"Let's leave! Doffy-kun and Ross-kun should soon reach the eastern port," Issho declared, his voice cutting through the bewildered silence of the townsfolk and soldiers alike. "Ross-kun has informed me that we have two more members joining the family."
Disregarding the astonished faces around them, Issho, Giolla, and the children began making their way to the pier. They had been separated for months—Issho and his group had come directly to Dressrosa, while Doffy and Ross had gone to Logue Town to witness Roger's final moments.
"Sir! Please wait! Sir!" King Riku Doldo called out, rushing forward in a hurry and dismounting his horse. He had never known that such a formidable figure lived within his kingdom. For Riku, who was running out of options for defending his country against the surge of pirates, the presence of someone like Issho seemed like finding an oasis in the desert by sheer luck.
Riku had even entertained the idea of recruiting gladiators from the colosseum to mitigate the need for powerful fighters in exchange for their pardon. Especially, a gladiator named Kyros caught his attention, having accumulated more than 2,000 victories.
The only reason he hadn't released them yet was because he believed the Marines would send backup to help them. As a country affiliated with the World Government, he thought they would receive aid, especially with the upcoming Reverie.
"Sir! At least, please tell us your name so that we can thank you properly," King Riku implored, his voice carrying a note of desperation. He seemed flustered, as if holding on to his last lifeline.
Issho paused for a moment, then turned back with a gentle smile. "Issho," he said simply, before continuing on his way towards the pier.
However, King Riku was not about to let such a chance slip by easily. Desperation welled within him; he was even ready to guilt-trip the blind man into helping them. Protecting his people was his highest priority, and he believed that fooling a blind man would be forgiven if it was for the greater good.
"Issho-sama," King Riku called again, his tone desperate. "Please, I must speak with you!"
Issho paused, turning to face the king. "What is it, Your Majesty?"
"You've shown incredible strength today," King Riku said, panting slightly from his hurried run. "Dressrosa is in dire need of such power. The pirates... they are relentless. I beg of you, please lend us your strength. Help us protect our people."
"I must apologize, King Riku; I am afraid I can not help you with your current predicament," Issho remarked while he continued walking towards the port.
"Please, Issho-sama!" Riku called out again, his voice thick with emotion. "You have shown us mercy and strength unlike any we have seen. We are a kingdom on the brink, besieged by those who seek to destroy us. I beg of you: stay and help us protect our people. They need someone like you."
Issho halted, his back still turned to the king. He sighed, feeling the weight of the plea in Riku's voice. He could sense the sincerity and the desperation behind the king's words. Slowly, he turned around, facing Riku with a look of contemplation.
"You ask for much, King Riku," Issho said softly. "But my path is already set. My loyalty lies with my companions, and I don't think I can help you in any way." Issho already knew that the two brothers were planning to take back their original kingdom, and although he disliked the idea, he could not refute the fact that Dressrosa once belonged to the Donquixote family.
The current monarchy was just someone who took the opportunity to fill in the power gap left behind by the original monarchs. As long as there wasn't too much bloodshed during the takeover, Ishho would stand by Ross Kun's side; even if it exceeded his tolerance, then he would have to intervene, and he knew at least the younger brother was someone who would listen to reason.
Riku stepped forward, his expression one of earnest determination. "I understand your loyalty to your friends, Issho-sama. But consider the innocent lives here. The children, the elderly, and the families who have nowhere else to turn. They look up to you now, even if they don't yet know your name. To them, you are a beacon of hope."
Issho's brow furrowed as he considered the king's words. He could sense the truth in them—the raw, unfiltered need of a kingdom on the edge of destruction. But he also realized another stark reality: Riku and his retinue were not strong enough to defend the people from what was to come. Soon enough, more pirates would come, and they wouldn't stop until Dressrosa was stripped of everything of value it held.
"King Riku," Issho began, his voice firm but compassionate. "It seems like desperation has driven you to the brink. Before you make any hasty decisions, just know that I am also a pirate. Maybe not like them," he gestured towards the countless littered corpses, "but the world still classifies me as a pirate. Who knows, maybe soon enough, you will come to hate me as much as you cherish me now."
Issho then continued walking, tapping his sword stick on the cobbled stones.
Issho's revelation that he was a pirate himself froze the entire populace. Even King Riku, who thought he was being clever and wanted to corner the blind man, was dumbfounded by the statement. If such a man was truly a pirate, as he claimed, would a country like Dressrosa stand a chance? Even if the Marines were to dispatch an admiral, they might not be able to best this blind master.
Although King Riku thought the blind man might be joking, he couldn't take any chances. He gestured for his commander, a huge, muscular man. "Tank, quickly call up a Marine base, and share the name Issho and his description. See if there are any pirates by that name. I feel that Issho is trying to avoid responsibility. We cannot have such a formidable figure within our country and not use his presence for our country's safety."
Tank immediately moved to find a transponder snail as Riku decided to wait. Issho had gone to the pier to receive his companions. If Issho's companions were half as strong as him, then Dressrosa would not have to fear the presence of pirates ever again.
As Tank rushed to find a transponder snail, the citizens murmured amongst themselves, a mixture of awe and fear in their voices. They had seen Issho's incredible power, and the revelation that he was a pirate left them uncertain about their future.
At the pier, Issho, Giolla, and the children waited for close to half an hour. Just as the moon rose high in the sky, a lone galleon made its way to the dock. Within minutes, Doffy and Ross's ship arrived, and the reunion was filled with relief and joy.
The months of separation had felt like an eternity. In addition to Doffy and Ross, there were two more figures on the ship: a white-haired, rowdy kid about eleven or twelve and a calm-looking teen who seemed to be about Doffy's age.
"Doffy-kun, Ross-kun, it's good to see you," Issho said, his usually calm demeanor tinged with warmth.
Doffy grinned widely. "Issho, Giolla, it's been too long. It seems like you guys have been adapting quite well to our future home."
As I noticed, Lucci and Gladius's clothes were stained with blood. It seemed like they must have just finished fighting someone and arrived here. "Trouble?" I questioned while jumping off the ship onto the pier. Lucci straightened as he saw me, as if he were in the presence of a superior officer.
Gladius was already curiously eyeing Smoker, who felt a bit irritated by another kid of his similar age. "Well, meet Smoker. He will be part of the family from now on, and he is a Logia-type Moku Moku no Mi user."
Everyone present was surprised that the white-haired brat was another Logia user. "It seems like your luck is as good as always, Ross-kun. And what about the young teen next to Doffy-Kun?"
Issho questioned, his blind eyes seemingly gazing at the spot where Iceburg stood.
Iceburg was taken aback at how the blind man was able to perceive him. He was yet to become familiar with the concept of haki. "This here is Iceburg. He is one of the best young shipwrights that Water 7 has to offer, and he will be joining us too." Doffy tapped Iceburg's shoulder. Then Issho started introducing the others to the newcomers.
Gladius's mood soured after learning that Smoker was a Logia user. He had also dreamed of acquiring such a powerful ability. Smoker, on the other hand, felt a mixture of curiosity and apprehension as he took in his new surroundings.
Giolla, sensing the tension, stepped forward with a welcoming smile. "Welcome, Smoker, Iceburg. We're glad to have you both with us. You'll find that we are more than just a crew; we are a family."
Smoker's eyes softened slightly, though his posture remained guarded. "Thanks," he muttered, unsure of what to expect but determined to prove his worth.
Iceburg, though still slightly dazed by the recent turn of events, managed a nod. "I'll do my best to be useful."
Doffy clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone. Let's get settled and prepare for the next phase of our journey. We have much to do, but first I would like to have a hefty meal and sleep like a log for a few days."
As the group began to return, Issho couldn't help but reflect on the diverse and unique individuals that made up their growing family. Each one brought something valuable to the table, and together, this family might very well be the one that decides the fate of this world.
King Riku, still watching from a distance, felt a mix of hope and uncertainty. He couldn't shake the feeling that these newcomers, despite their unknown affiliations, might be the key to Dressrosa's survival.
Tank returned, breathless, holding the transponder snail. "Sir, the Marines have confirmed it. There is not a single pirate with the name Issho; even the description did not come up with any matches of pirates in the marine database. It must be just like how you said your majesty, he and his companions must be trying to avoid any sort of trouble."
King Riku's heart bloomed with joy. He realized that the blind man's words were simply a trick to deceive him. Now that it was confirmed that Issho was not a pirate, there was no longer a feeling of despair; he felt a spark of hope. If Issho and his companions were this strong, perhaps there was still a chance to protect Dressrosa. With renewed resolve, he turned to his soldiers.
"Show your utmost respect to Issho-sama and his companions. I don't want to hear any complaints about any form of disrespect later on. Is that understood?" King Riku addressed the soldiers firmly, already feeling confident that gaining Issho's help was a given.
Just then, Issho and his companions returned, making their way toward the group. As Riku was about to enthusiastically rush forward to try and enlist their help, his commander, Tank, grabbed the king by the shoulder with all haste. When Riku turned to see why Tank had stopped him, he saw the commander's face completely pale, a soul-deep fear etched in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, we need to return to the palace immediately. We need to get in touch with the Marines and get ourselves reinforcements. The stronger the people they can dispatch, the better. Yes! You must ask them to send an admiral. Dressrosa is affiliated with the World Government, after all." Tank started speaking non-stop, his fear taking over.
He had recognized the two teens walking alongside Issho. He had just seen their bounty posters the day before. Each of them were pirates with bounties over 600 million each on their heads, and what was even worse was that both belonged to the Donquixote family, the original monarch family of Dressrosa.
"Tank, what's gotten into you? Hurry, and let me go!" King Riku commanded. However, Tank's grip remained steady. Riku's voice brought back some control to Tank, who quickly rushed to his horse and opened its satchel, pulling out a thick stack of bounty posters. As a commander, with the influx of pirates every day, he needed to keep such information handy.
"Here!, Look, Your Majesty, you'll understand why I want you to return to the palace and call for reinforcements. We will stall them as long as we can, but you cannot stay here," he urged the king to leave. The other soldiers were confused by the commander's actions, but then, just like Tank, as Riku saw the two bounty posters that Tank had handed him, all the color drained from his face. They were the infamous Donquixote brothers.
King Riku immediately wanted to vacate the area, but the other party had already made it to where he stood.