"Are you really going, Doffy? Can't you not go?"
Upon hearing Doflamingo's decision to go to Mariejois, Diamante's reaction was particularly strong. It differed from the other family members' simple suspicion and worry about a pirate entering the territory of the World Government, their enemy.
Even though Doflamingo was already a legitimate pirate, a Warlord of the Sea cooperating with the World Government, the ingrained inertia of their long-standing enemy-friend relationship was still potent.
Diamante's intense reaction wasn't just due to the suspicion and worry about a pirate entering enemy World Government territory. It was also because, apart from Vergo, who was undercover in the Marines, and Trebol and Pica, who were setting up businesses on the Sabaody Archipelago, he was the only remaining family member on the Flamingo who knew Doflamingo's hidden identity and some of the grievances between Doflamingo and the World Government or the Celestial Dragons. Even Smoothie had been kept in the dark about this.
A pirate entering enemy World Government territory was already cause enough for suspicion and worry, but adding Doflamingo's past grievances with the World Government or the Celestial Dragons made it doubly dangerous.
There was no guarantee that the World Government wasn't waiting for Doflamingo to walk into a trap and capture him in one fell swoop.
How could Diamante not react intensely?
"Fufufufu~ Don't worry, Diamante!" Doflamingo was unconcerned, trimming his fingernails. "Since I dare to decide to go to Mariejois, I naturally have my own assurances!"
Diamante's mouth hung open. He wanted to say something more, but feared angering Doflamingo, so he anxiously gestured to Smoothie with his small eyes.
Smoothie paused, her hand shaking a large wine glass, and tilted her head. "We're still uneasy, Doffy! You're our King, and you certainly don't need to explain too much to us. We just follow your orders obediently, but..."
"I understand," Doflamingo interrupted Smoothie, speaking gently. "I'll give you a reason to feel at ease, fufufufu~ First, there's the title of Warlord of the Sea. That's my first protective charm. The Warlords of the Sea were a product born out of the World Government's forced response to balance the escalating tension of increasing pirates. Their biggest purpose is to restrain the Four Emperors."
"Now, the Warlord of the Sea plan is in its implementation phase; it's not yet complete, and whether it's complete or not is irrelevant. Once the World Government makes a move on me, those who have already joined the Warlords of the Sea and those who haven't yet will abandon the World Government. The Warlord of the Sea plan, which the Gorosei pushed through against all opposition and poured their hearts into, would immediately fall apart," Doflamingo tossed aside his nail clippers and flicked his fingers lightly. "Who wants to deal with someone who might bite them back at any moment?"
"But you also said that the Warlords of the Sea and the World Government started with a deceptive mode of cooperation, constantly ready to betray each other. Isn't that normal?" Diamante whispered.
Doflamingo nodded. "That's right! But these things must be kept in the dark, absolutely not in the open! That's the rule of the game! So, the Gorosei sending an invitation and informing me that a Marine warship will pick me up means they understand the rules of the game."
"It's complicated," Smoothie shook her head.
Doflamingo leaned back on the sofa, chuckling. "Furthermore, our guessing game for the Swordsman and Fighter rankings has swept the world since its launch, raking in tens to hundreds of billions in super wealth. The Gorosei are keen on my handouts! Why would they move against me? Fufufufu~" He paused slightly, then said, "In short, just focus on maintaining order at the Swordsman and Fighting Tournaments."
The family members exchanged glances and fell silent. They really couldn't change Doflamingo's mind.
Soon after.
"Young Master, a warship is approaching!" Gladius reported formally.
Doflamingo grabbed his coat, kissed Smoothie's forehead, and swiftly left, using Geppo to head straight for the warship.
"Someone's coming!"
"This guy can fly?"
"Don't shoot, it's a Warlord of the Sea, Sea Scourge-sama, whom we're assigned to escort."
"..."
The warship fell into a commotion. The faces of the Marines couldn't help but show expressions of apprehension, disgust, and fear, but there was also... something different.
"Arara~ What's going on? You woke me up," a lean, two-meter-tall man with medium-length curly hair, wrapped in a bandana printed with the Marine symbol, small sunglasses, and loose pants and a coat, grumbled, yawning continuously, from a corner, sounding both annoyed and complaining.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan, it's..."
A Marine cautiously prompted him.
"Fufufufu~ Just like the rumors say, he's truly a Marine who doesn't look like a Marine," Doflamingo had already arrived on the warship's deck. "I didn't expect you, the new generation monster of the Marines, Vice Admiral Aokiji, to be the escort."
Kuzan vaguely sized up Doflamingo, resting his chin in thought. "Uh... What was I going to say? Hmm, never mind, I forgot."
"Fufufufu~" Doflamingo's smile grew even more playful, and even more brilliant.
Standing up, Kuzan rubbed his groggy head and slowly replied to Doflamingo, "I was returning to Marine Headquarters. I was suddenly ordered to escort. I never thought my ship would carry a pirate. Oh, the world is ending!"
"Then you could've just refused to carry me forcefully, couldn't you?" Doflamingo said sharply. "Why didn't you refuse? No, what made you change your original intention?"
Kuzan pulled down his small sunglasses, his eyes staring blankly at Doflamingo. "Hmm?"
"I'm talking about your path of justice. Aren't you known for embodying 'Passionate (Fired Up) Justice'? You don't look very passionate now..." Doflamingo changed his tone, provoking him. "The Ohara Buster Call Incident? Fufufufu~"
Kuzan adjusted his small sunglasses and exhaled a cold breath. "Arara~ You know way too much, don't you?" He pursed his lips. "Anyway, I now believe in 'Lazy Justice'."
"'Sluggish Justice,' to be straightforward, it's easy to understand," Doflamingo concluded.
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