Crocodile's eyes were bloodshot.
His face, all the way down to his neck, was flushed with humiliation and rage.
Not only had he been toyed with by the enemy again and again—
Even worse, his disgraceful state had been unknowingly recorded...
And now he was being forced to watch it with his own eyes.
What a humiliation. What a humiliation!!!
Watching Crocodile's twisted expression, looking like he was on the verge of a brain hemorrhage, Doflamingo's grin stretched all the way to his ears. His excitement was so intense it was almost... physical.
He clapped Crocodile's shoulder hard, again and again, and asked with exaggerated glee,
"Fufufufufu... Crocodile, how do you feel now? Huh? How's it feel?"
"You bastard! People like you deserve to be rot at the bottom of the sea for eternity!!!"
Crocodile roared in fury. Blood-tinged tears welled up in his eyes as he glared at the screen.
His limbs thrashed violently, the chains binding him clanking and straining under the force.
The proud and haughty Desert Crocodile was now utterly driven to madness.
Even losing to Whitebeard—Newgate—hadn't made him feel this humiliated.
Even when he was forced to question himself and ultimately abandon his gender...
None of it compared to the shame and agony he felt in this moment.
Damn it! Damn it all!
...
Not far away, hiding outside, Robin and Lafitte heard the howl.
They exchanged glances—both shivered.
What the hell had Doflamingo done to Crocodile?
...
"Fufufufufu~ What a pity. That great achievement you dream of... it'll never come true."
With a casual flick of thought, Doflamingo manipulated his threads to slowly weave a handkerchief.
He gently wiped away the bloody tears streaming down Crocodile's face.
Through his blurred, blood-red vision, Crocodile glared at Doflamingo.
His hatred was so intense it felt tangible.
If looks could kill, Doflamingo would've been torn to pieces already.
With the same condescending gentleness one might use to pat a dog, Doflamingo tapped Crocodile's cheek, then returned to toying with his silent puppet.
"Just keep wearing those shackles and try your best. Struggle. Make it fun for me to crush you. Next time... I'll bring something even more interesting. And when I do— You'll experience ecstasy like never before."
"So long as I live, you will pay the price for this one day!!!"
Crocodile's voice rasped out from deep within his throat.
"Well then, that's just perfect."
Doflamingo cheerfully tucked away the brand-new recording, then strolled toward the door.
As if suddenly remembering something, he turned back, smiling as brightly as the sun.
He waved the recording in his hand.
"Don't go dying on me, my dear Warlord. After all, you wouldn't want your disgrace to be broadcast across the seas, would you?"
"Huff—!"
Crocodile panted heavily, his pupils shrinking sharply.
His ears rang with the roar of blood surging through his veins.
CRACK!
Something inside Crocodile's mind snapped—inaudible to most.
And he passed out cold.
Drip.
"...?"
As blood trickled from Crocodile's nose, Doflamingo turned back and adjusted his sunglasses, a little awkwardly.
"Geez, kids these days... So hot-tempered. Just a little teasing and he's got a brain hemorrhage."
...
Moments later, Crocodile was carried away on a stretcher into the operating room.
At that same moment—
Senor Pink and the others arrived at Sabaody.
Area No. 13.
...
"Wow, that's amazing! So pretty! How do they even do this?"
Yamato's eyes sparkled as she stared at the rising rainbow-colored bubbles, asking a very unstudious question.
She was completely unconcerned by the people around her staring at the horn on her head.
"The roots of the Yarukiman Mangrove secrete a special natural resin. When it comes into contact with air, it forms these special bubbles. Depending on the resin's properties, different types of bubble tools can be made— Like bubble vehicles or bubble Ferris wheels."
Monet's gaze briefly flicked over Yamato's horn, then scanned the surroundings with a faintly gloomy air.
She didn't have fond memories of this place.
...
"Whoa, you really know your stuff, Monet!"
Yamato spun around and gave her two big thumbs up.
Her heart was full of glee, but Monet still let out an annoyed "Tch!" on the surface.
...
What Monet noticed, of course, Buffalo noticed too.
A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes as he leaned toward Senor Pink and asked,
"Should we take care of those tails?"
"No need. Let them make the first move."
Senor Pink glanced over at the bloated Weevil.
"And besides, they might not even dare to move."
Size doesn't guarantee strength.
But an overwhelming physique can certainly crush most people's fighting spirit.
...
"Huh? What's up?"
Weevil was licking a bubble cotton candy when he noticed Senor Pink staring at him.
He looked down and asked blankly.
The Godfather told him to behave, and he was doing his best to follow instructions.
"Nothing. Keep eating."
...
After weaving through alley after alley,
Senor Pink finally stopped when he saw the bar sign ahead.
This was the place the Boss told them to use for coating.
He didn't know why it had to be this place with such a suspicious name, but...
"Shakky's Rip-off Bar."
Yamato read the name aloud, then turned excitedly to Senor Pink.
"Can I drink this time?"
"No way. You're only allowed to have milk at your age."
A strange voice cut in.
Everyone turned toward the source.
Golden hair streaked with silver, scruffy beard, soaking wet clothes, straw sandals, and a bag slung over his shoulder full of who-knows-what.
The man looked like a scruffy old fisherman just back from sea.
He was squatting on the ground, smiling kindly at Yamato.
...
"You must be Old man who does the coating."
Senor Pink matched him to the mental image in his files.
"That's me. Just call me Rayleigh. Looking for coating? I'm the best in the business. Top quality at a fair price!"
Rayleigh stood up, pride written all over his face.
He'd been doing this for four or five years now, and he genuinely loved his craft.
Honestly, he felt like he'd been born to coat ships.
...
"Come in, Rayleigh."
At some point, Shakky had appeared in the doorway, cigarette between her lips.
Tall, elegant, and sexy, she scanned Yamato with a quick glance, thoughts flashing through her mind.
"Trouble."
...
"I'm coming!"
Yamato, ever the single-celled enthusiast, dashed in first.
...
"You guys go ahead. Bring me something to eat."
Weevil plopped down on the ground, stabbed his massive blade into the floor with a loud clang, and sat comfortably.
He was way too big to fit in the small bar.
Shakky's brow twitched at the sound.
All of that damage? That was her property. She'd be tacking on 20% to their drink bill later.
Rayleigh glanced back at Weevil's massive figure, that scruffy beard and weapon—
He stroked his chin and thought to himself:
"This guy... kinda reminds me of Newgate."
...
Just then, Weevil's nose started dripping snot.
His dumb expression instantly became even dumber.
And that fleeting sense of familiarity in Rayleigh's mind?
Completely shattered.
"No way. No chance. Newgate's already taken in so many foster sons—if he had a real one, he'd treat him like gold. This big idiot must just be a Whitebeard impersonator."
-----------
Fanfic is finished 527 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg