Above the ruins of Ohara, a secret alliance that would shape the future of the world was formed. Dragon and Vegapunk wore exceptionally solemn expressions, both understanding the immense weight of their new partnership. For Dragon, it was the dawn of his revolution; for Vegapunk, it was the key to unlocking the infinite possibilities of science.
"I will send someone to the Shambles for the specific details," Dragon said, his deep voice filled with gratitude as he looked at Kyle. He had no other choice; the Revolutionary Army was simply too poor to refuse.
"Me too, Kyle-san!" Vegapunk clutched the two test tubes as if they were the greatest toys a child could receive. "Once I've organized all this priceless knowledge, I will begin the new projects immediately!"
Kyle simply waved his hand, bidding a casual farewell to the two men who would one day change the world.
The journey back was quiet. Mihawk sat alone by the ship's railing, methodically wiping his black blade, Yoru. For him, the trip had been a complete waste of time. He hadn't gotten the fight he wanted and had instead become someone's research material, forced to give up a drop of his blood. The whole experience left him feeling deeply annoyed.
"Don't be so stingy," Kyle's lazy voice drifted from a nearby lounge chair. "It's just a single drop of blood. Think about it—a perfect being might be born from it, one who inherits your supreme talent for the sword and has the body of a Lunarian. You should be happy. Besides, wouldn't you want to test your skills against another 'you'?"
Mihawk's hands paused their work. His sharp, hawk-like eyes shot a glance at Kyle that clearly meant, "Shut up."
"Tsk, you're no fun," Kyle pouted. He stopped teasing the swordsman and closed his eyes, content to enjoy the gentle sea breeze.
Upon their return to the villa in the Shambles, Mihawk said nothing, heading directly for the training grounds on the back mountain. Moments later, the air began to hum with sharp waves of sword energy as he vented his silent frustration. Kyle only offered a merciless chuckle in response before fully immersing himself in a life of decadent laziness.
His days fell into a comfortable rhythm. He would wake up to the gentle attention of his maids, Sakura and Suzu, with a delicious breakfast already waiting for him. In the afternoons, he would lie by the courtyard pool, enjoying the meticulous service of the two girls while Robin read aloud from the newspaper in her clear, pleasant voice.
This peaceful routine continued for several days. Then, one afternoon, his butler Caron appeared before him, holding out a document with a respectful bow.
"Lord Kyle, this is the latest financial report and… some new intelligence that requires your attention."
Kyle took the report and flipped through it casually. The astronomical profit figures made him nod in satisfaction. Caron's business sense was incredible; he had turned the Shambles' various underworld enterprises into a single, efficient, money-printing machine.
He then picked up the intelligence file. As his eyes scanned the page, his brow rose slightly.
"Joker?"
The document stated that an underground organization from the North Blue was attempting to infiltrate the arms and brokerage markets in the Shambles. Its leader operated under the codename "Joker."
"Heavenly Yaksha, Donquixote Doflamingo…" Kyle tapped his finger on the name, a flicker of interest in his eyes. Speak of the devil. Just as he was thinking about needing new sources of income, someone had volunteered to be the source. You've come at the perfect time, my friend.
"My lord, do you need me to handle this?" Caron asked quietly, his eyes calm. With a single order from Kyle, he could make the rival organization's presence in the Shambles vanish without a trace.
Kyle took a sip of the juice Sakura offered him and spoke slowly. "Tell our people… to break the hand that's reaching out."
Caron paused for a second, then understood completely. A hint of a smile flashed behind his glasses before he bowed and silently withdrew.
Kyle stretched, rising from the lounge chair with a series of loud cracks from his joints. "Alright, vacation's over. Time to get to work."
He smiled at Robin, Sakura, and Suzu before walking toward the back mountain.
On the training ground, Gekko Moriah was practicing his Devil Fruit abilities. Countless shadows twisted and swirled around him, forming monstrous shapes and giving off a sinister aura. On the other side of the field, Mihawk sat silently with his eyes closed, his presence so intense that he and his sword seemed to have merged into one.
Kyle's arrival broke the tranquility.
"Let's go, you two," he said. His voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the air clearly. "We've got a job."
Moriah immediately stopped his training, his massive figure rising to its full height, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He craved a real battle, desperate to test his newfound power. Mihawk opened his eyes, his sharp gaze falling on Kyle. He didn't speak, but the question was obvious.
"We're going to pay a visit to the Donquixote Family," Kyle said with a relaxed smile. "It's time to teach an arrogant junior a little lesson."
…
In the North Blue, the town of Spider Miles was a monument to its rulers. The architecture was extravagant and ornate, painted mostly in white, and the flamingo emblem of the Donquixote Family was displayed everywhere. This was one of the strongholds of the "Heavenly Yaksha," Doflamingo. On the surface, it was orderly and prosperous, but dark currents ran just beneath.
The arrival of three uninvited guests shattered the false peace. They walked down the town's widest central avenue, making no effort to hide their presence. The man in the lead had black hair and golden eyes, and he looked around with the casual curiosity of a tourist, occasionally pointing at things in shop windows. Beside him was an inhumanly tall man with pale skin and a constant sneer. Residents scrambled to get out of his way. The last man carried a massive, cross-shaped black blade on his back. His hawk-like eyes were indifferent to his surroundings, yet his mere presence made the air on the street feel heavy and stagnant.
Kyle, Moriah, and Mihawk. The trio was so conspicuous it was as if they wanted the whole world to know they were here.
Hidden in the shadows of the buildings, the Donquixote Family's informants were sweating profusely. They held their Den Den Mushi with trembling fingers, too terrified to make a sound.
"See, Hawkeyes? The architecture here is pretty unique," Kyle remarked, as if he were taking a stroll in his own backyard. Mihawk ignored him, his gaze sweeping over the hidden scouts as if they were already dead.
"Gihahahahaha! What a boring town! There's not even a single decent opponent here," Moriah's piercing laugh echoed down the street. He was already getting impatient.
"Don't be in such a rush," Kyle said, pausing in front of a fountain. He looked up toward the most magnificent castle in the distance, perched on top of a hill.
…
Inside the Donquixote Family castle, the atmosphere in the council hall was suffocating. The family's top executives were all gathered, but none of them dared to speak. They kept their heads lowered, enduring the silent fury radiating from the throne above.
Doflamingo sat on a massive chair, his legs crossed, his iconic pink feather coat draped over his shoulders. The usual sinister grin was gone, replaced by a mask of cold anger. A vein pulsed on his forehead.
"Why am I only hearing about this now?" His voice was quiet, but it was laced with ice. "'Wave Guiding King' Aaron Kyle, 'Master of Shadows' Gekko Moriah, and 'Hawkeye' Mihawk… The three of them are already strolling down the main street, and you're only now telling me you've spotted them?"
Doflamingo's fingers tapped sharply on the armrest, the thump, thump sound echoing like a hammer against the executives' hearts. "Didn't I tell all of you that the Shambles is a forbidden zone? Did I not say, do not provoke that man?!"
His voice suddenly rose, and a wave of invisible Conqueror's Haki exploded from him before he forcibly pulled it back. Even so, the executives closest to him gasped for air, their hearts pounding in their chests.
The slimy Trebol shuffled forward. "Ne, ne, Doffy, don't be angry. That Kyle guy's movements are a mystery. He doesn't have a fixed ship, and he never takes normal routes. It's hard for our intelligence network to track him…"
"Excuses!" Doflamingo snapped.
Trebol flinched but pushed on. "Ne… I think he's here because of that business from a while ago. One of the lower-level bosses got greedy for the profits from the Shambles' arms market and acted on his own…"
"'Acted on his own'?" Doflamingo repeated, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You think a low-level nobody is enough to bring monsters like them to my front door personally?"
He knew exactly what this was. They were here for him. The foolish actions of his subordinate were nothing more than the perfect excuse. They had been targeted. The realization sent a cold chill down Doflamingo's spine. His plans in the North Blue, his expansion into the New World—everything was proceeding perfectly. Kyle's appearance was a massive, unpredictable variable, one that could destroy everything he had built.
"Doffy, what should we do now?" Diamante asked, his voice hoarse.
"What do we do?" Doflamingo slowly stood and walked to the massive window overlooking his territory. "They came here looking for a fight. Give the order. Tell everyone…"
He trailed off, his expression suddenly changing. Pica, who had been silent as a stone statue, suddenly whipped his head toward the entrance of the hall. Diamante and Trebol also sensed the disturbance an instant later.
Something was seeping through the cracks of the tightly sealed castle doors. It wasn't light or wind.
It was shadow.
Like ink dropped into clear water, thick, viscous shadows smelling of the grave were silently pouring in from under the door, spreading rapidly across the polished marble floor.
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