OPTC Chapter 241 The Look of Wanting to Stab Someone Can't Be Hidden
Unlike the Sabaody Archipelago, the shores of Saint Prutt Island were just ordinary sandy beaches. The tide came and went, washing over two sets of footprints left behind by who knows who, only to be covered by Tom's two neat rows of cat paw prints.
Tom might have been in a cheerful mood, but Zhang Da Ye and Diamante's conversation was far from pleasant.
"You're saying the people who were injured when we clashed with Mihawk months ago were from the Donquixote Family? So you came here to settle scores?"
"No, no, no," Diamante explained. "If we were here to cause trouble, we wouldn't have come with just the two of us."
After the Donquixote Family's base on Sabaody was destroyed, Vice Admiral Tsuru and Vice Admiral Gion had tried to trap them once using a transponder snail provided by Zhang Da Ye. After escaping, Doflamingo handed the job of investigating this tavern to Diamante.
But after digging and digging, all Diamante managed to find out were the names and appearances of a few members. As for their real strength, he had no idea.
The only solid reference was that they once captured a pirate with a fifty-million bounty.
As for the rumor about fighting Mihawk, Sabaody had exaggerated it beyond belief—no one knew how much of it was true.
Diamante thought even he could cross swords with Mihawk. The real question was whether he'd be standing or lying down afterward.
But just a few days ago, he read the news about CP5's fleet attacking a judicial ship. After asking around in Water 7, he learned it was the Amber Travel Group who had casually defeated over thirty warships.
That made Diamante finally take their combat power seriously. And according to Doflamingo, people like that were worth getting to know, maybe even recruiting—certainly not making enemies of too soon.
As for finding them, all he had to do was ask around in Water 7. Their group's traits were too recognizable.
"Then why are you here? Let me be clear—if you're here to pick a fight, better go find Mihawk. He's the one who insisted on attacking." Zhang Da Ye casually pushed the blame, though it wasn't really a lie. Mihawk had been the one to strike first.
"If I had the power to just pick fights with Mihawk, I wouldn't be here," Diamante muttered. Then he said aloud, "I'm not here for trouble. I'm here on Doflamingo's behalf to ask if you'd be willing to join the Donquixote Pirates."
"We have no intention of becoming pirates. Catching pirates is more like it," Zhang Da Ye replied.
Diamante gave him a look and said, "I wasn't asking you."
"Huh?"
"When you talk, you let this kid answer everything, and the flag shows the cat's image. But the real leader here should be you, right?" Diamante pointed straight at Artoria, wearing an expression like he had unraveled everything.
Everyone froze. What was he talking about?
Diamante, confident, continued: "You're cautious. Maybe in the eyes of ordinary people you hide it well, but you can't hide it from me. Someone like him, a weakling, could never lead a group like yours. But you… a person's aura of leadership can never be concealed!"
Zhang Da Ye: …
What do you mean, weakling? Look at me one more time and I'll show you—wanting to stab someone is also something you can't hide!
Artoria frowned. "You're mistaken. I'm just a guard. What Da Ye says represents my opinion. I have no interest in being a pirate."
"Don't refuse so quickly! Our young master, Doflamingo, is a man born with the qualities of a king, one in a million! One day he will rule this sea. If you join us, wealth, fame, and power—all of it will be at your fingertips!"
Diamante spoke with a look of longing, clearly believing every word he said.
Zhang Da Ye only sneered. Not every Conqueror's Haki user could rule the sea. Doflamingo? Forget it. "All that nonsense doesn't tempt me. Honestly, those two chicken legs on the table are more tempting."
Artoria silently agreed. She wasn't swayed by promises of wealth, but she had noticed yesterday that Da Ye's money box was almost empty. And in front of them stood a pirate worth 99 million.
"In that case, we won't disturb you further. Even if you don't wish to be pirates, we could still be friends…" Diamante forced a smile, but the atmosphere was worsening. He slapped Buffalo's back and urged, "Go!"
Though Buffalo looked like a fool, he reacted quickly. He had been hovering in flight all this time, but with Diamante's signal, he immediately tried to ascend and leave.
"Dong!"
Ye Yan stepped forward and struck the Soul-Calming Gong.
Diamante suddenly felt his body lose all control. Panic filled his voice. "What ability is this? My body won't move!"
"Damn it!" The worst part was that Buffalo's body also froze. His flying depended on spinning his body parts. Once immobilized, he immediately plummeted, dragging Diamante down with him.
"Buffalo!"
"Mr. Diamante, I can't move either!"
At the same time, everyone else felt a slight effect.
Zhang Da Ye's body stalled for a split second. He scratched his ear. "If only this move could get a little smarter."
"Yohohoho~ Almost scared my soul out again." Brook and Perona both edged away from Ye Yan.
For once, Perona agreed with the perverted skeleton. Ye Yan was practically their natural enemy. Luckily, this time he had stepped forward before striking the gong.
Ye Yan sighed helplessly. "I really am trying to control it better. As long as it works, that's what matters."
They could afford to chat casually because Artoria was hardly affected at all. She aimed at the two falling figures and unleashed two massive flying slashes.
When Diamante saw the huge slashes coming, he finally admitted to himself—this person probably did walk away standing after fighting Mihawk.
"We're dead! We're dead!" Buffalo didn't think that deeply. It was his first time seeing slashes that exaggerated, and tears nearly shot from his eyes.
"Move, damn it, move!" Diamante roared in frustration. Then, to his shock, he found his ability wasn't completely nullified.
Though his body wouldn't move, his red cape stretched and reshaped under his power, wrapping himself and Buffalo.
The cape was made of steel, only appearing light due to his ability. Maybe… just maybe…
Clang, clang! Two sharp metallic sounds rang out, followed by screams.
Artoria's slashes tore straight through. A thin layer of steel wasn't enough to block them. Blood blossomed from both men's bodies as they crashed into the ground far away.
"Did Diamante just use his ability?" Zhang Da Ye asked Ye Yan.
Ye Yan nodded. "Yeah. That's the weakness of the Soul-Calming Gong. If someone's ability doesn't rely on body movements, it can't restrict it. Are there many ability users like that?"
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