Blood trickled from the corner of Doflamingo's mouth. He tried to move, to activate his String-String Fruit powers, to do anything. Nothing worked. His body remained pinned, helpless.
The realization crashed over him like a tidal wave: the gap between his strength and Finn's was insurmountable. An abyss so vast he couldn't even perceive the other side.
Finn swallowed his last bite of mediocre cherry pie, then slowly crouched before Doflamingo. His fingers moved with casual precision, removing the orange-tinted sunglasses from the pirate's face.
Finn had always been curious what Doflamingo looked like without those ridiculous shades. Were the rumors true? Did he have tiny eyes that looked absurd on his face?
Finally, an opportunity to satisfy his curiosity.
To his mild disappointment, Doflamingo was remarkably handsome. His eyes matched his facial features perfectly, nothing awkward or disproportionate. Sharp, intense features that radiated a particular quality Finn struggled to define.
Actually, no. He knew the word.
Wicked.
Finn had always found the phrase "wicked smile" somewhat awkward, imprecise. But examining Doflamingo's face now, handsome yet radiating something fundamentally corrupt, the description fit perfectly.
"Doflamingo." Finn's voice remained conversational, almost friendly. "You should understand that you do possess certain privileges. The people above are remarkably 'tolerant' of your existence. Generally speaking, we Marines prefer to avoid entanglement with special, troublesome individuals like yourself."
He reached out, patting Doflamingo's cheek gently, almost affectionately.
"But that tolerance? That's not permission to act arrogant in front of us."
Doflamingo glared up at him with undisguised hatred, words forced through gritted teeth. "According to my agreement with the World Government, you Marines cannot arrest me."
Technically accurate. Despite his bounty, Doflamingo's arrest was prohibited through various backroom arrangements. The Marines faced significant restrictions regarding him.
"You're absolutely right," Finn agreed pleasantly. "But nobody said I can't educate you."
The logic was airtight. Doflamingo's face twisted with impotent rage, unable to formulate a counterargument.
Finn's thoughts moved methodically, analyzing the situation with cold pragmatism.
People like Doflamingo were useful. In the future, he'd grow larger and more influential in the dark world's networks. The Marines could utilize those connections. Finn personally could utilize them.
For example, once Calm Belt development reached surplus production levels, excess resources could be channeled through Doflamingo's distribution networks. Through dark world channels, sales would leave minimal traces for the World Government to discover.
This arrangement wouldn't be unprecedented. In the original timeline, Doflamingo had conducted extensive arms business with both the World Government and Marines. When he'd fallen in Dressrosa, the World Government had immediately scrambled to establish direct business with Kaido, proving how dependent they'd become on those supply chains.
But Doflamingo was rebellious, ambitious, full of his own schemes and agendas. Getting him to cooperate obediently wouldn't be simple.
If Finn were a pirate, alternative methods existed. They might even become allies, partners of a sort.
But as a Marine officer, he couldn't employ overly subtle or roundabout approaches.
So Finn chose simplicity.
First, plant seeds of fear. Make Doflamingo afraid of him, genuinely terrified. Then, periodically reinforce that fear with demonstrations of overwhelming force. When Finn eventually needed him to perform tasks, if Doflamingo dared attempt any tricks, another beating would remind him of reality.
The goal was making Doflamingo fear Finn as intensely as he'd one day fear Kaido.
Fear that absolute. Fear that primal.
Then Doflamingo wouldn't dare betray him.
Fortunately, Finn knew Doflamingo possessed strong self-awareness. He understood when to bow his head and when to maintain pride. He wasn't a truly fearless fool who'd fight hopeless battles.
A few strategic encounters should establish the proper dynamic.
Originally, Finn hadn't intended to contact him this early. The plan had been waiting until Doflamingo suffered harsh defeats in the New World, until his arrogance was properly crushed, then approaching him.
But Doflamingo had walked right into his hands today. How could Finn possibly waste such an opportunity?
"Your so-called privileges, your special status, they're worthless to me, Doflamingo." Finn's fingers gripped the pirate's face, squeezing and manipulating his features into humiliating expressions, making him look ridiculous. "People must rely on themselves. Without personal strength as foundation, everything you possess is a castle built on clouds. When you encounter someone stronger and more unreasonable than yourself..."
He squeezed harder, forcing Doflamingo's mouth into a grotesque parody of a smile.
"Well. Just like right now. Everything you have exists at others' mercy."
Doflamingo's eyes blazed with fury and humiliation, boring into Finn with murderous intensity.
But Finn was finished here. He'd eaten his disappointing cherry pie, delivered his lesson, and had other matters requiring attention. No time to waste on small-time characters like Doflamingo.
As for killing him? Unnecessary. Actually counterproductive. Not only would it fail to serve Finn's interests, it would create complications for the Marines generally.
So Finn patted Doflamingo's cheek one final time, stood, placed his boot on the pirate's waist, and stepped over him like discarded trash as he walked toward the tavern exit.
When Finn disappeared around the street corner, Doflamingo suddenly found himself free. The crushing gravity vanished. He surged to his feet, expression savage, and started to give chase.
He made it three steps before freezing.
His body refused to continue. Muscles locked, instinct overriding conscious decision.
He had to admit the truth, bitter as bile: he was terrified.
That bastard Marine was completely unreasonable. Doflamingo had approached intending to make introductions, establish rapport, present himself as a potential asset. Before he'd finished his greeting, Finn had ground him into the floor and humiliated him thoroughly.
Is this righteous Marines? Where's the law? Where's justice?
But he had no recourse. Standing there paralyzed by his own survival instincts, Doflamingo found himself unwillingly agreeing with Finn's words.
Without personal strength as guarantee, once you encountered someone stronger and more unreasonable, everything about you existed at their mercy.
"Finn..." Doflamingo whispered the name like a curse.
I'll remember this. I'll remember today.
On the warship, Finn reclined on a deck chair, basking in tropical sunshine. Eventually Gion finished supply procurement and boarded, heading directly to where he lounged.
"Did you encounter that troublesome person on the island?" she asked without preamble.
"What troublesome person?" Finn raised an eyebrow.
"The Donquixote Family head."
Gion had previously served under Chief of Staff Tsuru at Headquarters before Finn recruited her to G-7. Prior to that transfer, complications surrounding Doflamingo and his organization had fallen under Tsuru's jurisdiction. Even during Doflamingo's North Blue operations, Tsuru had conducted extensive investigations into his activities.
Gion understood exactly how problematic his status made him.
"Oh, yes. We met briefly." Finn's tone remained casual.
"Was he arrogant? Sister Tsuru mentioned he's remarkably wicked despite his youth. Said if we had opportunity, we should eliminate him." Gion's expression soured. "Unfortunately, he has protection from above."
"Arrogant? Not at all." Finn smiled innocently. "Actually quite polite. When he saw me, he greeted me warmly, then prostrated himself at my feet, saying he admired me so intensely he refused to stand. Very respectful young man."
Gion stared at him for three full seconds before bursting into laughter.
After recovering, she asked, "You humiliated him like that without killing him. Aren't you concerned he'll grow powerful and seek revenge eventually?"
"You've got it backwards." Finn's smile turned predatory. "I'm deliberately planting seeds of resentment, hoping he'll attempt retaliation in the future. Otherwise, how can I properly deal with him?"
What he'd inflicted on Doflamingo today was primarily psychological shock. No serious physical harm, just crushed pride and dignity. Given Doflamingo's temperament, he'd definitely seek revenge when opportunity arose.
Perfect.
Finn was confident he could suppress Doflamingo indefinitely. If the pirate dared strike back, it would provide excellent justification for another beating. And another. And another.
Eventually, Doflamingo would internalize the lesson, truly believe from his core that defeating Finn was impossible.
Then he'd bow his head properly.
After more casual conversation, Finn noted the supply loading was complete. He rose from his lounge chair and stepped lightly on the deck.
A pale purple halo spread from beneath his boots, expanding rapidly until it enveloped the entire warship.
Then, defying natural gravity through sheer Devil Fruit power, the massive warship broke free from the ocean's hold and rose steadily skyward.
Pirates scattered across Jaya Island stared upward in shock and confusion, watching the impossible sight of a warship ascending into the clouds.
At that precise moment, countless thin strings erupted from the tavern where Finn had humiliated Doflamingo. In seconds, they expanded across the entire island, surrounding it completely.
Doflamingo emerged from the tavern entrance, murder written across his features, his fingers stained with fresh blood.
Inside the tavern, not a single person remained alive. Bodies sprawled across tables, slumped in chairs, collapsed on the floor. Every witness to his humiliation, systematically slaughtered.
Everyone on this island dies today.
The warship had already flown beyond his reach. Now Doflamingo could finally express his rage. If he couldn't defeat that bastard Finn, he could certainly handle these bottom-feeding pirates.
The tavern massacre served a purpose: eliminating witnesses who'd seen his disgrace. But the entire island needed cleansing. Too many people had observed a Marine officer walking through town while Doflamingo remained conspicuously absent, clearly avoiding confrontation.
Perfect opportunity to vent his helplessness and fury. Prevent future psychological problems by releasing everything now.
Inside the Donquixote Family's temporary residence, Diamante observed the white strings spreading across the sky, his expression darkening. "The young master's Birdcage. Let's go. He's planning something."
On the ascending warship, Gion watched the white strings enclosing Jaya Island far below. "You're not going to claim you deliberately humiliated Doflamingo in public specifically to manipulate him into cleansing Jaya Island's criminal population, are you?"
Finn grinned. "Who knows? But isn't it a beneficial outcome? I'm delighted to see Doflamingo dedicating himself to justice. Hahahaha!"
Actually, before Doflamingo's appearance, Finn had planned to ascend and drop a meteor on Jaya Island. Cool it down permanently, like Minion Island in North Blue. The island harbored no innocent civilians today. Nothing but pirates and criminals.
Finn felt zero psychological pressure about exterminating them.
But Doflamingo's unexpected appearance had forced a plan modification. Twenty years from now, Doflamingo could casually block Admiral Fujitora's meteors in Dressrosa. Currently though? A meteor strike might actually kill him.
Couldn't risk that. Not in Finn's interests. So he'd improvised, testing whether he could manipulate Doflamingo into handling the cleanup personally.
Turned out the pirate was sufficiently ruthless. Hadn't disappointed.
This worked better anyway. With Doflamingo eliminating Jaya Island's criminal population, Finn's hands remained technically clean. Out of sight, out of mind.
And another seed planted in Doflamingo's psyche: the association between Finn and absolute humiliation.
Perfect.
The warship rose higher, piercing through the first layer of clouds. Below, the Birdcage tightened. Screams echoed across Jaya Island as Doflamingo's strings began their work.
Finn leaned back, closed his eyes against the sun, and smiled.
Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.
Skypiea awaited. And with it, gold beyond measure and potentially the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
But first, let Doflamingo finish taking out the trash.
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