Holy Land Mariejois. In Stussy's room.
Diarmuid emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a bathrobe, his hair still slightly damp.
Before Diarmuid could sit down, the voice of Stussy came from inside the bathroom.
"Get me a new set of pajamas, would you?" Stussy poked her head out and looked at Diarmuid.
Diarmuid glanced back at the Queen and asked, "Why a new one?"
The Queen glared at Diarmuid fiercely, her cheeks slightly flushed. "You tore the last one up! How dare you ask, you bastard!"
"Hahahaha... I forgot, I forgot." Diarmuid gave an awkward laugh.
He quickly went back into the room to find a new set of pajamas for Stussy and hurried them into the bathroom.
After taking care of the Queen's request, Diarmuid leisurely brewed a cup of coffee and walked to the window.
He then used a Den Den Mushi to contact Doflamingo.
…
In a remote area of the North Blue, a flamingo pirate ship flying the Donquixote Family flag drifted on the sea.
Since pulling off the Heavenly Tribute heist, Doflamingo hadn't dared to show his face in the North Blue. He had been idling in this desolate, un-trafficked sea, awaiting word from the World Government.
He was currently sitting on a sun lounger on the deck, seemingly enjoying the sun and sipping red wine, appearing very relaxed.
In reality, Doflamingo was feeling uncertain. Although he was mostly confident that by hijacking the Heavenly Tribute, he had forced the Celestial Dragons and the Gorosei in Mariejois to compromise, the final step hadn't been taken. He couldn't be absolutely sure of the outcome and was terrified that a top CP agent/assassin or a Navy Admiral would suddenly drop down from the sky and eliminate him.
Just as Doflamingo was contemplating adding another emergency plan, the Den Den Mushi on the small table next to his juice suddenly squawked frantically.
Doflamingo's reaction was lightning-fast. He instantly snapped his head toward the Den Den Mushi, his face lighting up with joy.
It's Diarmuid!
Without any delay, Doflamingo quickly answered the Den Den Mushi, his tone expectant. "Admiral Diarmuid? Contacting me at this time must mean you have good news to share, right?"
"You have enormous guts, Doflamingo. I thought you were just all talk, but you actually dared to swallow the entire North Blue's Heavenly Tribute in one go..." Diarmuid chuckled.
Hearing Diarmuid's tone, Doflamingo instantly relaxed. It's settled! It must be settled!
"That's all thanks to your guidance, Admiral. I even sent five hundred billion Berries to Mariejois... Fuffuffuffu," Doflamingo said softly.
Diarmuid didn't waste time beating around the bush.
After a short pause, Diarmuid said gravely, "Two things."
Hearing that familiar, serious tone, Doflamingo immediately straightened up and replied earnestly, "Go ahead."
"First thing: immediately, right now, begin preparations. I have already dispatched Vice Admiral Doberman from Marine Headquarters to the North Blue to hunt down your Donquixote Family and recover the Heavenly Tribute. You are to put up a symbolic fight against the Navy, then hand the Heavenly Tribute over to Doberman. After that, await my word." Diarmuid instructed.
Doflamingo's brows furrowed slightly, finding this somewhat difficult.
Of course, it's difficult! Diarmuid was asking him to hand the Heavenly Tribute over to the Navy and stage a fight. What if they renege on the deal afterward? What if I hand over the tribute and the Navy decides to kill me instead?
He certainly wasn't afraid of Doberman, but who could guarantee that Doberman was the only one coming? If a top-tier Navy figure like Momousagi or Sakazuki was lurking nearby, he wouldn't even have time to cry.
However, before Doflamingo could voice his concerns, Diarmuid continued.
"Second thing: after you get the Warlord of the Sea title, you are to remain in the North Blue. Don't you dare wander off. I know you definitely have plans and things you want to do, but until I deal with the chaos in the New World, don't move an inch. Otherwise, don't blame me if I run into you and am less than polite."
Although Diarmuid's second statement was harsher and more overbearing, Doflamingo broke out into a wide, brilliant smile. The subtext of that statement was that the Warlord of the Sea matter was a done deal!
Doflamingo was a man who dared to gamble, never lacking decisive judgment at critical moments.
Even though Diarmuid had only hinted at it and provided no guarantees, Doflamingo knew this was a prime opportunity to score points with Diarmuid. Regardless of the full circumstances surrounding the Warlord of the Sea title, Diarmuid's word was his only lead, so he couldn't change anything. Therefore, he decided to gamble that it was true and demonstrate complete trust and obedience toward Diarmuid.
Only this way could he strengthen his relationship with Diarmuid and maximize his own interests!
Weighing the pros and cons for a moment, Doflamingo gritted his teeth and stomped his foot. This bet, he was taking it!
"Do you understand?" Diarmuid asked softly at the same time.
He had expected Doflamingo to raise questions, or at least ask for a Warlord of the Sea commission letter or something, just in case he betrayed him right after the handover.
But to his surprise, the moment his voice faded, Doflamingo quickly responded, "No problem. I will follow your arrangements entirely, Admiral."
Diarmuid was slightly stunned, then broke into a smile, his laughter growing louder.
"Hahahahahahaha..." After a hearty laugh, Diarmuid looked at the Den Den Mushi and said seriously, "Doffy, I am truly starting to admire you more and more."
"That is a great honor, Admiral," Doflamingo replied, a smile also gracing his lips on the other end of the line.
"Go be a good Warlord of the Sea from now on..." Diarmuid started, then suddenly asked, "Do you truly intend to be a pirate your whole life?"
Doflamingo was momentarily taken aback. A faint, bitter smile appeared on his face, and with a touch of emotion in his heart, he replied, "Back then, I didn't have a choice."
In the year 1500 of the Pirate Era, the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, was executed in Loguetown in the East Blue. With his final words before his execution, he launched the Great Pirate Era.
It was on that year, that day, that Doflamingo personally witnessed the Pirate King's immense ambition in Loguetown. He saw with his own eyes the door to the era being violently shoved open by a life, and he felt firsthand the unstoppable, surging tide of the Great Pirate Era!
Before that, Doflamingo had merely run a family-style syndicate in the North Blue and had not truly committed to being a pirate. At the same time, he realized that what he was doing could not support his ambition for revenge. Thus, at that time, Doflamingo was already considering a change in direction, though he was also confused and didn't know what to do.
It wasn't until the surge of the Great Pirate Era, Roger's death, and the dawn of the new age that Doflamingo realized one thing in that moment, in Loguetown: if he wanted revenge, he might only be able to walk the path of piracy!
Because he didn't have a choice. His background made it impossible for him to join the Navy, and the Revolutionary Army didn't exist yet. He understood that only by leveraging the power of the era, by riding the momentum, could he achieve his great ambitions!
Therefore, the next day, Doflamingo transformed, becoming a pirate, the terrifying Heavenly Yaksha!
This demonstrated his extreme decisiveness; he was never one to procrastinate.
However, over time, he felt things were off. The New World was a massive pit. So, before obtaining the Warlord of the Sea title, Doflamingo only conducted business in the New World; he never established a true foothold there.
At the same time, he realized that this seemingly fierce Great Pirate Era had not truly shaken the World Government.
After that, he met the maverick Navy Admiral Diarmuid.
Although Vergo was seen through by Diarmuid early on, Diarmuid only guarded against him regarding the secrets of the Calm Belt. Diarmuid did not guard against Vergo concerning other internal Navy matters, or perhaps he intentionally chose not to.
Thus, Vergo occasionally passed along some internal Navy intelligence to Doflamingo. Deducing the overall situation from small details, Doflamingo, being very clever, felt a creeping sense of unease. Something was wrong with these Navy people!
Coupled with his interactions with Admiral Diarmuid, who never followed convention, Doflamingo's stance on the Navy had become quite suspicious. This was one of the reasons he invested in Diarmuid and sought to strengthen their relationship.
Analyzing the global situation multiple times, he found that the turning point for many major events revolved around Diarmuid, even when he was still an unremarkable figure. After becoming an Admiral, however, Diarmuid had become noticeably low-key, no longer engaging in the spectacular feats of his youth, like casually defeating a great pirate.
In fact, to some extent, after Diarmuid became low-key, the Navy as a whole seemed to become low-key too. It would be strange if there wasn't an issue here.
During their last meeting, when Doflamingo mentioned moving against the Heavenly Tribute, he was actually secretly testing Diarmuid. He wanted to gauge Diarmuid's attitude because anyone with even a shred of respect for Mariejois or the Gorosei would certainly react to such a plan.
Based on Doflamingo's careful observation then, he found that Diarmuid showed no emotional reverence and absolutely no worry, as if he had anticipated it all or simply didn't care about the Heavenly Tribute. It was at that moment Doflamingo truly confirmed that Admiral Diarmuid might genuinely have his own agenda, and that he truly harbored no reverence for the World Government or Mariejois...
However, Doflamingo racked his brain, trying to figure out the source of Diarmuid's confidence. He couldn't possibly believe that his strength alone was enough to take on the World Government, could he? He can't be that naive, can he?
And how did he manage to coerce the Navy's will?
The thought that the Navy, which had been aligned with Mariejois for centuries, was somehow being coerced by Diarmuid seemed utterly preposterous and unbelievable to him. He often overturned his own speculations, yet every time he thought about it, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was truly wrong with the Navy!
And now, Diarmuid's question, asking if he really intended to remain a pirate until the end, made Doflamingo suspect there was a deeper meaning.
Therefore, he gave the ambiguous answer: Back then, Doflamingo didn't have a choice.
Doflamingo was confident that Diarmuid would understand the implied meaning: Do I have a choice now?
"Hehehe. Even though you are about to become a legitimate pirate, Doflamingo, don't do too many things that would embarrass the Navy. That way, you might have the chance... to choose again someday." Diarmuid chuckled lightly.
Doflamingo's eyes lit up. He understood Diarmuid's meaning.
Even if he continued to commit crimes, he had to do so cleanly, preferably avoiding the crude methods of other pirates, staying within the bounds of "reason, law," and even "unwritten rules." This was to ensure he could eventually "clean up his act" and go legitimate.
After all, if he went too far into the darkness, how could Diarmuid, the self-proclaimed Admiral of Justice, possibly work with him?
Doflamingo thought carefully about his actions over the years. He realized there wasn't much to criticize. Although he flew a pirate flag, in order to cooperate with the Navy, he hadn't committed any truly atrocious, universally condemned acts. He had merely conducted business in the Underworld.
That would be relatively easy to clean up. So, thinking about it now, if he maintained this style and continued to demonstrate value to Diarmuid, perhaps he really could clean up his act and join the Navy? No, work alongside Diarmuid?
Thinking this, Doflamingo spoke seriously. "Thank you for your guidance and instruction, Admiral."
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