XX-level Hokage

Mashiro pondered for a moment, realizing that Doflamingo's intentions were obvious. He was terrified that she, as an outsider, could act recklessly in Dressrosa, but he also dared not oppose her, especially since her current strength far exceeded what Doflamingo could handle.

“I will accept Doflamingo’s kindness for now,” Mashiro said calmly, then turned to look at the sea and changed the subject, “However, your Donquixote family has a good plan, but if you can’t keep up with my pace, I won’t show any mercy.”

Monet felt a jolt of excitement upon hearing this.

She understood that Mashiro's strength had long surpassed that of many powerful figures on the sea, and that his willingness to engage in dialogue was itself a hidden threat. She gave a peaceful smile and replied, "We will do our best to cooperate with your ideas."

Mashiro smiled gently and waved her hand, saying, "Then let's go. Since you've come to lead the way, we'll go to Dressrosa and meet your young master."

Monet was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected Mashiro to be so agreeable. She felt a little uneasy. Although Dressrosa was Don Quixote Family territory, Mashiro's arrival was undoubtedly a huge test.

Meanwhile, inside the Dressrosa Palace, Doflamingo sat quietly in the main seat, awaiting Monet's reply.

“Dover, this is truly a dangerous situation,” Torebour said worriedly, standing to the side. “That sorcerer is no ordinary character. I’ve heard she has already collected several Poneglyphs, and her ambitions could very well threaten us.”

Doflamingo gave a sinister smile, his wine glass swirling slightly. "Trebol, you're worrying too much. Although her strength is not to be underestimated, our Donquixote Family is not a pushover. Moreover, right now, profit is paramount. As long as her actions don't directly threaten us, perhaps we can reach some kind of cooperation with her."

She had figured it out: the sorcerer's purpose in coming to Dressrosa was definitely not simply to eliminate them.

Upon hearing this, Trebol nodded and said with a hint of worry, "But if her goal really involves overthrowing the World Government, then she will become our enemy sooner or later."

Doflamingo sneered, "Overthrow the World Government? There are many ambitious people, but very few succeed. We don't need to worry too much."

Let's see what she's planning to do first.

Just then, Vergo pushed open the door and entered, interrupting their conversation.

"Young Master, Monet has found the sorcerers; they are on their way to Dressrosa."

Doflamingo paused for a moment, then smiled. "Very good, it seems we'll soon be meeting this legendary sorcerer." Meanwhile, Mashiro's warship, guided by Monet, sped towards Dressrosa.

The atmosphere on the ship was slightly tense, mainly because Monet was nervous. Although Shirahoshi didn't quite understand what was happening, she also sensed something unusual.

Mashiro stood at the bow of the ship, gazing intently at the sea ahead, pondering her next move.

"The Poneglyphs? We should only be missing the one from Shanks, the one from Charlotte Linlin, and the dozen or so from Mary Geoise, right?" she muttered to herself, a glint of shrewdness in her eyes.

Her goal is not simply to collect the Poneglyphs, but to use the secrets within these records to completely change the world order controlled by the World Government. The Four Emperors, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and even the Navy and the Revolutionary Army are all pawns in her plan.

Suddenly, York's exclamation interrupted her thoughts.

"A warship has appeared ahead; it looks like a naval vessel."

Mashiro looked up and saw a massive naval warship sailing towards them on the distant sea. The bright naval insignia on the sails were particularly eye-catching, and a tall figure wearing a naval justice cloak stood at the bow.

"Is this... an Admiral?" Mashiro's gaze sharpened as she looked at the figure on the headboard and said. She had seen a similarly dressed Marine before, named Aokiji, an Admiral from the Marine Headquarters.

Kizaru, the current Marine Admiral, is renowned for his powerful Glint-Glint Fruit ability. His appearance undoubtedly signifies that the Marines have become hostile towards Mashiro's movements.

Upon seeing this, Monet's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly said to Mashiro, "Lord Mashiro, this is Admiral Kizaru. His strength is extraordinary; it's probably not advisable to confront him head-on."

Mashiro, however, showed no fear, chuckling lightly, "Looks like today's going to be quite lively. Are the Navy joining in the fun too?"

Kizaru's warship drew closer and closer, finally stopping a few hundred meters from Mashiro's ship. Kizaru slowly walked to the bow, looking in the direction of Mashiro with a smile.

"Yay, I am Admiral Kizaru of the Marine Headquarters. I have come here on orders to investigate the movements of the sorcerer." His lazy voice echoed throughout the entire sea, carrying a powerful aura.

Mashiro stood on the deck, her gaze fixed on Kizaru, and smiled faintly: "I really didn't expect that a normal voyage would alarm a Marine Admiral." Kizaru was silent for a moment, then said, "I've heard that you, the sorcerer, are collecting historical artifacts. Is that true?"

Mashiro smiled slightly and nodded gently: "That's right. The truth of history should not be covered up. I just want to make it public." Hearing this, Kizaru frowned slightly. Although it was unreliable, he dared not easily touch the secrets behind the Poneglyphs.

"Sorcerer, let me give you a piece of advice: the more you know the truth, the more dangerous it becomes. Do you know how much trouble your actions caused the World Government and the Navy the other day?" Kizaru said.

Mashiro did not directly answer Kizaru's question, but instead said softly, "Kizaru, as a Marine Admiral, do you really believe that the order of this world is just?"

Upon hearing this, Kizaru paused slightly, pondered for a moment, but ultimately did not give a direct answer. Mashiro, seeing this, already understood.

"Kizaru, let's end our conversation here. I don't want to be your enemy, nor do I want to waste time here." Mashiro waved her hand lightly, and York immediately began preparing to continue on his way.

Kizaru stood still, sensing the immense power emanating from Mashiro. After a moment of silence, he finally chose to give way.

The warship slowly sailed out of Kizaru's sight and sped towards Dressrosa. Several hours later, Mashiro's warship finally arrived at the coast of Dressrosa.

In the distance, the beautiful city and bustling streets stretched out before her, but Zhenbai's gaze did not linger on these appearances. She knew that the true nature of this city was far more complex than it seemed.

Chapter 156: The Match

As the white warship slowly docked, the enchanting scenery of Dressrosa gradually unfolded before her eyes. Sunlight streamed through the beautiful city streets, creating a vibrant and bustling scene.

Outside Dressrosa, the Donquixote Family guards had already received the news and were on high alert.

Although the streets of Dressrosa remained calm, a tense atmosphere permeated the air. Ordinary members of the Donquixote Family had various speculations about the impending changes, all of which revolved around the important figure they were about to meet—the sorcerer.

Mashiro stepped onto the land of Dressrosa, and her aura undoubtedly overwhelmed everything.

The street in front of her was gradually surrounded by Don Quixote family guards, forming a huge encirclement. In this tense atmosphere, Mashiro's every step appeared calm and unhurried, as if she should have been a native of this country.

Monet followed beside her, a calm smile on her face, though she couldn't hide her inner tension. She knew this meeting would be one of the greatest tests she and the Don Quixote family would ever face.

“Please follow me, Lady Mashiro,” Monet said softly. “The young master is waiting in the palace.” Mashiro nodded and followed Monet into the palace.

She left Shirahoshi and the others on the ship, under Yamato's protection. She planned to take them to the island for a visit after she had dealt with or killed Doflamingo.

Guided by Monet, Mashiro quickly arrived at the main palace in Dressrosa.

The main palace was magnificent and resplendent, but in Mashiro's eyes, this splendid exterior was nothing more than a veil concealing the truth. In the palace's main hall, Doflamingo sat on his throne, his expression calm and composed.

He wore his signature feathered cloak, held a glass of red wine, and looked calmly at the approaching guests. Although he smiled, a hint of caution and unease was in his eyes.

“Welcome, sorcerer,” Doflamingo’s voice was deep and authoritative. “Please sit.” Mashiro smiled gently, walked to the seat in front of the throne, and sat down gracefully.

She didn't immediately respond, but instead quietly observed Doflamingo, seemingly weighing his every subtle movement.

“No need to be so formal,” Mashiro finally spoke. “You should be able to roughly guess my purpose. We don’t need to beat around the bush in this setting.” Doflamingo smiled slightly and put down his wine glass. “The sorcerer’s straightforward style is indeed impressive. In that case, I’ll get straight to the point.”

"Let's get to the point. I heard you came to Dressrosa to bring the Donquixote Family into your pirate alliance?"

Mashiro nodded and said with a light laugh, "That's right. To overthrow the World Government, it takes more than just one or two pirate crews. Only when powerful pirates unite can there be a chance of victory."

As for Mashiro, who was once a Celestial Dragon, she was very clear about the hidden power of the World Government.

The Navy's three admirals, two vice admirals, one master sergeant, and one naval hero were enough to hold off nearly three royal crews, not to mention the Five Elders, the Knights of God, and Im.

Even if he were to unite the Four Emperors and the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Mashiro estimated that he would still have to exert a considerable amount of effort.

Doflamingo's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and said, "I understand your goal, but I also understand the danger involved. To avoid misunderstandings, I would like to know how you plan to proceed with your next steps? For example, the issue of Dressrosa and the ownership of the Donquixote Family."

Mashiro did not answer Doflamingo's question. She smiled slightly and said, "I heard that martial arts competitions are very popular in Dressrosa, and that it has a very famous arena, the Corridor."

"Martial arts competitions are part of Dressrosa's traditional culture," Doflamingo replied, though he was somewhat curious as to why Mashiro suddenly brought this up.

I've decided to hold a special martial arts tournament, which will take place in the bullring of Dressrosa. As for the champion's prize, I have a Logia-type Devil Fruit here.

As she spoke, Mashiro pulled out a strange, blue-purple fruit.

The Rumble-Rumble Fruit, which Mashiro found based on the distinctive marks left by Enel when he died, was a gift she prepared for Nami. However, Mashiro didn't mind using it as a prize first, since no one could take it away.

Doflamingo frowned slightly, clearly surprised by this sudden arrangement, and said, "A martial arts competition? What about the sorcerer's safety?"

"This seems quite challenging, haha, and you've even offered such a big prize. May I ask, what goal do you hope to achieve through this method?"

“Simple,” Mashiro said calmly, “I hope to see how many pirates in this world truly possess power. A Rumble-Rumble Fruit should attract quite a few strong individuals.”

Doflamingo was silent for a moment, seemingly considering Mashiro's words. He knew that this match was not just a simple challenge, but a test for their entire Donquixote Family. Although he hesitated, he ultimately chose to accept.

He had no choice but to accept it.

“Alright,” Doflamingo nodded. “If this is your decision, I will respect it and cooperate with your arrangements. The facilities at the Corrida arena will be there to support you, and we will do our best to prepare.”

Mashiro smiled with satisfaction. "Then it's settled. I hope this match will give us a clearer understanding of each other." Mashiro then turned and walked away, intending to wander around Dressrosa.

Monet glanced at Doflamingo, nodded slightly, and then hurriedly followed Mashiro.

After Mashiro left, Doflamingo sat there, his expression incredibly gloomy. How long had it been since he'd felt so humble?

"You heard that, right?" Doflamingo said, pulling out a small Den Den Mushi.

When Mashiro arrived, he turned on the Den Den Mushi to share information with the entire Don Quixote family.

“Yes, Doflamingo.” Trebol’s voice came through the Den Den Mushi. “What do you think?” Doflamingo continued to ask.

"I don't quite understand why she would suddenly hold a martial arts competition, and even offer such a precious Devil Fruit as the champion's prize?" Vergo's puzzled voice came through the Den Den Mushi.

"Hmph, that's easy to guess. The martial arts competition in Dexrotha is extremely famous, and it also has a lot of information about the strong people at sea, especially those who haven't joined any major forces."

"The sorcerer wants to gather these people together and then wipe them all out!" Doflamingo said coldly. "But, will so many people really come?" Pica asked doubtfully.

"Don't underestimate the influence of a Logia-type Devil Fruit, let alone the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, which is very precious even among Logia-type fruits." As he spoke, Doflamingo himself revealed a greedy look.

With such a fruit, it is even possible to cultivate a powerful individual with the strength of a general.

Chapter 157: The Arena Where No One Wins (Part 1)

The sun still shone brightly in Dressrosa, and the city's inhabitants were filled with anticipation and excitement for the upcoming martial arts tournament. However, the undercurrents lurking beneath the surface could only be sensed by those who truly understood the world of pirates.

As news of Doflamingo's announcement of the Buffon spread, the ports of Dressrosa gradually began to welcome powerful figures from all corners of the world.

Whether driven by a thirst for Logia-type Devil Fruits or simply a desire to demonstrate their power to the world, the contestants poured into the Corridor arena amidst the clamor.

Mashiro stood atop a high-rise building in the town, overlooking Dressrosa, a gentle breeze ruffling her long hair. She wasn't particularly interested in the bustling cityscape before her, but silently anticipated the upcoming competition.

She knew that this martial arts competition was not only a test of the Don Quixote family's loyalty, but also a true hunter's trial. She hoped to discover truly valuable combat power through this competition, especially those strong individuals who had never been affiliated with any force.

After all, she still needs some resilient cannon fodder.

“The young master has already spread the news throughout the entire island,” Monet said respectfully, standing beside her. “So far, at least several hundred people of considerable influence have already expressed their opinions.”

With famous pirates signing up, we expect even more to arrive in Dressrosa before the tournament officially begins.

“Very good,” Mashiro nodded, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, “This is a good opportunity to see just how many people in this world are truly…”

They possess the power to change their destiny.

Monet frowned slightly, looking at Mashiro with some worry: "The impact of this competition is far too great. What if it attracts the attention of the World Government..."

“It’s alright,” Mashiro said casually. “All I want is to make the World Government uneasy.” At the entrance to the Corrida, contestants lined up, waiting to register.

Some of them were already famous, while others were still unknown, but everyone's face was filled with anticipation for the competition.

"I heard the prize for this year's champion is the Rumble-Rumble Fruit? That's a true Logia-type, even the Four Emperors would be interested!" a burly pirate excitedly told his companion.

"You think you can get it? Haha, this time even Green Pepper, Bartolomeo, Cavendish and those guys are here, plus a monster like Burgess. This competition is going to turn into a battle between monsters." Another pirate laughed.

On a distant street corner, Bartolomeo was excitedly licking his lips, his gaze sweeping over the powerful figures surrounding the arena.

As a fervent follower of the Straw Hat crew, he had long heard of Mashiro's reputation, and naturally wouldn't miss such a grand event. "If Luffy-senpai knew there were so many powerful figures here, he would definitely come too!" His eyes shone, and he couldn't help but clench his fists excitedly.

Not far away, Cavendish's figure was particularly eye-catching. As always, he exuded an aristocratic air, holding a longsword and wearing a confident smile. He glanced disdainfully at the other contestants and muttered, "This kind of competition doesn't even deserve my sword. However, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit is worth taking seriously."