Chapter 400: The Most Brilliant Figure
Ian looked at Fujitora with a strange expression in his eyes.
He was certain that Fujitora was not a lolicon, but Ian guessed that Fujitora might very well be a daughter-con!
Even in normal times, Walnut had a very good relationship with Fujitora, often pestering him with all sorts of questions, and Fujitora would cheerfully answer her, his joy obvious to anyone.
But he wasn't nearly as good to Konenai and Margaret. Perhaps when it was just Walnut, this issue wasn't so apparent, but now that he had suddenly brought back another Sugar, the problem became significant.
Especially since he seemed to have specially found such a cute pair of cat paw gloves for Sugar...
However, strangely enough, when Ian looked at Sugar, he saw that she had stopped struggling the moment she saw the gloves in Fujitora's hands, simply staring at them.
Ian's heart stirred. He took the gloves from Fujitora, walked over to Sugar, and said, "Do you like them? If you do, I'll give them to you!"
"Hmph, who... who would like them!" Sugar turned her head away, snorting disdainfully. "What do you people want? Hurry up and put me down!"
But as she turned her head, Ian saw her sneak another glance at the gloves.
Then, looking at the bear cloak she was wearing, Ian suddenly understood. Sugar seemed to really like things that looked cute and fluffy.
Uncle Fujitora, you guessed right. If these gloves were given to Sugar, she might actually put them on willingly... right?
If that were the case, then it was really good. Ian knew very well that Sugar was a Hobby-Hobby Fruit user, and this kind of Paramecia Devil Fruit, much like Matthew's Hypnosis Fruit, might seem buggy, but it required the user's hands to make contact with the target to activate. If something like gloves blocked her skin, it would temporarily seal her ability.
The Hobby-Hobby Fruit's ability was too dangerous. Once someone was turned into a toy, the memories of that person would also disappear.
Ian didn't want Sugar to turn one of his crew members into a toy without him knowing, so he had to keep a strict watch on her.
Giving her the cat paw gloves was just one restriction. The best method was to find a way to record his memories, like using a notebook to list all the crew members on his ship. He could check it from time to time, and if he found someone he couldn't remember but whose name was on the list, he could be sure Sugar had acted against his crew. Then there would be plenty of ways to deal with her!
As for worrying too much about her ability, there was no need. If Doflamingo could trust her without concern, then Ian could also guard against her. Her weaknesses were numerous.
As long as Uncle Fujitora was happy...
After Fujitora returned, Ace began to melt the thick ice that had covered the entire Dressrosa island from Aokiji's Ice Age.
He used his Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor to create a massive fireball above Dressrosa. He continuously supported this fireball, radiating heat across the island. Since Aokiji had stopped using his ability, the ice began to slowly melt under the heat's scorching.
Normally, the best way to thaw people who had been instantly frozen was to slowly defrost them in cold water, which would cause the least damage. But without that condition, they had to use Ace's method. Although it would cause some suffering to the people on the island, they could still be healed.
Aokiji freezing the entire island was a last resort. If he had let all the bombs on the island explode, it wouldn't have been just frostbite—many people would have died in the explosions.
Especially since Ice Age had also frozen the people controlled by Doflamingo's Shadow Ride Threads, directly stopping them from killing each other.
Aokiji had good intentions, so no one could blame him.
It took about two hours for Ace's sun-like fireball to melt most of the ice on the island. The people who woke up from the freezing quickly realized what had happened.
But they had no complaints. They silently began helping those who were weaker.
Any country, only after experiencing pain, would recognize the value of peace. The people of Dressrosa, while helping each other, also exchanged information about the current situation on the island.
The Dragon Hunter Pirates and the four Warlords, along with Marine Admiral Aokiji, had exposed Doflamingo's conspiracy against the country and successfully overthrown the Donquixote family's rule over Dressrosa. This news quickly spread across the entire island. Those who could still move spontaneously began gathering toward the fireball, knowing that the Dragon Hunter Pirates were definitely there.
At that time, Ian was also starting to treat the frostbitten people. As the residents of Dressrosa slowly gathered there, they naturally saw Ian's actions. They said nothing. The injured automatically formed a line, waiting to receive Ian's treatment, while the rest looked at Ian and his crew with a mix of hope and hesitation.
The people of Dressrosa wanted to know what would happen to the island next. Doflamingo had escaped, so the country had lost its king. Dressrosa needed a new ruler.
But since no one knew if the fleeing Doflamingo would return, the people hoped for a strong king who could deter him.
The best candidate for king was undoubtedly Ian. If he became the king of Dressrosa, the Donquixote family would surely not dare to show their faces again.
Although the people thought this way, having just experienced the turmoil and harm caused by a Warlord to this country, they couldn't psychologically accept turning to another Warlord to take the throne.
That was why the people of Dressrosa looked at Ian and the Dragon Hunter Pirates with such complicated eyes.
Sabo had quietly returned. He observed this scene and quickly understood the people's thoughts. When he saw that Ian was busy treating the injured and hadn't noticed, he walked over to Ian and quietly reminded him.
After hearing Sabo's words, Ian was momentarily stunned. To be honest, he had never thought about becoming a king. Managing a country was not his forte.
So he naturally refused. But the country still needed a king. Ian thought it over and decided to follow the original storyline, letting King Riku continue to rule the country.
During his conversation with Fujitora, Ian also learned that they had met the toy soldier Kyros, King Riku's son-in-law. If Kyros had gone to find his daughter, then King Riku was likely with them as well. So Ian asked Fujitora to find Kyros and bring King Riku back.
Causing such a commotion was satisfying, but there were many follow-up matters. Ian felt a headache coming on, but he had to keep busy.
During this time, the news that the Warlord Doflamingo, the Heavenly Yaksha, had been driven away by Black Dragon Ian, along with Sea Knight Jinbe, Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, Sand Crocodile Crocodile, Fire Fist Ace, and Marine Admiral Aokiji, and that the Donquixote family's various evil deeds in Dressrosa had been exposed, quickly spread throughout the New World and the Grand Line.
As people discussed it, they were also astonished by the commotion caused by Ian, the newly appointed Warlord.
This young Warlord really knew how to stir things up. After causing a huge scene at Mary Geoise and successfully escaping, he had fought with a Marine Admiral on Salamis Island, then parted ways with the Whitebeard Pirates and taken the position of Warlord. Now, not long after becoming a Warlord, he had brought down another veteran Warlord.
For a time, the entire Grand Line was focused on news about Ian and the Dragon Hunter Pirates.
It was said that Ian had split Dressrosa Island in two with a single slash. Many people had seen the cut mark, which ran straight through the entire island.
People were not only amazed by Ian's strength but also by his network of connections.
From that day on, Ian, the new Warlord, had fully gained the world's recognition. No one dared to covet the position of this young Warlord anymore.
Undoubtedly, from the year 1519 to 1520 of the Sea Circle Calendar, in the eyes of the world, the most brilliant figure on the entire Grand Line was Ian...