Inside the royal palace of Drum Island.
A low rumble echoed from the sky above.
Mushiru trembled with excitement.
He didn't quite know what that Devil Fruit user had done just now—but Doflamingo had no reason to lie to him.
It was really happening. He was going to succeed.
He opened his mouth tentatively.
"Doflamingo-sama… shall I begin the operation?"
"Furururururu~"
Doflamingo grinned.
He knew this look on Mushiru's face all too well.
"Go. Just make sure it's exciting enough for me to enjoy. Call me back when the fun starts."
As Doflamingo settled in to watch the show on Drum Island...
Crocodile arrived in Mock Town just before nightfall, sailing in on a ship built by Iceburg.
"Lafitte. Gather intel about Sky Island."
"Yes, Crocodile-sama!"
Crocodile exhaled a plume of smoke, flicking the ash from his cigar as he gazed at the sky with calm determination.
All he needed now was detailed information about Sky Island.
Then he'd strike Doflamingo down in one swift move—wipe away all disgrace, claim Pluton, and rule the world!
...
Elsewhere, night fell.
And with it came a worsening blizzard that blanketed Drum Island in vicious snow and wind.
Raband, a ferocious brute with a rabbit's agility and the explosive strength of a bear, disappeared into the storm.
Normal people could barely see in these conditions.
"It's freezing!"
Wapol burst into the palace, already tearing off his winter coat.
"Father!"
"Wapol, I'm here!"
Twatte stepped out from a side hall, beaming as he opened his arms to embrace his son.
"Did you eat well today?"
"I did!"
Still digesting, Wapol rubbed his one-meter-wide steel jaw against his father's chest like a spoiled child.
"I ate three commoners' houses. Not very tasty this time... Next time, burn down the hospital and feed it to me! Father, I want to eat a hospital!"
Wapol was clearly full.
"Oof!"
Twatte winced, clutching his chest from the impact, then gave a pained smile and shook his head.
"That won't do, Wapol. The hospital is one of this country's pillars."
"Why not?!"
Wapol whined like a child throwing a tantrum, oblivious to how enormous he really was. His flailing knocked over lamps, dimming the entire room.
"Enough, Wapol!"
Twatte's temples throbbed again. He scolded sharply.
"If the healthcare system collapses, this country is finished! What will you eat then? Garbage?!"
Even now, he hadn't given up on his youngest son.
He still hoped the boy could understand the meaning of sustainable growth.
"What a heartwarming father-son bond!"
A voice rang out—along with a blast of scorching flame.
BOOM!
Wapol's clothes ignited instantly. He rolled on the ground, screaming in agony.
"Aaaaaagh! Help me, Father!"
"How about I save you the trouble and rid this kingdom of Wapol myself, Your Majesty?"
Mushiru stepped forward, holding a flamethrower, his face twisted with glee.
"Damn it, Wapol!"
Twatte yanked off his decorative cloak and tried to smother the flames, but the fire lashed back and forced him to retreat.
He turned to face his eldest son, his expression like ice.
"Mushiru! What are you doing?!"
"What am I doing?"
Mushiru released a cloud of spores from his palms, visible to the naked eye, then pulled the trigger.
The flamethrower ignited the spores, engulfing the hall in roaring fire.
"I'm taking back what's rightfully mine!!"
"Aaaaagh! It burns!!"
Wapol screamed, his body transforming into steel from what he'd eaten earlier.
But even so, the fire scorched his metal form red-hot.
BANG!
The great hall doors burst open as guards forced their way inside. Snow swirled in with the wind.
The soldiers stared in stunned horror at the scene before them, unsure how to react.
"Prince Mushiru, what are you doing?!"
"Where's His Majesty?!"
"..."
"Seize Mushiru! Attack!"
Twatte peeked out from behind Wapol, shouting the order.
He had just narrowly avoided the flames by hiding behind his obedient son.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Before the guards could act, more pillars of fire shot toward them from behind.
They were instantly engulfed, screaming as they turned to charcoal.
They couldn't transform into steel. One by one, they burned to death.
Heavily armed soldiers rushed in from behind, kicking aside the smoldering corpses blocking the door. They slammed the hall doors shut once more.
Twatte's heart sank like a stone.
These were mercenaries Mushiru had hired from overseas—there was no chance they'd obey him.
"Stop this, Mushiru! It's not too late to turn back."
"Turn back?"
Mushiru stopped firing. After all, Wapol was a "specimen" that Doflamingo had personally requested.
He wore a twisted smile.
"I'm about to succeed… and you want me to turn back?!"
"Are you planning to kill Wapol?"
Twatte gritted his teeth and played his last card.
"The throne of the Kingdom will be yours! Wapol will leave the country and never return. He won't interfere with your reign."
"Hahahaha! Are you serious?"
Mushiru burst into laughter.
"This kingdom is already mine. I know you're stalling for time. But it's fine. Go ahead and see if Dalton heard your distress call."
Twatte's face darkened. His hand clenched around a transponder snail hidden in his wide sleeve, veins bulging.
No wonder Dalton hadn't replied.
He shouted furiously:
"So you've planned everything from the start! What now, Mushiru?!"
"Simple. I'm sending you off, dear Father."
Instead of using the flamethrower, Mushiru pulled out a plain lead-bullet pistol.
The thought of what he was about to do made him tremble with excitement.
He stepped closer, inch by inch.
Faced with true mortal danger, Twatte backed away and stumbled into a marble pillar.
He stared at Mushiru, his voice shaking in disbelief.
"Mushiru! Are you really going to—"
BANG!
A single gunshot ended his words.
The lead bullet pierced through Twatte's skull. He collapsed without a sound.
Mushiru stood over the corpse, face brimming with satisfaction.
Ever since the throne stopped being his...
That man had stopped being his father!!!
...
Click!
Doflamingo held up the recording Den Den Mushi, watching the scene he'd just captured.
His grin widened.
"Fururururururu~ Mushiru! Beautiful! You did beautifully!!!"
Twatte's expression in his final moments—Doflamingo loved it.
He wondered… was Homing's face like that too, right before he died?
-----------
Fanfic is finished 527 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg