Regardless of his strength, Burgess's cheerful and eccentric personality was an excellent addition to the family's atmosphere.
After all, counting all the family members, Smoothie, Vergo, Pica, Gladius, and Robin were mostly reserved, while Giolla, Diamante, Lao G, and Urouge were self-indulgent in their sly growth. Weevil was an idiot, Trebol was a pervert, and Doflamingo himself was... unpredictable.
"Wiiihahaha~ The most important thing about being a pirate is being happy, of course! If you're not happy, why even be a pirate? Everyone, cheer up! Cheer up!" Burgess jumped onto the banquet table, gesturing wildly and making funny faces to liven up the somewhat subdued atmosphere.
The usually serene Smoothie unconsciously frowned, looking quite displeased and about to lash out.
"That's right," Doflamingo grabbed Smoothie's hand, signaling her to calm down, and raised his glass, laughing, "Fufufufu~ Even though many family members aren't back, this is a rare banquet. Everyone, enjoy yourselves to the fullest!"
"Oh~ hohoho~ That's right!" Giolla chimed in. "Tell me quickly if you want anything else to eat, Young Miss will definitely satisfy you!"
Diamante, as if by magic, produced a guitar and a microphone stand with a microphone attached. "Yohoho~ Let me sing 'Binks' Sake,' a pirate song, for everyone! Yohohoho~ Yohohoho~~ Binkusu no sake wo, todoke ni yuku yo, Umikaze kimakase namimakase..."
"Cheers!"
"..."
A noisy and joyful night.
The next day.
Pere pere pere~~~
The noisy Den Den Mushi woke up the hungover Doflamingo.
Click.
"Who is this?"
Putting on his sunglasses, Doflamingo leaned against the headboard and answered the Den Den Mushi.
"Joker, it's me, Spandine!" Spandine's exaggerated voice couldn't hide his excitement as he spoke rapidly. "On my way back to Mariejois, the Gorosei already called to commend me for being decisive and doing a splendid job on this mission! I took the opportunity to propose my desire to transfer to CP5, and they agreed! Hahaha~~ I thought of notifying you immediately."
Doflamingo was much more awake now. "Fufufufu~ Oh? Then I must sincerely congratulate you, my friend! Cipher Pol's nine branches have no superior or subordinate ranks; they are all under the command of CP0. However, compared to CP9, CP5 is safer, more relaxed, and has more benefits." Changing his tone, he added, "Is that why you didn't refuse when I suggested you transfer to CP5?"
"Uh..." Spandine stammered awkwardly, "Partly, partly. I just hope to serve you better, Joker-sama."
Ever since he willingly fell into the trap Doflamingo wove, Spandine's integrity and bottom line had steadily diminished. Doflamingo could no longer see any sense of shame in him.
"By the way, Nico Robin, do you know anything about her?" Doflamingo inquired.
Spandine said, "Olvia's daughter? I remember that kid. There's evidence that she also knows ancient texts, but then we searched all of Ohara and couldn't find her. I was about to report it, and issue a..."
"No! No, no, you don't know about her," Doflamingo said meaningfully. "Your subordinates don't know about her either. That person doesn't exist, does she?"
Spandine was bewildered. After a moment, he understood and answered definitively, "Yes, I don't know! I don't know anything."
"So in this world, the only person who knows the ancient texts is Kozuki Oden, the daimyo of Kuri in Wano Country, former second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, and an executive of the Roger Pirates," Doflamingo smiled faintly. "You can tell the Gorosei that, and then the Gorosei can decide whether to go to war with the powerful nation of Wano Country to eliminate the Kozuki Family, ensuring that no one else knows the ancient texts."
Spandine grimaced.
"You're not the only one who earned merit in the Ohara Buster Call Incident. There's 'Buddha' Sengoku, who gave you the authority to initiate the Buster Call; 'Akainu,' who bombarded the evacuation ship and massacred civilians to prevent anyone knowledgeable in ancient texts from escaping; 'Kuzan,' who froze his renegade Marine friend Jaguar D. Saul into an ice sculpture, and so on," Doflamingo said softly. "I believe the World Government saw their determination to maintain the World Government's rule and peace of the seas. If there are no surprises, shouldn't the Marine's generational change truly begin?"
Spandine said, "I've heard some whispers. The World Government is indeed researching it, but the specifics aren't clear yet."
"Very good," Doflamingo mused. "First, solidify your transfer to CP5 as an officer. We'll discuss other things later. That's all for now... The funds have already been transferred."
Click.
The Den Den Mushi hung up.
Stretching, Doflamingo patted Smoothie's long leg resting on him and said, "My dear? Still sleeping?"
"Hmm? Hmm~ Hmm~" Smoothie mumbled, rolled over, and continued to sleep, whimpering in her half-asleep state.
Doflamingo sighed helplessly. The family certainly had a lot of lazy people. Not disturbing Smoothie, he jumped out of bed to wash up and began his daily physical training.
"Wiiihahaha~ Young Master!" To Doflamingo's surprise, Burgess was even more diligent than him, already drenched in sweat from training.
Doflamingo nodded, clicking his tongue in praise. "I admire your dedication, Burgess! Fufufufu~"
"The weak get beaten! That's an unchanging truth! I, who lack talent, must work hard! Wiiihahaha... ha, ha..." Burgess laughed heartily, but then his laughter turned awkward. He rubbed his still-bruised cheek, stating plainly, "But sometimes, no amount of effort can compare to overwhelming talent, just like yesterday Smoothie... Young Mistress, she's so lazy..."
"Fufufufu~" Doflamingo said, "Forget it, Burgess! People are different. It's like giants and little people, an unfair arrangement of fate. Complaining can't rewrite an unfair fate, but effort at least offers a possibility."
Burgess bared his teeth. "Wiiihahaha! Exactly!"
"But in reality, you just need a powerful Devil Fruit to supplement insufficient talent. Otherwise, no matter how much effort you put in, it still won't compare to overwhelming talent. Effort might rewrite an unfair fate, but it's only a possibility," Doflamingo said expressionlessly.
Burgess: "..."
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