XX-level Hokage

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."

Meanwhile, Chinjao, draped in a heavy cloak, strolled leisurely toward the registration area, accompanied by his grandson, Oron Booth. His enormous, cone-shaped head stood out conspicuously in the crowd, prompting many veteran pirates to whisper amongst themselves upon seeing him.

"Old Man Green Pepper has also arrived... This martial arts tournament of this era is indeed extraordinary."

Rebecca stood quietly on one side of the arena, clad in armor, her eyes filled with determination. Her purpose in participating this time was clear: not only to prove herself, but also to protect Dressrosa.

Meanwhile, other contestants also flocked into the arena. They were all strong contenders who had come after hearing about the competition, and each of them was silently calculating their chances of winning.

Just as everyone was registering, a slender woman wearing a hood quietly entered the registration area.

She didn't attract much attention, but the guard in charge of registration couldn't help but feel a chill, as if this ordinary-looking woman was hiding a great danger.

"Name?" the guard asked nervously.

“It’s really white.” She answered calmly, her voice like a gentle breeze across water, calm yet carrying an invisible sense of pressure.

The guard registering her was stunned for a moment, then reacted, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes. Although Mashiro had lowered her aura, her name was already widely known within the Don Quixote family. The guard suppressed his fear and quickly processed her entry, afraid of neglecting this "sorcerer".

With her name added to the list, a mysterious and powerful figure joined the ranks of the martial arts tournament participants. And Mashiro, meanwhile, blended into this group of powerful individuals.

Of course, there was no point in her participating in the competition; she preferred watching others fight rather than getting involved herself.

Her purpose in signing up was simply to sneak into the bullfighting arena to get a closer look at the contestants and see if there were any potential candidates.

Due to the rarity of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, the martial arts competition attracted a large number of participants, totaling 600 people. The competition was divided into four groups: A, B, C, and D, with 150 people in each group. After three rounds of selection, one person from each group was chosen for the final showdown.

Mashiro belongs to group C.

After scanning around, Mashiro felt incredibly disappointed.

They are basically all low- to mid-level combatants in the Beasts Pirates.

Even Cavendish and Chinjao, whom other pirates revered, were barely worthy of being mentioned in Mashiro's eyes.

"As expected, the real powerhouses are still concentrated in the major powers. I hope the other three groups can give me some surprises, otherwise this martial arts competition is really boring." Mashiro muttered to himself, turning to leave.

Just as she turned the corner, Mashiro suddenly bumped into someone. "I'm sorry!"

A voice came from beside me. It was quite a pleasant voice.

Turning her head, she saw a girl with long pink hair, tied in a braid, wearing almost no armor except for a helmet in the style of an ancient Roman soldier, a green cloak, and gold shoes, looking at her with a knowing gaze.

I can't help but marvel once again at the openness of this world.

After arriving in this world, aside from the occasional seasickness, the biggest problem Mashiro encountered was clothing. When shopping for clothes, she found that very few of the trendy items were to her liking.

Wearing a skirt is already the limit of what she can tolerate. As for showing her thighs or... well, forget it.

The girl in front of her was dressed quite sexily. [Name: Rebecca]

Gender: Female Age: 16

Affiliation: Noble; Three-color Haki: None

Height: 171cm Luck Value: 75 Approval Rating: 10

Looking at the information displayed on the bread, Mashiro became slightly puzzled.

Chapter 158: The Arena Where No One Wins (Part 2)

Mashiro narrowed her eyes slightly, sizing up the girl named Rebecca in front of her. The information displayed on the system panel piqued her interest, especially the tips on luck value and identity information.

"Rebecca?" Mashiro's voice remained calm, yet it carried a subtle, enigmatic quality.

Rebecca felt her gaze and was slightly uneasy, but she still nodded politely and said, "Yes. I'm so sorry, I didn't notice what was in front of me just now."

"It's alright." Mashiro waved her hand, a faint smile playing on her lips, and said, "You're the former princess of Dressrosa, aren't you?"

These words struck Rebecca like a bolt from the blue. Her expression changed drastically, and panic flashed in her eyes. "You...how did you know?"

Mashiro smiled calmly, offering no reply, but instead turned to look at the bullfighting arena not far away.

She has deduced the conspiracy behind Doflamingo's control of Dressrosa, and Rebecca, as a descendant of King Riku's family, is clearly burdened with a heavy fate on this island.

Although her luck value isn't top-tier, it's enough to show that she has considerable potential.

“I know far more than that,” Mashiro said casually, then turned to Rebecca. “The question now is, how do you plan to free Dressrosa from Doflamingo? By yourself?”

Rebecca's body trembled slightly, and after a moment of silence, a trace of pain and helplessness appeared in her eyes.

Doflamingo's rule brought her and her entire family immense shame, and she harbored a strong desire for revenge. However, she knew very well that with her current strength, it was impossible for her to defeat the Donquixote Family.