Chapter 137: A Public Unmasking
"I thought you'd gone mad and forgotten this is a nation ruled by a Warlord of the Sea," Doflamingo sneered, a vein pulsing on his forehead. "As long as I remain a Warlord, Marine Headquarters will not operate in my territory without notifying me. Before I lose my temper, vanish from this island."
A usually unflappable Doflamingo didn't seem like someone who'd lose his cool easily. Unless... there was a necessary reason for the performance.
"Don't be so cold. The Warlords and the Marines are on the same side," Ian replied smoothly. "I believe Mr. Doflamingo will be happy to answer my questions. You have a reason to answer... After all, this explosion isn't something an ordinary person could cause. Doesn't that alone illustrate the severity of the 'problem'?"
Ian was making wild hints, lacing his words with a subtext only the two of them could understand. Having T-Bone act alone to create a gas explosion served one main purpose: to tell Doflamingo that his lifeline was in Ian's hands. If he wanted Caesar Clown back, he'd better cooperate.
Ian knew perfectly well how important Caesar was to Doflamingo.
Doflamingo: "..."
He had been observing Ian's expression. There was no tension, no hesitation—just complete confidence in his threat. It was highly likely Caesar Clown wasn't truly dead but was being used as a bargaining chip. Landing on the island in a manner that violated Marine internal regulations... the things Ian wanted to discuss must be equally disgraceful.
"What's the problem? Tell me," Doflamingo asked, a thread of curiosity in his voice.
Ian put his hands behind his back, pacing slowly as he began his explanation. "Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Doflamingo. Now, let's begin... The mad scientist I'm pursuing, Caesar Clown, was secretly hiding on an island, conducting horrific research. This includes, but is not limited to: kidnapping children as test subjects for gigantification research! Manufacturing artificial Devil Fruits and secretly selling them to various pirate forces through the underworld broker, Joker! Researching large-scale poison gas weapons, resulting in the deaths of everyone on a test island! Such a terrible criminal has actually fled to Dressrosa? This deeply perplexes me..."
Ian stopped and fixed a serious gaze on Doflamingo. "So, Mr. Doflamingo, is Caesar Clown one of your subordinates? If he's a subordinate of a Warlord of the Sea, all his crimes can be pardoned. We can discuss that later. If he isn't one of your men... I guarantee he'll die today."
Doflamingo: "!!!"
He was shocked by Ian's question. This Ian guy... He actually wants me to publicly admit that Caesar Clown is my subordinate! Why? What does he gain from this?
"Please answer me, Mr. Doflamingo," Ian pressed. "You don't have much time. Ten seconds..."
He didn't want Doflamingo to think too deeply. To shatter his ambition, truly redeem Dressrosa, and prevent countless tragedies from continuing, Ian had to take unconventional measures to pull Doflamingo down from his throne, step by step. Caesar Clown was a bargaining chip Doflamingo couldn't refuse.
"You're very well-informed, Vice Admiral Ian..." Doflamingo's voice was tight. "Caesar Clown... he is indeed my subordinate!"
He complied with Ian's wish, admitting it publicly.
Instantly, the surrounding citizens and gladiators fleeing the colosseum erupted into fearful discussion:
"That mad scientist is actually the King's subordinate?"
"What in the world is going on? Why would our King take in such a terrifying person?"
"Could it be that Caesar Clown's evil deeds... were secretly supported by His Majesty?"
"..."
Facing the flood of doubt, Doflamingo remained outwardly calm. He had no choice. Caesar Clown was definitely in Ian's hands now. Even if it meant risking public suspicion, he had to play along. At worst, once he recaptured Caesar... he could turn everyone who heard the secret into toys!
In the crowd, the toy soldier was deeply shocked by Doflamingo's answer. Why admit it? Why publicly confess to deeds that would shatter his image? Could it be that Jock Ian holds some other secret of Doflamingo's?
The toy soldier was no ordinary figure. He was Rebecca's biological father, the son-in-law of the former King Riku—Kyros, the legendary gladiator who had achieved 3,000 consecutive victories in the colosseum! For years, he had silently watched over his daughter, searching for an opportunity to overthrow Doflamingo. He was the first human in the kingdom to be turned into a toy. Because Kyros wasn't bound by a contract, he could still act freely. The target was simply turned into a toy, and all memories of the "target" were erased from those connected to them. Even the Donquixote Family had forgotten Kyros's existence.
This was the power of the Hobby-Hobby Fruit, a terrifying, concept-level Paramecia ability! It was precisely this power that allowed Doflamingo to maintain his seemingly stable, dark rule.
"My, my, so the rumors are true," Ian said, feigning surprise. "Nothing to be done, then. If such a terrible criminal is a subordinate of a Warlord, I suppose we must pardon his prior crimes and call off the manhunt. However... I have one more question..."
Doflamingo was furious. "You brat! Isn't that enough?! How many questions do you have?!"
Ian shrugged, unaffected by his anger. "Don't be so cold. We're practically family now. One last question. After you answer it, we can sit down and discuss... other matters. So, Warlord Doflamingo, what is your codename in the underworld?"
Doflamingo: "!!!"
This was another question he hadn't anticipated. On the seas, many powerful figures knew Doflamingo was Joker. Even the World Government pretended ignorance to maintain surface-level harmony. But to the ordinary citizens, this was an absolute secret. The words associated with "Joker" were all related to war, smuggling, human trafficking... all sorts of vile criminal enterprises. Who would connect such things with their lofty, majestic King? Even the hated former King Riku hadn't committed such atrocities.
"Hey! The Marines can't be this rude! What does our King have to do with the underworld?"
"That's right! Don't go too far, 'Sea King' Vice Admiral!"
"But... Caesar Clown is the King's subordinate. Could it be the King really has underworld connections?"
"Your Majesty! Please drive these Marines away and give everyone an explanation to set our minds at ease!"
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