North Blue.
Rubeck Island, Donquixote Family Estate Hall.
Dim, chilly light streamed down from the intricately carved marble dome. A cigar burned quietly on the coffee table, its smoke curling through the sunlight in ghostly, dissolving patterns.
"So... that's all?"
Doflamingo set down the Den Den Mushi and looked up at the man seated across from him, spine straight, expression calm.
Momonga, clad in a Marine coat, gave a small nod and smiled.
"That's more than enough."
A sneer tugged at the corner of Doflamingo's mouth, a glint of cruel amusement flickering behind his sunglasses.
"Fufufufufu... Who would've thought? The World Government's so-called Inspectorate officers at Marine Headquarters, bought off with a mere 300 million Belly. Cheap doesn't even begin to cover it."
"Bunch of greedy, useless drunks."
Momonga chuckled lightly and shook his head.
"Three hundred million Belly isn't exactly pocket change. But that's not why they gave in."
"Oh?"
Doflamingo's interest sharpened as he tilted his head.
He had already heard about Daren's special-promotion hearing for Vice Admiral.
Momonga had come to ask a favor—simple, really.
Using the Donquixote family's underground networks to locate the private slush funds of those Inspectorate officials... and discreetly deposit money into them.
For Doflamingo, the kingpin of North Blue's underworld, this was child's play.
The criminal syndicates were all tangled together beneath the surface, and his family's operations had already expanded deep into the New World, maintaining cozy ties with several of the dark world's reigning powers.
If Doflamingo wanted something done, they'd give him the courtesy.
Momonga gave a small smile, though there was a flicker of reflection in his eyes.
"The shift in their attitudes had little to do with the money. You know that. To most people, 300 million Belly is a fortune they'd never finish spending. But to them... it's nothing special."
Doflamingo narrowed his eyes slightly.
A spark of realization flashed behind his lenses before he let out a low chuckle.
"So... it's a warning."
Momonga nodded, quietly impressed by Doflamingo's sharpness.
Truthfully, if Daren hadn't explained it to him in detail, even Momonga might not have connected the dots so quickly.
"Exactly. It's more of a warning than a bribe."
"If Daren can uncover the existence of their hidden underground accounts, it means he could expose them at any time. And more than that—he can uncover everything."
"Their private villas, their secret mistresses, how many illegitimate kids they've fathered... Even where they shop, which restaurants they frequent, what brands they smoke, what liquor they drink, which doctors they visit, what prescriptions they're on... Daren can find it all."
...And that meant, if Daren ever wanted to, he could place bounties through the underworld—wipe them out quietly, without a trace.
That last part Momonga left unsaid.
But he was certain Doflamingo had already figured it out.
Doflamingo casually crossed one leg over the other, amused.
"Fufufufufu... Now that's entertaining."
Momonga stood slowly.
"Thanks for your help, Doflamingo."
Doflamingo let out a raspy chuckle.
"It's an honor to serve Godfather-sama."
Momonga nodded and turned toward the grand hall's doors.
As he stepped through the entrance, his pace suddenly stopped.
He hesitated for a moment, then spoke quietly, his voice almost soft.
"Doflamingo... you know, Daren actually cares about you."
Doflamingo froze.
A flicker of something unreadable passed behind the dark lenses of his sunglasses.
Before he could say a word, Momonga's form shimmered and vanished into a streak of lightning.
...
"Congratulations, Chief Staff Officer Tsuru. The Marine Headquarters just gained three more outstanding officers."
"Indeed—congratulations! A victory for justice."
"Commodore Daren—no, Vice Admiral Daren—is truly a remarkable man!"
"That's right. We'll be sure to sing his praises to the higher-ups!"
...
After the hearing, Tsuru found herself surrounded by a group of overly enthusiastic World Government officials, all beaming as they congratulated her. It took considerable effort for her to finally get away from them.
She couldn't remember the last time the Inspectorate crowd had treated her so politely.
In the past, they'd always carried themselves with arrogant airs, never really seeing themselves as part of the Marines—more like their superiors. Even toward her, the Chief Staff Officer of Marine Headquarters, they'd offer only perfunctory smiles, nothing remotely close to this level of warmth... in fact, it was borderline sycophantic.
Frankly, it unsettled her.
She much preferred their usual disdain. At least that felt honest.
'What the hell did those Den Den Mushi calls tell them to make them flip their attitude like that?'
Lost in thought, Tsuru made her way back to her office.
One thing was for certain—those calls had something to do with Daren.
Still preoccupied, she pushed open the door to her office, only to pause in surprise at the sight of two familiar figures.
"Gion, Tokikake?"
A soft smile crossed her face as she saw the two of them clearly waiting for some time.
"What are you doing here?"
Gion pressed her lips together, her expression tinged with concern, but didn't speak right away.
Tokikake, on the other hand, blurted out eagerly,
"Tsuru—how did the hearing go? Did it pass?"
Looking at the expectation gleaming in both their eyes, Tsuru chuckled and gave a nod.
"It passed."
As soon as the words left her mouth, a flicker of barely concealed joy lit up in Gion's usually composed eyes. Her fists clenched quietly at her sides.
"Damn it!!"
Tokikake immediately let out a disgruntled groan, grinding his teeth in frustration.
"That bastard Daren actually got approved?! What the hell were those Inspectorate guys doing!?"
Tsuru: ...
Right. So you two clearly weren't hoping for the same outcome.
She sighed and shook her head, sitting down at her desk as she began to pour tea.
"Alright, let's have it. You didn't come all this way just for the hearing news, did you?"
Gion hesitated for a second, then her face hardened with resolve.
"Tsuru-nee, I've made up my mind."
Tsuru blinked in surprise. She met Gion's eyes, then turned to Tokikake.
"You too, Tokikake?"
Tokikake pumped a fist and grit his teeth.
"Damn right! I've been staying in the background for way too long! If I keep this up, that guy Daren's gonna hog all the spotlight!"