"Fuffuffuffu! Just be careful I don't kill you first, hmph!" Doflamingo also snorted, glaring at the two men in front of him. He knew they wouldn't actually fight, so he was just provoking them. The result was that Sakazuki had insulted him.
"Now, now, Doffy, they've come a long way. Show them some hospitality," Aeridar said, patting a sullen Doflamingo on the shoulder. He then stepped aside with a mischievous grin. "Come on in, Marines. But keep your weapons in check. If a shot goes off, I can't guarantee who'll die here."
At Aeridar's words, the people behind him also made way with unfriendly looks.
After entering the city, the Marines set up camp in an open area while Sakazuki and Kuzan followed Aeridar and Doflamingo to the mayor's mansion.
Sitting on a sofa, Sakazuki went straight to the point. "Where's Golden Lion?"
Aeridar didn't even look up. "He's dead."
At the answer, both Sakazuki and Kuzan paused, their eyes showing disbelief.
"Hey, hey, hey! That's not a joke you should be making!" Kuzan said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Do I need to lie to you?" Aeridar said with a scoff. "Or do you not think I have the strength to do it?"
"Hmph. I don't know about your strength, but I don't believe you killed Golden Lion! Not without proof!" Sakazuki said bluntly, without any reserve.
"Proof? Tch. Who do you think you are to be lied to?" Aeridar's eyes narrowed. "You're nothing but Marines. Don't get so arrogant!"
"You're just pirate trash! You're asking for a fight!" Sakazuki roared in anger. His right arm instantly turned into magma, and he threw a punch, causing the temperature in the room to rise sharply.
"You bastard! This isn't the place for you to show off!" Aeridar instantly stepped forward, his right foot, covered in Armament Haki, stomping fiercely on the Admiral's magma fist.
Bang!
With a muffled crash, a shockwave rippled outward, the ground vibrating. The floorboards cracked, and drops of hot magma splashed out, melting small pits into the marble floor.
"Whoosh"
Kuzan let out a cold breath and immediately lowered the temperature. With the room's temperature back to normal, Kuzan rubbed his forehead and leaned back on the couch lazily. "Arara... Let's all calm down. If the Marines and the Seven Warlords are going to be this hostile, we might as well just start fighting right here."
"Fufufufufu!" Doflamingo held up his hands and laughed. "That's entirely up to you."
"Hmph."
Hearing Kuzan's words, Aeridar and Sakazuki exchanged a look, snorted, and then pulled back their limbs.
Aeridar knew the two sides wouldn't actually fight, but he was annoyed by Sakazuki's habit of biting everyone he saw. Sakazuki, on the other hand, had always hated the Seven Warlords. He couldn't stand the presence of two wicked pirates, and since he couldn't arrest them, he was enraged. He figured that if he couldn't arrest them, he could at least teach them a lesson.
"Doesn't that feel better? It's pretty hot out, so let's not get too worked up," Kuzan said, shrugging. "Aeridar, you know what Golden Lion's return represents, and you should know the resolve of the Marines and the World Government. We just hope you'll cooperate a little."
"Fufufufufu! What he says is true. The Golden Lion's body is in the cellar, being kept cool," Doflamingo said, crossing his legs and grinning. "We were just waiting for a good time to bury him. He was a legendary man after all."
Sakazuki and Kuzan exchanged a look, their eyes still showing disbelief.
"We want to confirm it. Can you take us to see him?" Kuzan asked, his voice low.
"Sure," Aeridar said, nodding. "But what do you intend to do?"
Sakazuki folded his arms and said gravely, "We need to take the Golden Lion's body with us..."
"And then you'll use it to promote the Marines' glory and deter the other ambitious men on the seas, right?" Aeridar interrupted Sakazuki before he could finish, a sneer on his face. The Marines always liked to play these kinds of games. In the original story, Crocodile's defeat was attributed to Smoker.
"We just need his head and body to deter the seas. We'll tell the truth about who defeated him," Sakazuki said, not even bothering to deny it.
"Tch, not a chance," Aeridar said flatly. "I won't let the Marines desecrate his body."
Hearing this, Sakazuki thought Aeridar was just trying to negotiate for a higher price. "What are your terms?"
"No terms. I'll spread the news of Golden Lion's defeat myself. Don't underestimate my influence!" Aeridar said, his face growing cold. "Even though I'm working with you, don't forget I'm still a pirate. I won't let you disgrace his body."
"Fufufufufu!" Doflamingo let out a low laugh.
Sakazuki and Kuzan's faces darkened. This was a mission given to them by Fleet Admiral Sengoku and was expected by the World Government. They had traveled a great distance only to get nothing, which was a huge blow to their pride. They couldn't just go back empty-handed after two Admirals had been dispatched.
"Then what do you want?" Aeridar said, looking at the two Admirals with a mocking expression.
Before Sakazuki and Kuzan could speak, Doflamingo raised his index finger and laughed. "Fuffuffuffu! How about this? We've captured a lot of prisoners in this war—pirates, mercenaries, and assassins from the underworld. We'll hand over all the wanted criminals with bounties to you, and we'll help you hunt down the ones who escaped. That way, you'll have something to show for your trip, how does that sound?"
Aeridar gave Doflamingo a strange look but didn't object, accepting the offer.
Sakazuki and Kuzan exchanged another look and thought for a moment.
"Alright," Kuzan finally nodded. "But there's a woman from the Garfield Pirates named Elsa Katrina that you have to hand over. Alive or dead, she's a person that the World Government and the Celestial Dragons have specifically requested."
Knowing they couldn't get the Golden Lion's body, the two had no choice but to compromise. Sakazuki's expression was especially grim. The compromise with a pirate clearly bothered him immensely.
"Elsa Katrina," Aeridar said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he exchanged a glance with Doflamingo. "She's dead. I can give you her body."