When Ronn heard the words "The Hero Summit,"
his mind went blank.
All he could picture were… pixelated mosaics.
"That's right," said Homelander, shrugging casually before downing another shot of the liquor Ronn had just poured him.
The drink was called Seahorse Wine — brewed with yellow wine, honey, and the… male seahorse.
Reputedly, great for kidney vitality and... other functions.
Gulp—
The moment the drink hit his throat, Homelander's eyes lit up.
He could feel dopamine rushing, adrenaline spiking — Ronn hadn't tricked him!
It really worked.
"What a shame I didn't get to witness the scene myself," Ronn sighed wistfully.
"What do you mean?" Rayleigh asked curiously.
The old man could sense the… viscosity in the air.
Before Ronn could answer, Homelander cut in, speaking carefully.
He'd learned to choose his words very delicately after dealing with Liang Bing — the last time he'd said too much, she'd nearly beaten him to death with a steel whip.
"I mean… it was supposed to be a collaboration event between heroes…" he said vaguely.
Rayleigh instantly got it.
A true veteran, he exchanged a knowing glance with Ronn — and both men had to fight hard not to laugh.
Homelander's tone darkened.
"Forget it. The moment I think about it, I want to kill that fish bastard — Deep!"
"I told him to watch over the TNT Twins…"
"But no — he was in his room… playing with an octopus!"
"Damn it!"
The room went silent.
"Deep…" Ronn muttered, blinking. "You mean the lobster's buddy, the dolphin's savior, and the octopus's lover?"
"Too heavy," Rayleigh grimaced.
Even Liang Bing buried her face in her hands.
"I'm starting to doubt if 'Degeneracy and Freedom' can even bloom in your perverted world," she groaned.
The "Hero Summit" was one thing — but this "octopus diplomacy" incident had her questioning existence itself.
Meanwhile, Doflamingo, who'd been quietly drinking nearby, looked at Homelander with new respect.
Another man spreading degeneracy and chaos in his own world?
A comrade.
"Queen," Homelander said solemnly, "trust me — your ideology will thrive in my world."
"Let's hope you bring back proof next time," Liang Bing replied evenly.
Just then, the tavern door creaked open again.
In came Tea Dolphin, phone-snail in hand.
"Baby, I bought you leek buns this morning — you liked them, right?"
"Oh? You used that lipstick I gave you? Heh, I like being part of your day too~"
"What? You're coming over tonight? I'll book the room now!"
He hung up the snail-phone, face switching instantly from lovesick puppy to confident general.
He swaggered over to the bar and sat down.
Rayleigh was stunned.
Wasn't this guy supposed to have reformed?
Apparently not.
If anything, he'd evolved.
"He's… worse," Rayleigh muttered.
Ronn leaned closer, whispering:
"After that night, Tea Dolphin reached enlightenment.
He's ascended from Beta Licker to Final Form: Multi-Target Predator."
Rayleigh nodded, utterly serious.
Experience respected evolution.
Ram walked over and set down a bottle of Maotai.
"Your drink, sir."
"Thanks," Tea Dolphin said, taking a long gulp — then sighed heavily.
"Admiral Akainu's lost it," he complained.
"Last night he dragged every officer — hawks and doves alike — into an all-night meeting, preaching about 'Transcendent Justice.'"
"Now Headquarters is drowning us in new orders!"
Ronn raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't he afraid Aokiji will push back?"
Because within the Marines, there were factions.
Akainu led the Hawk faction — absolute justice.
Aokiji led the Dove faction — tempered justice.
But now, Akainu was merging his own ideology with Keisha's 'Divine Justice' —
an attempt to brainwash the moderate officers into embracing purification by fire.
If that continued, not just Aokiji — even Sengoku would have to intervene.
It would tear the Marines apart.
Tea Dolphin shook his head.
"It's too late. The seeds are already planted."
"No one agreed last night, but you could see it in their eyes — they're shaken.
They realized how far they've drifted from the ideals they once swore to uphold."
"Justice isn't 'gentle.'"
"To cleanse the sea of evil — that's the only way to honor the justice we carry, and the will of the people behind us."
Ronn exhaled.
The Doves might be soft — but they weren't fools.
Once their hearts began to waver, Akainu's doctrine would spread like wildfire.
"And you?" Ronn asked. "Did he convince you?"
Tea Dolphin sighed, then smiled slyly.
"Let's say I'm… conflicted."
"My heart's moved — but so are my girlfriends. Gotta handle both fronts, you know?"
"Just… tiring."
Ronn: "…"
You're beyond saving.
If Akainu ever heard that, he'd punch Tea Dolphin straight into orbit.
Doflamingo, who'd been quietly sipping wine in the corner, frowned deeply.
He hadn't missed what Liang Bing said earlier —
that Keisha's ideology would soon descend upon this sea, to clash with Degeneracy and Freedom.
He just hadn't expected the messenger of that ideology to be Akainu himself.
"Be careful," Liang Bing said coldly.
"With your current strength, if you clash with the Navy now — you'll be wiped out."
"Don't make your Queen cry."
Doflamingo's eyes darkened, though his lips still wore that twisted grin.
"Fufufufufu…"
"That only makes things more interesting."
"Justice will triumph, yes… but only because—"
"Only the victor defines what justice is."
"Queen, watch closely. The biggest war for supremacy in pirate history is about to begin!"
Smack!
Liang Bing smacked him on the head.
"Cut the dramatics, you edgy bastard!" she barked.
"That mutt Akainu's got a second-generation god body — you're my subordinate, so you're getting one too!"
Doflamingo hissed in pain — but before he could protest, a divine power flooded into his veins.
His genetic structure tore apart and rebuilt itself, piece by piece.
Energy surged.
His body reformed, refined — perfect.
Minutes later, the fusion was complete.
His eyes gleamed.
A grin crept across his face.
With this strength, overthrowing the World Government was no longer a dream.
Even Akainu or Kaido would eat a few punches before realizing what hit them.
But before he could bask in the euphoria—
"Don't celebrate too soon," Ronn said casually.
"Right now, all it means is Akainu can't easily kill you."
"If you're not careful, he still might."
Doflamingo froze.
"...You really know how to kill a mood, huh?"
He'd barely gotten excited and Ronn had already pissed in his champagne.
Suddenly, a snail-phone on the counter began to buzz.
Brrrr... brrrr... brrrr...
Tea Dolphin instinctively started checking his pockets — but it wasn't his.
Doflamingo pulled one from his coat and answered.
"Doffy—"
came Diamante's trembling voice.
"News from the underworld—"
"Five minutes ago, in the New World…"
"Red-Hair Shanks and Kaido… went to war!"
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