The Tontatta Kingdom Falls, and Caius Speaks with Duflamingo

"How can you say that? Your country's in trouble, so you think you can destroy the Tontatta Kingdom?"

"I won't allow it. Come on, then. Let's see how strong you really are. If you can't back up your threats, don't blame us for what happens!"

Ganlin spoke bitterly.

Caius and Toki exchanged an odd look. All this bluster would only cost the Tontattas in the end.

Caius could see the difference in their strength clearly. Ganlin was nowhere near Duflamingo's equal. To him, the outcome of this battle was beyond doubt.

The dwarves' fate would follow its original course after all.

As for intervening, Caius had no intention of doing so. There was no need. The Tontattas had nothing to offer him.

At least, he could think of nothing they possessed that he wanted. Their fate would remain unchanged.

"Are you going to help the Tontatta Kingdom?"

Toki asked out of curiosity.

"No. We're staying out of it. There's no reason to interfere. Let's just watch."

Caius shook his head.

The two continued watching as the armies fought below. At first, neither side's strongest fighters joined in. As the battle wore on, however, the fighting became increasingly fierce.

At last, Duflamingo and Ganlin faced each other. The difference in their strength soon settled the contest. Ganlin fell.

With him fell the Tontatta Kingdom.

The entire kingdom would become Duflamingo's spoils, laying the foundation for Dressrosa's later prosperity.

"That was quick. Less than half an hour, and it's over. Is this really the end for the Tontatta king?"

Toki sounded wistful.

Ganlin had spoken with them only a short time ago. Now he was defeated, with no guarantee of surviving the aftermath. It was a sobering change.

She had no intention of asking Caius to help, though. They barely knew these people. Even if every one of them died, what did that have to do with them?

"The two countries were never evenly matched. Honestly, I doubt this was their first battle. Dressrosa may have been holding back before. Now it seems they finally decided they had no choice but to conquer the place."

Caius considered what he had heard and offered his assessment.

The dwarves were submitting to Dressrosa now, but they would find an opportunity someday. That day was still a long way off. They would have to wait.

While he and Toki talked, Duflamingo continued issuing orders below.

He did not intend to kill the dwarves. Enslaving them to develop Dressrosa had been the purpose of the expedition all along.

"Your Majesty, all the dwarves are accounted for. What are your orders?"

The commander beside Duflamingo requested instructions.

"Leave it at that. Green Bit would be too difficult to develop. Let the little people keep it. Bring them back with us. If any of them serve well, we can consider allowing them to return."

He addressed Hols Bartby with a smile.

The concession could ease some of the resentment quickly. He did not fear the dwarves themselves, but their connections were extensive. Leaving them some hope would also give him an answer for other powerful figures.

That thought troubled Duflamingo. There were too many powerful people in this world. Ever since Joy Boy rose to rule the Great Kingdom, limit-breaking fighters had become increasingly numerous. Even the weaker ones were beyond him as he was now.

The dwarves happened to be close to several of the kingdom's powerful figures. A little restraint served him well.

Those people could not simply attack a king of noble birth like him, however. If they did, Joy Boy would certainly intervene.

The man's methods were formidable.

All of that left Duflamingo under considerable pressure.

"A wise decision, Your Majesty. I'll see to it."

Bartby departed quickly, full of admiration. He needed to move fast. The kingdom could barely afford the expense of this expedition.

Many people at court had opposed the war because of its cost. No one had expected it to go this smoothly. If they returned promptly, the damage to the treasury would be limited.

Duflamingo watched Bartby leave and nodded in satisfaction. The man had justified his trust, rising step by step to his present position. The king was pleased with him.

He was about to depart when he sensed a presence of overwhelming magnitude. He stiffened, then turned slowly toward the forest nearby.

There stood Caius, strikingly handsome, with white hair and a sword at his waist. Beside him, the petite Toki was watching Duflamingo with a smile.

Duflamingo swallowed when he met Caius's eyes.

He was shaken.

How could someone like this be here? The man's presence was even stronger than Joy Boy's had been at their last meeting. None of this made sense.

The woman beside him looked familiar too, as though Duflamingo had seen her somewhere before. There was no time to think about it. He hurried toward them.

He did not know how long they had been watching. He was certain, however, that the man had deliberately released his presence to draw him over.

Reaching them, Duflamingo spoke before he even had time to wipe the sweat from his brow.

"Greetings. May I ask what brings you here?"

He chose his words carefully.

"Relax. We have no quarrel with you. A little of my presence slipped out. I didn't expect you to notice."

"It was an entertaining show. I look forward to seeing whether you can reach the top of this world. We might have more to talk about then. For now, you can go."

"Oh, and my name is Caius. You'll hear more about me someday."

Caius smiled, then left with Toki.

The spectacle was over. It was time to head for the capital, where far greater possibilities awaited him.

Duflamingo remained rooted to the spot for a while before sighing and leaving in a daze.

An affair he considered a matter of his country's survival had been no more than entertainment to Caius. That realization unsettled him and made the limits of his own strength painfully clear.

He did not dare dream of surpassing Caius. Reaching the limit-breaking level, however, was something he had to achieve.