Mammoth respectively, hung the same flag—that skull with huge horns like a demon was one of the most terrifying pirate flags on this sea.
And amidst the burning flames of the port.
Three figures walked out slowly.
Leading was a tall man wearing pitch-black clothes leaving no skin exposed, a long sword at his waist, flames burning behind his head.
Next was a fat man with bald head and round face, wearing sunglasses, smoking a cigar, left arm metallic, golden braid on head.
Last was a giant man with tall stature, wearing horn-like decoration on head, metal jaw on mouth.
"Joker that guy, does he want to die?"
"Clearly agreed to deliver the SMILE factory in a few days, we came to confirm the situation on orders. This guy dares to make the person Governor-General Kaido values a prize, and expose artificial Devil Fruits to the public... Big Brother Queen, let me kill that guy later, no need to trouble you and Big Brother King."
"Ah, Jack—it's great you brat are willing to take this responsibility. Since so, I'll be responsible for grabbing that idiot Caesar... after all, former research partner, I can't~ bear to see him~ looking so miserable!"
"...You look quite happy clearly, right? Can't help dancing."
"Shut up~ or I'll kill you~"
Amidst conversation.
Their identities needed no elaboration.
Three All-Stars under Four Emperor Kaido of the Beasts Pirates, great pirates known as the Three Disasters—'King the Conflagration', 'Queen the Plague', 'Jack the Drought'.
And now, these three disasters, any of whom could shake the sea... actually gathered in Dressrosa simultaneously.
"I will handle Joker's matter personally later."
But now, listening to Queen and Jack's conversation.
King issued orders calmly. "As for you, follow me to grab Caesar first."
"Ha? Why should I listen to your orders?"
Hearing this, Queen retorted—he and King never got along.
But hearing this, King just looked at Queen coldly. "Caesar—that guy relates to Big Brother Kaido's 'Ambition', need to secure him first."
"If you disobey orders... I'll kill you first."
"Oh? Kill me? Who's afraid of who?"
"Hey hey, two big brothers, stop arguing..."
Their conversation explained their purpose here.
Yes.
The World Government ship escorting Caesar Clown previously was hijacked by Doflamingo.
And the reason for hijacking Caesar was his ability to make artificial Devil Fruits—Doflamingo already reached cooperation with Beasts Pirates regarding this.
For Kaido, eager for a world-class war and extremely favoring Zoan Devil Fruits.
Zoan artificial Devil Fruits made by Caesar were an indispensable part of his ambition—precisely because of this, he didn't even have time to deal with Big Mom's downfall recently.
According to cooperation content, Doflamingo should have built the factory for making 'SMILE' recently, then waiting for the Three Disasters to inspect.
But the Three Disasters didn't expect to receive World Economic News Paper's extra edition on the way to Dressrosa.
Doflamingo not only tore up their agreement, but even made Caesar, the key person related to Kaido's ambition, the prize of this duel tournament.
One could imagine the Three Disasters' annoyance.
But just as the three were arguing...
"E-everyone..."
A trembling voice summoned courage to speak.
"Hm?"
The Three Disasters looked up, then saw a colosseum employee crying while holding a Den Den Mushi walking over. "T-tournament starting soon, please wait here temporarily."
Hearing his words, let alone the Three Disasters.
Even Beasts Pirates members behind them, cheering "As expected of three lords, destroyed a port easily", felt absurd now.
"You idiot... want to die?"
One pirate raised his gun to fire.
But...
"Wait."
Now, King stopped him.
"This guy is controlled by Joker's ability."
Looking at the stiff, crying man almost desperate with snot and tears, King judged this already.
So, his gaze looked at the Den Den Mushi in the other's hand.
"Joker, wanting to beg for mercy now is too late—Big Brother Kaido is very angry."
Next moment...
"Fuffuffuffuffu, don't be so sharp, Mr. King."
The Den Den Mushi made a sound.
"This is a feast—as guests of the feast, have more patience."
As the voice came out, King saw light burst from the top of this Den Den Mushi, shooting straight into the sky.
At the same time, from all directions of the entire island, similar lights flew into the air, almost covering the clouds in the sky.
Moments later, a huge screen composed of many projection Den Den Mushis appeared above Dressrosa.
And what appeared on the screen made King's eyes sharp instantly.
Even the flames behind his head burned more violently at this moment.
"Hey hey..."
Queen took the cigar out of his mouth now, frowning. "It's that guy Caesar..."
His words pointed out the image on the screen.
Now, the screen showed a huge duel arena—that was Dressrosa's landmark building 'Corrida Colosseum'.
But now, this already huge colosseum was expanded many times.
The colosseum was raised and widened; the central round ring remained, but nearby turned into a pentagram structure with overlapping lines.
According to recent Dressrosa rumors, this temporary renovation of the colosseum was Doflamingo's idea; the expanded colosseum size could almost hold one-third of the country's citizens.
And now, no audience in this huge colosseum.
Only at the highest point in the center of the colosseum.
A huge cage suspended high in the air.
And inside the cage, a figure sat there.
Covered in wounds, wearing Sea Prism Stone handcuffs, breathing weakly now.
And everyone gradually landing on the island naturally recognized him—the person with the loudest fame and highest discussion on the sea recently.
Former SSG scientist, Caesar Clown.
Near the cage where this scientist was, countless cannons and guns aimed at him.
At the same time, below that cage.
Doflamingo's figure sat there with crossed legs now.
"Fuffuffuffuffu."
Holding a Den Den Mushi in hand, letting out unique laughter.
"Guests, citizens."
His words spread throughout the country via countless Den Den Mushis.
"All 'Guests' have begun to land, the duel tournament will start soon."
"Next..."
Speaking, he raised his hand lightly.
"The stage—will be sealed."
Next moment...
BOOM!
From the sea at the end of Dressrosa island, thin threads rose, 'Enveloping' the entire island in an instant.
[String-String Fruit (Ito Ito no Mi) · Birdcage]
As those thin threads appeared, they began to 'Move' from overseas toward Dressrosa.
During the movement.
Ships originally staying on the sea intending to observe more also sensed something wrong immediately.
"This thing is a 'Blade'?"
"Cutting blade made of threads? So sharp—ship can't hold on!"
"Land quickly! Land quickly!"
Amidst exclamations on ships, all observing ships were either cut directly due to slow reaction or hurriedly pulled anchor to land on Dressrosa.
But now, Doflamingo clearly didn't care about these.
He just continued speaking to the Den Den Mushi, "Duel rules are simple—inside the 'Birdcage' is the stage, everyone on the island is a participant, killing each other on the island."
"Finally, five participants entering the five entrances of the colosseum first can enter the central stage to fight for the final prize."
He pointed smilingly at Caesar in the sky.
"Witnessed by surviving audience, the one seizing the prize is the winner... as you know, 'The World' will open for him."
Hearing this, Dressrosa citizens exclaimed too.
"Duel tournament is today? Still some time away, right?"
"That's not important, key is this rule... this way, isn't the whole island a duel arena?"
"Why sounds like we are in danger? Many landing guys are pirates, right?"
"What means 'Surviving Audience'? Hey hey, sounds wrong!"
"That thing called 'Birdcage' looks dangerous, should only stay overseas, right?"
Inside the entire country, it became noisy now.
Clearly, they realized the situation was wrong.
This duel tournament seemed not 'Lively' as they thought—or rather, another kind of lively.
But now Doflamingo just picked his ear, ignoring the noisy voices in the country.
On the contrary, he threw the Den Den Mushi casually onto the commentary platform below.
On the commentary platform now, a commentator wearing armor stood stiffly on stage.
Dressrosa citizens almost all knew him; the opponent was Corrida Colosseum ace commentator 'Gatz'.
And now, this commentator seemed stiff all over.
Doflamingo moved his finger slightly; Gatz raised his hand stiffly to take the Den Den Mushi—clearly, he was also 'Controlled'.
"Hello everyone, I am the commentator of this match... Gatz."
He spoke tremblingly—because he could feel the 'Threads' beside him ready to slice him anytime.
Forcing him to only make the 'Commentary' the other party wished.
"Next I... I announce..."
"Tournament—Start."
☆☆☆
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