One Piece: Crown of Darkness

"Black tea~ Green tea~"

"Which one will you choose?"

On the enormous dining table, anthropomorphic tea boxes walked about. Beside them, an anthropomorphic kettle chuckled, gurgling.

"Black tea," Doflamingo replied.

"Yaah~~~"

"Yes!"

The reactions were starkly different. The green tea box dramatically collapsed, while the black tea box seemed to receive immense encouragement, its lid flying off excitedly as it sprinkled tea leaves into the kettle.

"Black tea~ Black tea~"

"Gulp gulp gulp~"

"Eat quickly! Come eat!"

"Come eat us~"

"We're here too~ Honey, honey, a full boy~"

"Super—sweet—ah!"

"Sausage? Lettuce? Ham? Bread? Pancakes are delicious!"

"It's party time~~~"

"..."

Everything was alive—the table, chairs, food. They sang and cheered joyfully, forming a symphony.

"Fufufufu~ Interesting. I've never seen such a..." Doflamingo tapped his temple with a finger, tactfully saying, "Lively, lively gathering."

Charlotte Linlin happily gorged herself, mumbling, "Mamamama~ Try to get used to it, Doflamingo. That name's too long, I'll just call you Doffy! Hmm, Doffy." Suddenly, a wire in her brain seemed to cross. She stopped chewing, swallowed her food, cleared her throat, and said, "Doffy?"

"Is there something you need, Big Mom-san?" Doflamingo hopped onto the table and sat down.

Charlotte Linlin's expression was strange, and her question even stranger, tinged with a slight awkwardness. "You know why I came to the South Blue. How am I supposed to return to the New World? Mamamama, those two stingy guys, 'Golden Lion' and 'Whitebeard,' I just accidentally... They'll definitely come after me. If that happens, I can't build my dream kingdom, can I, or achieve my dream..."

"Fufufufu~ This is a big deal, my esteemed client. What will be your payment?" Doflamingo changed his address, his tone enthusiastic.

Charlotte Linlin's temper flared, and she demanded, "Aren't we allies, Doffy?!"

"Business is business, one thing at a time!" Doflamingo said firmly. "You pay, I solve your problem. It's that simple!"

"You're getting ahead of yourself!" Charlotte Linlin said, displeased.

Just then.

"Mama," Smoothie arrived gracefully, feigning nonchalance as she greeted Charlotte Linlin, though she couldn't help but discreetly peek at Doflamingo.

"Mamamama~ My adorable daughters have arrived. Oh? Why is it just you? Smoothie, the most adorable of my adorable daughters." Charlotte Linlin turned her head and saw only Smoothie. Greatly perplexed, her eyes suddenly lit up as if she'd realized something. "Ohh~ Are your sisters too shy, so they asked you to check out their fiancé first? How thoughtful."

Smoothie said with difficulty, "Mama, I... I want to be that person!"

"Huh?!"

"Smoothie!"

"Wow! Smoothie-san confessed?!"

"That's shocking."

"..."

The Big Mom Pirates fell into a discussion. After all, Smoothie was always quiet and usually didn't like to contend for things.

"No! Absolutely not!" Charlotte Linlin slammed the table and stood up, her aura incredibly terrifying. Seeming to realize her outburst, she clumsily made an excuse. "You... you're still young, not suitable. Let your sisters do it. They're of marriageable age and eager to marry..."

Even though she often acted like a brat, Charlotte Linlin was, after all, Smoothie's mother. She understood Smoothie's potential, talent, and aptitude better than anyone, and she certainly didn't want Smoothie to leave.

"He's also very young, and this is just an engagement," Smoothie looked up, stubbornly.

Charlotte Linlin became frantic, roaring, "Listen to me, Smoothie! Don't be so overly willful with Mama!"

"Fufufufu~ I'm also very fond of Smoothie, Big Mom," Doflamingo interjected amidst the brewing storm. "This is a feast. Do you want to spoil the mood? Sit down, eat happily, talk happily. There's a solution to everything, isn't there? Like how you'll return to the New World."

Charlotte Linlin glared at Doflamingo, her mood unpredictable. "You impudent brat, what kind of love potion did you give my adorable daughter?"

"No, no, no, this is fate, it's love at first sight, meant to be!" Doflamingo said, laying it on thick. He gestured to Smoothie with a wagging finger, saying, "She's mine."

"Don't spout nonsense!" Charlotte Linlin cursed, but she did sit back down.

Doflamingo's smile bloomed as he extended a hand to Smoothie.

Smoothie looked at Charlotte Linlin, then at the group of others with gossiping eyes. She lowered her head and slowly approached Doflamingo, taking his hand.

"Fufufufu~ I'll solve your problem. The payment is that you agree to Smoothie and me being together. How about it?" Doflamingo asked.

Charlotte Linlin furiously devoured her food. "How will you solve it?"

"A secret! I'm not playing with you; even if I told you, you couldn't do it. I'll handle the specifics," Doflamingo considered carefully, then stated seriously, "In about three months, I guarantee 'Golden Lion' and 'Whitebeard' will forget about this little skirmish where you accidentally damaged their territory. You can then safely return to the New World and prepare to establish your dream kingdom! Of course, my method can only be used once. After that..."

Doflamingo spread his hands, indicating his helplessness, completing his unfinished thought.