Watching his subordinates fume with rage, Doflamingo waved his hand to dismiss them, then pulled out a Den Den Mushi to make a call.
The line connected almost immediately.
"Borsalino has no interest in this matter!"
Before Doflamingo could speak, the Den Den Mushi's mouthpiece delivered the sharp voice of the World Government official who had overseen the negotiations with Germa.
"You took my money," Doflamingo said darkly.
"I've already ordered the Navy to act. As for Borsalino—he's not someone I can command. Doflamingo, you'd better understand—this is your request, not mine."
The man's voice carried a thinly veiled threat, and Doflamingo's expression grew stormier.
A mere lackey of the Celestial Dragons dared to speak to him like that?
The thought flickered through his mind, but he brushed it aside.
"Still, you don't need to worry. Borsalino has already set out. I didn't give the order myself, but it seems he's received one."
Doflamingo's eyes narrowed.
Borsalino received an order?
That could only mean one of two things—either the World Government itself, or the Fleet Admiral of the Navy.
And if it were the Government, then the highest-ranking official stationed in the North Blue would certainly have known.
Which meant—it came from the Navy.
What puzzled Doflamingo even more was why Don's bounty hadn't been made public.
Even if the target had been his own arms factories, Don had destroyed nearly twenty islands in the process.
That was a feat beyond what most pirates could even imagine.
"Is there something I don't know about?"
He hung up, frowning, but didn't give the order to turn back.
Since they had already set sail, he might as well return to the North Blue and see for himself.
If Borsalino really captured Don, then the matter would still require his hand to settle.
Though his primary focus now was on his collaboration with Kaidou, the returns weren't immediate. The arms factories of the North Blue, however, generated profits far too great to simply abandon.
North Blue.
"Cien Fleur: Bloom!"
Several armed guards sprouted extra arms across their bodies. With a series of sharp cracks, their bones snapped, and they all collapsed to the ground.
"That should do it."
Robin turned calmly.
"But it's not over yet."
Don and his companion continued their work.
The emotions stirred up earlier by Doflamingo's threat had already faded from Don's heart.
Now this was simply training.
The guards defending the factory no longer posed a challenge to him—but for Robin, it was a chance to hone her Devil Fruit's potential.
And besides—once you start something, you see it through.
"Anyone left?"
At his question, Robin spread her freshly awakened Observation Haki, but sensed no one else standing nearby.
"Yes—someone is approaching."
Don tilted his head toward the distant shore.
His powerful Haki stretched over the sea, enveloping the incoming ship.
Onboard was a familiar figure—Viola.
And beside her, a bizarre sight: a burly middle-aged man dressed in a baby's outfit.
Ridiculous on the surface, yet the man wore it as if it were formal attire.
The true man—Senor Pink.
A true man, yes—but also a true pirate.
Don narrowed his eyes.
"So, they finally show themselves. I thought they'd just keep watching while I tore down one factory after another."
He gestured lightly for Robin.
"Go prepare the charges. Level this place."
She nodded and disappeared into the factory's interior, while Don drew his blade and walked toward the shore.
By the time he reached the beach, the ship had already sailed close.
Pink spotted the figure waiting at the water's edge.
"It's him!"
Viola saw too, and her face tightened.
"He's strong."
Pink crossed his arms, his expression grave.
The intelligence they'd gathered suggested this enemy was at least a master swordsman—worse yet, a user of the Flame-Flame Fruit, with terrifying control over fire.
And if it truly was a Logia… then the fight would be brutal.
"Are you sure about this? We can still turn away. If he really is a Logia, remember—the Navy's three Logia users are all Admirals."
Viola cautioned.
"Logias aren't invincible."
Pink raised his hand.
The ship slowed and came to a halt at a safe distance from the shore.
"You all stay here. If I fall, retreat at once."
Without waiting for a response, Pink leapt high, using Moonwalk to launch himself toward the island.
Viola watched him go, then turned back to the crew.
Whether they could actually escape wasn't for them to decide.
After all, she had already witnessed Don's ability to soar through the skies with blazing speed. At this distance, escape was impossible.
She doubted Pink's chances, yet couldn't fathom why he insisted on fighting—especially without even alerting Lao G.
After all, Pink was only a standard officer. Diamante, who had already been killed by Don, had been one of the top four executives.
This was suicide.
But Pink was still a Donquixote officer.
To him, the kind of schemes Lao G favored weren't a man's way.
But Doflamingo had approved, so he had held his tongue.
Now that those plans had failed, Pink had come himself.
Even if he died, he would fulfill his duty as a man.
On the shore, Don studied the figure soaring through the air. His eyes gleamed with curiosity.
So he knew the Rokushiki techniques? Not surprising.
Despite their name, the "Six Powers" weren't exclusive to the Marines—CP agents mastered them, and even independent fighters across the seas had picked up fragments.
Still, they held little use for him. But for Robin? Perhaps worth teaching someday.
"Swimming!"
The muscular figure hit the sand, and without hesitation, sank directly into the ground.
The Swim-Swim Fruit!
Though its name suggested water, it was no Logia—it was a Paramecia. It gave its user the power to turn their surroundings fluid and swim through them.
Shhhk
Don's blade flashed from its sheath, sending a flying slash across the sand.
The cut carved deep, ripping through the beach and carrying on toward the sea.
But Pink's head and arms, which had been protruding a moment ago, vanished into the ground, the sand reverting to normal.
In a single instant, his body was gone without a trace.
END OF CHAPTER
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