Inside the Palace of the Kingdom of Dressrosa
"Young Master, I've received news. The Godslayer—Kairos Flint—has arrived."
Trebol, looking every bit like a scruffy uncle with his hunched posture and dribbling nose, stood before Doflamingo and delivered the message.
"So, he really came," Doflamingo muttered, his expression darkening.
He hadn't expected this. The man who slaughtered the Celestial Dragons didn't just survive the Buster Call meant to annihilate him—he destroyed it. The navy had sent one of its strongest forces, and Kairos had obliterated them. What was more unbelievable was that he'd actually defeated Kizaru, one of the Three Admirals.
A Navy Admiral.
If a general was sent after him, Doflamingo knew his best option would be to flee. But Kairos had done the opposite—he stood his ground and drove back a force no pirate dared to challenge.
And then, as if that weren't insane enough, Kairos had gone on to declare war on the World Government itself. This wasn't just arrogance—it was madness.
Doflamingo knew he got away with his behavior only because of his status as a Celestial Dragon. But Kairos? He was a lunatic. A lunatic with strength and no regard for consequence. A lunatic who had told him directly—over a Den Den Mushi call—that he was coming.
And no one called Doflamingo just to "visit."
Being the target of someone like Kairos Flint was not something to celebrate. It was a goddamn nightmare.
This was a man who didn't hesitate to cut down three Celestial Dragons in a single day.
Doflamingo suppressed a chill crawling down his spine.
"Just have someone tail him—discreetly. If he's not causing trouble, then let him be. Do not provoke him."
"Yes, Young Master. I'll inform the men immediately," Trebol said, nodding with a mix of urgency and fear.
He, too, had heard the terrifying tales of the Godslayer.
Even now, just seeing Kairos's ship enter Dressrosa made his heart pound. If someone could cut down Celestial Dragons like slicing bread—who wouldn't they dare to kill?
Meanwhile, Kairos Flint was walking through the streets of Dressrosa with Nami and the rest of his crew.
Of course, he'd already noticed they were being watched.
No need to guess—it was Doflamingo's men, lurking in the shadows.
But Kairos didn't pay them any mind. He simply released a faint pulse of his Conqueror's Haki.
Boom.
The ones tailing him collapsed like puppets with their strings cut—eyes rolling back into unconsciousness.
Perfect.
How could anyone enjoy a shopping trip with someone breathing down their neck?
Though, shopping with women was a whole ordeal in itself—especially when there were five of them. Clothing shops were mandatory stops. One by one, the women tried on outfits, and Kairos got quite the visual treat.
Robin browsed bookstores, Uta gravitated toward musical instruments, Perona wandered into doll shops, and Vivi, much like Nami, lost herself in clothes, perfumes, and cosmetics.
By the time they finished, the day had nearly slipped by. They finally booked a hotel and checked in for the night.
The next morning, Kairos received word from Morgans' informants.
He gathered the girls and briefly explained that he had something to handle, then stepped out alone.
Yesterday, he had asked Morgans to track someone down, and he had to admit—the Big News Morgan's intel network worked faster than expected. In just one night, they'd found the target.
In a remote part of Dressrosa—an area mostly ignored by locals—something was happening.
A young girl with long pink hair was locked in a mock duel with a one-legged toy soldier. Her swordsmanship was admirable, but she lacked the precision and experience of her opponent.
Soon, she was disarmed and fell to the ground in defeat.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Suddenly, the sound of applause rang out.
Startled, both the girl and the toy soldier looked over.
There, sitting calmly nearby, was a handsome young man—Kairos Flint—smiling as he clapped.
The toy soldier immediately grew alert. He hadn't even sensed this man's presence before, and for someone like him—constantly vigilant—that was alarming.
"Who are you?" asked the toy soldier, gripping his weapon.
"Me?" Kairos said, rising to his feet. "Just a charming guy here to make a deal with you."
"A deal? I don't—wait…" the soldier paused, squinting at him.
Something about Kairos's face rang a bell.
And then it hit him.
"You're… him! The Godslayer! Kairos Flint! What the hell are you doing here in Dressrosa?"
If he still had normal human eyes, his pupils would have shrunk in shock.
Even now, as a toy soldier, his voice trembled. No one could remain indifferent upon hearing that name.
"I told you—I'm here for a deal. Cyrus."
Kairos's casual reveal of his true identity sent another wave of shock through Cyrus.
No one should've remembered him. Not after he'd been transformed into a toy by Sugar's Hobi Hobi no Mi.
Everyone—everyone—had forgotten him.
So why did this man know his name?
"Who are you?" Cyrus asked warily. "How do you know who I am?"
"Does it matter?"
Kairos's voice turned cold and sharp.
"What matters is this—don't you want revenge for your wife? Don't you want to hug your daughter instead of watching her from the shadows, unrecognized? Don't you want to see Doflamingo overthrown? Or save your father-in-law, King Riku?"
"So… how about a deal, Cyrus?"
The words cut through Cyrus like a blade.
"Wait… King Riku is alive?!" he asked, stunned.
He hadn't seen the king since that terrible night. He'd assumed Riku was either imprisoned or dead.
"Consider that a free gift of intel," Kairos said. "Yes—he's alive."
"…What do you want?" Cyrus asked after a long pause.
He hated Doflamingo with everything in him. He burned for revenge. He wanted his daughter to know her father. He wanted to restore this kingdom to what it once was.
But as a toy soldier?
He couldn't do anything.
So he asked—cautiously—what the price of this deal would be.
Kairos lifted a hand and pointed past Cyrus.
"At her," he said, referring to Rebecca.
"Absolutely not!" Cyrus barked. "You think I'd trade my daughter away?!"
"Relax," Kairos chuckled. "I just want her to join my team. As a partner."
"Still no," Cyrus said firmly. "A partner of you? That's a death sentence. She'll be hunted by the World Government, by the navy… I won't throw her into that kind of life!"
"I think," Kairos said smoothly, "you should let her decide."
He turned to Rebecca.
"I'm putting together a bounty hunter team," he said. "And I want you to join us. What do you say?"
Kairos's real purpose wasn't just to challenge Doflamingo—it was also to recruit. He saw potential in Rebecca.
Sure, her swordsmanship and haki weren't top-tier yet—but that didn't matter.
He could give her power. Real power.
She had no political ties, no baggage, no obligations.
She was free—and that meant she could be loyal.
But most of all?
She was beautiful. Sixteen years old and already stunning.
That didn't hurt either.
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