As Rorschach and his group arrived at Water 7—
In the New World, Dressrosa Kingdom.
A rust-covered steel bridge connected this romantic kingdom to the isolated northern island of Green Bit. Beneath the bridge, the ocean surged with rolling waves.
At that moment, beneath the rust-red bridge, an enormous pirate ship unfurled its full sails and sped toward Dressrosa's mainland.
On the ship's sails was an emblem of a massive skull with two horns protruding from its head. The ship's prow bore a wooden carving of an elephant's head.
On the deck, a towering figure, as imposing as a mountain, stood with his massive arms crossed, coldly gazing toward the distant shoreline.
In the distance, tiny figures gathered in dense clusters.
Suddenly, a loud explosion erupted on the ocean ahead of the ship, sending water splashing into the sky.
A monstrous fish, sporting a bull's head and a pair of curved, snow-white horns, opened its massive, fanged jaws and lunged directly at the golden-haired giant standing at the ship's bow!
"Watch out, Lord Jack! It's a Dressrosa Fighting Fish!"
A bizarre-looking pirate behind him shouted in alarm.
The giant, called Jack, stood at a staggering height of 8.3 meters. His upper body, chiseled like a sculpture, was covered in bulging muscles.
His long golden hair was tied into two thick braids that draped over his broad chest. A metal jaw guard covered his mouth, and his head and shoulders were adorned with ivory-like ornaments.
This was "Drought" Jack—one of the Three Calamities of the Beasts Pirates.
At only twenty-three years old, he already had an 800-million-Berry bounty from the Marines!
The gigantic Fighting Fish, over ten meters long, bared its gaping maw, aiming to sink its teeth into Jack's body.
Jack simply tilted his thick neck and headbutted the massive fish head-on, paying no mind to the creature's razor-sharp horns that gleamed menacingly.
BOOM!
The elephant-carved prow of the ship collided with the monster. The colossal Fighting Fish froze mid-air—
Then exploded, its body shattering inch by inch, scattering blood and flesh into the sea. The ocean turned a deep crimson.
Blood and chunks of flesh splattered onto Jack's body, but he remained indifferent, still staring coldly into the distance.
SPLASH!
The scent of blood in the water triggered a feeding frenzy among the Fighting Fish below. They began tearing into each other, fighting over their fallen kin's remains.
As the ship finally reached Dressrosa's port, the awaiting Donquixote Family, led by Doflamingo, witnessed the arrival of the ship—along with an ocean dyed blood-red.
A suffocating stench of blood filled the air.
THUD!
Jack leaped from the ship, landing heavily in front of them.
The ground trembled beneath his immense weight.
As his mountainous frame stretched, an overwhelming pressure radiated from him, casting vast shadows over the Donquixote officers. Diamante and the others couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Even the towering Pica looked like a child beside Jack.
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Welcome to Dressrosa, Jack."
Doflamingo laughed eerily, spreading his arms wide.
Jack, his face devoid of emotion, looked down at Doflamingo.
He completely ignored Diamante and Pica.
"JOKER, I'm not here for chit-chat. Tell me where that Marine brat is. I'll capture him now and deliver him to Kaido."
"Fuffuffuffu, no need to rush.
Since you've come all this way, as the king of Dressrosa, I must offer you proper hospitality.
Why don't you join me at the palace? I've arranged a grand banquet at the Corrida Colosseum's VIP stands.
You can enjoy a spectacular gladiator battle while feasting."
Doflamingo, unfazed by Jack's cold tone, continued to speak enthusiastically.
"After the banquet, I can also give you a tour of the island's SMILE factory. The latest batch of artificial Devil Fruit materials is nearly ready—"
"Enough!"
A thunderous roar erupted from behind Jack's metallic jaw guard, shaking Diamante and the others to their core. Blood surged in their veins as they stared at Jack like he was a monster.
Doflamingo's grin stiffened.
"I told you—just tell me where that Marine brat with the Kirin Fruit is!"
"Keep wasting my time, and I'll take the information myself."
As Jack spoke, he reached for the ivory ornaments hanging from his fur-lined coat, pulling them free.
They were actually a pair of curved ivory scimitars.
The moment he gripped the blades, a suffocating aura of brutality washed over the Donquixote officers, sending chills down their spines. It felt as if they had been plunged into a sea of blood.
This brainless brute… There was no reasoning with someone like him.
Or perhaps, this was simply how the Beasts Pirates operated.
Doflamingo had this thought, but his grin returned as he gestured to Diamante.
"Diamante, give Lord Jack all the intelligence we've gathered."
Diamante forced a stiff smile and stepped forward, handing Jack a stack of documents. Jack snatched them up without hesitation.
Without another word, he turned and leaped back onto his massive ship—his colossal frame moving with surprising agility.
"Jack, according to our intel, that Marine brat should be near Enies Lobby's waters.
But based on our analysis, his ultimate destination is likely the Marine G-2 base near Mock Town.
If you don't find him at sea, you might want to check there."
Doflamingo called out.
Jack ignored him, disappearing into the depths of the ship.
Moments later, his vessel turned around and swiftly departed from Dressrosa's port, vanishing from sight.
Only then did veins bulge on Doflamingo's forehead.
His grin twisted into a grimace as he gritted his teeth.
"What an arrogant, brainless brute. 'Drought' Jack… Kaido's dumbest enforcer!"
"Doffy, are we really going to leave the vengeance for Trebol and Gladius to Drought Jack?"
Diamante's face was full of unwillingness.
"We could handle it ourselves. If that Marine brat gets captured by Jack, with Kaido's obsession with Mythical Zoan Fruits, Jack definitely won't kill him.
If that happens, we may never get our revenge for Trebol and Gladius!"
Doflamingo's face darkened as he stared at the blood-drenched sea before him.
He was reminded of a year ago, in the North Blue.
The day that drove him into a frenzy of rage, frustration, and madness—
The day in the Kingdom of Prince.
None of this was supposed to happen.
If it weren't for that Marine brat—
He should have watched a magnificent massacre unfold, then taken the Kirin Fruit from Illya's hands like a king.
Trebol and Gladius would still be alive.
With the Kirin Fruit, he could have struck a grand deal with Kaido, expanding his underworld influence across the New World.
The Donquixote Family's power would have grown immensely.
It would have saved him years of effort.
And it would have solidified his relationship with the Beasts Pirates, making others—pirates and Marines alike—fear him even more.
If he hadn't already eaten the String-String Fruit, Doflamingo would have devoured that Mythical Zoan Kirin Fruit himself!
Trebol's death, his own humiliation by Aokiji, the loss of the Kirin Fruit, Kaido's scolding—
All of it was because of that Marine brat!
Ever since that day, everything had gone wrong.
Half a year ago, not only did he lose the immensely profitable auction house in Sabaody, but he also suffered a loss of 5 billion Berries and mermaids worth over 10 billion, along with various treasures.
Even the Flamingo, the ship that had followed him for decades, was still being held by the Navy and had not been returned.
The more Doflamingo thought about it, the angrier he became!"Damn Rorschach! He must die! If he doesn't, I will never be able to quell the hatred in my heart!"
Hearing Doflamingo's words, Diamante and the others all revealed expressions of joy.
"Young Master! Let us take care of him! You don't need to act personally—if Lao G and I go together, we can bring back his head! Let's avenge Trebol and Gladius and let their souls rest in peace."
Diamante spoke with unconcealed killing intent in his eyes.
However, Doflamingo shook his head.
With a cold voice, he said, "No. With your strength, I fear you won't be able to do anything to that Navy brat."
"What? That's impossible!" Diamante was in disbelief.
"As much as I don't want to believe it, that Navy brat's growth rate is indeed astonishing."
Doflamingo frowned deeply.
"A year ago, he was able to kill that woman's subordinate."
"Half a year ago, he was already capable of slaying a Supernova with a 300-million-Berry bounty."
"From the intelligence we've gathered, his talent is extraordinary, and he has the full backing of the top Navy brass. He's been hailed as the number one of the new Navy generation, and his strength has already surpassed the vast majority of vice admirals in Marine Headquarters."
"He has awakened both forms of Haki and possesses… a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit that grants him control over wind and thunder."
"On top of that, his unique physique… I even think that not even Jack the Drought could necessarily take him down."
Diamante swallowed hard and exchanged glances with Pica, Lao G, and the others, all of them shocked.
Pica's sharp voice rang out, "Doffy, Jack the Drought has a bounty of 800 million Berries!
He's an Ancient Zoan Mammoth-type Devil Fruit user, and as a Fishman known for his monstrous strength, his power is absolutely terrifying…"
Pica didn't finish his sentence.
But everyone knew what he was implying.
He was questioning whether Doflamingo was overestimating Rorschach.
After all, Rorschach was just a teenager.
From the time he ate the Kirin Fruit, it had been less than a year.
Even the strongest monsters who now stand atop the seas couldn't have grown this fast in such a short time.
Faced with the doubts of his subordinates, Doflamingo did not explain.
Because the deep-blue Armament Haki that continuously radiated from Rorschach reminded him of a monster he had encountered years ago in the New World.
A monster of a similar age to himself, yet whose strength rivaled that of Kaido!
Because he had once seen that same deep-blue Haki on that monster, Doflamingo had raised his estimation of Rorschach's strength even further.
Detailed intelligence on Rorschach had already leaked from Marine Headquarters.
Though Marineford was the Navy's stronghold, tens of thousands of people lived there.
It was common for a few spies to infiltrate and sell information.
Doflamingo remained silent for a long time, his eyes still burning with madness. Then he suddenly looked at Diamante:
"Diamante, I want you to go to the Grand Line and find the master of that worm. Tell her what happened in the Kingdom of Prince.
With that woman's vengeful nature, even if a mere servant of hers died, she would go berserk.
If she sets her sights on him, no matter how strong that Navy brat is—he's dead!"
"D-… Doffy, do we really have to contact that person?"
Cold sweat suddenly appeared on Diamante's forehead.
Seeing the uncontrollable fear in Diamante's eyes, Doflamingo frowned.
"…Forget it, I'll contact her myself."
Doflamingo sighed internally, knowing that the incident they encountered when they first left the North Blue and entered Paradise had completely shattered Diamante's courage.
After hesitating for a moment, he pulled out a Den Den Mushi from his coat and dialed a number he hadn't called in over a decade.
Purururu…
Purururu…
The Den Den Mushi rang for a long time.
Just as Doflamingo thought no one would answer, there was a click—the snail's closed eyes suddenly opened.
Then, its face quickly transformed into that of a stunningly beautiful woman, one so enchanting that she could topple nations. At the center of her forehead, a third eye gleamed.
"Hehehe~, what a surprise. Isn't this my little Doffy? After all these years, I thought you had forgotten about me.
What is it? Has someone been bullying my little Doffy again? Tell your big sister, and she'll… eat him for you."
The voice on the other end was soft and sweet, like a delicate feather gently tickling the ears of all who heard it.
Just from the sound of her voice, everyone at the port—except for Doflamingo, whether male or female—showed expressions of fascination and pleasure.
Diamante, Pica, and the others were better off, merely entranced and dazed.
But the rest of the Donquixote officers had already begun entwining, hugging, and caressing each other.
Seeing this, Doflamingo's face darkened like the bottom of a pot.
Invisible strings descended from the sky, lifting him hundreds of meters into the air.
Only after he was far away did the people on the beach gradually regain their senses, releasing each other with confused expressions.
Hundreds of meters up, Doflamingo held the Den Den Mushi, his expression shifting unpredictably before he finally spoke:
"That Migg Jones who escaped from your country is dead. The one who killed him is named Rorschach, a Navy captain currently in the Grand Line…"
"Migg Jones? Hehe~, who's that? I've already forgotten.
Little Doffy, aside from you, there aren't many people left in this world worth remembering."
The three-eyed woman spoke lazily. Even just her face gave off an overwhelming, intoxicating sensation, as if something was constantly stirring within the body of anyone looking at her.
"He killed your subordinate. Doesn't that make you angry? You—"
"Shhh~, don't say such mood-killing things, my little Doffy. You want me to kill this Navy brat for you, don't you? Hehe~, that's easy.
As long as you come to my country, I'll kill him for you."
The third eye on the woman's forehead opened slightly, revealing swirling colors within, drawing in anyone who dared to make eye contact. It was as if one could fall into it and never escape.
"No way! I will never set foot in that cursed place again!" Doflamingo rejected her outright.
"So heartless… Then how about I visit your kingdom instead? The New World… It's been so many years since I last went there."
"You dare come here? Aren't you afraid that Big Mom will come after you?" Doflamingo's voice was tense.
"Big Mom?" The three-eyed woman looked puzzled for a few seconds before suddenly smiling.
"Hehe, oh, you mean Linlin? Why would she trouble me?
After all, I gave my own little brother to her as a husband."
"Enough of this boring talk.
Little Doffy, here's the deal—call me 'Big Sister' a few times, and I'll eat that Rorschach for you. How about it?"
A vein bulged on Doflamingo's forehead as he clenched his teeth in silence.
"Mmm~, that stubborn look of yours, how nostalgic. Come on, call me Big Sister."
The three-eyed woman's gaze was hazy and seductive, her voice dripping with allure.
But Doflamingo still remained silent.
The woman's expression of pleasure suddenly vanished.
Her three eyes turned pitch-black, an unseen chill radiating even through the Den Den Mushi.
"What's wrong? You don't want to, little Doffy?
You wouldn't want your Dressrosa Kingdom… to become my kingdom, would you?"
Doflamingo's eye twitched a few times before he finally squeezed out two words through gritted teeth:
"…Big Sister."
The woman's three eyes instantly regained their mesmerizing glow, full of seductive charm.
"Good boy, my little Doffy. You're such an obedient little brother, unlike that useless fool…"
"Say it a few more times, and maybe I'll even help you take down a few Shichibukai~."
(End of Chapter)
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