Trebol didn't even care that his sticky cloak was picking up dirt from the deck. He hurried to Doflamingo's side and whispered urgently in his ear.
"Doffy! Listen to me — we don't need to bow to anyone!
You're a man born with Haoshoku Haki! You're destined to become the king among kings — the next Pirate King himself!
Why should we kneel to someone else?
That guy's just riding the name of the Roger Pirates. We've got nothing to fear from him!"
Doflamingo rubbed his chin thoughtfully, frowning in deep silence.
Trebol's words struck right at his pride. Doffy had never — not once — imagined kneeling to anyone. But the pressure radiating from Shiro was something else entirely. The man was different.
A former member of the Roger Pirates… that wasn't a title you could take lightly.
What the two didn't realize, though, was that their entire whispered conversation had been perfectly caught by Shiro's Observation Haki.
Shiro's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. The playful gleam in his eyes vanished, replaced by a terrifying stillness.
Then —
Without a word, he unleashed his Conqueror's Haki.
Crimson-black lightning exploded across the deck. The air itself seemed to quake as that overwhelming force slammed into Doflamingo and Trebol like a tidal wave.
The wooden planks beneath their feet groaned and cracked. Seabirds scattered from the masts in frightened flocks.
Trebol's legs buckled instantly. A crushing weight pressed against his chest as his body was hurled backward, crashing hard into the railing. His face went pale; every breath burned like fire.
Doflamingo's eyes sharpened. He clenched his fists — then let his own Haoshoku flare to life.
The two torrents of royal will collided in the center of the deck, black-and-red bolts snapping violently through the air. The sound was deafening, like thunder tearing the sky apart.
Crewmen dropped where they stood, unconscious or trembling, unable even to raise their heads beneath the suffocating pressure.
For a moment, the two forces seemed evenly matched.
But within half a minute, the balance broke.
Shiro's Haki was far denser — more refined — carrying the sharp edge of a man who had survived countless battles. It was like a blade pressing relentlessly against Doflamingo's spirit.
Doflamingo felt his chest tighten. Blood welled at the corner of his mouth.
Cracks spread across his trademark sunglasses — until, with a sharp crack, they shattered. His bare eyes glared up, burning with fury and refusal to yield.
But Shiro didn't flinch. His gaze stayed cold, his will only growing heavier.
The next pulse of his Conqueror's Haki broke Doflamingo's resistance entirely. Tiny cuts opened across his skin, blood seeping from the pressure alone.
Then —
Thud!
He dropped to both knees, palms braced on the splintered deck, gasping for air.
Shiro finally eased off. The storm of Haki faded, leaving behind only the tang of blood and salt in the air.
Doflamingo was drenched in sweat, breathing raggedly, his vision swimming.
"So… Doflamingo," Shiro said calmly, walking up to him. "Do you accept my offer now?"
His tone was deceptively mild, but the gleam in his eyes made it clear — one wrong word, and he'd strike without hesitation.
Doflamingo clenched his jaw, staring down at Shiro's boots. After a long silence, he finally forced the words through his teeth:
"I… accept."
He knew he had no choice. He wasn't strong enough — not yet. Resistance meant death. Submission, at least, left a path for revenge.
"That's better."
Shiro smiled approvingly and offered him a hand. As he helped Doflamingo to his feet, a faint white light bloomed in his palm — a glowing paw print.
He pressed it gently against Doflamingo's chest.
Instantly, a warm energy spread through Doflamingo's body. The pain vanished. His wounds closed. Even the blood on his face disappeared as if it had never been there.
Doflamingo's eyes widened in shock. He looked down at his flawless hands, flexing them in disbelief.
"This… this is the power of the Paw-Paw Fruit…? It can heal injuries like that…?"
"Before we go any further," Shiro said, withdrawing his hand, his voice turning serious again, "there's one thing I need you to promise me."
"What is it?"
Doflamingo looked up, wary. He knew this wasn't over — there was always another condition.
"You're going to stop your weapons trade with Kaido. From this moment on, no more arms deals with him."
Doflamingo froze. His pupils shrank.
"Wh–what? But Kaido—"
Just speaking the name made his throat tighten. The beast's shadow loomed in his mind — the indestructible monster said to be unkillable, unbreakable, unstoppable.
If he cut ties with Kaido… that monster's wrath would be unimaginable.
But Shiro's voice cut through his panic, steady and absolute.
"No excuses, Doflamingo. Leave Kaido to me."
A confident smile crossed his face.
"If Kaido ever comes for you, just call me on your Den-Den Mushi. My Paw-Paw Fruit lets me teleport instantly. No matter where you are in the world — I'll be there."
The idea made Doflamingo's mind race.
If what Shiro said was true… then with him as an ally, Doflamingo could rule the underworld freely — beyond Kaido's control.
His lips slowly twisted upward into that familiar, jagged grin.
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Now that's interesting. Very well then, Godfather — from this day forward, I'll follow your lead!"
"What… did you just call me?"
Shiro blinked, momentarily thrown off. He wasn't sure he'd heard right.
Doflamingo's grin softened into something almost respectful. He bowed his head slightly.
"Godfather," he repeated with a smirk. "In the underworld, the one who stands above all others — who controls the fate of those beneath him — is given that title.
You're offering me power, protection, and the chance to rise. It's only right I call you Godfather."
T/N: If you would like to read up to 20 chapters ahead for all my works, check out my P@treon: patreon.com/GhidorahWriter
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