"Is that right? No, that's not right, is it? Normally, when people make small talk, they ask, 'How have you been lately?' But when it comes to you, it turns into 'Been living well lately?'"
Doflamingo sat slouched deep into the sofa opposite Michael.
"If I have to say it... life's been alright, I guess. Just not so stable in the 'personal safety' department, you know?"
"Don't forget who you are, Doflamingo."
Michael's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"You're one of the Shichibukai. If your personal safety were guaranteed, that would mean there's no longer any need for the Shichibukai to exist at all."
He leaned back, eyes reflecting the bright sky beyond the window.
"By the way, I hear you've been doing pretty well on the Grand Line. With Kaido's help, you managed to take over the whole of Pleasure Street. Must've been quite the haul, huh?"
"The profits... weren't as much as I imagined, but they're acceptable, I suppose."
Doflamingo shrugged, looking casual, though his back was already drenched in cold sweat.
"As for working with Kaido... I never meant to hide it from you. It's just that, after taking over Pleasure Street, there's been a lot to deal with, so I've been putting it off until now."
"That's fine. I'm not interested in who you choose to cooperate with."
Michael's gaze drifted back to the window, where sunlight blazed across the clear blue sky.
"As long as you remember the bottom line I set for you Shichibukai, that's enough. Oh, and I'll be taking seventy percent of Pleasure Street's profits."
"Seventy percent? Are you out of—"
Doflamingo shot up from the sofa, but the words "out of your mind" barely stopped themselves in his throat.
"What? Is that too difficult?"
"N-No, not at all."
He forced a grin.
"I was expecting you to ask for eighty percent! But only seventy? Your appetite's really shrunk lately, huh?"
"Now that you've said that... let's make it eighty. Really, thank you for the reminder."
"You son of a—"
Doflamingo snapped his mouth shut immediately.
One more word, and he might as well hand over all of Pleasure Street to Michael!
If anyone on the Grand Line were to witness this scene, their jaws would drop.
The infamous JOKER — one of the Shichibukai, the newly crowned emperor of the underworld who unified the black markets of the Four Seas and Paradise, now prospering in Pleasure Street —
Was bowing and scraping before a Marine.
Gone was any trace of "pride" or "arrogance."
No wonder Doflamingo had lived longer than most.
Knowing when to bend the knee — that's the mark of a true schemer.
He might have looked reluctant, but the moment he heard Michael mention "Kaido," Doflamingo already knew most of his profits were gone.
But he didn't feel a shred of regret.
This was money spent to stay alive!
No price was too high for that!
…Well, maybe a little high.
But still, this was the best possible outcome.
"Before the World Summit officially begins, I'll be convening a Shichibukai meeting first."
Michael stood up, the four wings on his back slowly unfurling.
"To be honest, you all turned out stronger than I expected. I originally thought this title would bring you a bit of misfortune."
Doflamingo smirked.
This Marine's hostility toward them was more obvious than lice on a bald man's head.
Whether it was him, the old man Chinjao who had regained his peak power,
The two brothers from Totto Land, or that shadow-loving Moria,
Or even that guy named Shanks…
Michael seemed to be hoping they'd all throw their lives away in some grand stunt.
"So you mean... all seven Shichibukai are gathering here today?"
"Of course."
Michael cast him a sidelong glance.
"If a Shichibukai fails to attend the Shichibukai meeting, they'll be immediately stripped of their title and marked as a primary target for Marine suppression."
He paused, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Honestly, more than anything, I'm curious to see when one of you will decide not to show up."
...
"Admiral Issho! We've been in Water Seven for an entire week already! Tom and his two apprentices have both returned! Why haven't we started investigating them yet?"
"You CP9 agents are supposed to be the best spies, aren't you? Why are you so restless all of a sudden?"
"Fujitora" Issho lazily twirled his walking stick, strolling aimlessly along the streets of Water Seven.
The soft tapping of his cane echoed against the stone road.
Rob Lucci, dressed not in his usual black suit but in a shipwright's outfit, followed behind him.
But the tension on his face said it all.
If he weren't absolutely certain that he wasn't this newly appointed CP0 officer's match, he might have already made a move.
This man was just too cautious.
The entire Water Seven was already under their surveillance — so why the delay?
"You see? Impatient again," Issho said with a gentle smile, pointing at Lucci.
"With that kind of impatience, how do you expect to accomplish anything big?"
"Alright then. Tonight, I'll host a banquet for Tom, Iceburg, and Franky. While I keep them occupied, you'll search their homes carefully. See if you can find any clues."
Issho smirked and turned away, leaving Lucci frozen in place.
"Aiyaa, Michael... I've used up every bit of my acting ability for your sake."
"Borrowing CP9's actions as a pretext to stir trouble, and using the World Summit to push for elevating Water Seven — which just defied the World Government — from a free trade city to an independent nation…"
"Still, you're the one who'll end up losing in the end!"
...
"So this is... Mary Geoise?"
Under the escort of Jinbe and the officers of the Marine Division, King Neptune and Queen Otohime of the Ryugu Kingdom stepped onto the sacred soil of Mary Geoise.
The royal couple exchanged glances — calmer than they'd ever imagined they would be.
The past was the past; the present was the present.
In the past, the Ryugu Kingdom had done everything in its power to bring Fishman Island into the light, to one day stand proudly as a member nation of the World Government.
To show the world that fishmen and merfolk were intelligent beings — no different from humans!
But back then, everyone had laughed at them, dividing the people of Fishman Island among themselves like spoils.
Now...
They were no longer a member nation, yet the World Government had invited them — almost pleadingly — to attend the World Summit and rejoin as a member.
Those same royal families who once mocked them as "jokes" and "beasts" now looked upon them with desperate, flattering smiles.
All of this… was thanks to that man — Michael.
"Allowing him into Ryugu Palace was the smartest decision of our lives."
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