"Young Master, what's going on?"

"Doffy, this…"

"Why does the Young Master seem like a completely different person?"

The Donquixote Family had gathered together, all wearing expressions of confusion and unease.

Their Young Master — the head of the Donquixote Family — had been acting… strange.

Just moments ago, one of the Yonko, Elior, had "borrowed" two of their core members:

Sugar, and Baby 5!

No one was too surprised about Baby 5. Her ability was notable, but her strength wasn't all that impressive. Everyone in the family knew she was practically a walking disaster. Doflamingo had cleaned up countless messes for her over the years. Maybe he'd just gotten tired of her troublemaking and handed her over to the Yonko. That… could be understood.

But Sugar?

He even gave Sugar away?!

Was he insane?

Sugar's power was the key to controlling Dressrosa! Her power had turned much of the population into toys — more oppressed than slaves — allowing Doflamingo to completely dominate the nation.

In Dressrosa, Doflamingo was like a god.

So Sugar's importance went without saying.

But today, Doflamingo had "lent" her to Elior.

This wasn't lending. This was theft.

But to a Yonko, was it really theft? No. It was borrowing.

The term? One hundred years.

The Donquixote Family was stunned. Was Doflamingo really losing his mind?

Even Sugar herself was shocked.

She couldn't understand why Doflamingo — who had always relied on her—would just let her go like that.

Sugar might look like a child, but she was actually over 20 years old. Her body had stopped aging due to her Devil Fruit, but her mind was that of an adult.

So what the hell was Doflamingo thinking?

Only Violet knew the truth.

Just yesterday, Doflamingo had met with Elior—and during that meeting, Elior had ordered him to call him "King".

Had Doflamingo, the proud and unruly Heavenly Yaksha, truly submitted to a Yonko?

Today, the Donquixote Family was anything but peaceful.

Still, Doflamingo maintained his usual domineering demeanor.

"This was my decision. You will not question it."

After speaking, Doflamingo laughed in his usual twisted way — "Fuffuffuffuffu…" — as if nothing had changed.

But to his subordinates, something was clearly wrong.

Yet they couldn't understand what had really happened.

"So, you're the one Doffy told us to serve… the supreme king?"

Baby 5's voice trembled as she stood before Elior, having arrived with Sugar in tow.

"That's right. I need you" Elior replied, his gaze falling on her, then shifting to the girl hiding behind her. "Both of you"

Sugar peeked out cautiously from behind Baby 5. Elior looked gentle — harmless, even — but he was one of the Yonko. And in the New World, there were no harmless Yonko. They were all monsters who had risen through oceans of blood.

Sugar was scared. She didn't understand why Doflamingo had given her up.

Same for Baby 5.

But Elior didn't bring them here out of perversion.

Sugar might look like a little girl, but Elior wasn't interested in that. What he was interested in… were their abilities.

Baby 5's Arms-Arms Fruit allowed her to transform any part of her body into any weapon imaginable. Though she lacked combat experience, the potential was there — and she made a fine maid to boot. Elior figured she'd be quite useful in everyday life.

And Sugar's Hobby-Hobby Fruit? Incredibly powerful. A tool of domination.

Elior had just snatched up two incredibly valuable abilities from Doflamingo — and he didn't care what the Donquixote Family thought.

After all, they followed Doflamingo, and now Doflamingo obeyed Elior.

So who could stop him?

Meanwhile, as Baby 5 heard Elior say "I need you" a wave of emotion exploded inside her.

Those words hit her like a tidal wave.

"He… needs me?"

"I'm needed!"

Her cheeks flushed bright red, her eyes sparkled like stars.

"Master… you really need me?"

She looked at Elior, overflowing with excitement and expectation.

Elior suddenly remembered — this woman was a complete airhead in the original story. She'd marry anyone who said they needed her.

In fact, Sai from the Happo Navy ended up becoming her husband simply by asking.

"That's right" Elior said calmly. "But remember your place. You're my maid now. Whatever I say, you obey."

He had no doubt—no matter what he asked, Baby 5 would comply. She'd caused countless problems for Doflamingo in the past: massive debts, ridiculous suitors, absurd decisions…

Still, Elior wasn't here to "play" with her. His interest was in her powers.

If he wanted companionship, he already had Reiju, Bonney, and Gion — all far more appealing women.

And Hancock? She was practically in his pocket, too.

Baby 5 might not be the best… but her abilities, and her maid skills? Useful.

"Yes, my darling master~!"

She said it with such over-the-top affection that Reiju, standing behind Elior, frowned.

Reiju was jealous.

She didn't know if Elior planned to accept this strange, overly affectionate woman.

Of course, Reiju was also jealous of Bonney and Gion. As a woman, she wanted Elior for herself.

What she didn't know… was that Bonney and Gion felt the same.

But alas, Elior had been dragging all three of them into "group battles" lately.

And when Elior gave an order… they couldn't resist.

Later that day, Elior and the others reunited with Crocodile and Cavendish.

It was time to leave Dressrosa — Elior's goals had been achieved.

Crocodile raised an eyebrow when he saw two new female crew members, including one that looked like a literal child.

"Captain, what's with this…?"

Elior simply replied, "New crew. Strong abilities."

Crocodile didn't press further. After all, he had no interest in women.

At the port where Elior's ship was docked, Admiral Fujitora stood waiting.

"So you're telling me Elior is in Dressrosa?"

"What's he trying to do?"

Akainu's voice crackled through the Den Den Mushi, filled with fury.

His memories of the War at Marineford, where Elior had defeated and nearly killed him, still haunted him.

Now he'd learned Elior was in Dressrosa — the territory of a Shichibukai.

"He met with Doflamingo" Fujitora said. "As for what they discussed… I don't know."

"Met with Doflamingo? What's he planning—"

"We'll have to end the call here. He's arrived."

"What?! Issho—"

Click.

Fujitora closed the Den Den Mushi and turned toward the man approaching.

"It's Admiral Fujitora!"

"Captain—it's an Admiral!"

Crocodile and Cavendish were on high alert.

Even though Fujitora stood alone, they didn't dare underestimate an Admiral.

And Elior? He wasn't fazed.

"Be careful, my lord!" Reiju warned, gripping his hand.

"Relax" Elior said calmly. "It's just an admiral."

He gently pulled his hand free, stepping forward.

"Stay here. I'll handle this."

He stopped before Fujitora.

"Admiral, why are you blocking our path?"

Fujitora smiled beneath his blindfold.

"To meet one of the Yonko here in Dressrosa — it's an honor. I simply wished to greet you."

"I am Issho. Marine Admiral, code name Fujitora. But to someone like you… I suppose I am merely 'just' an admiral."

He gripped the hilt of his cane-sword, assuming a ready stance.

Elior knew that weapon all too well—Fujitora's cane was actually a blade, and he was no ordinary swordsman.

A swordsman with the power of gravity.

A monster.

He could call down meteors, float islands, and crush enemies under invisible force.

If the Float-Float Fruit could make islands fly, why wouldn't gravity?

Elior narrowed his eyes.

"I've heard your name as well, Admiral."