One Piece: Crown of Darkness

"The last gift... ten renowned architectural designers," Doflamingo returned to his usual demeanor, as if nothing had just happened. He and Charlotte Linlin remained perfectly amicable.

Charlotte Linlin tilted her head. "Are they tasty?"

"... " Doflamingo rubbed his temple with a finger. He said, "I have my intelligence sources! Your Big Mom Pirates' recent frenzied acquisition of wealth is because you want to build a nation! A dream nation that embraces all races, where everyone lives happily regardless of status. They'll be useful, won't they? Fufufufu~"

"How do you know all this?!"

"Does he have an informant on board too?"

"Or is this kid actually from Cipher Pol, working with those bastards Jeremond and Erik?"

"..."

The Big Mom Pirates were startled, as they had never revealed the reason behind their recent frantic money-making activities to outsiders.

"Mamamama~ I see, they will indeed be useful," Charlotte Linlin nodded, then continued, "No need to doubt him. He passed my test, those World Government dogs from Cipher Pol don't possess Conqueror's Haki."

Doflamingo clapped his hands, chuckling. "Fufufufu~ Yes!" He paused slightly, then added, "As for my purpose in coming here, it's just one thing! Cooperation!"

"Cooperation?" Charlotte Linlin opened her wide mouth. "Doflamingo, what do you bring to the cooperation?"

"I can help you accumulate wealth, provide you with rare intelligence, even about the World Government. I can also connect you with the world's most powerful human traffickers. After all, besides territory and buildings, isn't the most important thing for establishing a nation its population? What kind of nation has no population?" Doflamingo said leisurely. "There are many types of cooperation; these are just my examples."

Charlotte Linlin leaned back in the cabin, deep in thought for a moment. "Sounds useful. What do you want from me?"

"People. To be precise, enforcers operating under your flag! Also, I have a deep grudge with the World Government, and if they come after me, I hope to receive your protection," Doflamingo said.

Charlotte Linlin's expression was peculiar as she slowly considered. "Mamamama~ The price I'm paying isn't small either! How do I know you have that kind of ability?"

"Fufufufu~ I just exposed two Cipher Pol spies," Doflamingo said nonchalantly, with a faint smile, "My plan is for a long-term partnership, with enough time for us to prove ourselves. Let's have more sincerity and fewer tricks with each other, Big Mom! If negotiations go well, I'll give you a satisfactory wedding blessing."

Charlotte Linlin cupped her face and laughed. "Alright! Alright! You sharp little brat, I agree to cooperate." Her tone then shifted. "However, to increase our trust, you must marry my daughter!"

She gave Doflamingo no chance to refuse.

"My daughters! My lovely girls! Come out, all of you!"

"Mamamama~"

Charlotte Linlin cheered loudly.

"Whoa whoa whoa!!!"

"This guy's got some moves!"

"Mother and daughter holding a wedding together? That's... uh, rare."

"..."

The tense atmosphere dissipated with the successful negotiation. Everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief. They were terrified that Doflamingo would infuriate Charlotte Linlin, which would be a disaster.

Amidst this joyous atmosphere...

"I'm only eleven years old, still a child, far from marriageable age," Doflamingo sighed.

Everyone: "..."

The atmosphere became awkward and heavy.

"It doesn't matter! An engagement is fine too," Charlotte Linlin, surprisingly, didn't care at all.

"Eleven... years old?"

"He's that young? I thought he was seventeen or eighteen, judging by his height and demeanor..."

"..."

Everyone was speechless.

"Are you trying to decline?" Charlotte Linlin leaned in, pressing him, making the atmosphere tense again.

Doflamingo chuckled. "No, fufufu~ I want to give you a satisfactory wedding blessing in advance, so we can skip unnecessary formalities at the wedding and focus on having fun."

"Oh? Mamamama, a wedding blessing?" Charlotte Linlin looked around. "Where? Where?"

"A piece of intelligence," Doflamingo extended a finger. "Rumor has it you're searching for a way to make normal humans grow larger?"

Charlotte Linlin froze. "Eh? You know that too?" Her face was filled with longing and fanciful thoughts, snot even running down her nose. "My dream, mamamama~ is to make all races in the world one family, sitting as equals, drinking what I drink, eating what I eat~! But! They all say it's impossible, they deny my dream! Damn it!!!"

Capricious and unpredictable, typical Big Mom behavior.

"Fufufufu~ The World Government is also searching for a way to make normal humans grow larger, hoping to form a giant army one day to completely rule the world! They've experimented for hundreds of years without interruption; why not try it? Perhaps you'll succeed!" Doflamingo licked the corner of his mouth and said, "Also, the name Dr. Vegapunk..."

Charlotte Linlin said, "The brilliant scientist renowned as '500 years ahead of human intelligence,' I know him."

"If anyone can research a method to make normal humans grow larger, it's him," Doflamingo smiled. "The wedding blessing has been given. Are you satisfied?"

"Mamamama~ Of course!" Charlotte Linlin was very pleased.

Doflamingo's smile widened. "What are we waiting for? A feast! A feast! Shouldn't we properly entertain a guest who's traveled so far? Fufufufu~"

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