Onigashima, inside a mountain cave,
King was reporting the situation in Sabaody Archipelago to Kaido, who was busy gulping down sake from a large gourd. Whether Kaido was truly paying attention remained unclear.
After King finished speaking, Kaido tossed the now-empty gourd aside, his tone laced with impatience.
"Enough! Stop talking about it. So what if a few rookies and an old-timer like Rayleigh died?"
King nodded silently, stepping back without another word.
Kaido swayed his massive head, continuing, "What I care about more is whether Doflamingo's shipment is ready."
Jack stepped forward immediately, voicing his frustration.
"Kaido-sama, that guy is being really dishonest. He's been stalling since my last visit, and we haven't received any updates."
Queen, snorting in derision, added,
"I think Doflamingo is just asking for trouble. Recruiting him was already giving him too much credit. Does he think being one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea will protect him forever?"
Kaido's towering figure rose slowly from his seat, his colossal presence exuding an oppressive aura.
He fixed his gaze on Jack and ordered,
"Jack, go and deal with him again. Tell him if he doesn't deliver, his so-called Donquixote family will cease to exist!"
BOOM!
As he finished, a wave of Conqueror's Haki exploded from Kaido, accompanied by crackling black lightning. Jack nodded, gathering his subordinates before storming out of the cave.
After Jack's departure, King voiced his concern to Kaido.
"Kaido-sama, I believe Jack might end up fighting Doflamingo this time."
Kaido shrugged dismissively.
"Then let them fight. Better yet, have Jack bring that fool back to me!"
King shook his head.
"That might not work. Doflamingo has some strength, and his String-String Fruit powers make him tricky to handle. I suggest I accompany Jack to ensure success."
Kaido considered this for a moment, nodding.
"Fine. Go with him. But keep yourself hidden unless necessary. If Doflamingo hands over the goods willingly, all the better. If not, beat him half to death and drag him back here!"
...
Dressrosa, King's Plateau
In the royal palace, Doflamingo and Rosinante sat across from each other in silence, their dinner the only sound between them. Rosinante appeared distracted, occasionally glancing up at Doflamingo with a hesitant expression.
Doflamingo, engrossed in savoring his lobster, didn't seem to notice.
Finally, Rosinante couldn't hold back any longer.
"Law has been captured by the Marines."
Doflamingo, still chewing on a piece of lobster, replied nonchalantly,
"Yeah, I know."
"Can you…"
"No."
BANG!
Rosinante shot up from his seat, glaring at Doflamingo, who continued to eat as if nothing had happened.
Finishing the last bite of lobster, Doflamingo elegantly sipped his wine and snapped his fingers. A white handkerchief floated from the table, dabbing at his lips.
Rosinante's hands clenched the edge of the table, veins bulging as he growled,
"Brother, I'm begging you! You're one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. If you speak up—"
Fufufufufu…
Doflamingo chuckled, cutting him off.
"Hearing you call me 'brother' is rare. Honestly, just for that, I'd give you anything you want. But not this. Law is exactly where he's supposed to be. I didn't get to send him there personally, but this works too."
"What do you mean by that? If you're not going to help me, I'll return to the Marines and speak to Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
"No. This is your home. Where else would you go? And besides, Law is likely no longer with the Marines. Going back won't help."
Rosinante froze, his body collapsing back into the chair.
Doflamingo watched him, shaking his head with a faint smile.
"Little brother…"
"Don't call me that!" Rosinante snapped.
Unperturbed, Doflamingo continued,
"Rosinante, is it worth this much for a stranger? If something happened to me, would you be this worried?"
Rosinante turned away, his voice icy.
"Don't flatter yourself. Let's talk when you decide to give this country back to its rightful rulers."
Doflamingo smirked, unfazed.
"You're still so naïve. This country is ours. I've told you the history of our family countless times."
Rosinante retorted angrily,
"Our family gave up this country voluntarily! For centuries, the Riku family ruled it peacefully!"
"And under their rule, did the people of Dressrosa prosper? Can't you see what Dressrosa has become now?"
"At the cost of neighboring countries! You're using the weapons you get from Kaido to destroy others!"
"I'm the king of Dressrosa. What happens to other nations is none of my concern."
"You—!"
"Save your breath. Think about it: I only sold weapons to those nations. It's their greed and ambition causing the wars, not me. And if I handed Dressrosa back to Riku Doldo III, this country would be carved up by others within a month. Believe it or not."
Rosinante's face twisted with frustration, unable to refute him.
At that moment, Viola burst into the room, panic written across her face.
"Doffy, Jack the Drought is here again! He's injured Pica!"
"Hmm?"
Doflamingo's expression darkened, a glint of menace flashing across his crimson-tinted glasses.
Downing his wine, he rose and began to stride out. Before leaving, he glanced at Rosinante and muttered,
"Stay here. No matter what you hear, don't come out."
Without another word, he vanished from the room.
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+255 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg