On the shores of Arinland, the Donquixote Pirates' ship lay docked.
Dusk. The bright light was gradually being replaced by chaos. Clearly, today was not a good day; the crescent moon and scattered stars, which should have been appearing and disappearing, were obscured by dark clouds. The atmosphere was incredibly oppressive.
The family's dinner had just concluded. Doflamingo, still tirelessly pushing himself through daily training, sat tiredly on the sofa, reading a book as a form of relaxation.
The atmosphere in the lounge, much like the weather today, was incredibly stifling. Giolla was washing dishes, Vergo and Pica were sweeping the floor, while Trebol and Diamante kept looking at each other, separating, then looking at each other again...
After a long while.
"Nyeh, nyehh~ Doffy?" Trebol, unable to suppress himself, spoke as quietly as possible.
Doflamingo didn't even lift his head. "What do you want to say, Trebol?"
"It's already been a year. We've been in Arinland for a year now," Trebol carefully prompted.
Thud.
The book closed.
"Yes, it has been a year," Doflamingo sighed, leaning back into the plush sofa.
They had been in Arinland for a year, plus the half a year it took to sail from the North Blue to Arinland. This past year and a half had been relatively prosperous and stable. Doflamingo, once small and frail due to malnutrition, had shot up in height like spring weeds. At just under twelve years old, he now stood at a commanding one meter seventy-something.
His slightly longer golden hair was slicked back, paired with flamboyant sunglasses. Although his face still retained a youthful innocence, his long-term, almost brutal training had intensified his innate aura.
That faint, ominous madness emanating from him, and the process of witnessing a monster's rapid growth and evolution, were why Trebol learned to truly revere him.
"I understand," Doflamingo stood up, walking to the window to gaze at Arinland bathed in the lingering glow of the setting sun.
This island was the most, most, most "hypocritical" place Doflamingo had ever seen. By day, it was the "City of Dreams," with towering buildings and golden splendor, a scene of flourishing prosperity. But once night fell, it instantly transformed into the "City of Sin," a den of iniquity where all sorts of shadowy demons and monsters would crawl out, even if only to show their faces.
Arinland's peculiarity likely stemmed from its establishment. Doflamingo had researched its history. Initially, it was just a farmers' market for surrounding islands, but over time, it became a free distribution center for goods. Anything could be a commodity, anything could be traded, even people, regardless of whether they were dead or alive!
Because it wasn't a country, let alone a World Government affiliated country, neither the World Government nor the Marines governed it, and it lacked any singular leader, making it utterly devoid of law.
While Arinland had no law, it did have rules. Currently, there were two forces maintaining a degree of order on the island: one was the financial magnates, who had money, and the other was the underground gang bosses, who had guns.
"Before, I wouldn't let you act rashly because I felt our strength wasn't enough. Even if we could snatch a meager meal, it would only be a pittance, and I wasn't interested. I explained this to you," Doflamingo turned, leaning against the window frame, smiling. "If we're going to do it, we'll do it big! Fufufufu~"
Trebol paused, then immediately understood, shouting in surprise, "Nyeh, nyehh~ Doffy?! You've decided to make your move?"
"Don't rush, the sun hasn't set yet! Rest for a while, replenish your stamina," Doflamingo sat back down, continuing to read his book, a biology text.
Giolla finished tidying the kitchenware, then leaned on the counter, cupping her face in her hands, saying happily, "Oh~ hohohoho~ Young Master has grown up."
"Aren't we going to cross-reference the intelligence we've gathered and identify our target, Doffy?" Diamante suggested excitedly.
Doflamingo quietly said, "Do you know which chicken in the Arinland underground gangs has the most power?"
"Chicken? Uh..." Diamante was taken aback, then quickly realized. "Drug Peclo, who runs the funeral parlor."
Doflamingo casually remarked, "To kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, naturally you pick the strongest chicken to slaughter. That way, when you kill it, the monkeys will be scared, and the rest will be easy to manipulate."
"..." Diamante was speechless for a long time, then hesitated. "Doffy?"
"Hm?"
"Did you have your sights on Peclo all along?"
"Hm."
"Then why did you make us gather intelligence?"
"To keep you from getting too bored."
Diamante: "..."
...
Eight o'clock.
Doflamingo stretched, put on a pair of black gloves, and said, "I'm leaving the ship in your care, Giolla, Vergo, Pica."
"Don't worry, Young Master!" Giolla draped a large black cloak over Doflamingo, then turned to Trebol and Diamante. "Take good care of the Young Master, you two idiots!"
"Nyeh, nyehh~" Trebol gave a dry laugh, thinking to himself: It's still uncertain who'll be taking care of whom.