Doflamingo exhaled slowly as he watched Senor's figure dissolve into the wall.
Senor was a newer mber of the family—steady, precise, and far from your typical brutish mafioso. If anything, his calm deanor resembled that of a gentleman.
Doflamingo had noticed him early on.
His Sui Sui no Mi (Swim-Swim Fruit) —allowed him to rge with and move freely through any surface as if it were water. Walls, floors... no barrier could stop him.
It made him an exceptional infiltrator. Assassin. Spy.
So while Senor wasn't yet a core officer of the Donquixote Family, Doflamingo had quietly begun assigning him critical missions—to test and hone his capabilities.
Senor hadn't let him down.
"...Doffy, are you really sending Senor to rescue... that guy?"
Trebol finally asked, unable to hold back any longer.
Doflamingo lit another cigar, took a heavy drag, then slowly looked around at his gathered officers.
"So... in your minds, Darren dying benefits us. Is that it?"
Diamante clenched his teeth.
"You're our Young Master. Of course, we obey your commands—and trust your judgnt."
"But... but..."
His fists trembled.
"If he dies, you beco the King of the North Blue, don't you?"
Doflamingo exhaled a long plu of smoke.
He could see it clearly in their eyes—that primal fear of Darren still lingered deep within them.
"Maybe you're not wrong. But I don't think soone like Darren would die so easily."
"You've seen the intelligence from Marineford."
"The na Rogers Darren doesn't just represent the North Blue anymore."
Behind his sunglasses, Doflamingo's eyes glinted with layered thoughts.
"A monster of a man. Top of the Elite Officer Training Camp. A genius Marine who fought Byrnndi World and even Gol D. Roger head-on..."
"There's no way the Marines would abandon soone like that."
"If I'm not mistaken, the Headquarters has already deployed a rescue force to the New World."
He sighed.
"So whether we send soone or not... it might not change the outco."
That was when Trebol and the others finally grasped the heart of the matter.
"Then why send Senor at all?" Trebol frowned.
Doflamingo gave a bitter, mocking smile.
"It's about attitude."
"Whether or not Senor actually helps doesn't matter."
"What matters is that we showed our intent."
"Think about it... If Darren survives and finds out we stood by and did nothing... knowing his personality, how do you think he'll respond?"
Shivers ran down the spines of every officer present.
The thods of that man...
They didn't dare imagine it.
"And besides..."
Doflamingo's lips curled into a grin.
"He should be arriving any mont now."
Trebol and the others froze.
Arriving? Who?
BANG!
The front doors to the estate slamd open. A gust of gunpowder-laced wind roared through the hall.
Before anyone could react, over a hundred fully ard Marines stord inside—surrounding them instantly.
"Marines!!"
"What's going on!?"
"This is the Donquixote Family's territory!!"
The officers began to move—
But shff! Dozens of gun barrels snapped up in unison, pointed directly at them.
Their faces twisted with anger, but none dared move.
These weren't ordinary Marines—they were elite. Ard with shock guns, flathrowers, alloy-compression nets, high-explosive lances... and more.
The hall fell into dead silence. The pressure was suffocating.
"...Lord Doflamingo... the North Blue fleet has deployed five warships... They've locked down all of Rubeck Island."
A panicked scout rushed in, voice trembling.
Doflamingo sneered coldly.
"Fuffuffuffuffu... What an entrance. You sure don't show much courtesy, Captain Momonga."
He looked up as a lone figure stepped through the Marine ranks.
The soldiers split into a neat corridor as their commander erged.
Cloak draped over his shoulders, Captain Momonga—the Supre Commander of the North Blue—walked into the hall with a frosty gaze.
"In the North Blue, who wouldn't give Donquixote Doflamingo his due?"
He waved a hand.
"Lower your weapons. The Donquixote Family is a crucial stabilizing force in this region. One of our most... valued guests."
The Marines imdiately holstered their weapons and stepped back without a word.
Without sparing a glance at Trebol or the others, Momonga fixed his eyes on Doflamingo and said coldly:
"You know why I'm here."
"I apologize for this unannounced visit. But I don't have ti for pleasantries."
Behind the calm words was a hint of urgency... and deeply buried killing intent.
Doflamingo studied him for a mont—then grinned.
"Fuffuffuffuffu... I see. So that's what this is about."
"Relax. I've already sent soone. You'll hear news soon."
"Believe it or not, I might be more anxious than you are..."
"After all, he is my godfather... Fuffuffuffu..."
Momonga nodded, ignoring the biting mockery hidden in the laugh.
"Good. I'll await your report."
With that, he turned and led the troops out.
When they reached the port, Momonga halted, looking up at the line of massive warships patrolling the waters.
Each one was ard with a row of gleaming silver cannon barrels.
"Captain Momonga, how should we proceed?" a lieutenant commander asked, eyes tense.
Momonga turned, eyes fixed on the skull banner fluttering above the Donquixote estate.
"No. Keep watching Doflamingo."
"Wait for word. If Darren really is dead—then regardless of whether Doflamingo acted or not..."
He clenched his jaw, Darren's parting words still ringing in his mind. A glint of resolve flashed in his eyes.
"...We move. And annihilate every last mber of the Donquixote Family."
---
To be continued...
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