In the New World, within the royal pace of Dressrosa, Dofmingo lounged in the courtyard.

  inally, Dressrosa's pace had been rather modest. The try itself had been impoverished, and while the Riku royal family had no great leadership skills, they had genuinely cared for their people. Naturally, this meant they hadn't spent resources on buildiravagant paces.

  But ever siningo seized power and decred himself king, Dressrosa's national strength had surged.

  For ohe try now had a formidable pirate forder Dofmingo's banner. With his status as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and his infamous reputation, no pirate dared to challenge his rule.

  With external threats under trol, Dressrosa's internal development progressed rapidly. Dofmingo was an ambitious man, well-ected to both Cudius and the underworld, allowing him to expand his influeh fidenbsp;

  Toy factories sprang up across the nation, capitalizing on Sugar's Devil Fruit ability. Dressrosa became known as the "Land of Toys," a try with a distind vibrant culture. He even structed the Corrida Colosseum, preserving the kingdom's tradition of bat and boosting its tourism industry.

  But these were just the public-fag businesses.

  Behind the ses, Dressrosa saw the rise of numerous factories and ports. Unlike in the past, Dofmingo no longer o operate in the shadows. Now, his dealings were out in the open.

  At the ports, all sorts of smuggled goods arrived from the underworld. Through his legitimate identity as Dressrosa's ruler, he uhese goods and sold them openly, legitimizing what was once illicit trade.

  With growing industries and expanding trade, the demand for workers soared. These jobs provided stable ines, enrig many ordinary citizens.

  The money flowing through Dressrosa didn't just stay within its industries. Pirates under Dofmingo's and spent vishly, their wealth stimuting local businesses. Restaurants, shops, aertai venues flourished, being from the steady ey and the influx of tourists.

  As a result, despite Dofmingo being a pirate, his approval rating in Dressrosa remained exceptionally high.

  Of course, dissenters had existed in the early days. But those who opposed him had been turned into toys, erased from history.

  Now, however, Dofmingo had eased his grip. A plete stranglehold on speech could backfire, and he uood the importanaintaining the illusion of freedom.

  All things sidered, while Dofmingo's rise had caused turmoil in the surrounding nations, Dressrosa itself had thrived under his rule.

  And as far as he was ed, what happeo other tries was none of his .

  With wealth no longer an issue, Dressrosa's pace had been transformed into a vish estate.

  A massive swimming pool had been built in the courtyard, and today, a party was in full swing.

  High-ranking officers of the Donquixote Family mingled, drinking, gambling, and enjoying themselves. Stily en in bikinis swam in the pool, ughter and music filling the air. An endless array of gourmet food and fine wine pleted the se—this aradise.

  Dofmingo sat on a poolside sofa, swirling a gss of red wine in his hand. His signature e sungsses cealed his eyes, and a smirk pyed at his lips.

  Beside him sat a thin, pale young boy with dark circles under his eyes. He wore a fluffy spotted hat, a serious expression on his fabsp;

  Trafalgar Law.

  The boy eaking to Dofmingo in a cold tone.

  "The power of Haki… Shouldn't you be teag me by now?"

  Dofmingo chuckled, still swirling his wine. "Fufufufu… Why the sudden i in Haki?"

  Years ago, on Minion Isnd, Rosinante had entrusted Law to Dofmingo in a final, desperate absp;

  Siningo had never undergone a full dest into darkness in this timelihings had pyed out differently.

  Although he had ultimately killed Rosinante, Law did not harbor the same burning hatred for him as he once might have.

  He uood the circumstances behind what had happened.

  Now, what Law truly despised was not Dofmingo, but the Wover, the behemoth that had destroyed his homend, sughtered his family, and driven Corazon to his death.

  Dofmingo himself had undergone subtle ges due to the Minion Isnd i.

  For one, he no longer pursued the immortality offered by the Ope-Ope Fruit with single-minded obsession. He suspected that his cousin, Cudius, had other means of achieving such a goal.

  Additionally, he had made a promise to Rosio give Law the time and freedom to see the world.

  Dofmingo had always liked the boy. Law reminded him of himself: a child shaped by hatred, sful of the world, with his sights set on the Wover as a on enemy.

  On some level, he had even e to see Law as a younger brother.

  Moreover, Rosinante's final act had left a lingering impa him. Part of Dofmingo's care for Law now stemmed from a twisted sense of h his te brother's wishes.

  Law was fifteen now—no longer a child. He had already ed the Ope-Ope Fruit and spent years studying medie under Dofmingo's tutege, serving as the crew's doctor.

  But retly, he had started taking an i in his own bat ability.

  And now, here he was, asking about Haki.

  "Medie alone won't save me," Law muttered. "I o get stronger."

  At that moment, Mohe snow woman, chimed in with a teasing smile.

  "Young Master, I saw Law get beaten up by Baby-5 this m."

  Law, who had been maintaining a cold, indifferent demeanor, suddenly looked a bit flustered.

  "I wasn't beaten," he insisted. "She's a girl, so I went easy on her."

  Dofmingo burst into ughter.

  "Fufufufu! Is that so?"

  So that was it.

  The boy had realized he couldn't eve Baby-5, and his pride couldn't take it. That's why he had suddenly bee ied in training.

  Though amused, Dofmingo didn't refuse. He turo Mo and said, "Have Diamarain him. Let him learn whatever he wants."

  "Yes, Young Master," Mo replied with a smile.

  At that moment, Gdius approached, his hair standing in its usual explosive spikes.

  "Young Master," he said quietly. "We've made a big score."

  Dofmingo raised an eyebrow, turning toward his subordinate. "Oh? And what might that be?"

  "The hunter reended by Lord Tesoro led us straight to the Gold Gold Fruit," Gdius reported.

  Dofmingo sat up abruptly. Then, a wide grin spread across his face as he let out a low chuckle.

  "Fufufufufu… After all these years, we finally have it?"

  "It's already being transported to Dressrosa i," Gdius firmed. "How should we ha?"

  "tact Tesoro," Dofmingo ordered. "Tell him to e pick it up in person. No mistakes be allowed with this. I want to watch him eat that fruit with my own eyes."

  "Yes, Young Master."

  Just then, a otioed he courtyard entranbsp;

  A young woman stormed in, a cigarette dangling from her lips and a musket in her hands.

  Her face was red with fury.

  As soon as she spotted Dofmingo, she screamed, "Dofmingo! You killed my boyfriend again! I'm gonna kill you!"

  Still leaning against Dofmingo's shoulder, Mo chuckled. "She's at it again, Young Master."

  Dofmingo let out a weary sigh.

  "Oh?" he murmured, utterly unfazed.

  It seemed Baby-5's usual antics were starting up once more.

  ***

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