NOVEL NEXT Chapter 69: His Luck Was Awful
New World, a certain sea area.
"I'm a ship~ I'm a ship~"
The singing ship, one of the Big Mom Pirates' symbols, wasn't their main vessel but a smaller subsidiary ship, shrunken several times in size, lightly sailing, fully loaded with cargo.
The slanting sun set in the west, its golden afterglow reflecting on the shimmering blue waves. It also cast a warm glow on Smoothie, who was quietly lounging on the ship's railing, gazing out...
"Smoothie, dear sister? Smoothie?" Charlotte Compote, the eldest daughter of the Charlotte Family, approached Smoothie with heavy, cumbersome steps. She noticed Smoothie's vacant gaze and absentmindedness; she hadn't even noticed the great commotion Compote was making.
Compote couldn't help but wonder what made Smoothie so dazed. Though she immediately understood upon a second thought, it didn't stop her from teasing relentlessly, "Still thinking about that boy? Eh~~~"
Smoothie snapped back to attention, her secret guess revealed. A blush she couldn't hide spread across her pretty face. She said, both shy and annoyed, "Com... Compote-nee~~~"
"Oh~ My lovely, poor sister, is that guy really that good? Look how he's captivated the most delicate flower of our Charlotte Family! You can't even think about tea or food~" Compote had no intention of letting Smoothie off the hook. She mischievously even started singing, "Love~ The devil's temptation~ Deeply ensnared, unable to break free..."
Smoothie was so embarrassed she could only cover her face.
"Hehehe~" Compote finished her song and continued to tease, "News about him has been spreading frequently these days. I'm sure it won't be long before he enters the New World and lands on Mama's territory to propose to you! Oh, that's right, when we get back, I have to tell Mama she can't send you on missions anymore. It just doesn't look right for a bride-to-be to be out killing all the time, right~?"
Smoothie helplessly said, "Have mercy on me, Compote-nee. Don't make fun of me."
Smoothie's pleading only made Compote laugh even more.
"Speaking of which, that guy really has some tricks up his sleeve. His first bounty was as high as 140 million Berries, and in a few days, it jumped to 200 million Berries. His worth is comparable to many well-known pirates who have been famous for a long time," Compote said, sitting cross-legged on the deck, rambling on.
Smoothie, however, was very silent. She had some worries in her heart...
The Big Mom Pirates grew from a small pirate crew to their current massive scale, on par with Whitebeard's Whitebeard Pirates, Shiki's Flying Pirates, and Kaido's Beasts Pirates, carving up the New World's supremacy. While the main factor was undoubtedly Big Mom's top-tier monster strength, her efforts were merely the pillars supporting the Big Mom Pirates.
Big Mom herself constantly married and had children. Her sons took wives, and her daughters married. But whether it was herself or her children marrying, the incoming wives and husbands had to remain with the Big Mom Pirates. She was skilled at using political marriages to expand her influence and attract talent. This was the true reason for the Big Mom Pirates' snowballing growth and expansion.
Doflamingo, according to his agreement with Big Mom, had been adventuring in the Grand Line. In a short time, he displayed extremely strong talent and potential. Big Mom wouldn't fail to notice this, so she would be even more reluctant to let Smoothie go, or she would inevitably use Smoothie as bait to catch the big fish that was Doflamingo.
Smoothie understood her mother; she would definitely do it.
Smoothie also understood Doflamingo. She knew that Doflamingo wasn't the type to willingly be subservient to others.
Smoothie foresaw the conflict between the two.
Sigh~
Sighing sadly and wistfully, Smoothie returned to her lazy posture, quietly lounging on the ship's railing, gazing out.
....
Sabaody Archipelago.
"Nyeh, nyeh, Doffy? Once we reach the New World, you should propose to Smoothie, nyeh. Aren't you going to prepare a gift? Behehehe~" Trebol, with a strange turn of mind, suddenly started caring about Doflamingo.
Doflamingo, engrossed in reading a book, didn't even lift his head. "Stop thinking useless thoughts, Trebol. I have my own plans."
Trebol was met with a rebuff.
Pere pere pere~~~
The Den Den Mushi rang.
"It's me, Doflamingo." Doflamingo answered the Den Den Mushi, saying faintly, "It's good of you to finally answer, my friend."
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Spandine heard Doflamingo's unfriendly tone and nervously explained, "My apologies, I didn't answer your previous calls. I was in a meeting with Cipher Pol's medical staff..."
"Enough," Doflamingo interrupted Spandine. "I'm asking you, do the Marines have a big operation going on? I mean, I've been causing so much ruckus lately, and I haven't seen any sign of the Marines. That proves they have a more pressing major operation that's consuming too much of their attention, right?"
Spandine replied with difficulty, "It's Shiki. He wants to steal the 'Dyna Rock' that the World Government possesses."
"Did he succeed?" Doflamingo asked.
Spandine said with lingering fear, "He almost did, just barely! If Vice Admiral Garp hadn't happened to be on patrol, Shiki would have succeeded!" He paused slightly, then added, "To ensure the safety of the 'Dyna Rock,' the Marines dispatched a large number of warships and troops to escort and transfer the 'Dyna Rock' to another location."
"His luck was awful," Doflamingo clicked his tongue. Changing the subject, he said, "It's the end of the year, and the Celestial Dragons' 'harvest' has begun... Heavenly Tribute, my friend, tell me the exact location of the Heavenly Tribute."
Spandine was instantly filled with shock and anger. "Are you insane?! This is no joke!"
"Fufufufu~" Doflamingo merely chuckled.
After a while.
Spandine revealed the location. He couldn't stop Doflamingo.
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