Dragon's eyes widened, his mouth forming a perfect O of disbelief. For a moment, he genuinely wondered if he had lost his mind.
He had only come in to check on Darren's recovery. Never—not even in his wildest nightmares—did he imagine he would overhear something that nearly made his soul leave his body.
Godfather? Donquixote Doflamingo?
The arrogant Shichibukai. The Underworld Emperor. And most importantly—the Celestial Dragon who believed himself a god—calling Darren "Godfather" with absolute sincerity?
If Dragon hadn't been sure he was awake, he would've sworn he was dreaming.
How is this possible?
"Doflamingo… you're his Godfather?" Dragon stammered.
"Hm. More or less," Darren answered with an easy smile.
Hey, what do you mean 'more or less'?! Dragon nearly grabbed him by the collar.
"No—wait! Doflamingo is a Celestial Dragon! When did you become the Godfather of a Celestial Dragon?!"
"Oh, that."
Darren lifted the Den Den Mushi with a chuckle. "Back in the North Blue, the little brat had just arrived in my territory. He didn't know the rules yet and was already recruiting followers and building a crew."
"So I decided to teach him a lesson. We made a… rather interesting wager."
"Naturally, I won. And after that, I became his Godfather."
"But you know how young people are. Rebellious. Doffy was no exception. He rejected my authority often enough… Though I'll admit, it's also my fault for failing to guide him properly."
He sighed with a touch of theatrical melancholy. "I really was a negligent father."
Dragon could only stare. Are you actually getting into character right now?
"So… the rumors about you and Doflamingo fighting constantly—destroying whole towns—those were fake?" he muttered.
"Was that all an act?"
"No, no. It was real." Darren shook his head firmly. "The brat has been trying to kill me since the day we met. And to be honest, there were plenty of times I wanted to kill him too."
Dragon blanked out for a moment.
"So… if he ever had the chance, he wouldn't hesitate to kill you?" Dragon asked slowly.
"Exactly."
"And you'd kill him if you could?"
"Yep."
"But you two still ended up… coexisting?"
"That's right."
"And he calls you Godfather and pays you the highest Mafia honors?"
"That's how it is."
"And you guide him, teach him rules, principles, and the proper way to act?"
"Well, I am his Godfather."
Dragon stared at him, utterly unable to comprehend this twisted dynamic. "Is this some kind of sick game between you two?"
Darren rolled his eyes.
"It's not that complicated. He couldn't kill me, and at the time, I couldn't kill him. So we had no choice but to cooperate for a while."
He shrugged, helpless.
"Even I didn't expect it to turn into… whatever it is now."
"Hold on."
Dragon suddenly froze, as if struck by lightning. His eyes narrowed sharply.
"When the Shichibukai System was introduced, Doflamingo's name wasn't on the Government's initial candidate list. Could it be…?"
"Yes." Darren nodded without hesitation. "I eliminated every other candidate until his name appeared."
He smiled faintly. "Well… I am his Godfather. A little help is only natural, right?"
"And besides, I was partly responsible for selecting the Shichibukai at the time. Call it a small act of indulgence with my authority."
Dragon was speechless.
As Garp's son, he had benefited from countless privileges himself—training since childhood, cannon practice before most kids even learned to write. He knew what unchecked power looked like.
But hearing Darren casually admit this still made something twist uneasily in his stomach.
Darren exhaled smoke and continued with a sardonic smile. "I was simply carrying out the missions assigned to me. If those candidates couldn't survive the trials I arranged, they had no business becoming Shichibukai."
"This way, I was just helping the Marines and the Government select properly."
Dragon no longer knew what to say.
"But in the end, the brat didn't disappoint," Darren added, sounding genuinely pleased. "He's finally grown up."
"Now he's even the Vice Commander of the Knights of God."
Dragon fell silent again.
For a wild moment, he imagined the Gorosei learning the truth behind this entire chain of events. Would they choke from anger?
Wait—they're immortal. Choking wouldn't do anything.
"You're unbelievable…" Dragon muttered. "You slipped your own godson into the Shichibukai, and no one noticed. Why didn't you just turn the rest of the Shichibukai into your subordinates too?"
Darren chuckled but said nothing.
Dragon glanced at him… then froze.
"You… don't tell me…" He swallowed hard. "'Sand Crocodile' Crocodile…"
"I took his hand," Darren said with a grin. "And threatened to take the other one."
Dragon: "...What about 'Moonlight' Moria?"
"Same story."
Dragon: "...So 'Hawk-Eyes' Mihawk and 'Demon Heir' Douglas Bullet are—"
"Not at all!" Darren waved a hand.
Dragon let out a sigh of relief.
"Mihawk cut off his own arm," Darren continued calmly. "He said it was to catch up to my swordsmanship. Don't look at me like that—I don't understand him either. Swordsmen are strange."
"And Bullet? We've known each other forever. He became a Shichibukai by his own strength."
Dragon: "..."
In his entire life, he had never been this speechless.
To be continued...