Chapter 551

"Hahaha, you need not overthink it. Our meeting today is fate!"

The blind man shook his head and said, "As for who I am, it is not important. What matters is that we shall meet again one day! I will tell you then. Revealing my identity now would benefit no one."

Having said this, the blind man patted Luffy on the shoulder and departed, vanishing around the corner of the street!

【Good heavens, another big shot has appeared. Such powerful ability must belong to a practitioner of some ancient secret art!】

【His righteous Qi must be immense; why else would he solve so many enemies at once despite being blind!】

【As expected of a big shot, his presence is just too overwhelming!】

【It's just hard to tell where his loyalties lie. If he is an enemy of the Straw Hat Pirates, their trip to Dressrosa will be very difficult!】

Luffy scratched his head: "What a strange uncle."

Just as everyone's attention was focused on the blind man.

A thief had already stolen the valuables of the guests in the shop!

"Ah! My silver is gone!" a guest cried out in panic, immediately drawing a crowd of onlookers!

"My jade bracelet is gone too!" another guest shouted, face flushed red.

"My token is missing as well! Damn thief, to steal our things at a time like this!"

Zoro also hurriedly stood up to check his belongings.

He discovered that his Shusui sword had been stolen as well.

"Bastard!" Zoro cursed through gritted teeth, then asked the surrounding crowd: "Did anyone see who came near?"

However, not a single person spoke.

The puppet shop assistant explained: "If no one saw the thief, then it must have been the spirits who stole your things! Since it was the spirits, everyone should just let it go!"

Hearing this, everyone accepted the assistant's words.

In their perception, any evil deeds done by spirits were forgivable.

"Are you kidding me! The thief slipped away right under your noses, and you're just going to let it slide like this!"

Zoro said, furious with embarrassment.

"Sigh, you didn't watch your own things, you can't blame anyone else," the assistant said, shaking his head.

"What do you mean!" Zoro's eyebrows shot up, and he said angrily: "Do you believe I'll burn this place down!"

"Hmph!" The assistant snorted, not backing down in the slightest.

"You..." Zoro was about to speak, but was pulled by the sleeve by Sanji at his side: "Moss-head, look at the window, isn't that your Shusui sword?"

By the window, the spirit that had just stolen a pile of items was planning to climb out and escape!

"Damn it! Stop right there!" Zoro roared and charged forward.

The spirit didn't even look back as it fled!

"Bastard!" Zoro climbed over the window to give chase!

"Tch! You're such a pathfinder, you'll probably get lost yourself before you catch him! Luffy! I'm going to help him out!"

Sanji also followed, climbing out the window to pursue.

Kin'emon was also worried about the Shusui sword; it was a national treasure of Wano, how could it be stolen by these little spirits!

"Hey, there's a thief!"

A shout came, startling the spirit that was climbing the wall to escape!

"Crap, they actually chased after me!"

The spirit cursed inwardly and sprinted wildly through the streets of Dressrosa.

Luffy was about to go see the excitement, but was stopped by Franky.

"Seriously, you guys are acting way too recklessly! It's a good thing I followed, otherwise our mission would have been ruined!"

Franky muttered.

As Franky, who was a few years older than Luffy and the others, he had an obligation to stop their impulsive behavior.

Luffy couldn't help but show a bitter expression upon hearing this.

"Alright! So what are we two going to do next?"

Franky waved his iron fist: "Of course, we're going to squeeze some information out of these bastards!"

Franky plucked a thug from the pit and headed toward a street corner.

Luffy shrugged helplessly and followed close behind.

"Hey! You bastard, let me go!" the thug struggled frantically.

Franky grabbed the thug by the neck and threw him onto the ground!

"Bastard, I'm one of Doflamingo's men. You dare provoke Doflamingo's men! You're dead!"

The thug threatened viciously, then pulled out a short blade from his waist: "If you're smart, you'll kneel and beg for mercy now, otherwise, I guarantee I'll make your death very painful."

"Oh, so arrogant. Let me see what kind of skills you, a man of Doflamingo, actually have." Franky loosened his joints, the sound of clicking echoing out.

"Bastard!"

The thug roared and lunged at Franky!

*Smack! The next moment, the thug was slammed hard onto the ground.

Franky stepped on his chest, leaning down slightly, his eyes filled with killing intent and ferocity.

"I wasn't scared growing up! I'm going to ask you a few questions now. If you answer them obediently, I might let you go, otherwise, your life is forfeit!" Franky said coldly.

The thug's face twisted, clearly intimidated by Franky's aura.

But thinking of Doflamingo's methods, he still braced himself and lifted his head: "Ask away, but I definitely won't tell you, you jerk!"

"Heh."

A cold arc appeared on Franky's lips as he stomped down hard with his right foot, the sound of cracking bones spreading throughout the street!

"Ah!"

With a miserable howl, the man wept: "I'll talk! I'll tell you everything! I'll tell you!"

"Wouldn't it have been easier to cooperate earlier? What an idiot!"

Franky snorted and pulled back his foot, crouching down: "Don't try any tricks! First question: have you seen a Wano person?"

"I saw one earlier. We were ordered by the master to hunt down the Wano people who came to our Dressrosa." The man answered with difficulty, enduring the intense pain.

"Very good! Now tell me, where is he now? You must have captured one, right!" Franky pressed further.

"I don't know. A low-level character like me wouldn't know such classified information!"

The thug looked miserable; he felt like he was going to be tortured to death by Franky!

"Next question: where is the workshop for cultivating the parasites?"

This was the Straw Hat Pirates' ultimate goal!

"Huh? Parasite cultivation workshop? What the hell is that? I don't know!"

"Hmm?" Franky frowned: "Luffy! It seems this guy is just a small fry. If we want to know more information, we'll probably have to find their leader!"

Luffy nodded upon hearing this.

"Just let me go! I really don't know!" the thug said in panic.

"I can let you go, but you have to tell me where your leader is now! We have urgent business with him!"

Franky said coldly, having run out of patience to waste time.

"Today, our Dressrosa is hosting the 'World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament', and I'm afraid all our high-ranking family members have gone to the tournament venue to help out!"

The thug said, trembling: "If you don't believe me, go take a look at the venue over there!"

"Martial Arts Tournament? What the hell is that?"

Franky muttered: "Is this tournament very important to you guys?"

"Of course it is! To attract more martial artists, our master has prepared a mysterious grand prize!"

"Mysterious grand prize? That couldn't be the meat Doflamingo promised to prepare for me, could it!"

Luffy recalled his previous telepathic conversation with Doflamingo, his eyes lighting up!

"It's not meat!"

The thug shook his head. Is this guy an idiot? Who would use meat as the grand prize for a martial arts tournament? How incredibly stupid.

"Then what is it?"

"It's..."

The thug hesitated for a moment, but answered truthfully: "It's the ancient secret art of Ace, who died in the Forbidden City two years ago—the 'Flame-Flame Heaven-Burning Art'!"

Upon hearing the names Ace and the Flame-Flame Heaven-Burning Art.

Luffy froze in place, the painful memories of losing his brother two years ago flooding back into his heart.