I must have forgotten something.

Ian was certain.

This wasn't the kind of delusion where the world is wrong and he's right.

There was real evidence.

A simple fact: Doflamingo was about to become the new king of Dressrosa. But who was the previous king?

He didn't know.

It seemed like that person never even existed.

He was sure his past self knew, but now he had no memory at all.

So, there could only be one answer.

Someone had used some ability to erase that memory from his mind.

A smirk slowly appeared at the corner of Ian's mouth.

There was only one person on the seas who could do such a thing, and only one ability.

The Hobby-Hobby Fruit?

That Doflamingo guy was pretty capable—he migrated to the New World years earlier than in the original story, yet he still managed to recruit Sugar under his command.

But this Rule-type Devil Fruit was truly incredible—erasing memories from across vast distances.

"No, wait, what's going on? What's really happening!!"

Viola rubbed her head in frustration, "Something's definitely wrong!!"

A deep sadness welled up from her heart, yet she had no idea where this sorrow came from.

Dressrosa was her homeland, but did that really matter?

No matter what Doflamingo had done there, she shouldn't care so much, right?

"Are you crazy?"

Enel glanced at the frantic Viola, sneered, then vanished like lightning.

He didn't care about any of this. All he could think about was getting stronger and defeating Ian to take back his heart.

"Hm?"

Stussy just smiled gently. "The government also finds it strange. The higher-ups have been stuck debating whether Dressrosa ever really had a king."

Ian smiled.

Flames surged wildly over his body, and in the next moment, he shifted into his beast form.

The moment he used his power, the lost memories flooded back into his mind.

"Oh, so it's King Riku?"

Ian recalled, "It's probably not just him—everyone close to the family got affected."

"King Riku?"

Viola froze suddenly. Even without memories, the name instinctively caught her attention.

"King Riku?"

Stussy looked confused as well. "The Riku family has ruled Dressrosa for eight hundred years, but it seems there's no current King Riku now, right?"

This is truly terrifying.

Even after hearing the name, they still can't remember at all?

This ability is the real essential skill for killing and robbing.

But it's a pity, my good brother Doflamingo.

Not only do I know this ability exists, but I can also ignore its effects.

A faint smile lifted the corner of Ian's mouth.

Now, there's no way I'm letting Sugar get away!

Such a powerful and convenient ability has to be in my own hands.

Besides, good brother Doflamingo went against his own will and acted on Dressrosa without permission.

That can't just be ignored.

Ian tried to cancel the ability.

To his delight, even after returning to human form, he still clearly remembered King Riku's family.

In other words, the forgetting only happens at the moment the Sugar Fruit's power takes effect; if the forgetting is lifted, the memories don't disappear.

This is interesting because even Sugar herself, the user of the Sugar Fruit ability, forgets who the toy's original owner is after turning others into toys.

This is true full resistance!

So, who should I send to bring Doflamingo over?

Good brother Doflamingo still has some strength, not to mention his subordinates aren't weak either.

Ian thought for a moment and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Yamato!"

"Ian?"

The familiar voice of a childhood friend came quickly.

Yamato, who had been fiercely fighting Hancock not far away, made a big leap and landed right beside Ian.

The girl's forehead was still covered in fine sweat, but her smile was bright and sunny.

"How's it going?"

"You said you wanted to go out and play earlier, right?"

Ian raised his hand and wiped the sweat off her forehead.

Maybe because of her abilities, even after intense exercise, Yamato's skin wasn't hot at all — instead, it felt cool and smooth like soft jade.

"Eh!"

The white-haired girl's eyes instantly lit up as she grabbed Ian's hand tightly.

"Can we go out to play again?"

Her hands were strangely smooth and delicate, without any calluses, and her palms were slightly damp.

"I need you to go to Dressrosa," Ian said, "Seems like that guy Doflamingo isn't listening very well. Go bring him back to me."

"Eh? Ian, aren't you coming too?"

Yamato's enthusiasm dropped immediately, and she suddenly seemed less interested.

"Is that so? I thought you'd never been on a solo mission before, wanted you to try."

Ian smiled.

"In that case, let Hancock go."

"No!"

At the mention of Hancock, Yamato immediately bristled and hurriedly said, "Leave it to me, Ian! I'll catch that Doflamingo guy and bring him back to you!"

"Good."

Ian ruffled the girl's hair.

She truly already had the ability to handle things on her own.

This time, it was her turn to get some practice.

After all, she couldn't always be sticking with him.

Though Yamato's strength was definitely sufficient, she wasn't always the sharpest tool in the shed.

So.

"Then let Jinbei and Enel go with you."

Ian said, "Oh right, and Viola too. It wouldn't make sense for her not to go back in person."

Jinbei was a seasoned veteran, with rich sailing experience.

He also commanded the Fish-Man Pirates. Even if they ran into something difficult to handle, he could always escape through the sea.

Enel's Observation Haki was the best radar—they could rely on it in any crisis.

And Viola was even more important.

This time the destination was Dressrosa, the goal was to capture the entire Donquixote family and rescue King Riku's family.

Viola, as King Riku's daughter and the second princess of Dressrosa, really couldn't skip this trip.

"Oh!"

Yamato patted her chest and shouted, "Leave it all to me!"

Soon, the ship was ready at the harbor, about to set sail.

Ian stood at the port, reluctantly bidding farewell to Yamato.

He held his childhood friend's hand and earnestly advised, "Don't be reckless out there. Listen to Jinbei's advice, and don't just think about having fun."

Yamato wasn't sure if she was listening, but she just smiled cheekily at Ian, "Ian, you're so naggy."

"If you meet someone you can't beat, remember to run away. With your strength, there are few who can catch you at sea."

Ian warned seriously.

Although in this world, there were probably only twenty or thirty people Yamato couldn't beat. Whether she would encounter them or actually fight was another matter.

But it was definitely worth preparing her mindset.

"Got it, got it!"

Yamato puffed out her cheeks like a cute pufferfish, "Really, Ian, do you think I'm a kid?"

"Aren't you exactly a kid?"

Ian couldn't help but laugh.

Sixteen-year-old Yamato had matured beautifully; in every way, she was a captivating beauty.

But that was only for the body.

Inside, she was still just a child.

**********

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