NOVEL NEXT Chapter 472: I Will Forgive You, Child.
"..."
Doflamingo watched the CP0 guard kneeling before him, his smile freezing for a moment.
Five Elders? Trust? Me?
Seeing the CP0 agent's solemn expression, Doflamingo suddenly wondered how she managed to keep from laughing.
That line might fool others. But I'm not that naive, foolish little brat anymore.
"So, those five old men actually trust me enough to have me oversee CP0 members?"
"Does Saint Warcury have no objections? This falls under his jurisdiction."
A CP0 member added:
"This was Saint Warcury-sama's own decision."
Doflamingo narrowed his eyes, staring at CP0 for a long moment before a smile slowly spread across his lips.
"Fufufufu. Fine. Tell the old men I'll handle it."
"Yes, Doflamingo-sama."
CP0 maintained their bowed posture, responding with respectful deference.
Immediately afterward, his figure vanished from the spot.
Doflamingo stood motionless for a long while, silently gazing out the window at the serene, prosperous, and submissive sacred land of Mary Geoise. Not far away, within the Western-style mansions of the gods' domain, the Celestial Dragons residing there occasionally cast strange, suspicious, and contemptuous glances toward his residence. The smile on his lips gradually turned icy.
"What a clever ploy, you old men... Demanding I maintain peace and cooperation with that woman on the surface, while secretly assigning me to monitor her every move."
"Fufufufu, what an ingenious scheme!!"
He raised his hand to cover his face, throwing his head back in laughter so intense it made his entire body tremble.
"What's so amusing, Doflamingo?"
A deep voice suddenly cut through the air.
Doflamingo's pupils contracted sharply as he whipped around, his eyes locking onto the figure who had somehow appeared seated on the sofa.
"You... infiltrated the Holy Land, Mary Geoise?"
A tall, imposing figure now occupied the luxurious leather sofa.
The dark-haired youth sat cross-legged, his demeanor relaxed as he reclined on the plush leather.
"You've really outdone yourself, kid. After regaining your Celestial Dragon status... you won't even call me 'Godfather' anymore?"
Daren watched the blond Celestial Dragon before him, who seemed on high alert, with a faint, ambiguous smile. His tone was playful.
Doflamingo's expression flickered, his eye twitching slightly.
Though the dark-haired youth sat there casually, his right hand tapping the armrest rhythmically, an indescribable aura of authority and pressure emanated from him.
For with horrifying clarity, Doflamingo realized that each precise tap of that long-fingered, knuckle-prominent hand fell perfectly in sync with the rhythm of his own heartbeat.
What was most terrifying was that as his pulse quickened, the tapping grew faster too—even giving Doflamingo the unnerving sensation that "that finger was driving the beat of his own heart"!
If this sensation were real, did it mean that the instant that finger ceased tapping, his own heart would stop beating?
As if sensing some unseen, inexplicable threat, Doflamingo felt the Haki within his body begin to stir involuntarily, gathering toward the location of his heart.
But this budding sensation was immediately suppressed by force.
A Haki cultivated to sufficient power might defend against all attacks, transcending every other ability.
His own Haki had indeed grown stronger, but who could know the true extent of this man's power?
In that instant, Doflamingo dared not gamble.
For the most brutal, undeniable truth was this: had the man not spoken first, Doflamingo would never have known when he'd slipped into his residence.
This meant that if Daren truly intended to kill him, there was no way to evade or defend—he was already as good as dead.
In that instant, the pride and glory of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Five Elders and becoming Vice Commander of the God's Knights vanished like smoke.
The figure seated on the black leather sofa rose from his place like a mountain, growing ever more inscrutable.
Doflamingo drew a deep breath and smiled.
"I was merely taken aback by your arrival, Father. It took me a moment to process…"
His voice grew noticeably hoarse and low as he uttered the final words.
"I was merely teasing you, Doffy... You are my godson, remember. I shall always be patient with you."
Daren's smile remained gentle as he said:
"No matter what foolishness you commit, I will forgive you, child."
Doflamingo froze, but before he could respond, Daren waved him off. He then began examining the lavish interior of the Celestial Dragon's mansion with keen interest, murmuring his admiration:
"Quite the living environment, I must say. It's clear those five old men went to great lengths to secure your support... From what I've seen, the caliber of this residence surpasses that of most Celestial Dragons within the Holy Land."
Without hesitation, he picked up a cigar from the box on the glass coffee table, placed it between his lips, lit it, and smiled.
"Hmm, and I saw that statue on your Celestial Stairway. It's quite spirited and imposing."
Doflamingo pursed his lips. Faced with Daren's genuine praise, he momentarily didn't know how to respond.
"No need to be nervous."
Daren smiled as he rose from the sofa, patting Doflamingo on the shoulder.
He then walked over to the nearby liquor cabinet, took out glasses and whiskey, and poured two drinks.
Handing one to Doflamingo, Daren swirled his own glass, looking at the blond youth before him—who had clearly grown taller, now nearing six feet—and smiled with satisfaction.
"Doffy, you've really grown up."
Doflamingo fell silent for a moment, his eyes flickering behind his sunglasses.
"I wonder what arrangements the Godfather has made for this visit?"
Daren smiled.
"This is your housewarming celebration, and a major leap forward in your career... As your Godfather, I had to come personally to witness it."
"Congratulations, Doffy... Congratulations on becoming Vice Commander of the God's Knights. Congratulations on fulfilling your childhood dream."
He raised his glass.
"How does it feel?"
"Power, wealth, status, and that sense of superiority above everyone else... This was everything you yearned for in your youth. And now, through your own efforts, you've reclaimed it all."
"How does it feel?"