Hearing those words, the moment he hung up the call, Doflamingo wanted to strangle that East Blue Overlord on the spot.
It was bad enough that the guy had nearly wiped out all his officers, now he was actually planning to lure a Marine Admiral over to him?
Doflamingo's expression turned terrifyingly furious as he viciously cursed the damned East Blue Overlord in his heart.
He felt that ever since he'd started cooperating with that man, not a single good thing had happened.
According to his plan, he should have successfully stolen the Recipe, scammed Bartholomew Kuma, and then sold out the East Blue Overlord in the end.
And now? Gladius and five other officers had been caught. Right after that, Trebol, Diamante, and the agents they led were also taken. And that wasn't all. Counting everything, he'd already lost a full billion Berries! Yet now...
Most of his "family" had been captured, his money was gone, the Recipe was nowhere in sight, and on top of it all, he'd provoked a Marine Admiral?
That inevitably made Doflamingo think of what the East Blue Overlord had done back in the East Blue.
The Pirate Feast.
Restoring the glory of the East Blue pirates.
And the result? Forget glory, he'd practically culled all the budding pirates in the East Blue.
Thinking of that...
"Tsk,"
Doflamingo involuntarily drew in a sharp breath.
Was that East Blue Overlord some sort of walking jinx? Was anyone who got involved with him guaranteed to suffer?
Just like him now...
He hadn't even touched the Recipe, and he'd almost burned through his entire foundation.
Of course, it wasn't all bad news.
Being arrested by a Marine Admiral was still better than getting killed. At the very least, by relying on his status as a Shichibukai, he could still get Trebol and the others back.
Right now, the only thing he needed to do was cut ties with the East Blue Overlord, and fast.
As for cooperation...
Cooperate, my ass.
Doflamingo was even beginning to suspect that if he kept working with the East Blue Overlord, the next one to fall would probably be him.
He didn't know what was up with that man, but he had absolutely no intention of continuing this partnership. He decided he would even have to temporarily give up on the Recipe.
As for Trafalgar D. Water Law...
All he needed was to know the brat's location.
Doflamingo believed that sooner or later, that kid would come to him.
The priority now was to sever ties with the East Blue Overlord as quickly as possible, bring his family back, and restore the Donquixote Family. Otherwise, if things went on like this... it was only a matter of time before other ambitious wolves set their eyes on him.
Arms crossed, Doflamingo as he frowned beneath his sunglasses. A rare, solemn look flashed in his eyes. After a brief silence, he spoke in a chilling tone, "Trebol... Oh, I almost forgot, fufufufu, he's not here. Trebol's gone, Diamante's gone, Baby-5 is gone... everyone's gone. It's gotten a little lonely, hasn't it?"
He let out his unique laugh, then sprawled grandly back, arms spread along the back of his throne, and said calmly, "Monet."
At his words.
A tall, beautiful woman with grass-green wavy long hair, her left eye covered by her bangs, stepped up behind Doflamingo and said respectfully, "Doffy!"
"Tell Sugar to get ready. An annoying guest is on his way," Doflamingo said, his eyes flashing faintly.
Join forces to kill a Marine Admiral?
He knew the East Blue Overlord was arrogant, but he hadn't expected him to be this arrogant.
His lips curled, but his tone was ice-cold. "At this point, before the Marine Admiral arrives, our only choice is to make that guy quietly disappear."
...
"Achoo!"
Mock rubbed his nose, then scratched his head. He glanced back at the figure lying on the deck chair and blurted out, "Boss Kuzan, when we get to Dressrosa, are you coming in with me?"
"..."
Hearing that, Kuzan, who'd been lounging lazily with an eye mask on, pulled it down and stared at Mock, speechless.
Did this guy have any idea who he was? Who Kuzan was? How could he ask something like that? Kuzan snapped impatiently, "Just tell me before we arrive. And don't go around saying you know me!"
And that kid... Did he seriously not know that Mock couldn't navigate at all? And he still sent this guy to the New World on his own?
So what happened? A dignified Marine Admiral now had to guide him, and even escort him through the Calm Belt.
Kuzan was really starting to suspect...
That brat knew exactly what he was doing and was just taking advantage of him.
Still, it wasn't all bad. At least when they passed through Alabasta, his mood had been pretty good.
He wondered if that kid would like the gift he'd brought him.
Unfortunately.
He wouldn't get to see that scene in person. If he could, he'd be in an even better mood.
Kuzan gave a cheerful whistle and glanced again at the ship. He had to admit, this ship and its Propulsion Wheel setup were pretty nice. He said casually, "Not bad. This ship of yours is pretty good."
"Right? This is our new product. Look at this frame, that setup, so cool!" Mock puffed out his chest proudly. "After my Warship got wrecked by that rowing guy, the Boss took pity on me and designed this one especially for me. It's also the first ship produced by our yard!"
"Ararara, it is pretty great."
'Rowing guy? Who?' Kuzan just nodded lazily, then added meaningfully, "And this Propulsion Wheel is excellent, too."
"Of course. This is our own Propulsion Wheel. Different from the Marines'. Only our shipyard sells it."
"Shipyard, huh?"
He'd heard about that kid building his own shipyard.
When he'd seen how that kid had invited Robin aboard without hesitation, Kuzan had known that the 'Genius Marine Captain' exiled from Marine Headquarters was definitely bad news. But later... the kid had been surprisingly unexpected.
Honestly...
He also wanted to see just where this world would go, steered by a kid outside the Marines control and the Devil Child together.
However.
After all these years.
That kid hadn't studied a shred of history.
So why did he invite the sole survivor of Ohara back then?
'Don't tell me he really just wanted a female pirate to play with?'
Kuzan crossed one leg over the other and asked lazily, "By the way, who designs the ships in your yard?"
"Shipwrights we hired from Water 7, and Dr. Wolf. Honestly..." Mock scratched his head, grinning a bit sheepishly. "I don't really know the details. As long as the ship looks cool, I'm happy!"
"Dr. Wolf?"
"Yeah, a scientist we hired from the North Blue. He can even build a submarine. Super impressive."
"Ohhh, that is impressive. Almost on par with the World's Greatest Scientist," Kuzan nodded, sounding careless.
Then he let it drop.
He'd only been asking in passing. Even if Vegapunk really were there, as long as the World Government didn't discover it and give him orders, he would just pretend he hadn't seen anything.
"Right, once we get to Dressrosa, what are you planning to do? Did that kid tell you anything?"
"You mean the Boss? The Boss told me that I just have to run away at the critical moment. As for what critical moment, he said I'll know when it happens." Mock grinned. "And even if I don't, it's fine. The Boss will come. There'll be no problem."
"Run at the critical moment, huh? Wait, hold on..." Kuzan's eyelid twitched. He turned his head to look at Mock, paused, and asked, "That kid's coming too?"
"Yeah, of course! It's a big job. The Boss will definitely be there."
"Then why isn't he coming with us now?"
"The Boss isn't really into risks," Mock waved a hand. "And this way is so tiring. It's easier to have Kuma bring him over later. Only takes a few days!"
'So your Boss gets tired, but I don't? Your Boss doesn't like risk, but I do?'
Kuzan knew Kuma's ability well. Honestly, the fact that a Shichibukai like Kuma would attach himself to an East Blue Marine Captain had surprised him.
But he had to admit, that ability was ridiculously convenient. And besides...
Flying here? He could do that, too.
Kuzan sat up straight and snapped, "Dressrosa is just ahead. You can sail the rest yourself. If it's not important, don't contact me again!"
He was just about to jump off when,
"Eh? Boss Kuzan, I still can't see the island. You're gonna run the rest of the way?" Mock scratched his head. "Isn't that pretty far? Does Boss Kuzan like working out that much?"
Kuzan's eye twitched.
He thought about it, then drew his foot back, lay down on the chair again, and said flatly, "Call me when you see the island."
When he got back, he was absolutely making that kid pay for a new bicycle.
With a Propulsion Wheel attached.
Soon.
--**--**
Inside the quiet Royal Palace,
*Pururururu~*
A den den mushi rang.
Doflamingo, who had been waiting with an impassive face, picked it up immediately. His eyes narrowed. "Fufufufufu, East Blue Overlord, have you arrived?"
===============
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