Since the chaos in Dressrosa, the warriors of the Tontatta Kingdom, led by Leo, had managed to rescue their imprisoned princess. However, despite her freedom, Princess Mansherry appeared listless and frail, unable to muster even the slightest strength.
Old King Gancho, deeply concerned, had summoned the kingdom's best doctor to treat his daughter, but no cause for her illness could be found.
Though the princess was known for being willful and difficult at times, she was cherished by her people. Her health had become the kingdom's top priority.
In light of the devastating state of Dressrosa, the Tontatta warriors had chosen not to aid in the rebuilding efforts. Instead, they remained inside and outside the princess's room, praying fervently for her recovery.
On the small bed in the center of the room, Mansherry weakly opened her tearful eyes. Turning to her father, she whimpered, "Father, I feel so terrible. I have no strength at all… Please, save me."
"Mansherry! My poor child! Woo woo woo woo~"
Her pitiful plea stabbed through King Gancho's heart like a knife. Helpless, he held her close, tears streaming down his face as he cried bitterly.
Leo, Kabu, Bian, and the other Tontatta warriors stood silently nearby, their faces etched with sorrow. They turned their gazes away, unable to bear the sight of their beloved princess in such a state.
Outside the room, the citizens of the Tontatta Kingdom, moved by the old king's cries, silently wiped their own tears. Their hearts ached for Mansherry, but like their leaders, they were powerless to help.
The air was heavy with grief when suddenly, a booming voice filled the underground kingdom, accompanied by a faint crackle of electricity.
"What's going on here? What happened to your princess?"
The unexpected intrusion sent a ripple of shock through the gathered dwarfs. One of them turned toward the voice, anger blazing in his tiny eyes, ready to chastise the rude intruder. However, as the figure came into view, his anger turned into terror.
"Big, big, big! A Human! A Human! has invaded the kingdom!"
His panicked cry spread like wildfire, and in an instant, the dwarfs were running in every direction, screaming as they fled from the towering figure of Luffy.
Inside the cabin, Leo and the others, already distraught over Mansherry's illness, were further incensed by this intrusion. Gripping their weapons tightly, they stormed out of the hut, their anger reaching a boiling point.
"Damn invader! Drop your weapons and surrender, or I'll kill you where you stand!" Leo shouted, his voice trembling with fury.
Though furious, the Tontatta warriors hesitated to attack outright, their innate sense of fairness prompting them to offer a chance for surrender.
Luffy raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "Okay, I surrender."
"Ah?"
Leo stumbled, caught off guard by Luffy's immediate compliance. He quickly regained his balance, looking up at the Marine in disbelief. "What did you say? Say it again!"
Luffy remained calm. "I said, I surrender."
Leo exchanged confused glances with his companions. Despite his bewilderment, he steeled himself and declared, "Don't try to trick us! Drop your weapons first, or I won't believe you!"
With a shrug, Luffy unfastened the sword at his waist and tossed it to the ground. He then reached into his coat and pulled out a small dagger, which he discarded as well.
"That's all I've got," Luffy said, his tone earnest.
Leo and his comrades froze, their aggression replaced by confusion. Luffy sighed, growing impatient.
"My dwarf friends, I mean no harm. I'm not an intruder. I heard that your princess is ill, and I came to see if I could help. Please, take me to her. I promise I'm not a bad person."
The dwarfs, ever trusting and simple-minded, were swayed by Luffy's sincerity and his act of disarming himself. They immediately softened.
Leo eyed him curiously. "Are you a good person?"
Luffy nodded. "Yes."
Kabu chimed in, "Are you here to help the princess?"
"That's right."
Bian added, "Are you a doctor?"
Luffy hesitated for a moment. "Uh… no, but I know a very good doctor who could help."
The brief exchange seemed to reassure the dwarfs. Their tense postures relaxed, and their expressions brightened into welcoming smiles.
"Don't worry, everyone!" Leo called out to the gathered crowd. "This human is a good man! He's here to help the princess!"
As Leo's voice echoed through the village, the dwarfs who had been hiding began to emerge from their hiding spots. Their small forms scampered out of treehouses and from behind bushes, surrounding Luffy in a bustling, curious crowd.
One particularly brave blue-haired dwarf climbed onto Luffy's shoulder, perching there comfortably as though Luffy were a piece of furniture.
Though the scene was endearing, Luffy quickly refocused on the matter at hand.
==============================================
Support me at p@treon.com/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this FANFIC or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
==============================================