Chapter 105: Doffy & Cyrus

Upon docking in Dressrosa, news of Luo Ning's arrival reached Doflamingo and his crew with lightning speed. Learning that this entity, considered far more fearsome than even Kaido, had come to their doorstep, Doflamingo broke into a cold sweat.

Doflamingo, while arrogant and ruthless, understood the concept of picking his battles. He wouldn't dare act recklessly against Kaido, and certainly not against Luo Ning, a figure surpassing even the Yonko in notoriety.

Doflamingo immediately summoned his entire available crew.

"Doffy! Why has this monstrosity come to Dressrosa? What do we do? This man is notorious for taking down pirates! If he intends to attack..."

Even the most hardened Donquixote Family cadres were now drenched in sweat. Flight was a tempting option, yet their loyalty to Doflamingo held them back. This unwavering loyalty was perhaps their most redeeming quality. There were even some genuinely likeable members among them, like the peculiar ground-swimming fighter. Though his attire was childish, his actions spoke volumes about his good nature beneath the comical exterior.

However, Baby 5 was the only potential source of rebellion within the group. The others remained utterly loyal to Doflamingo.

"Prepare Sugar. If he truly intends to attack, Sugar can attempt to turn him into a toy. If successful, everything will be resolved!"

Sugar's Hobi Hobi no Mi was Doflamingo's trump card, his only hope for turning the tide. Now, he could only pray that Luo Ning wouldn't act rashly and that Sugar could neutralize him with her ability.

Doflamingo knew full well that his current chances of success were akin to a gamble, a desperate teetering between utter defeat and a stroke of improbable fortune.

"Understood," Trebol acknowledged, immediately departing to locate Sugar.

"What about us?" Pica gestured towards himself and the others, unwilling to remain idle. "We can't simply wait here. At the very least, we should greet him superficially to avoid suspicion!"

Gritting his teeth, Doflamingo led a group of his cadres out of the palace directly. Luo Ning likely had lookouts stationed, so maintaining appearances was crucial.

***

"What's wrong with all these toys?" Nami and the others inquired curiously upon hearing Luo Ning's earlier comment. These toys seemed to hold a hidden darkness.

"The toys themselves are harmless," Luo Ning explained, "but the way they came to be is another story entirely."

"You'll understand soon enough. Just avoid interacting with the toys for now."

Luo Ning scanned his surroundings. Most of the toys here were indeed humans, though a surprising number of beasts were also present. It was truly bizarre how Doflamingo and his crew had transformed everything, including gorillas and giant pythons, into toys. Pirates, Revolutionaries, and even Marines were scattered amongst them, a testament to Doflamingo's successful news blackout.

As they walked down the street, a figure suddenly darted out of a side alley, coming to a halt directly in front of Luo Ning. It was a red, one-legged toy man.

"Master Luo Ning, please hear me out!" The one-legged toy soldier knelt before Luo Ning.

This toy soldier was none other than Cyrus, who had just discovered traces of Luo Ning. He had learned about Luo Ning's existence from a newspaper prior to this encounter. Now, driven by a singular purpose – seeking help – he took this risky gamble.

Cyrus shared this predicament. To liberate his country and its transformed citizens, defeating Doflamingo was paramount. However, such a feat was beyond his current capabilities. He recalled how effortlessly Doflamingo had turned him into a toy, severing his leg in the process.

Following his transformation, he sought out King Riku, only to be met with forgotten memories. Since then, he had remained by his daughter Rebecca's side, providing guidance and care. Rebecca, unfortunately, had been targeted by human traffickers, leading her to shoot humans and become a wanted fugitive.

His current gamble, venturing out to find Luo Ning, stemmed from a newspaper article detailing Luo Ning's exploits. The article described Luo Ning's audacity in provoking the World Government, defying the Celestial Dragons by rescuing prisoners from execution, and even repelling an entire Marine force. This formidable reputation spurred Cyrus into action.

Rebecca was around Shirahoshi's age, though thanks to his tutelage, she possessed a degree of self-preservation. Missing this opportunity to liberate his country could condemn them to an uncertain future. Thus, Cyrus had taken this desperate chance.

"Cyrus, is it?"

Luo Ning's words stunned Cyrus into silence. While the Hobi Hobi no Mi allowed transformed individuals to retain their memories and free will, their existence was effectively erased from everyone else's. No one would remember him, a testament to Sugar's overpowered ability. Even his search for King Liku yielded no results – the king had simply forgotten him.

This oblivion gnawed at Cyrus. Being erased from the world was a chilling sensation. Yet, here was someone uttering his name, leaving him utterly bewildered.

"I'm well-versed in Dressrosa's affairs," Luo Ning assured him. "Doflamingo's actions are no secret to me. Rest assured, I'll handle this situation. You needn't trouble yourself further."

Though Cyrus's strength wasn't exceptional, Luo Ning held him in a positive light. He was a dedicated soldier and a steadfast father figure to Rebecca.

"How do you know my name and the state of this country? Are you immune to the fruit's power?" Curiosity gnawed at Cyrus, his mind swirling with questions.

"The Hobi Hobi no Mi isn't infallible," Luo Ning explained with a shake of his head. "You exist within my memories. Perhaps it's because I'm an outsider, or maybe the fruit's power only erases immediate memories upon activation."

Having recently arrived in this world, Luo Ning still possessed those memories, unaffected by the fruit's influence.

Nami and the others were utterly lost, unable to decipher the conversation. The feeling of being left in the dark was gnawing at them.

Sensing their discomfort, Luo Ning reveled in a mischievous grin. He usually despised riddles, but enacting the role of an enigma himself was undeniably entertaining.

The prospect of Luo Ning withholding information only intensified their pleas. The unknown was an uncomfortable state, and they desperately craved answers.