Fujitora's thunderous question struck like a gong, sending a cold sweat trickling down Doflamingo's forehead.
As headstrong as he was, even Doflamingo had to admit that, faced with this monster of an Admiral, he had no room to maneuver—if Fujitora laid down the rules, he had no choice but to play by them.
How long had it been since Doflamingo last felt this powerless?
Sure enough, this world belonged to the strong. Only strength gave weight to one's words.
"Fufufufu... Fujitora, I am a Shichibukai, you know. That means I'm on your side, right?"
His clawed hands twitched involuntarily. Fujitora's question had backed him into a corner—
If he admitted to collaborating with Drake, the Admiral would strip him of his Warlord title on the spot and arrest him for violating the pact.
But if he denied it and claimed it was a sting operation against Drake...
Not only would he be forced to assist Fujitora in capturing Drake, but Kaido of the Beasts would never let him live it down afterward.
Just the thought of Kaido's brute strength and unpredictable madness made Doflamingo grit his teeth all over again.
If he crossed the Navy, Kaido might still shield him—but if he crossed Kaido?
The Navy would be the first to cheer for his death.
"Fufufufu... looks like we're not getting out of this clean today!"
Doflamingo took a deep breath, his mind settling.
That damn blind bastard with the monstrous Observation Haki... must've been lying in wait nearby to pinpoint the transaction so precisely...
Seems like it's time to give up this Warlord title after all... but if they think they can take me down with just this much, they're sorely mistaken!
"Drake! Stall him! I'll double your cut of the deal! Notify Kaido-sama!"
Doflamingo laughed maniacally, veins bulging from his forehead.
"Fufufufu! No one's ever dared threaten me like this! Not even a Navy Admiral, Fujitora!"
A thread shot from his hand, coiling tightly around Baby 5. Without anyone noticing, he had already hooked his threads into the clouds above. In an instant, he shot skyward, making his escape. Monet dissolved into a flurry of snow, vanishing from sight.
"Fujitora! If you don't care about the lives of the people of Dressrosa, then by all means—come after me!"
"Shichibukai or not... I don't give a damn!"
"Stop right there!"
Fujitora roared, unleashing a massive flying slash in the blink of an eye, cutting straight toward Doflamingo.
"Weapon Transformation—Sword Maiden!"
Baby 5 transformed into a massive sword, and Doflamingo caught her in his hands, swinging hard to block the slash. The impact sent the treasure chest tumbling to the ground.
Coated in Armament Haki, the blade clashed against the force of the Admiral's attack. Using the recoil, Doflamingo flipped through the air and soared off, his manic laughter echoing across Green Bit's skies.
"Drake! That 'treasure' is crucial! Don't let the Navy get their hands on it! Fufufufufu—"
"Monet! Hold them back!"
"Snow Rampart!"
A giant white wall of snow rose up between Fujitora and Doflamingo's escape route. As the sky darkened with swirling snowfall, a clear, icy voice rang out:
"Blizzard!"
A blinding storm engulfed the battlefield, freezing temperatures seeping into every corner, surrounding Fujitora and the Navy soldiers. The Admiral frowned—this Logia user was clearly confident in her power.
"Admiral Fujitora! I'll handle this one!"
Tashigi's voice rang out. The once-doubtful swordswoman had grown immensely. She drew her famed blade Shigure, eyes steady.
"Their deal is too important to let slip. Please—leave the traitor to me!"
Fujitora's expression turned a little strange. Drake's identity was top secret. Even within Marine Headquarters, only Sengoku, Wright, Rosinante, Smoker, and himself were aware—none of the other Admirals knew.
Naturally, Tashigi had no idea. But she had seen the official files.
The pirate before her—Calamity of Arms, X Drake—was once a direct subordinate of Fleet Admiral Wright!
Unforgivable.
At that moment, the treasure chest Baby 5 had dropped lay at Drake's feet. As he directed his pirates in a fighting retreat, he glanced at Fujitora with a strange expression and hefted the chest in his hand.
"I'm not dumb enough to think I can hold onto this against a Navy Admiral…"
With a roar, Drake began transforming. A massive Allosaurus, fierce and battle-scarred, emerged onto the battlefield.
"But Admiral Fujitora—don't think for a second you'll capture me that easily!"
"Men! Contact Kaido-sama! Tell him to move now—if not him, then at least send King!"
"Yes, Drake-sama!"
"..."
Fujitora was silent for a moment, brows furrowed.
"Drake. Hand me the chest, and I'll turn a blind eye to your retreat."
"Admiral Fujitora!"
Tashigi, now searching for Monet with her Observation Haki, was startled.
"That traitor—!"
"Tashigi. What's inside that chest... is more important than the 'traitor' himself."
Fujitora's extraordinary Haki had finally managed to sense something inside the box—a human voice.
But that shouldn't have been possible.
"Fine."
Drake looked at Fujitora deeply, then tossed the chest toward him and fell back quickly.
"All units—get on board! Set sail! Contact Kaido-sama immediately!"
"Drake! You broke the deal!"
Monet's shrill scream rang out as she appeared from the snowstorm. In her panic, she forgot to remain hidden.
"The Young Master will never forgive you!"
Doflamingo had poured massive resources into this operation, relying on Drake—rugged and nearly indestructible—to stall Admiral Fujitora long enough for him to prepare Dressrosa's defenses. If Fujitora hesitated for the sake of civilians, Doflamingo might even buy time until the Emperor Kaido arrived to turn the tide.
But now Drake was retreating—leaving the Young Master high and dry.
Sure, he'd sent a message to Kaido... but even if the Emperor set out right now, it'd still be too late.
Besides—Monet, as Doflamingo's secretary, knew one thing very clearly: Kaido was drunk most of the time.
If Fujitora wasn't being held back, he could head straight for Dressrosa and start rounding up the Donquixote Family.
And that would be the end of them.
"You dared to show yourself?"
Tashigi's eyes flared orange as she unleashed a blazing flying slash, fire spiraling around the blade. The explosion cleared the storming snow in an instant.
"Foxfire Style: Wildfire Flash!"
Two fluffy golden fox ears sprouted from her head, and nine shimmering golden tails fluttered behind her. Even Drake couldn't help but be taken aback.
"So this is the rising star of the Navy... the swordswoman known as the Nine-Tailed Fox, ranked alongside Skyblade Kuina, Fire Fist Ace, and White Horse Cavendish!"
Drake gave a silent nod of respect before leading his men to retreat. Behind him, Fujitora caught the falling chest, while Tashigi closed in on Monet.
"You didn't run the moment you had the chance? Brave."
"Illusory Style: Spirit Mirage Slash!"
Tashigi vanished. Monet, just as she tried to vanish into snow again, was overcome by dizziness, her vision warping into a cascade of phantom colors—
Splurt—
Blood sprayed. Her consciousness dulled. In the face of Tashigi's Haki-coated blade, she stood no chance.
Monet collapsed in a heap, decisively defeated.
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