One Piece: Crown of Darkness

"Oh? You're not actually mad at me, are you, Doffy? I already apologized," Smoothie sighed to Doflamingo, who had been sulking in silence for a while, as the Flamingo set sail again, heading to the Sabaody Archipelago to pick up Lao G and Pica.

Smoothie, of course, understood that intervening in Doflamingo's battle earlier was wrong, just as Big Mom in the Charlotte Family strictly forbade her children from interfering in her battles; it concerned the dignity of the family head and ship's captain.

Doflamingo shook his head, reaching out to stroke Smoothie's wavy long hair. "No, I'm not that petty, dear! I'm just..."

He spread his hands, feeling a little put out. "I didn't get my fill! Suddenly, I feel a bit regretful about becoming a Warlord of the Sea so early and associating too much with the Yonko. Now, I basically can't find any opponents stronger than me. Too many times, walking the line between life and death would be beneficial for my strength to grow."

Smoothie pouted. She couldn't offer Doflamingo a solution to his troubles, so she awkwardly changed the subject. "That's right, if you didn't become a Warlord of the Sea, you could marry me openly."

Doflamingo's expression became slightly awkward, because he... seemed to be a smooth-talking scoundrel. He had long ago deceived Smoothie's affections and body, making grand promises that turned out to be empty and false. Besides keeping Smoothie by his side as a fighter and for intimate encounters, he had completely forgotten everything else and fulfilled none of it.

"Fufufufu~ My dear, you have to understand my difficulties..." Doflamingo embraced Smoothie to comfort her, showering her with more sweet talk.

Regarding the matter of marriage, Doflamingo had actually discussed it with Smoothie before, feigning misery and pouring out his woes, blaming his inability to marry on becoming a Warlord of the Sea, claiming the World Government wouldn't allow him to ally with an Emperor and so on, completely omitting that he voluntarily became a Warlord of the Sea.

Perhaps influenced by Big Mom's improper conduct, treating marriage like a game and changing husbands like changing clothes, Smoothie didn't actually mind not getting married. She considered it merely a formality, although there was a tiny bit of resentment. In her own words: "It doesn't matter! The important thing is that we're together, feeling each other's hearts."

"You're truly understanding, my dear," Doflamingo kissed Smoothie's forehead.

"Oh~ hohohoho~" Giolla egged them on, "Super affectionate, Young Master~"

Diamante, however, was less attuned to romance. "What about this guy, Doffy?"

"Trebol will welcome him," Doflamingo's gaze fell on Tiger, who was bound hand and foot on the deck. "Fufufufu~ A hero, after all, always needs tragic setbacks as a backdrop, otherwise, their greatness won't be apparent!"

Tiger, whose mouth was also gagged, stared hatefully at Doflamingo.

"Don't look at me like that. This is how the world is: the strong prey on the weak! I'm strong, you're weak, so it's you who falls, not me," Doflamingo said faintly, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds.

A moment later.

Sabaody Archipelago.

After handing Tiger over to Trebol, Doflamingo also pulled Trebol aside for a whispered conversation.

"Behehehehe~ I'll sell him to the Celestial Dragons," Trebol said with a sinister, mocking grin, emphasizing, "to the right Celestial Dragon."

Doflamingo turned and said, "Everyone, take a break. We'll set off again after two days of fun." Turning back, he said, "Prepare three ordinary, worthless Zoan-type Devil Fruits. I have a use for them."

"Yes, yes! Doffy, I'll definitely handle it," Trebol seemed to particularly enjoy his current job, radiating happiness both inside and out.

Doflamingo then dialed Spandine's Den Den Mushi to arrange a meeting, only to get an answer that Spandine was corrupting himself at Doflamingo's casino!

Phew.

"That makes things easier," Doflamingo said, quite speechless, as he hung up the Den Den Mushi.

Soon after.

"Joker-sama, hehe~" Spandine bowed, fawning, in the casino's hidden safe room.

Doflamingo got straight to the point, secreting threads from his fingertips. "Find a way to make my strings eat a Devil Fruit. I must see perfect results first."

"I promise! I've already bribed a scientist from Dr. Vegapunk's scientific team. He also knows the technique for feeding Zoan-type Devil Fruits to inanimate objects," Spandine rubbed his hands, saying sheepishly, "It's just... it's just... he's too greedy, the expenses..."

"Fufufufufu~~ My friend! Money is never an issue with me, is it?" Doflamingo knew perfectly well that Spandine's excuse about the scientist he'd supposedly bribed being too greedy was just that—an excuse.

Spandine himself was simply too greedy. But Doflamingo, who wasn't short on cash, didn't care about money. He liked Spandine being greedy, even greedier, greedy to the point of losing his mind, as that made him easier to control.

Spandine, whose moral bottom line had plummeted to rock bottom, dramatically spread his arms. "Praise your generosity, infinitely grateful! Joker-sama!"

"Fufufufu~ Go to Trebol for the Devil Fruits. Oh! And fifty million Berries in chips. Have fun, my friend," Doflamingo said dismissively, shooing Spandine away.

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