CHAPTER 22

Gladius screamed in pain. The scene in front of them shocked every member of the Don Quixote family present, who now looked at Alastor with a newfound fear in their eyes.

After all, Pica was one of the top cadres, and he was the first to react. He immediately apologized to Alastor, saying, "Gladius was truly disrespectful to you, Alastor. He deserved it. Someone, carry Gladius out!"

Pica wanted to say more, but Alastor, uninterested in his sharp, grating voice, picked up the box containing the Smile Fruit on the table and walked away.

"I'm taking this," he said, swaggering off.

Pica's face darkened as he took a few deep breaths, suppressing his anger. He turned to Viola and asked, "Did you see anything with your ability just now?"

Viola had expected the tension between Alastor and Gladius to escalate, but she hadn't anticipated it would end so quickly. Without time to use her fruit ability, she made an excuse, saying, "That man's arrogance is overwhelming. I can't see through him."

No matter the fruit ability, it can be hindered by one's domineering presence. For example, Trafalgar Law's Ope ope no mi fruit in the original story couldn't affect Kaido or Big Mom because of the disparity in strength.

Hearing this, Pica's fear of Alastor grew. His body was resilient enough to withstand Gladius' explosion, and his aura strong enough to block Viola's Staring Fruit ability. That guy was indeed formidable; no wonder he was so arrogant.

With a sullen expression, Pica left, ready to report to Doflamingo. Viola also intended to follow but noticed something in her vision and stopped in surprise. Alastor hadn't left Dressrosa after all; instead, he had gone to the town below for amusement.

Pica reported to Doflamingo that Alastor had broken one of Gladius' hands.

"That guy's body is unusually strong; he's unaffected by explosions. He might have an ancient Zoan-type ability," Pica remarked.

Doflamingo wasn't overly surprised. Virgo had previously mentioned Alastor's impressive physical durability. And considering their alliance with the Beasts Pirates, it wasn't shocking to see yet another formidable animal-type ability user.

With a wicked smile, Doflamingo said, "The strong are always arrogant, especially the young ones. Isn't that beneficial to us? The stronger the Beast Pirates grow, the closer we get to destroying this dull world!"

Ever since his father renounced their celestial dragon lineage, Doflamingo, who had returned to Mary Geoise only to be cast out, harbored a deep-seated hatred for the world under the celestial dragon's rule. Born with a dark nature, he had killed his father and younger brother with his own hands.

Doflamingo, a lover of chaos, symbolized madness and destruction. Though he aspired to raze the world, his strength alone wasn't enough. That's why he allied with Kaido of the Beasts.

Doflamingo ordered, "Let that man do as he pleases. No one in the family is to provoke him."

Reluctantly, Pica acknowledged Doflamingo's orders and quickly disseminated them.

Meanwhile, Alastor strolled into the vibrant streets of Dressrosa, taking in this land of passion and fairy tales with interest. The tropical climate made the weather hot, and girls dressed lightly and were open about romance.

As he walked, several pretty girls flirted with him, blowing kisses his way.

Being this handsome had its own set of challenges. Alastor briefly considered wearing a mask to avoid attention in the future.

The so-called "fairies" here were the small folk, known for their speed and stealth, who often went unseen by ordinary people.

One trait of the small folk was their simplicity and willingness to trust others. Doflamingo had imprisoned their princess, Mansherry, and tricked them into thinking that by working hard, they could rescue her. This ruse provided him with ample free labor.

However, as Alastor looked around, he noticed only toy dolls and no small folk. These toys, originally humans, had been transformed by Sugar's hobi hobi no mi Fruit ability. Those who became toys were forgotten by everyone and forced to return to the factory as slaves at night.

Thus, while Dressrosa's citizens appeared happier than those of Wano, their hidden darkness ran deeper. This was the grim reality for the weak—the unchanging law of the jungle in this world.

The more Alastor learned about this sea and the Pirate World, the stronger his determination grew.

"Hey, that's… the arena," he murmured, looking at a vast circular building with seastone fences and a single gate. It resembled a large prison rather than an arena.

Alastor had little interest in the arena, which served as entertainment for the masses. Besides, it didn't house strong opponents to boost his defense, nor did it offer rare rewards like the Flame-Flame Fruit from two years later in the original story.

As he was about to leave, he caught a glimpse of a young girl holding a long sword.

The girl had long pink hair and a slender frame, wearing only a few pieces of golden armor that revealed her fair skin.

Such a slight girl, standing out in an arena filled with warriors, was quite a spectacle.

"It's the fantasy princess Rebecca—she made it out of the corridos arena alive again! She's quite lucky."

"It's not just luck. She has the title of the Undefeated Daughter, so she has some skill."

"Hmph, 'Undefeated Daughter'—she's just lucky! Look at that outfit. She's tarnished the former Riku royal family's reputation!"

"Don't say that. Wearing that and fighting like that… her form, her stance… it's one of the most beautiful sights in the arena!"

When Rebecca, only fourteen years old, heard the mocking voices, she immediately felt a wave of shame and indignation. Tears welled up in her big eyes.

But she held them back, refusing to cry. She bit her lip, her expression stubborn, and trotted away from the crowd.

Behind her, the sounds of ridicule echoed.

Rebecca ran with all her strength, putting distance between herself and the jeers, finally stopping in an empty corner. She squatted down, hugged her knees, and silently cried.

As she wept, she pulled her cloak tightly around her, trying to cover herself and hide from the world.

Suddenly, a warm coat was draped over her shoulders.

"Thank you..."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Rebecca tensed up. She grabbed the sword beside her, looked up, and demanded, "Who's there?"

A blurry shadow appeared in her tear-streaked vision. Rebecca quickly wiped her eyes and finally saw him clearly.

It was a tall, handsome young man, watching her with an expression that made her feel a bit uneasy.

"Who are you?" Rebecca asked, mustering her courage.

The young man replied calmly, "I'm Alastor of the Beasts Pirates."

Rebecca's face paled.

The Beasts Pirates—the most feared crew under one of the Four Emperors in the New World. Even Doflamingo was wary of their backing!

Her father and Mr. Soldier, had told her about them. Mr. Soldier—Rebecca's father, Kyrus—had been forgotten by her due to his transformation into a toy soldier.

"Why are you here…?"

Rebecca's voice trembled, overwhelmed by shock and fear.

"Don't be afraid," Alastor said gently. "Although we may be on opposing sides, I won't hurt you."

Rebecca bit her lip, and her nervousness gradually subsided. For some reason, she felt that this man's words held no malice.

Maybe it was his aura that put her at ease, or perhaps the warmth of his coat comforted her.

But Rebecca still watched him warily.

Alastor, undeterred, continued speaking:

"Happy people might not be truly happy, but those who suffer truly know misfortune. In this age of pirates, there are too many fallen princesses like you."

Rebecca looked at him, confused by his words.

"And all tragedy stems from the lack of strength, from personal weakness. Fate always lies in the hands of the powerful, isn't that right, Princess Viola?"

At that moment, Rebecca's eyes widened. Viola was her aunt, her mother's sister!

And, not far behind the wall, Viola's heart raced as she hid in shock, her face pale.

She had been following Alastor ever since she noticed he hadn't left Dressrosa and was wandering around. Out of curiosity—and concern for Rebecca—she'd gotten closer to him, ultimately revealing her presence.

In truth, Alastor had sensed her the moment she used her Staring Fruit ability to observe him, picking up on her presence with his keen sense of dominance.

Realizing she couldn't abandon Rebecca, Viola stepped out from behind the wall, her brown eyes fixed on Alastor as her lips parted to speak:

"What…what do you want?"

Viola was tense. Knowing this man had broken Gladius' arm, she understood he was far from merciful.

Considering her impression of the Beasts Pirates as ruthless and violent, she grew more concerned that Alastor would harm her and Rebecca.

"Don't look so nervous. I'm not here to eat you," Alastor said coolly, observing Viola.

She wore a purple dress that cascaded down in layers like a blooming flower. Her waist was tightly cinched, showing off her graceful figure.

Her full lips were striking, and if not for her tragic experiences, she would have been a passionate, lively woman—the ideal image of Dressrosa's women.

"How can I trust you? You're a fighter from the Beasts Pirates, and you've made a shady deal with Doflamingo!" Viola retorted, tension evident in her voice. She cautiously moved in front of Rebecca, shielding her.

Although Viola had never directly interacted with Rebecca, she had always protected her from behind the scenes.

"Aunt!"

Rebecca was overwhelmed with emotion at seeing her long-lost relative; tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"Rebecca, now isn't the time to reminisce. This man is very dangerous!" Viola warned.

"Yes!" Rebecca nodded firmly, wiping away her tears. She had lost her parents young and grown self-reliant, much more mature than others her age.

Alastor watched the touching reunion between aunt and niece with mild interest.

Despite being related by blood, the two women were distinctly different. One had a delicate beauty, while the other exuded a sultry allure—they were like two unique flowers.

But no matter how beautiful a flower, without the strength to protect itself, it remains vulnerable to the powerful.

Alastor stated, "You don't have to trust me. Just understand that, right now, your lives and futures are in my hands."

Although Viola held a position as a cadre within the Don Quixote family, no one—Doflamingo, Pica, or the others—truly trusted her. They kept her around solely to make use of her Staring Fruit ability.