Traveling from Spider Sea to the Big Mom Pirates' current base of operations, Doflamingo would only need a few days by flying through the "Sky Path." However, he had arranged to meet with "Golden Lion" Shiki in half a month, meaning that without Shiki's presence to hold the fort, he wouldn't rashly confront that unreasonable and unruly monster, Big Mom, again...
The extra ten days or so were because Doflamingo briefly left the Flamingo and then returned, hiding himself in the clouds and trailing the ship.
He wasn't worried about the safety of his family members entering the New World. With his title as a Warlord of the Sea, the Marines would never attack, and with Weevil, that beast, pirates roaming the first half of the New World wouldn't pose a threat to them.
Doflamingo's purpose was to observe, to observe Urouge.
Since venturing into the Grand Line, three new family members had joined: Weevil, Urouge, and Lao G...
Doflamingo had no doubts about Weevil's and Lao G's loyalty. No! He should say he had no doubts about Lao G's loyalty, as Lao G was a self-aware person who was accustomed to obeying the strong. So, he had Lao G and Pica coordinate with Trebol to return to the Sabaody Archipelago to start their businesses.
As for Weevil? He didn't understand what loyalty was at all; he only knew to listen to his mother. For now, Giolla was Weevil's mother, and Giolla's loyalty to him was beyond doubt.
Only Urouge remained.
Doflamingo harbored a constant suspicion.
On one hand, his method of subduing Urouge was rather "direct"; it made Urouge outwardly submit, but his heart might not truly be convinced.
On the other hand, he observed that Urouge, who expressed all emotions, whether happiness, anger, joy, or sadness, with a smiling face and believed in "smiling at life," harbored aspirations, admiration, and longing towards himself.
Although there was no hatred, this precisely proved that Urouge was also a man with ambition. He wished to be his own kind of person, not a subordinate to someone like him!
Doflamingo wanted to observe if Urouge would escape or perhaps betray him when he wasn't with the family.
The observation lasted for eleven days. Doflamingo saw no unusual movements from Urouge. Only then did he truly head towards the Big Mom Pirates' current base of operations.
After several more days.
Various dessert-shaped islands stretched continuously, outlining an area dozens to hundreds of nautical miles wide. The houses on the islands were made of biscuits, the roofs were chocolate, the fences were candy, and the rivers were soda... It was as if a sweet fragrance enveloped the sky and sea, an unimaginably luxurious dream, like a children's paradise imagined in a fairy tale.
This was Whole Cake Island, the Big Mom Pirates' current fixed territory. It also had a very arrogant alias, "Totto Land," the nation that encompasses all.
"Is that... a person?"
"Eh?"
"A flying person?"
"..."
Swooping through the sky, Doflamingo drew the upward gaze of the people, who were filled with astonishment.
Doflamingo also looked down at the people below—Longarm Tribe, Longleg Tribe, Mink Tribe, Fish-Men, Merfolk, Tontatta Tribe, Snakeneck Tribe. Apart from the Giant Tribe and rare, almost extinct races like the Three-Eyed Tribe, all races were present. He muttered softly, "Truly admirable! As expected, if one is strong enough, even a ridiculous dream like Big Mom's has a chance of coming true? Fufufufu~"
Suddenly, he stopped, also looking up, gazing at the crescent moon in the evening sky.
"I also need to work hard and become strong enough, and then pluck the moon!" Doflamingo said earnestly.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
"Hey!"
"You bastard! Donquixote Doflamingo!"
Heavy footsteps, a rough roar.
A giant of a man, with a fierce face and bushy beard, pursued Doflamingo from below. He wore a helmet and cape in the style of ancient gladiators, biscuit-like armor, and carried an exceptionally long sword.
"Oh? Cracker, fufufufu~~ It's been a while. So unfriendly right off the bat? That's quite uncalled for!" Doflamingo leisurely dropped down from mid-air.
Charlotte Cracker, the tenth son of the Charlotte Family, had gradually become one of the Big Mom Pirates' main commanders. Doflamingo wasn't as familiar with him as he was with Daifuku; their previous contact was merely a brief encounter when Doflamingo last visited Big Mom in the South Blue.
Cracker sneered, "Hmph~ Don't play dumb! You're a dog of the World Government now, and you still have the nerve to come to Mama's territory!"
"Tsk~" Doflamingo clicked his tongue, shaking his head in displeasure, his smile unwavering. "No, no, no, you're wrong, Cracker. I'm not a dog for the World Government; I'm a dog for profit, for desire! Fufufufu~ In this world, who isn't a dog for profit and desire? I don't know any saints who are free from desire."
"Sophistry!" Cracker leveled his sword, revealing his intention to attack.
Doflamingo spread his hands, unconcerned. "You said it yourself, this is Big Mom's territory, not yours! You're really not going to inform Big Mom that I'm here?"
Cracker froze, hesitating.
"You know why I'm here. Before Big Mom's decision is final, I advise you not to tear off the pretense," Doflamingo narrowed his eyes, his sunglasses glinting in the blood-red sunset. "Fufufuffu~ Don't think everything will be fine just by retreating into your 'Hard Biscuit' form. I have plenty of ways to make you scream for Mama, my future oniisan Cracker."
"Smoothie told you?!" Cracker's public appearance was a shell created by his Devil Fruit ability, and his secret of hiding within it had been exposed. Cracker was first startled, then instinctively thought of Smoothie.
Doflamingo pointed to his temple. "Smoothie isn't that bored! Did you forget what I do? Fufufufu~ I'm a businessman; information is also a business, you know!" He paused slightly. "Alright! I'm tired of rambling. Are you going to inform Big Mom that I'm here so we can all get along peacefully? Or are you going to just slash me with your sword and ignite some inexplicable dispute? Choose one."
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