“Speaking of which, where are you right now?
Are you making fake devil fruits over at Caesar’s, or are you on your way to sell junk to Kaido?”
Silence fell over the Den Den Mushi.
After a long pause, a voice came through the Den Den Mushi once more.
“Trebol, please make sure to take good care of our guest and fulfill all of the investigator’s requests.
I’ll hurry back as fast as I can!”
Upon hearing this, Trebol instantly changed his tune.
“Young Master, understood!”
Just then, Domino added, “Being able to move rapidly using clouds…
feels like you’re more like a Mythical Zoan Spider Fruit.”
“Behehheh, as expected of a World Government investigator, you certainly know your stuff.
Well then, I hope you enjoy yourself in Dressrosa.”
“Oh!
Thank you very much for your generosity.
I hope that one day you will be able to return to the Holy Land Mary Geoise and correct…
the mistakes committed by Saint Donquixote Homing.”
Domino thus began her psychological pressure tactics, using clever phrasing to guide him into rationalizing any flaws in her story.
There was a long silence from the Den Den Mushi: “Then I shall thank you in advance for your kind words.
I will also work hard to correct his mistakes.
Remember to say a few good words on my behalf to Saint Shalria.”
At this point, JOKER also sprung his verbal trap.
“You’ve probably been away from the Holy Land for too long, even forgetting that Saint Shalria cannot correct such a major mistake on her own?
That still requires that lord’s nod of approval!”
Domino knew full well that only by invoking the Celestial Dragons, the biggest bosses, could she dispel the doubts of the ‘Joker’ before her.
“Fuffuffu…
then I look forward to meeting you.”
“Mm!
How about the two of us get married first, and then you can let me experience your Conqueror’s Haki?”
“Behehheh, you really know how to joke.
I quite enjoy talking with you!”
As the call ended, their first round of mind games came to a close.
Trebol knew the investigator wouldn’t leave, and Doffy was already on his way back, so he wasn’t worried.
Domino guessed his thoughts.
She was deliberately buying time and stretching out the mental tug-of-war to bridge the gap between them in his subconscious.
Commonly known as—giving yourself pre-exam psychological pressure!
As Violet arrived behind Trebol, Domino launched her bluffing technique once more, determined to recruit this beautiful crew member.
“Miss Violet, bearing the weight of national hatred and family grudges has made you lose yourself.
Please open your heart and accept my invitation to serve the World Government and pledge loyalty to Saint Shalria.
Only then will you one day liberate Dressrosa with your own hands.”
Domino’s double-edged words plunged the young woman before her into deep thought…
Eavesdropping not far outside the door, Trebol finally realized that these two young girls were actually trying to poach an officer from the family.
“Then I’m sorry, Investigator.
Violet feels very comfortable here and doesn’t want to leave Dressrosa.”
Violet’s eyes were filled with vigilance, terrified that the other party was setting a trap for her.
After all, she didn’t want to expose her special identity just yet.
Domino took the initiative to kiss Xiao Wu in her arms on the lips, taking the opportunity to trace “Viola” on the table to dispel the hostility between them.
Seeing her true name, endless possibilities flashed through Violet’s mind.
Seeing Domino casually wipe away the writing sent giant waves of shock through her heart.
“First of all, thank you for your kindness, but I must still say I’m sorry.
I simply cannot let go of my feelings for my homeland.”
These simple words showed that her mind was made up.
Domino released Xiao Wu, whom she had been deeply kissing.
Certain things no longer needed to be hidden, as her tentative recruitment attempt had ended in failure.
“A flower at the heart of a desert cannot bloom.
Only by bringing in water from the outside can the desert be changed from its edges.
Are you willing to become the seed that channels that water?”
Saying this, she looked greedily at her clearly visible curves.
Violet seemed to understand something.
She stepped forward on her own initiative, pressing her body against Domino’s chest.
“I must say, coming from another woman, your behavior is quite strange.
Poisonous flowers shouldn’t be saved.
But if you can save this place, I wouldn’t mind offering you a blooming Violet.”
Her words were full of temptation, going so far as to offer herself.
Hearing this made Domino displeased: “If a country has to sell out its women to gain so-called freedom, then I’d say it’s better off falling!”
As a woman herself, Domino detested men who constantly demanded favors in exchange for help, and as a woman, she would never do such a thing either.
Violet froze for a moment upon hearing this, then probed thoughtfully, “Actually, it doesn’t matter.
After all, flowers should be presented to heroes.”
“But you are not a flower, you are a person!
You have your own thoughts, your own choices.
A woman should appreciate beauty without being crude; desire should arise from affection and be restrained by propriety.
Love must come from the heart!”
Domino was glad she wasn’t ruled by base desires.
She didn’t take the opportunity to trick Viola, nor did she demand anything from her.
Such harsh, sharp words pierced Violet’s vulnerable heart.
Her hands grabbed her flowing skirt, as if trying to restrain her own reckless despair.
“I’m sorry, I thought that through a transaction…” She felt she had expressed herself poorly: “I’m sorry, please don’t detest me…” But she felt this was far from enough.
After all, the person in front of her might truly be able to save this country.
Tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the back of her hands clutching her skirt, touching upon her inner insecurity.
Reorganizing her words, she said, “I am sorry.
I apologize for offending you.
I can pay whatever you want, no matter how long…
no matter what…
no matter the cost…”
Violet suddenly realized she seemed to have said the wrong thing again…
Sensing her anxiety, Domino revealed her plan at the right moment: “In three years at the latest, I will come here to end this chaos.
Dressrosa will usher in a new birth, and at that time, you can decide whether to join!”
Thinking to herself: [Matching the original plot timeline, it should be right.
If worst comes to worst, my own team can handle it.
Without a system’s help or god-tier luck, this is practically a hell-mode start.]
Violet looked at Domino, a fellow woman, hearing a promise with a specific timeframe for the first time.
Though still hesitant to believe it, with a mindset of giving it a shot, she actively approached her.
“Then as an officer of the Donquixote Family, I hope you will personally interrogate me when the time comes.
The torture equipment on your ship is quite complete.”
Thinking to herself: [I’ve long seen through your darkness.
Since you like to pose as a hero, I must give you a response.
As long as it saves my country, I don’t mind playing along with a fraud like you.]
The aura around Domino shattered completely, exposed under Viola’s unique ability.
“Giggle, those are meant for pirates who refuse to confess!”
[So embarrassing!
What are those perverted Marines doing equipping my ship with torture devices?
It really ruins my image.]
Having failed to recruit Viola, Domino could only give up resentfully for now, waiting until she possessed enough strength to make a triumphant return.
The next day.
A grand wedding was held in Dressrosa, officially announcing Xiao Wu’s departure from the Donquixote Family and her joining Domino’s small team.
Dressed in a tuxedo, Domino lightly linked arms with Xiao Wu, who wore a wedding gown, as they slowly walked into the wedding hall.
The officiating priest turned out to be Trebol, and the officers of the Donquixote Family stepped up one by one to shake hands with Domino.
While appearing harmonious on the surface, each harbored their own sinister motives.
Trebol congratulated them with a smile: “Ahaha, congratulations on your wedding!
The family will present you with gifts later.”
In his mind, however, he thought: [Since you have some strength, as long as we stall until Doffy returns, who knows who will end up joining whom?]
Sugar looked at Domino with hostile eyes: “Hmph!
Can the two of us really be considered family?”
“Stop acting young in front of me.
Who knows which of us is actually older?” Domino leaned in and whispered, “Listen to me, acting cute maliciously is the most shameful thing!”
Since her feud with Sugar couldn’t be resolved anyway, she didn’t mind making an enemy out of her.
When the Donquixote Family collapsed, she would harvest this ripe leek.
It was Pica’s turn to come up and greet them: “Should I congratulate you on your happy marriage, or congratulate you on joining us soon?”
In his granite head, he stubbornly believed that Domino would ultimately join the Donquixote Family.
Dressed in baby clothes, Senior Pink saw Xiao Wu wearing a wedding dress, and memories of his deceased wife automatically replayed in his mind.
“You two must be happy together!”
“Giggle, and I wish you a speedy recovery too.”
Domino, her face covered in smiles, thought to herself: [Don’t use us to reminisce about the dead!
We’re both women, what happy marriage is there?
I’m doing this just to rescue Xiao Wu from this devil’s lair.]
Jora spoke with full malice: “Remember to notify me when you leave port, otherwise I won’t allow you to leave.”
In her mind, she thought: [Just two lousy women, and you dare come to the Donquixote Family to snatch people?]
Machvise, one of the officers, laughed: “Haha, two women can actually get married?
Why don’t you both marry me instead?”
The rest of the officers acted with disdain.
Gladius didn’t even bother to speak.
In his view, Domino and her accompanying girl were merely waiting to be personally subdued by Doffy.