Doflamingo said each word slowly and clearly.
"You really worked hard. You even helped me find the Op-Op Fruit."
As he spoke, Roy crooked his finger at Gladius.
Gladius's entire body went cold. Although this was a winter island and the climate was freezing, sweat still kept pouring from his forehead.
"Fufufufu, since the Thunder Emperor wants the Op-Op Fruit, then give it to him, Gladius."
Doflamingo forced out a laugh. Blue veins bulged on his forehead, and the smile on his face looked uglier than crying.
Damn it. Why did the Thunder Emperor come here?!
"That's more like it."
Before Gladius could step forward, Roy hooked his hand, and the box in Gladius's hand automatically flew up and landed in Roy's hand.
Electromagnetism, one of the four fundamental forces of the world, was just that miraculous. Its functions were practically comparable to the Float-Float Fruit.
"Not bad."
Roy looked at the heart-shaped fruit inside the box and was very satisfied.
Then, in the next instant, under the eyes of everyone present, he directly ate the Op-Op Fruit.
"A mutant!"
Doflamingo gnashed his teeth inwardly. Now, his dream of immortality had been completely shattered.
However, at the same time, another thought began growing wildly in his mind.
"According to what the Thunder Emperor said during his battle with Whitebeard, a mutant can be created later in life. No matter what, I have to become a mutant!"
"I heard the World Government has already had Vegapunk begin dual-fruit experiments. Once the research results come out, I must be the first to use them!"
Thoughts surged wildly through Doflamingo's heart. At this moment, he had never craved strength as much as he did now.
"Hm?"
Doflamingo suddenly felt a chill rise in his heart.
Because he discovered that Roy had already swallowed the Op-Op Fruit and was now stroking his chin as he looked at him—and at the family beside him.
"Not good!!"
Thinking of a certain rumor he had heard before, Doflamingo could not help feeling cold deep in his heart. He barely squeezed out a smile and said, "Since Thunder Emperor-sama has already obtained the Op-Op Fruit, we won't stay here any longer. We'll take our leave first."
As he spoke, he gave his family a look and turned to leave.
"Did I say you could go?"
Hearing those words, Doflamingo's body stiffened. Then he immediately shot forward at high speed, not forgetting to shout, "Run!"
Looking at the few of them fleeing in a chaotic panic, Roy muttered to himself, "String-String Fruit, Pop-Pop Fruit, Hira Hira Fruit, and Sticky-Sticky Fruit. Although they are all relatively ordinary Paramecia-type fruits, since I have run into them, there is no reason to miss out."
Just as he was about to move, a sound suddenly came from a small trash can to Roy's front-right.
"So you finally couldn't hold back and came out?"
Roy glanced at the boy who had emerged from the trash can and was now panting heavily, then stopped paying attention to him.
"Wait, Thunder Emperor-sama! Please allow me to follow you and join your pirate crew!"
The boy rushed over in a few quick steps and practically rolled in front of Roy. Like Corazon before him, he prostrated himself on the ground.
"Reason?"
Roy's expression did not fluctuate in the slightest, even though he had already recognized the boy's identity.
"My father and the others were all killed by Doflamingo. I'm alone now, without any burdens. I will devote myself completely to serving you."
"Also, I have value. My talent is very good. My dad once taught me a little Marine physical combat, and I could grasp it very quickly. I'm destined to become a capable officer of the Raijin Pirates!"
Drake's eyes were filled with determination at this moment.
"Is that so?"
Roy glanced at him, then casually tossed him a Transponder Snail.
"Contact this person. If you want to join the Raijin Pirates, go find him. He'll know what to do."
After saying that, he leisurely headed in the direction Doflamingo and the others had fled.
Aside from dominating the New World, the Raijin Pirates now had a certain degree of connections and informants across the Grand Line and the four seas.
Although the network was still small, if something unexpected happened in the four seas, there would at least be someone there to receive him.
Drake caught the Transponder Snail and shouted at Roy's departing back, "Yes!"
…
On the coast of Minion Island.
"How is the situation now, Rosinante?"
Tsuru had just received Rosinante and Law, who had withdrawn from the island.
After Law received complete treatment, Rosinante no longer sought the Op-Op Fruit. For safety considerations and to avoid running into Doflamingo, he immediately retreated from the island.
"I'm not sure about the current situation, but when I withdrew just now, I saw the Donquixote Family heading deeper into the island. By now, they've probably already met the Barrels Pirates officially."
Rosinante wisely did not mention that he had met the Thunder Emperor. Otherwise, he would be questioned in depth, and then he would have to use lie after lie to cover it up.
Law, who stood beside him, blinked and did not say anything either.
Just as Tsuru was about to ask for more details…
In the sky above the island, thunderclouds suddenly roared into being.
Streaks of blue lightning radiating powerful might howled down from the sky and struck the island.
Tsuru's expression changed sharply. As the Marines' Great Staff Officer, even though she had already entered old age, her mind was still very sharp.
Combining this momentum with certain clues, she easily guessed part of what was happening.
Gulp.
Rosinante and Law looked at the thunderclouds on the horizon. They could not help glancing at each other, swallowing, and their eyes showed quite a bit of helplessness.
"Has the Thunder Emperor made his move? But that is the Op-Op Fruit. It cannot be allowed to fall into the Thunder Emperor's hands like this!"
Tsuru looked at the dark clouds gradually dispersing in the distance and could not help letting out a long sigh.
"I'm afraid Doflamingo and the others are probably doomed. The Op-Op Fruit has most likely fallen into the Thunder Emperor's hands as well, hasn't it?"
Tsuru murmured.
"Correct answer. Too bad there's no reward."
A voice instantly rang out on the ship.
Hearing that voice, both Rosinante and Law trembled.
They were far too familiar with that voice.
"The Thunder Emperor?!!"
Just by hearing the voice, Tsuru had more or less guessed who it was. Who else, other than the legendary Thunder Emperor, could suddenly use Instant Transmission to appear on a Marine warship?
Whoosh!
(End of Chapter)
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