CHAPTER 104: THE KING AND THE ADMIRAL
Seven days after receiving his orders, Admiral Satoru stepped onto the sun-drenched docks of Dressrosa. He had come alone, traveling on a small, unmarked Marine vessel. He couldn't bring any of his G-8 subordinates; the base's formidable defense could not be left without its core leadership. While he was present, they could rotate leave, but in his absence, the entire elite force was required to stand vigilant.
The port was bustling, vibrant, and filled with the cheerful music and laughter of a thriving kingdom. Citizens went about their day with wide, genuine-looking smiles. But Satoru's Six Eyes perceived the truth lurking beneath the colorful surface. The cheerful dolls hauling goods, cleaning streets, and serving drinks… each was a prison of a living soul, their true emotions a silent scream of despair that only he could sense so acutely.
"Superficial prosperity built on nightmares," he murmured to himself, adjusting his blindfold.
King's Plateau, Royal Palace.
"Young Master," Trebol's slimy voice announced as he slithered into the room. "Admiral White Dragon has been sighted at the port."
Doflamingo, lounging on his throne, frowned deeply. The name carried immense weight. As a master manipulator and underworld emperor, he understood exactly what "Admiral White Dragon" represented: not just a title, but a proven, catastrophic level of power. "What is he doing here?"
"Unclear, Young Master," Trebol reported. "He isn't making for the palace. He's… wandering. Like a tourist."
From the moment Satoru had disembarked, every move had been tracked by the omnipresent eyes of the Donquixote Family. In Dressrosa, nothing escaped their notice—at least, nothing that entered through conventional means.
"Monitor his every movement," Doflamingo ordered, his fingers tightening imperceptibly on the arm of his throne. "I want to know his purpose. Since he appears openly, he doesn't fear our surveillance."
"Yes, Young Master!"
After Trebol left, Doflamingo stared into the middle distance, the wine glass in his hand developing a web of fine cracks. White Dragon… what is your game? He was a pragmatist. Even with his entire family, a direct confrontation with a monster who had faced down Kaido was a guaranteed path to ruin.
Downtown Dressrosa.
"This country really is under his thumb," Satoru mused aloud, licking a brightly-colored ice cream. The sensation of dozens—no, hundreds—of hidden eyes on him was as clear as a physical touch. He didn't mind. He took his time, strolling through the sunny avenues, absorbing the contrast between the forced joy and the hidden horror.
Alright, he thought, finishing the treat. Enough sightseeing. Time for business.
His figure simply vanished from the crowded street.
"Report! The target has disappeared!"
"Lost visual!"
"He's gone!"
The panicked reports spiraled up the chain. By the time the news reached the palace, it was obsolete.
In Doflamingo's lavish chamber, the air shifted. A faint, cool presence materialized behind him. Doflamingo's instincts screamed a warning a fraction of a second before a cheerful, youthful voice spoke.
"Yo, Doflamingo. Pleasure to meet you."
Doflamingo spun in his throne. There, leaning casually against a marble column with his hands in his pockets, was the white-haired Admiral, a friendly smile on his face.
Almost instantly, the heavy doors burst open. The top officers of the Donquixote Family—Trebol, Diamante, Pica, and others—poured into the room, weapons drawn. They had felt the sudden, intimidating presence. Seeing Satoru standing so casually before their leader, their faces hardened with a mix of fury and deep-seated anxiety.
Doflamingo's initial shock smoothed into a carefully constructed, sharp-toothed grin. "Fufufu… A truly unexpected visit, Admiral White Dragon." He spread his arms in a mock-welcoming gesture. "To what do I owe the… pleasure?"
"I wonder," Satoru said, his smile not wavering. "What reason would a Marine Admiral have for visiting a notorious pirate?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. The implications were clear. Every member of the Family tensed, battle stances solidifying. Doflamingo's grin froze, then faded completely.
"So," Doflamingo said, his voice dropping its playful tone, becoming flat and dangerous. "The Navy has finally decided to move against me?" As he spoke, his fingers twitched almost imperceptibly. Five nearly transparent threads—"Parasite Strings"—shot silently through the air towards Satoru, aiming to seize his nervous system. It was a futile test, but he had to try.
The threads stopped. They hung in the air, mere inches from Satoru's uniform, unable to advance a millimeter further.
"A friendly tip," Satoru said, his tone light but his words carrying a steel edge. "It's best not to try any sneaky tricks in front of me. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what I might do to you next."
Snap.
The invisible threads simply severed. Doflamingo felt the connection break. The Admiral hadn't moved a muscle.
Before the standoff could escalate further, a small, cheerful figure pushed through the legs of the grown-ups. It was Sugar, her innocent face beaming.
"Wow! Big brother, you're so cool! Can I shake your hand?" she asked, her voice sweet and bright, extending her small hand towards Satoru.
Satoru didn't look at her. His blindfolded gaze remained fixed on Doflamingo. "Is this something you allow?" he asked, his voice devoid of all warmth.
A bolt of pure terror shot through Doflamingo. "SUGAR, GET BACK!" he roared.
But it was too late. Hearing her master's panicked shout, Sugar hesitated, her smile faltering.
In that instant, a terrifying, invisible pressure erupted from Satoru. It was a focused burst of Conqueror's Haki, not meant to knock out masses, but to overwhelm a single, fragile target.
Sugar's eyes rolled back in her head, and she collapsed to the floor, unconscious. At the same moment, from the city below the palace, distant cries of surprise and the sounds of bodies hitting the ground echoed up—the collateral effect of the Haki's passage.
The faces of Doflamingo and all his officers turned ashen. In one move, the Admiral had demonstrated an absolute defense, severed Doflamingo's powers effortlessly, and neutralized one of their most strategically vital members without lifting a finger.
The balance of power in the room had been decisively, and brutally, established.
(End of Chapter)
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