The blue sea stretched out under the blue sky as the large ship carrying Akainu sailed away from Dressrosa. For the Admiral, this entire excursion had been a humiliation, one he would be sure to avenge in their next encounter.
A day later, Rebecca, hiding in the crate, could no longer bear the hunger. She was finally discovered by the Marines. However, they didn't recognize her, and seeing such an adorable little girl, they had no ill intentions.
So, the Marines brought Rebecca to meet Admiral Akainu.
Though young, Rebecca had seen him strike down her grandfather and father. Her heart was filled with hatred, but she was still just a child. Now, this close to Akainu, she was instantly terrified by his stern, fearsome appearance. This fear saved her life; otherwise, she would have been killed without a doubt.
"Get her out of here! Find out who she is and then report back to me," Akainu ordered, his head already aching from Rebecca's crying. He hadn't even said a word, and she was already scared to this extent. Am I really that frightening? Akainu fell into a deep moment of self-doubt.
The Marines didn't dare to delay and quickly took Rebecca away. It took a great deal of comforting before she finally calmed down.
"Mister, I'm hungry," Rebecca said adorably.
"Hungry? We have plenty of food!"
Under the care of the Marines, Rebecca was treated quite well.
Ultimately, after failing to get any information from her, the Marines brought her to Elizabello II to see if he recognized her.
Elizabello II was still alive; his status as the king of a World Government-affiliated nation offered him some protection, after all.
The moment he saw Rebecca, his mood improved considerably. With his old friend gone, he was determined to protect this last remaining sprout of his family line.
"Give me back my daughter!" Elizabello II shouted at the Marines.
"Oh? Since when did you have a daughter, Elizabello II?" the Marines teased.
"Get lost! Do I need to report to you whether or not I have a daughter? I am the king of a World Government-affiliated nation! Even if I made a small mistake, it's not a crime punishable by death," Elizabello II struggled against his restraints.
"Heh. Just because you say she's your daughter, that makes it so? Has she even called you 'Dad'?" a Marine sneered.
"Good girl, hurry and call me Dad. Good girl, don't be mad at Daddy anymore. Daddy will agree to anything you want," Elizabello II said to Rebecca, his voice filled with urgency, hoping she would understand his meaning.
After a long moment, Rebecca remained silent, which only made the Marines more skeptical.
"You…"
A single word, "Dad," cut off the Marines' taunts and extinguished their mockery.
"Yes, my good girl! Daddy will never let you suffer again!" Elizabello II said, tears streaming down his face. He was overjoyed and relieved that Rebecca had understood his desperate plea.
"Seriously? A guy as ugly as him has such a cute daughter?"
Grumbling, the Marines reported the matter to Akainu.
At their next meeting, Elizabello II and Rebecca were both brought before the Admiral.
Rebecca's acting was superb. She clung to Elizabello II's side, her head bowed to hide the hatred in her eyes.
Elizabello II was very pleased with her performance.
"Admiral Akainu, my daughter is innocent. Please, let her go," he pleaded.
"Didn't you find the Marines' justice to be self-righteous? Perfect. Let your daughter atone for your sins. Joining the Marines is a glorious honor. I trust you won't refuse," Akainu said, looking at Elizabello II with a playful glint in his eye, thinking himself quite clever.
Elizabello II's face paled. This was the last of the Riku family line.
"Admiral Akainu, she's just a child! I'm begging you, let her go! Take me instead!" Elizabello II fell to his knees on the deck, pleading for her life.
"Did I not make myself clear?" Akainu said coldly.
"Father, I am willing to become a Marine," Rebecca said in a low voice, quickly helping Elizabello II to his feet.
"Rebecca! You… it's all my fault! I failed to protect you!" Elizabello II's emotions were genuine; he felt deeply ashamed that Rebecca had to cover for him.
"Take her away." Akainu had made his decision and had no more interest in the matter. Once they returned to Marineford, he would hand her over to Vice Admiral Tsuru or Vice Admiral Gion. He was sure that after their education, Elizabello II would see his daughter serving the Marines well. You look down on the Marines' justice, do you? Then I'll make the person closest to you join us. Let's see what you do then.
Akainu applauded his own brilliant idea. Not only had he gained leverage over the Prodence Kingdom, but he had also acquired a new worker. It was a win-win.
While Akainu was reveling in his own cleverness, stability was being restored to Dressrosa.
The timeline returns to the day before. Doflamingo had Law treat Kyros. He couldn't let such a promising talent go to waste. Causing trouble for the World Government was something Doflamingo was more than happy to do.
Kyros slowly regained consciousness. He immediately got up to search for the bodies of his wife, father-in-law, and sister-in-law. Out of a shred of conscience, Doflamingo had kindly helped build them a tomb—a simple task for Pica.
Kyros, his soul crushed, came before the three graves and fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face.
It is said that a man does not cry easily, but only because he has not yet reached his breaking point. Doflamingo, the architect of all this misery, felt not a twinge of guilt. In fact, he was now going to be the one to comfort Kyros and help him get back on his feet.
"Young Master, what should we do with this one?" Monet came to Doflamingo's side, the killing intent in her eyes plain to see.
For Monet, a family should be reunited in its entirety.
"Let him be for now," Doflamingo said, seeing the look in her eyes and stopping her.
There was no need to persecute Kyros any further. A free warrior of his caliber… was that not a prize in itself?
The rest of the Donquixote Pirates glanced at Kyros and then moved on. Since their captain had spoken, they would say no more.
Robin and Ibes, though they sympathized with Kyros's plight, had come too far to turn back now.
Doflamingo prepared for his final performance.
The crowd, the lead actor, and the puppet master were all in place. It was time for Doflamingo to officially take control of Dressrosa.
When the Donquixote Pirates were surrounded by the crowd, listening to their thanks, it was a joyous occasion. Although they were the ones who had caused all this suffering, the members of the family felt no shame, accepting the gratitude with clear consciences.
"Thank you for saving Dressrosa! Please, stay and become our king!" one citizen said, sparking a wave of agreement.
"This… I couldn't possibly. I'm just a pirate," Doflamingo said with false modesty.
"What does that matter? Doflamingolando, you are of Dressrosa's royal blood. It's only natural for you to be the king here. Besides, who says a pirate can't have his own territory?" Leo and the others stepped forward, having completely forgotten their previous discussion on Green Bit.
"The great king, Donquixote, has returned! Dressrosa will never have to fear our enemies again! We are saved!"
Before Doflamingo could refuse a second time, the people were already bowing before him.
Alright. It seems I made them suffer a little too much. They're quite desperate to find a protector.
"If you insist, then I will reluctantly accept. With me here, Dressrosa will never fall into such a state again!" Doflamingo declared, delivering his inauguration speech.
"Hooray!"
"Thank you, our King!"
The citizens knelt in unison, paying their respects to Doflamingo.
Doflamingo was deeply gratified. All his grand efforts had not been in vain. He had finally won the hearts of these people. From this day forward, Dressrosa belonged to him alone. Doflamingo would be its one true king, and its people would trust only him, seeing him as their hero.
The Tontatta tribe was, of course, also his now, and of their own free will. Doflamingo had not forced them in the slightest. With the Heal-Heal Fruit and a new territory, everything was finally falling into place.
Now, it was time to tidy up his new little domain.
A nationwide reformation was coming. The entire country was buzzing with activity—all except for one soul-crushed man.