One Piece: Crown of Darkness

"Annoying flies!"

Having witnessed the end of the old era and the dawn of a new one, Doflamingo returned to the Flamingo. He knew that the dozens of warships and tens of thousands of Marines led by "Hero" Garp were not only there to ensure the smooth public execution of the "Pirate King," but also tasked with eliminating new or potential pirate rookies like himself.

This was especially true after Roger's shocking, world-shaking last words: "My treasures? If you want them, I'll give them all to you! Go search! I've left everything in this world there!!!"

Roger's uncontrollable actions shattered the World Government's dream of using the "Pirate King's" blood and head to deter the situation. Instead, they were outmaneuvered by Roger, who inadvertently caused an even more chaotic situation.

It was foreseeable that the "evil" incited and inspired by Roger would proliferate like bamboo shoots after rain, and Loguetown was undoubtedly the primary area of rampant disaster.

The World Government's foolish decision would be paid for by the Marines. Regardless, they had to self-deceptively attempt to suppress the terrible situation.

With a public execution broadcast worldwide, it was too late to conceal the truth. So, all the Marines could do was use more blood and heads to intimidate, frighten, and threaten people into not becoming pirates.

Doflamingo anticipated that the Marines would cause bloodshed in Loguetown, so he promptly left. He wasn't foolish enough to confront the Marines head-on. However, what he didn't anticipate was that the first ones to trouble him wouldn't be the Marines, but fellow pirates!

No more than five nautical miles after setting sail, the Donquixote Family encountered six or seven waves of ridiculous individuals who had crudely painted small Jolly Rogers, rowed in small boats, and dared to call themselves pirates, audaciously attempting to "requisition" the Flamingo.

"Nyeh, nyeh, what should we do with them, Doffy?" Trebol leaned in, playfully holding up a half-dead person he'd grabbed by the head. "I say, I say, if you beg for mercy, maybe Doffy will let you off! Any man with a heart for the sea would get hot-blooded and lose their mind after hearing the 'Pirate King's' last words. It's not your fault, behehehe~~~"

The half-dead man in Doflamingo's hand painfully opened his mouth and weakly said, "I-I'm sorry, please..."

"Behehehehe~ That sounds like a super reluctant apology, nyeh! You're not planning to give in now, then get away and seek revenge on us, are you?" Trebol teased.

Swish, swish, swish~

Doflamingo lifted a finger, and instantly, over a dozen short-sighted enemies were strung up on the Flamingo's mast. "Enough!" Doflamingo said with a dark expression. "Keep moving forward! Eliminate anyone who blocks our path!"

Trebol swayed left and right, wiggling up to the crow's nest, muttering to himself, "Behehe~ Doffy's angry, Doffy's really angry~~"

Doflamingo was more than just angry; he was furious. He absolutely detested this kind of frequent and petty trouble; it was utterly pissing him off!

The suppressed madness within him was clearly provoked to burst. Doflamingo secreted strings from his palm, extending and whipping his arm.

"Overheat."

Swish!

Crack!!!

Hundreds of meters away, a pirate ship that hadn't provoked Doflamingo suffered an undeserved fate, cut in half by the sharp whip.

"Damn youuuu!!!"

Roars of pain and despair echoed.

"You should thank me. What do you think the sea is? A treasure hunting amusement park? Those with such naive ideas should just wash up and go home to sleep! The sea will devour you until not even bone fragments remain! The sea is a gladiator arena fraught with danger! Everyone is a beast fighting for their lives! The weak die! The strong survive!" Doflamingo cruelly retorted towards the remnants of the pirate ship from which the roars of pain and despair emanated, "I saved your lives! Fufufufu~ You should thank my mercy!"

Diamante quietly grumbled, "The Yaksha's mercy? Truly unique."

Doflamingo heard Diamante's grumbling but remained unperturbed, still standing at the bow, coldly destroying anything within his line of sight, regardless of whether they were hostile enemies or not.

As twilight fell, seemingly having vented enough, Doflamingo calmly jumped down to the deck. "I'm hungry, Giolla."

"Understood, Young Master," Giolla cheerfully set the dining table, bringing out the prepared dishes.

Doflamingo ate heartily without ceremony, mumbling, "Inform Vergo. This is his opportunity. Tell him to quickly display his talent... The Marines are in need of manpower. They'll definitely heavily train promising individuals to replenish their severely depleted forces. No! Wait! I'll call him myself in a bit. He's alone out there, he must be having a tough time."

"Behehehe~ Do you want him to feel the warmth of family too?" Trebol made an ill-timed playful remark.

Doflamingo looked up and stared at Trebol. Even with sunglasses on, Trebol felt Doflamingo's sharp gaze pierce him, causing him to awkwardly force a smile and slink away to climb back up to the crow's nest and continue his work.

Fortunately, Trebol soon found something to divert Doflamingo's attention, preventing that feeling of being watched from continuing: "Doffy! Doffy! Look!"

Rumble, rumble, rumble!!!

Under the western setting sun, a magnificent sandstorm, accompanied by screams, swirled.

"Hey, hey, this is the ocean, where's a sandstorm coming from?" Diamante asked, bewildered.

Doflamingo narrowed his eyes. "Fufufufu~ A Logia-type Devil Fruit user."

"The direction the sandstorm is moving in..." Pica couldn't help but warn, "It's heading towards us."

Before he finished speaking.

Whoosh!

A sword-slash manifested, like a rainbow and a dragon, forcefully splitting the sandstorm!

A peculiar small boat drifted leisurely, and further along the horizon, there was another pirate ship.

"Fufufufu~ It seems my upcoming journey won't be too lonely," Doflamingo's mood had improved significantly.

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