At this moment, Marshall D. Teach was stuffing his mouth with Anko pie, devouring each bite like a man possessed.
Even with a few missing teeth, it didn't stop him from enjoying the sweet red bean filling.
Carl's gaze flickered toward him.
Beside Teach sat a towering figure, his head wrapped in thick bandages, his posture slouched yet ominous.
The infamous "Shadow Emperor," Gecko Moria.
Four of the Shichibukai had gathered.
For a moment, an eerie silence loomed over the banquet hall.
Carl remained calm in his seat, barely paying attention to the scene as he looked at the system prompt in his mind.
[Special Check-in Location: Holy Land Mariejois]
[Sign-in Progress: 0/3]
'No way I'm completing this now,' Carl thought to himself.
His purpose here was simple—to make an impression on the Shichibukai. Staying here for three days was out of the question, so he had no choice but to wait for another opportunity.
At that moment, an impatient voice broke the silence.
"Hey, hey, hey! This is boring. Where the hell are the woman and the bear?"
The unmistakable rasp of Donquixote Doflamingo carried across the room.
Teach remained unfazed, still munching on his pie. However, between bites, he let out his signature laugh.
"Jiehahahaha! No need to be so impatient. Everything takes time."
Carl rubbed his chin, knowing full well that Bartholomew Kuma wouldn't be showing up—after all, he was still locked in his office closet.
Vice Admiral Tsuru spoke up, her voice steady and composed.
"The 'Empress' Boa Hancock diverted her course mid-journey to Impel Down. The reason is unclear. As for Jinbei, he has already been detained."
Jinbei had opposed the government by siding with Whitebeard, and for that reason, he lost his title as a Shichibukai.
Tsuru paused momentarily before continuing.
"As for Bartholomew Kuma, there may be complications. Don't wait for him."
Her sharp gaze swept across the remaining Shichibukai before she spoke again.
"The official status of pirates is granted by the World Government. If you fail to follow orders, that status can be revoked at any time."
"Bobobobo! Is that a warning?" Doflamingo chuckled, lacing his fingers together. "Don't worry, for now, we have no intention of rebelling against the government."
"Hehehe, I still need to collect strong bodies," Gecko Moria cackled. "Whitebeard would make a fine addition."
"Jiehahaha! You're dreaming big," Teach laughed, shaking his head.
Carl remained silent, expressionless.
The Shichibukai were a twisted bunch. Their laughter held an unsettling madness.
Doflamingo suddenly smirked, his fingers twitching slightly.
"If we're going to be waiting, let's at least have some fun."
Parasite Strings—invisible threads of Ito Ito no Mi spread across the room.
A Marine standing among his peers suddenly froze, his body jerking unnaturally.
"W-What the hell?!" the Marine stammered, his eyes filled with panic. "I can't move my body!"
Without warning, he unsheathed his blade and swung wildly at his comrades.
Clang!
Another Marine officer barely managed to block the strike. He turned sharply toward Doflamingo.
"What the hell are you doing, Doflamingo?!"
Doflamingo leaned back in his chair, his grin unfazed.
"I was just getting bored. Thought I'd spice things up a little."
Another slash.
"Dammit! I can't control myself!" The controlled Marine's face twisted in fear. "Move—get out of the way!"
Chaos erupted in the banquet hall.
"Hohoho! Now that's entertainment," Doflamingo chuckled, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Let's make this a proper show."
"Jiehahaha! Now this is fun!" Teach howled, still eating his pie.
"Hehehe, let's see some blood," Moria sneered, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
The Shichibukai were completely lawless.
Then—
A wave of invisible killing intent spread through the air.
The very atmosphere froze.
Doflamingo's smirk stiffened, his fingers stopping mid-movement. A cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
Moria's entire body locked up as if a pause button had been pressed on his existence.
Teach's pupils constricted sharply.
"Jiehahaha… looks like the show's over," he muttered with a dry chuckle.
All eyes turned toward Solomon Carl.
Carl calmly lowered his feet from the table, taking a deep drag from his cigar before exhaling a ring of smoke.
Behind him, the faint image of a blood-red beast loomed, fangs bared, claws poised to strike.
"I'm in a bad mood right now," Carl muttered, snuffing out his cigar. "So shut up, you trash."
Truth be told, he was in a bad mood.
Controlling Kuma had been a satisfying victory.
Then, just as he was celebrating, the old man had called him up, declaring that he'd be assigned to Marineford for the upcoming war.
That alone soured his mood.
To make matters worse, as soon as he arrived at Mariejois, an idiot Celestial Dragon had ruined his peaceful moment.
And now, inside this banquet hall, he had to endure the Shichibukai's twisted amusement.
To him, it was nothing but an endless stream of obnoxious laughter.
So, he snapped.
The sheer weight of his killing intent pressed against the void.
A suffocating chill filled the space, freezing everyone in place.
Only one man remained unaffected—Dracule Mihawk.
The world's greatest swordsman simply smirked.
"As I expected," Mihawk murmured. "You weren't using your full strength when we sparred."
"Jiehahaha, for a Marine to be this terrifying…" Teach muttered, eyes narrowing.
Doflamingo's smirk returned, though the malice in his eyes deepened.
"Nah, nah, nah… Solomon Carl," he said, his fingers twitching again. "I haven't forgotten Sabaody."
A controlled Marine lunged toward Carl.
Swish.
A single cherry blossom petal sliced through the invisible threads.
The Marine collapsed, gasping for breath.
Carl slowly exhaled another puff of smoke.
"Do you want to dance too?"
In his blood-red right eye, the number 'six'—symbolizing Tendō—gleamed ominously.
An unseen force crashed onto Doflamingo.
His body spasmed—his limbs moving against his will.
His fingers twitched. His arms raised. His legs jerked into motion.
"Wh-What… a joke!"
Grinding his teeth, he unleashed a surge of Haki, breaking free from Carl's grasp.
Carl raised an eyebrow. 'Mental control is limited against someone of his level, huh?'
But if the mind couldn't be controlled…
Then—
The body would be.
A wave of cherry blossom petals silently filled the banquet hall.
Doflamingo's senses screamed in warning.
Sa!
A petal slashed toward his right shoulder.
His armament-coated hand barely blocked it.
Clang!
More petals swarmed from all directions.
Doflamingo's fingers twitched as nearly invisible strings spread around him, blocking the onslaught.
Yet, to everyone watching…
It looked like he was dancing.
Carl clapped, grinning through his cigar.
"You're surprisingly good at dancing, Doflamingo."
Doflamingo's face darkened.
"Suck—" He inhaled sharply.
"Do you want to die, Solomon Carl?"
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