One Piece: Crown of Darkness

"Arinland! The 'City of Dreams' and the 'City of Sin' are two sides of the same coin, like the front and back of a mirror," Doflamingo spoke eloquently and passionately. "Its unique environment created its unique self—what a magnificent masterpiece! It harbors infinite business opportunities, and I sincerely praise it! Fufufufu~ But I also feel incredibly worried for it."

"Why do I feel so worried for Arinland? That concerns all of you here! What is it you seek by locating the core of your wealth-generating businesses in Arinland? It's that Arinland belongs to a free alliance model rather than a state system, allowing you to avoid heavy and harsh taxes, maximizing your profits. This, too, is well-known," Doflamingo continued.

Changing his tone, Doflamingo murmured, "For many years, haven't many people coveted Arinland's wealth? And there must have been quite a few who not only coveted it but also tried to seize it?" Without waiting for an answer, he said, "I think it's inevitable! Humans are just so greedy, endlessly demanding."

"From now on, I am willing to help you create a perfect environment so you can operate with peace of mind," Doflamingo said with a smile. "As a price, I will take a five percent cut of your net profits, far less than the heavy and harsh taxes under a state system. Aren't you happy? Aren't you surprised? Fufufufu~"

"Bastard, stop dreaming!"

"Exactly! What right do you have? This is absurd! A joke!"

"Those guys from the 'City of Sin' are just uncouth; they should go back where they came from!"

"Brat! We people of the 'City of Dreams' have nothing to do with you 'City of Sin' folks!"

"..."

The elites instantly became agitated. After all, Doflamingo was demanding so much with mere words, completely unreasonably.

"Fufufufu~ I seem to have overestimated your intellect," Doflamingo reached out to stop Daifuku, who was about to act, then spread his arms wide, still smiling. "You are businessmen! What do businessmen pursue? Profit! The lowest-risk profit! You don't even look at my leverage before concluding that I don't have enough power to assist you, or—to threaten you?!"

"Calm down; it benefits everyone," pleased with the quieted room, Doflamingo laid out his cards. "The name 'Big Mom'—I'm sure you're familiar with it. That's right, she's my major client. These two behind me are her children: Charlotte Daifuku-san, her third son, and Charlotte Smoothie-san, her fourteenth daughter. There's no need to doubt; you can check their wanted posters to confirm their identities."

"B-B-Big Mom!!!"

"Hey, hey, is that true?"

"That legendary most terrifying, most cruel monster?!"

"I thought those two looked familiar somehow..."

"..."

It had to be admitted, Big Mom's infamous reputation certainly held the room.

"So I'm actually connecting Big Mom with you, for your benefit! The news circulating in the South Blue these days about 'the Big Mom Pirates' crazy antics' isn't a lie! Big Mom is very short on cash right now. She originally intended to personally visit Arinland to shake you down, but I stopped her," Doflamingo lied without batting an eye. "I told her that simple, brutal short-sightedness isn't a good method, and I with great difficulty persuaded her otherwise."

"Fufufufu~ The transaction is very simple. Big Mom has agreed to lend you her flag," Doflamingo said. "When transporting your goods, you'll no longer need to hire large numbers of security guards to protect against pirate incursions. If any pirate is foolish enough to offend you, the Big Mom Pirates will personally 'have a word' with them. How much expense will this one item alone save you?"

"Including Arinland, not everyone in the 'City of Sin' honestly stays hidden in the night. With the Big Mom Pirates' flag, those poor fools blinded by jealousy who resort to theft, vandalism, plunder, and other nasty harassments will definitely disappear. Perhaps you haven't calculated these losses, but they add up, don't they?"

Doflamingo twirled his fingers. "So, who agrees, and who objects?"

"One flag, and you take five percent of the net profit from all our hard-earned businesses? How is that different from outright robbery? What kind of transaction is that?" someone frowned.

Doflamingo rubbed his temples and clicked his tongue. "If it were outright robbery, you'd already be dead. That's the difference! The benefits you gain are considerable, enough to offset this five percent net profit, and even gain more." He mused, then added, "I can even acquire World Government tax exemption documents, but these things lose value if they become too widespread. Some of you will have the opportunity to get them, but of course, you'll have to pay separately! So, who agrees, and who objects?"

An eerie silence fell.

"Those who agree, stay. Those who object, leave automatically," Doflamingo said with a forced smile. "Fufufufu~ My sincerity ends here, because there's truly nothing more to offer."

After another moment of silence, a few people, in twos and threes, stood up and walked away.

Doflamingo licked his lips and tilted his head. "Peclo?"

"Yes," Peclo immediately moved closer.

Doflamingo bared his teeth, his expression sinister. "Trebol and Diamante will help you. Kill those ungrateful bastards! Make a big commotion, understand? Then ransack their hideouts."

"Yes, yes!" Peclo shivered and quickly moved to action.

Turning his head, Doflamingo broke into a warm smile. "Alright! Those of you who remained, you are now my friends! Friends, please raise your glasses. Let us celebrate this pleasant cooperation, fufufufu~"

The crowd reluctantly stood and raised their glasses.

"We haven't asked your name, young man," someone said.

Doflamingo pondered. "'Joker'! Just call me 'Joker,' that's fine."

Just then.

"Bang bang bang!!!"

"Ahhhhh!!!"

Outside the door, gunshots erupted, followed by screams.

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