Liam Ross froze when he saw the quest reward.
For a moment, he could only stare, astonished by how generous it was.
It wasn't just a bonus it was a warning. Even the system seemed to be hinting that this time, the storm ahead would be unlike anything he had ever faced. One wrong step, and everything he'd built could crumble to dust.
While Garp and Aokiji sat nearby enjoying their meal, Liam quietly took a seat off to the side. His expression remained calm, but his thoughts churned beneath the surface like a raging sea.
Then, suddenly, a spark of inspiration flashed through his mind, lighting up his eyes.
Of course… the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
And right now, there was a perfect "friend" nearby someone who hated the Navy more than anyone alive.
Golden Lion Shiki.
The thought came sharp and clear. Shiki despised Garp and Sengoku to his core. That hatred had cost him both his legs it wasn't something he could ever let go of. The man had sworn vengeance until his dying breath.
And lately, there was someone else on his list of grudges: Diavolo.
Liam rubbed his chin, a calculating look in his eyes. Perhaps he could make use of that hatred push Shiki in just the right direction. If he played this right, maybe he could lure the old lion into attacking the Underworld City, drawing attention and buying himself time.
It was risky, but possible.
However, the idea quickly lost its shine.
He shook his head.
With Garp and Aokiji watching him day and night, there was no way he could slip away unnoticed. He was still officially their "escort officer," and that meant he couldn't leave the ship without drawing suspicion.
Even if he used his perfect invisibility technique, sneaking off the vessel would be easy but getting back on board would take an hour of cooldown time. And if Aokiji sensed anything off during that gap, it would be over.
No, that plan was suicide.
So he crossed it off mentally and exhaled through his nose.
He needed another way something subtle, indirect.
On the outside, he kept his expression perfectly neutral, eating calmly and exchanging casual words with the crew. But inside, his mind raced through possibilities, running every potential route like a chess master cornered on all sides.
Finally, he settled on a plan flawed, dangerous, but workable.
Liam sighed softly. "Guess this will have to do."
…
Meanwhile, far away in the North Blue, inside the luxurious halls of the Donquixote Family, the mood was entirely different.
Doflamingo lounged on his high-backed chair, the faint light glinting off his pink sunglasses. Opposite him, Trebol stood hunched in his thick cloak, his nasal voice dripping with slime as he held up a cane.
"Doffy," he rasped, "just got word the Navy's Borsalino's been sent to the Underworld City. Said he's there to capture the Demon Child, but it looks like they've already gone to war with the mob."
"Fuffuffuffuffuffu…"
Doflamingo chuckled darkly, leaning back. "The World Government has ruled for eight hundred years, Trebol. They're not as naïve as people think."
He had known from the moment he saw Robin that keeping her hidden would be impossible. The World Government's reach was too deep, its eyes everywhere. He just hadn't expected them to move this quickly.
Trebol frowned. "Then what about our deal with Capone Bege? If the mob's wiped out, that business is finished too."
Doflamingo waved a lazy hand, his grin widening. "You're missing the point. We're not in business with Bege. Our real partner is the man behind him. Whether the mob stands or falls doesn't matter. Fuffuffuffu…"
But as he spoke, a shadow passed through his thoughts memories of that mysterious man, Diavolo, and his doppelgänger who fought with power nearly equal to his own. Doflamingo prided himself on reading people, but that encounter had shaken him.
Especially when he realized that the one pulling the strings the one the Navy had placed a five-hundred-million bounty on was none other than Diavolo, the Demon Emperor himself.
That man's strength was comparable to a Marine Admiral. And with the resources Doflamingo currently had, going against him was unthinkable. Unless… he used his trump card.
But before he could dwell on it, a sharp ringing interrupted his thoughts.
Buru buru buru buru…
He glanced down at the Den Den Mushi on his desk.
His lips curled into a smirk. "Calling at a time like this? Let's see what kind of game you're playing."
He picked up the receiver, his voice a low purr. "Well, well. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
There was silence for a moment then a calm, hoarse voice came through.
"Doflamingo. It's Diavolo."
That name alone made the air in the room tighten.
Doflamingo straightened slightly, his grin fading into a serious expression. For all his arrogance, he wasn't foolish enough to underestimate a man who could rival an Admiral.
"What do you want?" he asked evenly.
"I need you to protect someone."
"Oh?" Doflamingo chuckled, his smirk returning. "Let me guess the Demon Child? You and I are business partners, Diavolo, not allies. Why should I risk my men for you? What's in it for me?"
Liam speaking through his clone smiled faintly. His tone carried no anger, yet every word hit like a knife.
"The reward," he said softly, "is my friendship. And if you refuse…"
His voice darkened.
"…then I don't mind taking a short trip to the West Blue and showing you what it looks like when your entire empire burns to ash."
His tone was calm, almost polite but Doflamingo felt the killing intent ripple through the line like a chill wind.
This wasn't negotiation. It was coercion.
Liam knew exactly how Doflamingo thought what motivated him, what terrified him, even the secrets he hid beneath that confident grin.
And he was betting everything on that knowledge.
For a moment, silence hung heavy between them. Trebol shifted nervously, sensing the sudden pressure radiating from his young master.
Finally, Doflamingo's voice returned, low and dangerous. "You're playing a dangerous game, Diavolo. You think threats will work on me? You're already a wanted man the Navy's closing in."
"Oh?" Liam's voice was calm, almost amused. "Then you already know about the Navy's siege on the Underworld City. But tell me, Doflamingo how can you be sure I'm even there?"
A pause.
"Or," Liam continued, his tone razor-sharp, "are you willing to bet your entire family's lives on it?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Doflamingo's hand clenched around the receiver, veins bulging as rage flashed through his eyes.
He wanted to tear the phone apart but he didn't.
Because he knew the man on the other end wasn't bluffing.
Anyone else, he would've laughed off. But Diavolo was a monster who could destroy his empire single-handedly. And Doflamingo wasn't stupid enough to test that.
After a long silence, he exhaled slowly, forcing his trademark grin back onto his face.
"Fuffuffuffu… You're quite the gambler, Diavolo. So confident I'll protect your precious Demon Child."
"Of course," Liam replied coolly. "Because your bloodline is your greatest secret and your greatest weakness."
The words hit like a hammer.
Doflamingo's pupils contracted sharply. His blood ran cold. That secret his true lineage was something only a handful of people in the world knew. How could Diavolo possibly know?
He had no answer.
And that terrified him more than the threat itself.
When the call ended, Doflamingo sat in silence for a long moment, his fingers still tapping against the shell of the Den Den Mushi.
Then he turned to Trebol.
"Send word to our contacts in the Underworld City," he said finally. "Make sure Nico Robin is moved to safety. Quietly."
Trebol blinked. "So we're really helping him?"
Doflamingo's grin returned, sharp and thin. "We're helping ourselves, Trebol. Always ourselves."
…
Back on the Navy ship, Liam closed his eyes and leaned back, exhaling deeply.
"One problem solved," he murmured. "For now."
Then he reached for another Den Den Mushi one that connected to a very different kind of ally.
The next move of the game was about to begin.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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