Ignoring the muffled whimpers coming from behind him, Doflamingo refocused his attention on Moria and his crew.
"Moria."
"Huh?" Moria, still basking in his own joy, turned around like a student caught daydreaming in class.
"BOSS, I'm here."
"Your first failure, you encountered my mercy."
"Your second failure, and once again, you ran into me."
"I wonder... will there be a third failure?"
Moria's dark purple face shifted from joy to embarrassment, then to an ominous gloom.
Doflamingo's expression remained unchanged, but internally, he was thoroughly amused. Another successful daily dose of Moria harassment (1/1) completed.
Meanwhile, Moria wished he had never woken up. The suffocating shame and awkwardness left him speechless. He gritted his teeth and muttered,
"There won't be a next time, BOSS."
"I hope so. Once you've recovered, return to Raijin Island."
As for whether Moria would use the opportunity to escape?
That would be underestimating the pride of a West Blue powerhouse.
"BOSS!"
A sharp, pungent scent of gas filled the air as a goat-headed figure floated into the room, clutching an enormous syringe with a face full of excitement.
"Let me extract a little more spinal fluid from my hybrid kin."
More? Kin?
Moria's gaze grew even more dangerous as he stared at the goat-headed scientist before him.
No wonder his spine ached so much, even though Barrett had only hit his face.
This little bastard... just how much blood did he take from me?
Caesar, only now realizing Moria had woken up, quickly tucked the syringe away and forced an awkward smile.
"Shurorororo! Hello there, I'm Caesar, the BOSS's chief scientist."
Moria and his crew continued to glare at him in silence.
"Ahem!"
Doflamingo cut through the tense atmosphere.
"Prepare for departure, Caesar. Tell Judge to bring most of the Aramaki blood."
"Understood, BOSS."
Caesar absently rubbed the horn on his head before bolting out of the room. He suspected that if the Young Master hadn't been present, this underdeveloped hybrid would have already chopped him to pieces.
...
"Mmm, delicious! Buffalo, why are you all so..."
Yamato, struggling to find the right words, tilted her head.
"So fanatically devoted to Lord Doflamingo?" Buffalo offered, polishing the silver emblem on his chest—a symbol of his early education under the Donquixote Family.
Accepting the bowl of soup Kozuki Hiyori handed her, Yamato took a sip before asking,
"Right! But wasn't there a lesson from Auntie Jora's culture class? North Blue's weapons were all made by him, weren't you guys victims?"
"Miss Yamato, weapons have no will of their own. If not the Young Master, someone else would have been the manufacturer."
Buffalo swallowed a large mouthful of food as he recalled his miserable past before joining the Family. Speaking through a full mouth, he continued,
"People like me die on the seas every single day. In contrast, the Young Master gave us a home, gave us food, gave us warmth, gave us strength."
"Even those who aren't selected for battle still receive work and the Family's protection. That alone puts us ahead of ninety percent of the world, Miss Yamato."
"Serving Lord Doflamingo is our greatest honor!"
Scratching her head, Yamato still couldn't quite grasp it. No food? Why not just go fishing? The ocean's right there.
"Fuffuffuffuffu... Well said."
Doflamingo's silhouette appeared at the entrance.
His towering figure cast a shadow over the entire room.
Buffalo and the other second-ranked members immediately put down their food in unison, their movements synchronized. They clenched their right fists over their chests, bowed their heads, and roared in unison.
"Lord Doflamingo!!!"
Doflamingo nodded in satisfaction.
"Very good, full of spirit. The Family's growth depends on all of you. You are the future."
"Your will, Lord Doflamingo!!!"
"Whoa! So cool! I want to do that too!" Yamato immediately bounded up to Doflamingo, tugging at his pant leg.
"You're not qualified to bear this responsibility yet."
The single-minded warrior instantly lowered her head, dejected.
Doflamingo patted the disappointed little warrior's head in reassurance.
"But, as a reward for defeating everyone here, you can accompany me on this voyage."
The entire room fell into a heavy silence. Buffalo and the other members hung their heads even lower.
A group of them had been bested by a single guest. What a disgrace.
But Yamato, oblivious to their shame, lit up with excitement, looking up at Doflamingo. "Really?"
"Of course. Buffalo, you come along as well."
Buffalo's head shot up in shock before he quickly saluted. "Yes, Lord Doflamingo!"
"Hahahaha! You're the best, Mingo!"
Overjoyed, Yamato smacked Doflamingo's leg with a loud thud.
"Mingo?"
Doflamingo raised an eyebrow at the single-celled warrior before him. That slap could probably knock an ordinary human unconscious.
...
Baterilla Island
The Marine warship with a dog's head figurehead docked at the shore.
Moments later, Garp's skeptical voice echoed through the air.
"NANI?!"
Hanging his jaw in disbelief, Garp turned back to the fisherman he was questioning.
"Say that again."
Avoiding Garp's gaze, the fisherman stammered nervously. "Rouge... was taken away a long time ago."
"Taken... taken away?!"
Garp stood there, stunned.
"Who took her?"
The fisherman, who had just gone through questioning, collapsed to his knees with a loud thud, shouting desperately.
"We... we don't know! Please, have mercy, Sir Marine!"
Roger... I've failed you!
...
Flevance
"Papa! Mama! AAAAAHHH!"
Law and Lami's cries echoed outside the grand hall.
"Release these people immediately! They are guests of the World Government."
Meliance, who had been keeping an eye on the hall, turned his head toward the newcomer.
Clad in armor, the man was none other than Moccus, son of the Fifth King of Flevance.
"Prince the Sixth, our king is still inside, held hostage by the criminal Rosinante! If we let these people go, the king—"
SMACK!
Meliance's head snapped to the side from the blow.
"Fool! I am now Flevance's Sixth King. Lord Rosinante bears the Donquixote name. Release them!"
Celestial Dragons…!!!
The guards, along with Meliance, instantly fell to their knees, turning into spineless puddles, all traces of their former arrogance gone.
Law and Lami froze where they had fallen, their injuries forgotten as they crawled cautiously toward their parents, checking for signs of life.
Meanwhile, Moccus approached the grand hall carefully, bowing deeply.
"Lord Rosinante, Flevance's Fifth King has offended you. You may execute him now."
Rosinante, standing over Law's parents, let out a sigh of relief upon confirming they were still breathing. Without sparing Moccus a glance, he turned away with the family, leaving the hall behind.
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