Just after returning to the capital, Mio saw a hundred navy soldiers standing outside the palace.
With a flicker in his eyes, Mio turned to Robin and motioned to continue walking. The two of them headed straight for the hotel.
Inside the hotel, Erica and the others were already waiting.
"The navy's here," Mio said as he stepped in. "Until they leave, don't go out unnecessarily. We don't want any trouble."
Though he wasn't personally afraid of Vice Admiral Tsuru or her subordinate, it was best to avoid unnecessary conflict. Getting into too many fights would only further draw the Navy and the World Government's attention to his actions, painting him as a greater threat. That kind of attention would do nothing for him—aside from raising his bounty.
"Perfect timing," Lilith said with a smile as she raised a stack of books in her hand. "I can take a few days to catch up on reading."
Mio nodded in approval. Among everyone in his crew, the one he worried about the most was Warwick. The werewolf was energetic, easily bored, and might sneak out at any moment if left unchecked.
Mio gave him a direct warning.
With that, the crew hunkered down at the hotel and waited.
Two days quickly passed.
What puzzled Mio was that the navy still hadn't left the capital. If they had come to Alabasta for a mission, they should've completed it and departed by now. Their continued presence only fueled Mio's suspicions.
Could they really have come here for him?
Fortunately, on the third day, Mio's Den Den Mushi rang. It was someone from Doflamingo's side—they had arrived at the royal capital and were requesting Mio's location.
After giving the address, Mio simply waited.
Half an hour later, someone knocked on the door.
Warwick, wearing a cloak to conceal his appearance, opened it. Two figures stepped into the room. One of them was instantly familiar to Mio—it was Diamante, one of Doflamingo's top officers and a trusted confidant of the Don Quixote Family.
"Mr. Mio," Diamante said with a polite smile. "These are the items the young master asked me to deliver to you. Please have a look."
He placed two boxes on the table.
Diamante explained, "This one contains an animal-type Devil Fruit—though we're not sure exactly which species. The other contains a little creature the young master thought you might find interesting. It's unconscious at the moment. You can open the box to take a look."
Mio's curiosity was piqued. While the Devil Fruit was valuable, what intrigued him more was the mysterious creature.
He opened both boxes.
The Devil Fruit had the classic swirling patterns, and Mio nodded briefly at it before turning his attention to the second box.
Inside was a small black panther.
It appeared very young—probably not long after birth—and was fainted, lying peacefully in the container. The creature looked a bit cute in its unconscious state.
"We found this little guy on an island in the West Blue," Diamante began to explain. "At first glance, it doesn't look much different from others of its kind, but it's far more dangerous. We monitored it for two days, and though it's just a cub, it has already understood the law of the jungle."
Diamante continued in a low tone. "Its mother was severely injured in a territorial fight and couldn't hunt anymore. One night, the cub—starving and desperate—killed her while she slept and used her as food to survive."
Mio's eyes widened slightly.
"Despite its size, it's incredibly strong. Speed, strength, reflexes—already on par with adult predators. And it's smart. We watched it lure and hunt large creatures using traps and strategy. One of its kills was even an ancient mammoth."
Now that got Mio's full attention. His eyes lit up.
"Oh? Now that you mention it, I'm definitely interested."
Diamante bowed slightly. "As long as you're satisfied, Mr. Mio."
To Mio, this little black panther was a gem. A beast that had not only survived brutal natural conditions but had already demonstrated strength, intelligence, and an instinct for dominance—it was perfect. It would be an excellent addition to his collection.
"I apologize, Mr. Mio," Diamante said, straightening up. "Because of the navy's presence, we can't stay long. The young master asked me to convey his regards and said that if fate allows, you might meet again in the Grand Line."
"Understood. We're about to leave as well," Mio said with a nod, closing the boxes. He handed them to Warwick, who held them gently in his large arms.
With a polite farewell, Diamante and his companion exited the hotel.
Mio turned to his crew. "Get ready. We're setting sail soon."
Everyone got to work packing up.
Meanwhile, outside the hotel…
A navy soldier had led Vice Admiral Gion—also known as Tsuru's protégé—to a shadowed corner of the street and pointed toward the hotel.
"Vice Admiral Gion, Diamante from the Don Quixote family just entered this hotel," he reported.
Gion furrowed her brow. "Is the Don Quixote family planning to establish influence in Alabasta?"
Moments later, as predicted, Diamante emerged from the hotel and swiftly disappeared into the distance.
"Should we pursue him, Vice Admiral?" the marine soldier asked.
Gion shook her head. "No. The Don Quixote Family is a powerful underworld group in the North Blue. Because of Doflamingo's background, the higher-ups instructed us not to provoke them unnecessarily. Even Fleet Admiral Kong specifically said not to antagonize their officers unless absolutely necessary."
Clearly, the Navy Headquarters had its own plans involving Doflamingo. She had no intention of interfering unless ordered.
But then, something caught her attention.
As Diamante left, another group exited the hotel, all wearing cloaks to hide their identities. But Gion's sharp eyes caught something.
From under one of the cloaks, a clawed hand briefly emerged—large, sharp, and unmistakable.
Gion's eyes widened.
"That guy—there's no doubt—it's Warwick! The werewolf from the Black Crow Pirates!" she exclaimed.
Even cloaked, she recognized the signature wolf claw. She had fought Warwick multiple times before and remembered the feel of those claws vividly.
"The Black Crow Pirates are still in Alabasta?" she muttered. "And… are they connected to the Don Quixote family?"
Gion pulled out her Den Den Mushi and began dialing a number, all while signaling the marine soldier beside her.
"Follow them. Discreetly."