One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

Dressrosa, former base of the Donquixote Family.

"Alala… looks like King Riku has indeed shown himself and made a wise choice. Dressrosa is now a territory under our Entei Pirates Grand Fleet," Kuzan remarked, his Observation Haki sensing the scene from afar. A slight grin appeared as he withdrew his senses. Although his and Issho's Observation Haki weren't boosted by Nami's Thunder Fruit ability and couldn't cover the entire city, they could still detect the strong, unified emotions radiating from the citizens.

"I've always admired Ace-san's foresight and ideals," Issho added, his own Observation Haki picking up the shifting emotions of the people with even greater precision. From the moment he arrived in Dressrosa, he had sensed an unsettling darkness beneath the country's joyful, passionate surface—like a hidden hell beneath a playful, toy-like exterior. But now, the intense relief and joy of citizens reuniting with loved ones far outweighed any anxieties about Dressrosa joining the Entei Pirates' fleet.

Issho had faith that, given time, Ace could dispel the lingering fears in the hearts of Dressrosa's people. He recalled how Ace's vision for governance, observed firsthand on the island near Amazon Lily, had left an indelible mark. Ace's ideals felt far more righteous than the so-called "absolute justice" espoused by the World Government. For that reason, Issho was fully committed to Ace's cause.

Unlike the oppressive order imposed by the Celestial Dragons and upheld by royal families of the World Government's affiliated nations, Ace's ideal was to lead as a king of the people—ruling wisely and caring deeply for those under his protection. In a world governed by eight centuries of entrenched hierarchy, Ace's approach felt almost saint-like to those who had known only the absolute rule of nobility.

Kuzan and Issho, themselves pillars of strength in the seas, accepted this vision without hesitation. They would support Ace in his path to becoming the king of the world. Let Ace change this world. Let Ace become its true king.

"A country joining the Entei Pirates' Grand Fleet…"

Nearby, Viola, known by the alias "Violet" but actually the princess of Dressrosa, overheard and felt her heart pound with shock. 'King Riku?' Her father had indeed appeared, confirming what she'd feared.

But what stunned her even more was hearing these powerful men's conversation and realizing that the person behind them, Entei—had anticipated all of this. It seemed that he knew every detail of what had transpired in Dressrosa, even predicting her father's actions.

Violet bit her crimson lips, cold sweat dotting her brow. Before the formidable Flame Emperor, she knew that her identity could hardly remain concealed.

After all, how else could these two towering figures of the sea have cut down every other cadre of the Donquixote Family, leaving only her?

Surely, they must have discerned her true identity as the Princess of Dressrosa by now.

Seeing Kuzan and Issho, a deep unease took root in her heart. Viola grew even more anxious, tempted to use her Devil Fruit powers to "see" into their thoughts. But she knew better: her powers could only affect those whose Haki was weaker than hers.

Between these two titans, even Doflamingo had been instantly dispatched—her Glare-Glare Fruit ability, which could reveal thoughts and visions, was laughably inadequate.

"Relax, Violet," Kuzan said kindly, removing his sunglasses with a warm expression.

"Aokiji... Kuzan-sama..."

Though Kuzan's friendly demeanor eased her worry slightly, she addressed him respectfully. She'd nearly called him Admiral Aokiji but corrected herself—he was with the Entei Pirates now.

"Kuzan will do fine," he replied with a slight smile. "If that's uncomfortable, 'Mr. Kuzan' will do."

This woman had known the ruthless domination of Doflamingo. Though she despised him, the fear of powerful men was ingrained within her. Kuzan had no problem being addressed by name; Violet's abilities, after all, held value for Ace. But he knew it would be difficult for her to shake off that discomfort.

"Then, please call me Mr. Issho as well," added Issho, his smile equally kind.

"Mr. Kuzan, Mr. Issho," she repeated, some of her tension easing as she saw the genuine expressions on their faces. She exhaled and bowed respectfully.

"Well, Viole— no, Viola," Kuzan said, nodding with a smile, "how would you feel about joining the Entei Pirate Fleet? We could make good use of your ability."

The Glare-Glare Fruit's power, on its own, might not seem remarkable. It granted a sort of "clairvoyance," allowing one to glimpse others' thoughts. But against opponents with superior Haki, its power was limited, providing little combat advantage.

However, in the hands of a powerful crew like the Entei Pirates, its value shifted. Among them was Nami, who wielded the awakened Thunder Fruit. Its radio waves could amplify Observation Haki, enabling her to extend her Haki senses to an entire nation.

Of course, Observation Haki has its own limits. While it could detect breaths, emotions, and enemy movements, it couldn't provide an actual view within its range. Issho, for instance, had mastered Observation Haki to the point of glimpsing brief flashes of the future but couldn't truly "see" the faces or shapes of Ace and others.

Before the Flame Emperor Incident, Nami's amplified observation Haki had allowed Ace and his crew to locate and sink Marine surveillance ships. Yet even then, some pirate ships had been accidentally targeted; her Haki couldn't perfectly distinguish pirate ships from Marine vessels.

In the world of pirates, some adventurers, like Luffy, have a noble spirit, while even the Marines have their share of merciless and ruthless characters. This means that when identifying ships, each one must be verified individually to avoid any mistakes.

However, the addition of the Glare-Glare Fruit would change everything. Nami's Observation Haki could quickly pinpoint the location of distant life signatures, and with Violet's Devil Fruit powers, they could clearly observe the scene at a distance.

This ability would be indispensable for the Entei Pirates' upcoming missions. The Glare-Glare Fruit's secondary ability, which allowed her to read thoughts, would also be invaluable for intelligence gathering. Though Viola herself wasn't a formidable fighter and her powers were limited against opponents with stronger Haki, once her enemies were defeated and defenseless, her ability to extract information would become an unparalleled asset.

Given that Viola was Dressrosa's princess, Ace had no intention of killing her or taking her Devil Fruit. Instead, integrating her into the Entei Pirates as part of their Devil Fruit Legion and as auxiliary personnel would be ideal. Moreover, with Dressrosa joining the Entei Pirates as an allied nation, Ace needed a gesture of goodwill from the kingdom—and Princess Viola's service was the perfect pledge, reminiscent of the ancient practice of sending a royal hostage as a guarantee of loyalty.

Though Dressrosa might appear insignificant compared to Ace's might, its alliance with the Entei Pirates came with expectations of absolute obedience. Should Dressrosa or any other allied nation exhibit even the slightest hint of rebellion, Ace wouldn't hesitate to wipe them from existence. His ambitions spanned far beyond individual territories; his sights were set on the entire world.

As more territories allied with the Entei Pirates, the presence of royal hostages would simplify governance. Ace didn't feign idealism or pretend loyalty to Dressrosa's royal family. With his power, he saw no reason to engage in political pleasantries with King Riku and others. Those who joined were expected to fall in line, as Ace would help his allies prosper under his rule. But any hint of dissent would meet the full force of his authority—proof that the Four Emperors' influence was far from just a title.

"Yes, I'll join." Viola bit her lip and nodded.

For years, she had suffered under Doflamingo's oppressive rule and couldn't fully understand Ace's intentions. But Viola was no fool. Dressrosa had already pledged allegiance to the Entei Pirates, and a direct invitation from them was not something she could refuse—even if she'd wanted to. Supporting such a legendary figure could only bring great fortune to Dressrosa.

"Good. From this moment, you're a member of 6th Fleet of the Entei Pirates," Kuzan declared with a nod.

"6th Fleet?" Viola asked, surprised.

The Entei Pirates had gained global renown, particularly for their legendary Second Division and its infamous captain, the Dark Ranger, whose presence on the seas sent shockwaves around the world. At that time, Kuzan hadn't yet joined the Entei Pirates as captain of the First Division. Yet it was widely assumed that this position would only be filled by someone whose power rivaled that of the Dark Ranger.

After the Flame Emperor Incident, the world was once again taken aback when 'Dark King' Silver Rayleigh, former right-hand man to the Pirate King, openly declared himself the captain of the Entei Pirates' Zero Division.

Together, the Zero, First, and Second Divisions of the Entei Pirates' Grand Fleet had become renowned across the seas, each led by figures of monumental importance and undeniable influence. But then, there was the mysterious Sixth Division...

"The Sixth Division is the Devil Fruit Legion, personally created by our Captain," Kuzan explained patiently to the newest recruit. "Its current captain is Gion, a former Vice Admiral of Naval Headquarters and once an Admiral candidate. Now, she wields the legendary Cat-Cat Fruit, a mythical Zoan fruit, granting her the powers of the White Tiger. In time, she'll likely be as formidable as either of us."

Having completed Ace's initial assignment, Kuzan felt unexpectedly pleased, explaining Gion's new role to Viola. He recalled that Ace had shared this news about Gion through a call, also hinting at his plans for Zephyr. While Ace hadn't spelled out every detail, Kuzan wasn't naive; he understood Ace's intent.

"Gion?! The Cat-Cat Fruit—Mythical Zoan, White Tiger Form?!" Violet's astonishment was visible as she processed Kuzan's words.

This former Admiral candidate, who'd been taken by the Entei Pirates during the Flame Emperor Incident, was no longer just a captive but had fully defected, joining the Entei fleet as Sixth Division captain. And now she possessed the terrifying powers of the White Tiger—a mythical Devil Fruit ability akin to Kaido's Fish-Fish Fruit, Azure Dragon Form.

It didn't take much to deduce how Gion had come into possession of such a rare Devil Fruit.

With another warrior of Gion's strength among Flame Emperor's ranks, one who could rival Kuzan and Issho, Viola's apprehension grew. Counting up the known warriors in the Entei Pirates' forces, she realized the Marines stood little chance against this formidable fleet. The Entei Pirates had amassed the strength to challenge even the World Government.

What a terrifying figure this legendary man, Flame Emperor, must be, Viola thought as she bit her lip. Her mind was alive with questions as she looked at the crew she now belonged to—the mightiest crew she could imagine. Who exactly was this legendary figure, Flame Emperor, that such powerful allies were so willing to follow?

A spark of curiosity flickered in Viola's eyes, even as Kuzan turned his gaze to the frozen figures he'd captured, each containing the Devil Fruits they'd been assigned to claim.