"Even... Mother Carmel," Doflamingo mentioned the name of Charlotte Linlin's former great benefactor.
Charlotte Linlin's massive body, which had just lain down with a "rumble," abruptly sprang up. She glared at Doflamingo, eager and suspicious. "Where is she? Where is she, Doffy?! Mother has been missing for so long; was it the World Government's doing?"
"Easy, Big Mom!" Doflamingo feigned a sigh. "I apologize; I didn't intend to offend you or delve into your past, but what can I say? I'm a businessman! A businessman's goal is naturally to acquire goods at a low price, then sell them at a high price, thereby earning enormous profit margins!"
Charlotte Linlin was furious. "You bastard! How dare you describe my precious memories as mere goods! Believe it or not..."
"Believe what? That's a common trait of businessmen! If there's a twenty percent profit, they'll become restless; if fifty percent, they'll take risks; if one hundred percent, they'll dare to ignore the threat of death; if three hundred percent, they'll dare to trample on everything in the world! Fufufufu~" Doflamingo licked his lips, unafraid. "Your precious memories are indeed precious. The profit I can make from them is far more than three hundred percent!"
"What do you want? Mama... ma... ma... ma..." Charlotte Linlin looked terrifying, her teeth grinding, making a chilling, sharp sound as she cackled, enunciating each word.
Doflamingo reached up and pulled his sunglasses down slightly, his blood-colored eyes momentarily visible as he gazed at Charlotte Linlin, his mind brimming with malicious schemes and deceit. "Fufufufu~ I don't want anything. I just want to tell you that I've found some information about that 'Holy Mother.' Although I'm not sure exactly where she is... this is the most valuable thing I currently possess to trade with you. The question is, are you willing to continue our cooperation?"
Charlotte Linlin's face fluctuated between dark and light, a complex mix of rage, anger, joy, and anxiety.
After a long while.
"As expected of the 'Sea Scourge,' Mamamama!" Charlotte Linlin laughed loudly, also sitting cross-legged on the floor. "I'm willing to continue our cooperation."
"I only know that Mother Carmel has an unclear connection with the World Government that is yet to be fully investigated. I will continue to investigate for you," Doflamingo promptly offered Charlotte Linlin a sweet reward, while also setting a precondition. "Fufufufu~ See, these are the benefits of the Warlord of the Sea title! But you need patience. After all, I'm a pirate, and getting access to World Government secrets has to be done one step at a time."
Charlotte Linlin angrily grabbed a handful of snacks and threw them into her large mouth, chewing loudly. "Good!"
"Smoothie is the link that keeps our cooperation going. If I take her away? Our wedding probably can't happen. The World Government would never allow a Warlord of the Sea to marry an Emperor's child. That doesn't fit their rules of the game. If they kick me out because of it, then both the 'human giantification experiment' and the unclear connection between Carmel and the World Government will go down the drain," Doflamingo explained.
Charlotte Linlin desperately suppressed her displeasure, grunting, "Alright! But you must give me a wedding cake that satisfies me!"
"Fufufufu~ Good," Doflamingo's lips curled upwards. "I'll still be responsible for collecting funds for you, planning supply channels for 'Totto Land's' complete construction, and so on. What compensation do you plan to pay?"
CRASH!!!
Charlotte Linlin erupted, throwing a punch at Doflamingo.
Swoosh~~~
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!!!
"..."
"Mama's angry~~~"
"So scary!"
"Run!"
"..."
Charlotte Linlin's punch didn't hit Doflamingo; he dodged it with a flash of his body, still sitting across from Charlotte Linlin. However, the Homies inside the castle scattered in terror.
"Don't be so greedy, you bastard!" Charlotte Linlin finally stopped her attack.
Doflamingo said faintly, "Business is business. Why would I help you without profit? Five Devil Fruits annually, and sending one of my designated executives to work for me each year—those terms aren't excessive, are they?" He paused, then said forcefully, "I've been polite enough to you, Big Mom! You're the one being too greedy. At worst, we can just part ways."
"You think you can just leave? This is my territory!" Charlotte Linlin roared.
WHOOSH!
Inside and outside the castle doors, Charlotte Family children and executives had clearly surrounded them.
"I told you, Big Mom, 'I dare to speak and act this way because I have my countermeasures and leverage!'" Doflamingo slowly stood up, pointing to the sky. "The 'Golden Lion' is right above us. He's also a major client of mine, and he's been racking his brain trying to settle his debts to me, fufufufu~ The Big Mom Pirates vs. the Flying Pirates. A clash between two Emperors would be quite a spectacle."
"You betrayed Mama!" Charlotte Family's second son, Charlotte Katakuri, who was essentially the Big Mom Pirates' de facto number two, said menacingly. He was tall and well-proportioned, dressed handsomely, and quite good-looking.
Doflamingo said, "Hey, hey, hey, don't talk nonsense! When did I ever join your Big Mom Pirates? Since I'm not even one of your people, how could I betray you? Fufufufu~ Watch your words, Katakuri! That's my advice to you. Be careful, one day... your mouth might get ripped apart."
"You bastard!" Katakuri reached out, and his trident condensed with Haki.
"Get out! Katakuri! Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're my son! My affairs are not for you to decide!" The strong wind generated by Charlotte Linlin's roar instantly pressured the surrounding children and executives. She turned and looked down at Doflamingo, taking a while before saying, "Donquixote Doflamingo! Remember your promise! Once I find you trying to—"
Doflamingo chuckled, "Don't worry! I'm a man of my word."
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