That face, which was always twisted into a wicked grin, now twitched from the agony and humiliation.
Veins bulged at his temples, and through his sunglasses, the eyes glaring at Renzo were filled with naked killing intent and hatred.
"Young Master!"
Monet gasped, instinctively taking half a step forward. Her pale hand covered her lips, and her emerald eyes were full of worry.
Even though she had already decided to stay here, seeing the man she had followed for over ten years suffering such a heavy blow stirred emotions she could not silence.
But she only took that half step.
She saw the brutality flicker across Doflamingo's eyes, saw the tense hands of the Family officers behind him gripping their weapons… and she saw the man standing before them, Renzo, whose face held that same unchanging, eternal laziness.
She halted again. A strange mix of sourness and distance welled up in her chest.
There was a time when she would've stepped before her Young Master without hesitation, ready to give her life to protect his pride.
But now… between her and that world of blood and fire, a new wall existed, an invisible barrier named Renzo.
She and the Young Master… really had drifted far apart.
Renzo seemed utterly unaware of Doflamingo's seething rage. He simply tilted his head, speaking in a calm, emotionless tone to the king of the underworld:
"You see? She still worries about you."
His voice wasn't loud, yet every person present heard it clearly. The tense atmosphere paused in a strange, suspended silence.
Doflamingo panted heavily, the pain in his chest making it difficult to speak. He could only respond with a vicious glare.
Renzo ignored the look entirely and went on, his gaze shifting to Monet, his tone carrying a rare gentleness:
"But you should also see this, Doflamingo, she's happier here."
"There are no endless schemes, no bloodshed, no betrayals. She can study books she likes, experiment with fun new desserts in the kitchen, and even argue with that cook over there about the afternoon tea menu."
He pointed at Sanji, who was peeking curiously from behind a corner.
"Life is simple. But every day is peaceful. Comfortable."
He withdrew his gaze and looked back at Doflamingo. His usually sleepy eyes now held a depth that seemed to pierce everything.
"You saved her from a miserable life back then because you wanted her to be happy, didn't you?"
"But does 'family' mean chaining everyone onto your ship headed straight for the abyss… just so they can shatter alongside you?"
The words weren't crude like Rehn's insults, but each sentence landed like a heavy hammer on Doflamingo's heart.
Family…
The word he loved most, and the one he had twisted the deepest.
He could destroy a nation for family.
He could kill his own father and brother for the "purity" of family.
He believed that sheltering everyone beneath his wings, using absolute rule and power, was the greatest form of protection.
But Renzo's words made that belief falter.
Seeing Monet's expression, worry mixed with calmness and quiet relief, he wondered, for the first time…
Perhaps… letting go could also be a kind of protection?
As Doflamingo struggled internally, Renzo's gaze drifted toward the two large chests.
"Fufufufu…"
Suppressing the metallic taste rising in his throat, Doflamingo forced out a dry laugh, trying to regain control.
"It seems Admiral Renzo is satisfied with my… gesture of sincerity?"
"Sincerity?"
Renzo lazily lifted his eyelids.
"I'd call it protection money."
He opened one of the chests. Gold and jewels glittered dazzlingly in the sunlight.
But he barely glanced at them before closing the lid, uninterested.
Then he opened the smaller chest.
Inside lay a dark-blue Devil Fruit covered in spiraling markings, radiating a mysterious and powerful aura.
"A Mythical Zoan…"
Renzo finally cracked a small smile. "Now this is interesting."
Tossing the fruit lightly in his hand, he looked back at Doflamingo.
"In light of such generous gifts, especially this fruit… and for Monet's sake too, "
His tone shifted, every person instinctively holding their breath.
"How about this, Doflamingo? We'll end things here today. Monet stays. You and your people walk out safely."
"That's impossible!"
Trebol shrieked instantly.
But Doflamingo raised a hand, stopping him. He knew Renzo wasn't finished.
And indeed, Renzo continued with his characteristic lazy, yet irrefutably dominant voice:
"Not only that, I can give you something else."
The words made Doflamingo's pupils constrict sharply.
"In the future, if the Donquixote Family faces a crisis that could wipe you out…"
"For example, if a Yonko comes for your head, or if the World Government finally decides to erase you-"
He paused deliberately.
"…you can contact me through certain channels."
Renzo said slowly, "I'll send my subordinates to help you."
A beat.
"Not me, of course. Too troublesome. But my men should be enough to handle most of your problems."
"I think I have that kind of status now."
Arrogant. Lazy. And yet…
To Doflamingo, it sounded like a heavenly decree.
What did this represent?
A shield.
A guarantee from one of the strongest men alive, a top power of the Marines.
Even if Renzo's subordinates were the ones dispatched, everyone knew:
To strike a dog is to anger its master.
Touching Renzo's people meant provoking him.
With this promise, even Kaido, Big Mom, or the old fossils in the Marines would think twice before making a move.
And the price?
Losing Monet, who already had one foot out the door.
And some treasure.
A cheap deal.
A fortune.
"Of course," Renzo added, voice sharpening slightly.
"This promise has limits, you must not be the one who starts the trouble."
"If you go destroying kingdoms or doing something vile and people come hunting you down, my men won't help you. In fact, they might just clean you up along with the problem."
Doflamingo fell silent.
Head lowered, sunglasses hiding his expression… but his trembling hand revealed the storm inside.
He weighed everything swiftly.
Losing Monet meant losing a loyal agent and a source of information.
But gaining Renzo's conditional protection, meant securing the future of his Family and ambitions.
After a long silence, he finally raised his head. The rage and humiliation were gone. What remained was the calm decisiveness of a true schemer.
"…I understand."
He met Renzo's gaze.
"Deal."
Then he turned to Monet.
For the first time today, he truly looked at her, quietly, peacefully.
"Monet."
"...Young Master."
Her eyes reddened.
"Live well… here."
Doflamingo's voice was hoarse, but unexpectedly soft.
"Do the things you enjoy. Live safely, like he said."
It was farewell.
Without threats, without orders.
Just a wish.
"You… take care too, Young Master."
Monet bowed deeply, tears finally spilling.
Doflamingo stared at her one last time, as if imprinting her face into his soul.
Then he turned abruptly. His pink feather coat swept through the air in a sharp arc.
"We're leaving."
He did not look back.
Step by step, he boarded the ship, his back still tall, but carrying a loneliness no one else could understand.
The officers followed him silently. They cast one last complicated look at Monet… but said nothing.
Moments later, the flamingo ship raised anchor and drifted away from G-5, eventually disappearing into the horizon.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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