For the moment, Doflamingo could find no perfect solution—so he chose the most direct one.
He would go to Punk Hazard himself.
The matter involving Caesar absolutely could not be exposed—neither to the Marines nor to Kaido. If either side learned the truth, neither would spare him. Left with no other choice, Doflamingo decided to handle it personally.
Although he had no illusions about defeating Marco, Doflamingo was still confident in his own strength. Winning was one thing—but escaping was another.
During the Marineford War, he hadn't clashed with Marco directly, but he had fought Diamond Jozu, the Third Division Commander. At the time, he had restrained Jozu with ease.
Even if Marco was stronger than Jozu, Doflamingo believed one thing firmly:
If he chose to retreat, Marco wouldn't be able to stop him.
The moment he hung up the transponder snail, Doflamingo barked an order.
"Trebol! Move—now. Gather as many men as you can and prepare to head for Punk Hazard immediately."
Trebol, dangling lazily from the ceiling, blinked in confusion.
"Eh? Something wrong, Young Master…?"
Doflamingo's expression darkened.
"Marco has attacked Punk Hazard. His target is probably Caesar."
He sneered coldly.
"Fortunately, they didn't bring many people. And the Phoenix Pirates don't have deep roots so close to the Red Line."
He turned toward the open window.
"Hurry. I'll go on ahead—you follow as fast as possible."
With that, he stepped into the air, threads snapping into place as he launched himself forward, vanishing in a blur.
—
Back on Punk Hazard, Monet stood silently after ending the call.
She had done everything she could. From here on, the situation was no longer within her control.
Turning toward the laboratory door, she activated the emergency communicator linked directly inside.
"Master," Monet said evenly, "my subordinates have confirmed that Phoenix Marco—the captain of the Phoenix Pirates—has landed on Punk Hazard."
"He brought over a thousand pirates. Their intentions are… hostile. Their target may very well be you."
Half a minute later, the heavy laboratory doors slid open.
A man wreathed in drifting pink gas stepped out—long black hair, horns curving from his head, a light-blue coat fluttering around his bulky frame.
Caesar Clown's face was pale with panic.
"M-Monet!" he stammered. "That emergency call—was it real?"
"Yes, Master," Monet replied calmly. "The report has been confirmed."
Caesar froze—then immediately began pacing back and forth in a frenzy.
"What do I do?! What do I do?!" he wailed.
"Why would Phoenix Marco come here?! I've never offended the Whitebeard Pirates!"
Monet spoke carefully.
"Not long ago, the Beasts Pirates and the Phoenix Pirates clashed on Nanku Island. During that conflict… Jack used poison gas bombs."
"What?!" Caesar snapped, bristling.
"Jack used them—what does that have to do with me?!"
Monet hesitated, then offered her speculation.
"Perhaps… they discovered that the poison gas bombs were originally developed by you, Master."
Caesar's face drained of all color.
"They're here for me?!" he shrieked. "What do I do?! Hurry—contact Doffy!"
Monet nodded, unfazed.
"I already have. Young Master has ordered us to prepare for evacuation. He's on his way here personally."
Hearing that Doflamingo was coming, Caesar finally felt a flicker of relief—only for it to vanish just as quickly.
"But—but the enemy is a Yonko!" he cried.
"Doffy alone might not be enough! We need Kaido—does Doffy have a way to contact Kaido?!"
Monet shook her head slightly.
"That… I don't know."
Caesar's anxiety skyrocketed.
Seeing him spiral, Monet maintained her professional smile and spoke reassuringly.
"Actually, Master, there's no need to panic."
"I don't believe the Phoenix Pirates have any intention of killing you."
Caesar paused, staring at her.
"They probably only want something from you," Monet continued calmly.
"Most likely… the antidote to the poison gas."
"…Ah."
Caesar's shoulders sagged slightly as relief washed over him.
"That's right… that's right!" he muttered.
"I haven't offended them. They don't have any reason to kill me."
But deep down, an unease still gnawed at him.
After all—a yonko didn't come personally just to ask politely.
At that moment, a report crackled through the transponder snail on the desk.
"Master, this is bad! The Phoenix Pirates are already advancing toward the laboratory! But please rest assured—we've sealed the main gate completely. Even if they're a yonko crew, they won't be able to break through so easily!"
The reassurance hadn't even finished echoing when—
BOOM!
The entire room shook violently.
Caesar snatched up the transponder snail, his voice shrill.
"What was that explosion just now?!"
A panicked voice screamed back, barely coherent.
"M-Master, the gate—the gate's been smashed open by Fire Fist Ace! The Phoenix Pirates have already broken in! B-but don't worry, we'll definitely stop them!"
The call cut off.
Caesar's face darkened instantly. He didn't believe for a second that his subordinates could stop a Yonko's crew.
"Those useless idiots won't hold them for even a minute," he snapped, turning to Monet.
"Pack up the important data—now. We're retreating!"
"Yes, Master," Monet replied without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Ace was tearing through the laboratory complex like a raging inferno.
Leading the Second Division, he advanced as if cutting through grass—anyone who dared block his path was instantly overwhelmed. Caesar's guards collapsed one after another, completely unable to slow him down.
Ace seized a fleeing subordinate by the collar.
"Where's Caesar?"
"Tch! I won't tell you!" the man spat.
Ace didn't bother arguing. He slammed him aside with a single punch and turned to his crew.
"Split up and search! We take Caesar alive—move!"
"Yes!" the Second Division roared.
High above, Marco hovered in the air, his Observation Haki pushed to its limit.
Caesar wasn't just a target—he was leverage.
When the time came to face Kaido, having Caesar in hand would give Marco a powerful bargaining chip.
Then—
"I found him!" a pirate from the Karma Pirates shouted.
"He's over here—trying to escape!"
The cry instantly drew the attention of everyone nearby. Pirates surged toward the sound, weapons raised.
Inside the laboratory, Caesar watched through a monitor as the decoy he'd prepared was chased down.
"Shurororororo…" He grinned smugly.
"What a bunch of idiots. Falling for such an obvious trick. Pirates really are fools—even a Yonko's crew is no exception."
Monet's expression tightened.
"Master, we must leave now. Once they realize the deception, we won't have another chance."
"Shurororororo, you're right," Caesar chuckled.
He leapt onto a compact electric railcar hidden beneath the laboratory floor—a private escape route he had prepared long ago.
The next instant, the railcar surged forward, vanishing into the darkness of the tunnels as it sped away from the laboratory.
Behind him, chaos erupted—but Caesar Clown was already slipping through their fingers.
However, at that very moment, a streak of blue flame descended from the sky and landed squarely on the tracks ahead.
Caesar froze.
A split second later, cold sweat drenched his back.
He could see clearly now—the figure blocking his escape route was none other than Marco, one of the Yonko.
"W-What?!" Caesar shrieked as he slammed down on the emergency brake.
Sparks screeched violently as metal ground against metal. The railcar lurched and rattled, but its momentum was already too great. It hurtled straight toward Marco—
BOOM!
The railcar shook violently, swaying back and forth… then stopped.
Stopped completely.
Held in place by a single hand.
Once the trembling finally ceased, Caesar slowly poked his head out of the railcar. Standing before him, Marco withdrew his hand and smiled faintly.
"Nice to meet you," Marco said casually. "Caesar Clown."
"M-Marco-sama…" Caesar swallowed hard, his voice trembling.
The man in front of him wasn't just a legendary pirate—he was now a Yonko. Fear gripped him to the bone.
Marco lightly hopped onto the railcar, standing at its edge as he looked down at Caesar with amused eyes.
"And where exactly were you planning to run off to?"
By now, Caesar was drenched in sweat. He didn't even consider fighting back—he knew far too well how wide the gap between them was. Forcing a smile uglier than crying, he stammered,
"U-Um, I—I just had some urgent business, so…"
Marco cut him off before he could finish.
"Save it. I'm not interested."
His tone remained calm, but his eyes turned cold.
"Let me ask you something instead. The poison gas weapons used by the Beasts Pirates—those were your creations, weren't they?"
Caesar's face went pale in an instant. Cold sweat poured down his temples as he hurriedly protested, "I-I did create them, but I was forced! And I wasn't the one who used them! I'm just a scientist!"
Marco raised a hand, silencing him.
"Relax. I'm not here to kill you."
Caesar blinked in disbelief.
"The poison gas caused us some trouble, yes," Marco continued evenly, "but most of it has already dispersed, and our comrades who were poisoned have been treated. As long as you cooperate, I won't lay a finger on you."
"Yes! Yes! Of course!" Caesar nodded frantically, like a chick pecking at grain.
"Whatever Marco-sama commands, I'll do my utmost to comply!"
At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed through the tunnel as the Phoenix Pirates arrived.
"Captain Marco!"
"So this is where that bastard ran off to!"
"Damn it—he tricked us!"
"That scumbag must be the one who made the poison gas used on Nanku Island!"
The crew quickly surrounded the railcar, eyes filled with fury as they stared down at Caesar.
Trapped, trembling, and drenched in sweat,
Caesar Clown finally understood—There was no escape left.
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