In this world, those who possess the indomitable will of a king are destined to clash.
Conqueror's Haki is not merely a power; it is a statement of intent, a declaration that its wielder will never bow to another.
No one born with such a disposition is willing to remain subordinate forever.
Donquixote Doflamingo was no exception.
A blazing fire of insatiable desire burned in his heart.
He wanted to accumulate power relentlessly, to bend the strings of fate itself, and ultimately, to stand at the absolute pinnacle of the world.
At this moment, as he stared at the newspaper, everything around him seemed to fade into irrelevance.
The search for the Golden Lion, the grumbling of his crew, the gentle rocking of the ship—all of it was meaningless noise.
Only his endless, all-consuming pursuit of power occupied his every thought.
Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, Doflamingo turned around, forcibly suppressing the wild, manic excitement that threatened to burst forth.
His gaze, hidden behind his signature sunglasses, fell upon Bellamy.
His expression remained as composed and indifferent as ever, but for a split second, a trace of barely concealed, predatory exhilaration flickered within his eyes.
Bellamy, who had been observing his master's every move, immediately noticed the shift in attention.
He stiffened, his entire body radiating an even greater tension and a profound, fearful reverence.
He knew this was it.
Every time the Young Master addressed him directly, it was both a rare, coveted opportunity and a severe, unforgiving test.
One wrong move, one sign of weakness, and he would be discarded.
"Young Master," Bellamy's voice trembled slightly, but he fought to keep it calm and steady.
"Do you have orders for me?"
A faint, sharp smirk curled at the corner of Doflamingo's lips.
He spoke slowly, his voice a low purr that carried across the deck.
"Contact Izo of the Whitebeard Pirates. Ask him how much it costs to become a Dual-Fruit… or a Three-Fruit ability user."
"D-D-Dual-Fruit… user?!!!"
He quickly realized his lapse in composure, his face flushing with shame as he hurriedly adjusted his emotions and bowed his head in a solemn nod.
"Rest assured, Young Master," Bellamy declared firmly, his voice now filled with a desperate resolve.
"I will ask right away!"
He immediately pulled the dedicated Den Den Mushi linked to Izo from his pocket and began dialing without a moment's hesitation.
The other executives, who had been listening intently, finally grasped the situation.
A wave of understanding, followed by a surge of raw, greedy excitement, washed over them.
No wonder Doffy was so elated.
He had seen the proof of Whitebeard's formidable, multi-powered combat prowess in the newspaper.
What was even more exhilarating was the realization that he, too—that they, too—might become Dual-Fruit or even Three-Fruit ability users.
As far as they knew, only the Donquixote Family and Big Mom's crew, with their vast underworld connections, were qualified to trade with the Whitebeard Pirates on this level.
As for Kaido's Beasts Pirates? Forget about it.
The enmity between Kaido and Whitebeard ran too deep.
This gave the Donquixote Family an overwhelming, exclusive advantage.
With their immense financial backing, theoretically, every core member of their family could acquire a second, or even a third, powerful ability.
The implications were staggering.
They could wield the power of Logia fruits or mythical Zoans.
The entire Donquixote Family's strength would experience an unprecedented leap forward.
They could surpass one of the existing Four Emperors.
They could become the new, undisputed overlords of the sea.
At this thought, everyone felt their breath grow rapid.
Their gazes, which had once been filled with scorn for Bellamy, now turned fervent with anticipation.
Any lingering resentment toward him vanished in that instant.
If this man, this upstart, could secure such a goal for them, then his existence held immense value for the family.
Bellamy, feeling the shift in the atmosphere, took a deep, shaky breath, trying to calm his surging emotions.
Pururu… pururu… pururu… Click.
The Den Den Mushi connected.
From the other end came Izo's calm, slightly formal voice.
"Oh? The Donquixote Family's representative. What's the matter?"
Every time he heard that title, Bellamy trembled all over, as if pumped full of adrenaline.
'The Donquixote Family's representative.'
What an unbelievable honor.
To be called such in front of his idol, Doflamingo… his legs couldn't help but shake.
Every cell, every fiber of his being quivered with the glory of it.
"I-Izo-san, hello!" Bellamy tried to keep his voice steady, but the raw excitement in his heart was impossible to hide.
"There is… indeed something I'd like to ask you."
The sound of a strong wind came from the other end.
"Just say it," Izo's voice replied, faint but clear.
"It's like this," Bellamy began, choosing his words with extreme care.
"During the Marineford battle, your pirate crew displayed an awe-inspiring might that shook the world. We were wondering… is it truly possible for one of us to become a Dual-Fruit ability user?" He posed the question cautiously, afraid of provoking any displeasure or misunderstanding.
His heart was in his throat.
This was his mission.
He absolutely had to succeed.
"Hmm?" Izo seemed slightly taken aback by the directness of the question and didn't respond immediately.
Realizing his words might have been too blunt, Bellamy hurriedly added.
"Izo-san, please don't worry! Just tell us what price must be paid. We would never expect your pirate crew to suffer any losses in the transaction!" His tone was earnest, desperate to dispel any concerns.
Hearing this, a low chuckle came from the other end.
Izo's voice was now playful and relaxed.
"Didn't expect you to be so well-informed. Well, this isn't exactly a top secret anymore. Becoming a Dual-Fruit user is simple. All you need is ten billion Berries and a sufficient blood sample from the user of the ability you desire."
Then, Izo's tone turned slightly more serious.
"Of course, just like our other arrangements, the more blood you can provide, the better. It greatly improves the success rate. So you'd best prepare thoroughly."
These words struck Bellamy's heart like a hammer.
"Thank you! Thank you, Izo-san!" he responded excitedly, his voice brimming with gratitude.
Communication successful!
"There's no need for thanks," Izo said indifferently, his voice all business again.
"It's a transaction. It was fair and square."
Beep… beep… beep…
The Den Den Mushi disconnected.
Bellamy took a deep breath, suppressing his overwhelming excitement for the moment.
He turned to Doflamingo with a sense of immense honor, having successfully completed the mission entrusted to him.
The entire crew watched, waiting.
Doflamingo's grin was wide, his eyes hidden behind his glasses, but the approval in his voice was unmistakable.
"Hmm. Not bad."
The words were simple, almost dismissive.
But to Bellamy, they were his everything.
It was a rare, precious hint of praise from the man he idolized.
Upon hearing them, Bellamy felt as though he had been infused with an immense, validation-granting strength.
His eyes instantly brightened, and an irrepressible smile spread across his face.
Though his legs trembled slightly from the overwhelming excitement, he still managed to maintain his posture and slowly retreat to his position.
At this moment, his mind kept replaying Doflamingo's words on a loop.
"Not bad." He had done it!
He had finally proven his worth.
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