Hearing Corazon's long-lost voice, Yahn forced down the rush of excitement at their reunion and spoke softly:
"It's me, Corazon."
Corazon's eyes flickered with surprise and warmth, though his tone was tinged with mock annoyance.
"So it really is you, Yahn. How the hell did you even get this line?"
Yahn smirked.
"I've been in North Blue for six years. If I couldn't even track down your line, that would make me incompetent, wouldn't it?"
As one of the ruling powers of North Blue, the Donquixote Pirates naturally knew of Yahn, the Navy's strict inspector stationed there.
And likewise, Corazon—deep undercover as one of Doflamingo's top executives—was well aware of Yahn's existence.
But for the sake of secrecy, neither of them had ever made contact. They merely kept silent tabs on one another.
Suddenly, Corazon remembered a suspicion he had long buried.
"Tell me… did you come to North Blue for me?"
Yahn curled his lip.
"Hah. You're still as narcissistic as ever, you perverted old man. I only came because I heard North Blue women are passionate and fiery. What's that got to do with you?"
The words were dismissive, but Corazon knew Yahn's temperament too well.
If not for him, Yahn would never have chosen to take a post in North Blue, let alone stay for six whole years.
Still, some truths were better left unspoken. Instead, Corazon chuckled along.
"Hahaha! That's the Yahn I remember…"
He paused, then asked curiously:
"So, after six years, what have you gained?"
"Oh, plenty," Yahn said firmly.
"Then what's your wife's name?" Corazon teased.
Yahn choked.
"Cough! Cough!"
Quickly changing the subject, he asked casually:
"Anyway… you're in Spider Miles now, aren't you?"
Corazon, thinking Yahn was worried for his safety, nodded.
"Yeah. Don't worry. I'm at a scrap yard near the coast, far from the family's base. No one's around, and I've sealed the area with the Calm-Calm Fruit. Nobody will find me."
"Good. Then I can rest easy…" Yahn replied.
As he spoke, his hand quietly drew the Zanpakutō at his side. A cold murmur passed his lips:
"Bankai—Jakuho Raikōben."
In an instant, a colossal golden missile—its stinger-like tail larger than the very skiff Yahn stood on—formed along his arm, aimed squarely at the distant port city of Spider Miles.
That city, long devoid of civilians, now served only as the Donquixote Pirates' fortress.
Keeping his voice casual, Yahn chatted idly with Corazon, all while his Observation Haki tracked Little Gold's movements.
Corazon, always gentle with those he trusted, failed to notice anything amiss. Lost in the joy of reunion, he eagerly shared stories of the past six years.
Of course, Yahn already knew most of them—he had monitored Corazon closely all this time. Still, he played along, responding as if everything was new to him.
---
Meanwhile, Little Gold had reached Spider Miles. With Robin guiding him from within the castle, he located the Donquixote Pirates' gathering place.
"Hold on. I want to see what Doflamingo looks like," Robin murmured.
She flipped through a stack of wanted posters, then, cloaked by Little Gold's cover, used her Flower-Flower Fruit to scout. Moments later, she confirmed Doflamingo's position.
"That's him. Right there."
"Chirp! (Got it!)," Little Gold buzzed, wings beating as he soared upward. Then he released a massive iron stele, dropping it straight down into the pirates' base.
Boom!
The thunderous crash shook the city. Even Doflamingo himself, lounging by a window with his legs crossed and his red shades gleaming, rose sharply to his feet.
"An attack?"
Pirates poured into the square, staring warily at the sudden monolith.
"What the hell is this thing?"
"There's writing on it…"
Diamante, the "Diamond" executive, squinted and read aloud:
"Hand over the five stolen Devil Fruits and the attackers—signed, the Hueco Mundo Organization. You have one day."
Laughter erupted at once.
"The Hueco Mundo Organization? Never even heard of them!"
"Some little nobodies think they can threaten us? Hilarious!"
"One day's deadline? They don't know who they're dealing with."
While the pirates mocked, Doflamingo himself stepped forward, calm and unreadable.
"What's going on here?"
Trebol, the "Club" executive, snorted, mucus dripping.
"Eh, Doffy, just some no-name group trying to play tough."
Doflamingo ignored him, eyes fixed on the stone.
"Where did this stele come from?"
The question stunned the officers.
After a pause, Diamante ventured:
"Could it have fallen from the sky? That explosion earlier… it might have been this thing landing."
At his words, Doflamingo and the others instinctively looked upward.
Then Trebol spotted something—a distant golden light growing brighter in the night sky.
"Huh? What's that?"
Every pirate followed his gaze, watching as the glow drew nearer.
Doflamingo was the first to make out its form: a missile-like weapon trailing a blazing golden tail.
His face changed at once.
"Not good! Enemy attack!"