Chapter 33 — Toys Don't Pay Taxes; Only the Living Can Make Money for Me!
Doflamingo's signature laugh—"Fufufu"—echoed beneath the humble, flattering posture he deliberately put on.
It was shrill, self-deprecating, and humiliating all at once.
The "gifts" he had brought, Baby 5 and Viola, now stood stiffly at his side.
Baby 5 wore a bright, expectant smile, her eyes sparkling with desperate longing to be "needed," while Viola kept her head lowered, the tremor in her elegant frame barely hidden beneath her luxurious dress.
Akira leaned back on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, eyelids half-closed as he examined the two women before him.
"Hm?"
Something inside him instantly perked up.
"Two more sparring partners delivered right to my doorstep? Not bad."
He had been thinking about this for the past few days.
"When it comes to stacking Layers, relying on Yamato alone is too slow."
Sure, that woman from the Oni race had near-perfect physical aptitude. She was practically the ideal "sparring partner."
But no matter how monstrous her endurance was—
In the end, she was still only one person.
Akira's Armor of Will grew according to Battle Judgment.
With one sparring partner, he could accumulate one Layer every ten seconds.
"And now, counting Yamato… that makes three sparring partners."
"Which means every ten seconds, I can generate three Will Core traces."
His gaze swept across Viola and Baby 5.
"Doesn't that mean my Layer stacking efficiency just tripled?"
Just imagining it made his heartbeat quicken ever so slightly.
But Akira quickly calmed himself, frowning a little.
"Still…"
His eyes carefully scanned their physical condition.
"These two look too physically weak."
"Baby 5 has the Weapon-Weapon Fruit. Her body has undergone reconstruction—she should be able to withstand a decent amount."
"But Viola…"
His gaze dropped toward Viola's slender ankles.
"A regular princess."
"Judging from her build… if I use one full-power strike, she might just shatter instantly."
"Not even remotely comparable to a monster like Yamato."
Akira quietly shook his head inwardly.
"Oh well."
He stretched lazily.
"Even mosquitoes count as meat."
"And rejecting Doflamingo's 'goodwill' would just be wasteful."
…
Meanwhile, Doflamingo kept his eyes glued to Akira's expression.
And the moment he saw Akira's gaze linger on the two women—
not with rejection, but with clear evaluation—
His heart erupted in silent euphoria.
Fufufufufufu!!
Doflamingo practically cackled in his heart.
"So it's true!"
"No matter how strong he is—Akira is still a man!"
"Just like that bastard Kaido! In the end, all men are beasts ruled by lust!"
His plan—
had succeeded at step one.
Doflamingo briefly glanced at Viola, expression unchanged.
"She has no idea… just how terrifying her Glare-Glare Fruit truly is!"
"As long as he accepts her!"
"As long as he touches her even once tonight!"
"Everything he does—his secrets, his weaknesses, that bizarre transformation ability—"
"Viola will see ALL of it!"
"Once that happens, I'll know everything about Akira!"
"And once I understand him inside and out…"
"Dressrosa—"
"Will inevitably return to me, the Heavenly Yaksha!!"
…
"This damn turkey… that smile really is idiotic."
Akira glanced sideways at the satisfied grin Doflamingo was trying—and failing—to hide.
All he felt was contempt.
"He really thinks I don't know about the Glare-Glare Fruit?"
"A spy who can see everything and read thoughts?"
His lips curved into a cold smirk.
"Good."
"A spy completely trapped in my hands, with zero ability to resist."
"That's the kind of 'loyal informant' I like best."
Akira leaned back onto the sofa, waving a hand lazily at Doflamingo.
"Fine. Not bad."
"I'll accept your 'gift.'"
"Fufufufu! I'm honored you're satisfied!"
Doflamingo almost burst with excitement.
He knew this was the moment he needed to push the most.
"T–Tuan Akira…"
He rubbed his hands together, looking like the lowest-class merchant begging outside a market.
"You see… my palace is gone, all my assets have been confiscated…"
"And to rebuild the black market, I—well—I need a bit of 'initial capital.'"
Carefully, he pointed toward the harbor.
"You see… the Seastone on those ships…"
Akira's expression shifted as if he had only just remembered.
"Oh, that stuff."
He waved his hand casually.
"You're allowed to sell it."
"R–really?!"
Doflamingo inhaled sharply!
"Then… how will the profits be divided?"
Akira yawned lightly.
"Simple."
"One to nine."
"O–one to nine?!"
Doflamingo froze.
His mind raced at lightning speed.
"One to nine?"
"He only wants ten percent?!"
"Is he… trying to show goodwill?!"
A wave of joy crashed into him.
Fufufufufu!! Amazing!!
He was trembling with excitement.
"He actually has brains!"
"He must know the black market across the seas can't operate without my network!"
"He's being generous!"
"He—"
"Why do you look so happy?"
Akira's flat voice dropped like a bucket of cold water over his head.
Doflamingo's laugh died instantly.
"H–huh?"
Akira stared at him like he was watching a clown perform a bad act.
"I meant—"
"I take nine. You get one."
"…"
The smile on Doflamingo's face froze solid.
"Tuan Akira…"
"N–no."
Akira corrected himself calmly.
"I misspoke."
Hope returned to Doflamingo's eyes.
Eight to two? Could it be—?
"The truth is, I get nine."
Akira continued leisurely.
"And the remaining ten percent is operating cost for the 'company.'"
"..."
Every spark of hope evaporated instantly.
Doflamingo's throat dried up. His whole body turned cold.
With a trembling voice, he whispered:
"Tuan Akira…"
"Then… how about me…?"
"What do I eat?"
"You?"
For the first time, Akira looked straight at him—
with a gaze that carried absolute realism.
"You're the CEO. Why are you asking me what you're supposed to eat?"
"Figure it out yourself."
"…"
"You can take illegal commissions."
Akira's tone grew colder.
"Or burn, kill, plunder."
"Or embezzle funds from the Navy."
"I don't care about your methods."
Akira raised a single finger.
"I only care that my ninety percent arrives on time."
"Understand?"
"If you can't deliver—then quit."
"And if you get chopped up and fed to Sea Kings afterward, honestly, that's more efficient."
"…"
Doflamingo stood frozen.
Behind his sunglasses, veins bulged along his temples.
His teeth chattered from sheer humiliation and suppressed rage.
This was an insult.
A blatant treatment of him as nothing more than a money-making tool.
He, the mighty Heavenly Yaksha—
When had he ever endured humiliation like this?!
But he didn't dare retaliate.
He saw Akira's calm expression.
And he remembered Yamato still outside, swinging her kanabo with earth-shaking force, yelling "Hmph! Ha! Thunder Bagua!!"
"…Haaahh…"
Doflamingo swallowed his anger back into his stomach.
Through clenched teeth, he forced out two bitter words:
"I understand."
"Good. Leave."
Akira flicked his fingers lightly.
The former king of Dressrosa—
Now reduced to a man who had no choice but to swallow every humiliation, bow his head, and quietly walk away.
…
BANG!!
Just as Doflamingo exited,
the bedroom door was kicked open with explosive force!
Yamato burst out, now wearing a loose silk sleepwear that looked soft and elegant—
But on her shoulder, she still carried that massive spiked kanabo.
"Akira!!"
She strode forward energetically.
"That pink-feathered turkey is finally gone!"
"Hurry! Let's continue Layer Stacking!"
"We wasted the whole night yesterday, so today we have to double the training!!"
Her ocean-blue eyes were burning with a training passion even Kaido couldn't compare to.
But—
Halfway through her sprint, she suddenly stopped.
Only then did she notice two unfamiliar women in the living room.
Baby 5 and Viola.
"Hm?"
Yamato approached them curiously.
She leaned forward and—like a big dog—began sniffing them.
"Weak."
That was her conclusion.
Then she turned sharply toward Akira.
Her eyes widened with sudden "realization."
"Oh—! I get it!!"
Yamato clapped her hands in excitement.
"You're going to bring them into training too?!"
"But they look way too weak! They won't survive even one of my hits!"
A dark line appeared on Akira's forehead.
What goes on inside this training maniac's head?
"Go do your own thing."
He waved his hand impatiently.
"I have important business."
"Tch! Another 'important business'!"
Yamato puffed her cheeks angrily.
"Training is the MOST important business!!"
She stomped her foot, kanabo still resting on her shoulder.
"Forget it!"
"I'll go consolidate my strength outside!"
She glared at Akira.
"You better call me quickly when you're done!!"
BANG!
The villa door slammed shut.
A moment later—
"Hmph!!"
"Ha!!"
"THUNDER BAGUA!!"
The sounds of Yamato's practice echoed across the courtyard.
…
The living room finally grew quiet.
Only Akira and two trembling women remained.
"You. To the kitchen."
Akira pointed at Baby 5.
"Prepare lunch."
"For a hundred people."
"Yes!!"
Baby 5's eyes lit up instantly with the joy of being "needed."
"I'll do my best!!"
She lifted her maid skirt slightly and sprinted to the kitchen like a gust of wind.
Now—
Only Akira and Viola remained.
Viola trembled uncontrollably.
She knew the real "judgment" had arrived.
"Stop pretending."
Akira's calm voice cut through the room.
Viola stiffened instantly.
"I know your identity."
Akira stood up, his towering three-meter frame casting a massive shadow over her.
"Princess Viola of Dressrosa."
"!!!"
Viola snapped her head up in shock.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with fear.
"H–how did you…"
"I."
Akira stepped toward her slowly.
He lowered his head, looking down at her like a predator watching prey.
He grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"I can give your royal family an opportunity."
"One chance to cut ties with Doflamingo forever."
"You…"
A spark of fragile hope flickered in Viola's eyes.
A hope even she didn't dare believe.
"But there are conditions."
Akira's voice dipped into cold steel.
"First."
"You obey me completely."
"You use your eyes as my surveillance camera."
"Second."
A cruel smile curled at his lips.
"Besides you—"
"Bring your niece, Rebecca, to me."
"You—!!"
"You monster!!"
Viola's momentary hope shattered.
"You want to imprison Rebecca too?!"
"You want to use her to take over Dressrosa?!"
"Don't misunderstand."
Akira cut her off.
Honesty radiated from his expression—
the kind of honesty that made people tremble.
"I'm not interested in ruling this country."
"What interests me is money…"
His eyes trailed along Viola's trembling figure.
"And women."
"…"
Viola froze.
She stared at this man—
More direct, more dominant, more shameless than Doflamingo ever was.
Her desperate heart pounded violently.
She hesitated for an unbearably long time.
Finally, she bit her lip hard—
until blood trickled down.
"…Fine!"
"I accept all your conditions!"
"I'll bring Rebecca too!"
Then, with every ounce of willpower she possessed,
Viola looked straight into his eyes.
"But!!"
"You must do one thing first!!"
"Restore all the citizens of Dressrosa—"
"All the ones Doflamingo turned into 'toys'—"
"Every single one of them!!"
"..."
Akira looked at her fierce, unwavering determination.
Then he laughed softly.
"That's all?"
"Sure."
He released her chin and shrugged casually.
He turned toward the kitchen—
The smell of meat was already starting to fill the hallway.
But inside, Akira's mind was ice-cold.
"Toys can't work. They consume nothing."
"More importantly…"
"They don't pay taxes."
From the kitchen doorway, his voice drifted back:
"Toys have no 'harvest value.'"
"Only the living can make money for me."
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