Boom!
A violent wave of Conqueror’s Haki swept across the battlefield.
Spandine and the other two were blasted through the air, crashing dozens of meters away. They coughed up blood before rolling back with their eyes turned white, completely unconscious.
The spectators watching from a distance couldn’t help but gasp.
A chill ran down their spines.
Everyone present knew those three really were CP0.
But after witnessing Lucas’s utterly unreasonable way of handling things...
Who would dare say a word?
At this point, they’d rather pray to whatever gods might be watching overhead.
Otherwise, one stray attack later, there might not even be ashes left to collect.
"All right, the troublemakers are taken care of." Lucas dispersed the Conqueror’s Haki surrounding him before taking another swig of strong liquor.
"I can’t believe someone would actually impersonate CP0. I wonder what expression the Five Elders will have when they hear about this."
"Still haven’t gotten in touch with old man Sengoku? Never mind. Since we’re heading back anyway, let’s stop by Marine Headquarters and give him a little surprise."
"And package Pica up as well. While we’re at it, ask whether interfering with Marine law enforcement comes with a bounty reward."
Silence.
Everyone froze where they stood.
Bind him up too?
Several pirates quietly edged farther away.
The last thing they wanted was to wander into Lucas’s line of sight and get labeled as "mobile bounty money."
Ain forced a bitter smile as she looked at the unconscious CP0 agents and the battered Pica.
If news of this reached Marine Headquarters, it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise.
It would be a full-blown shock.
Still, things had already reached this point.
All she could do was grit her teeth and start cleaning up the aftermath.
After all...
If the sky fell, Lucas was tall enough to hold it up.
And if things truly went wrong, at least someone else would be taking the blame with him.
Just as Ain turned around, Isuka hurried over.
"Admiral Lucas..." she began hesitantly.
"Didn’t you say before that compared to Fire Fist Ace, you’re only... a little stronger?"
"But judging by what I just saw..."
"You seem a lot stronger than him."
As the Marine officer who had spent years chasing the rookie Fire Fist Ace throughout Paradise, Isuka had always regarded that pursuit as one of her proudest achievements.
If Lucas were only slightly stronger than Ace, then her accomplishment still carried some weight.
But everything she had just witnessed had completely shattered that belief.
"The difference between Ace and me?"
Lucas adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses before gesturing with his fingers.
"The gap is only a little."
He paused.
"Just... this little."
"A hundred million little."
Isuka blinked.
She had no idea how to respond.
Yet somehow...
She couldn’t argue with him.
Meanwhile...
The Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
Inside the highest chamber of the Pangaea Castle, the Five Elders sat together.
Their expressions were far from pleasant.
As they looked at the man standing below them in a flamboyant pink feather coat, barely concealed anger flickered across their faces.
The Elder carrying the katana, Yamamoto, spoke first.
"Doflamingo."
"Your demands are becoming excessive."
"We’ve already turned a blind eye to your dealings with Kaido."
"And now you want to raise the price of the weapons as well?"
"You’re asking far too much."
Within the World Government, the Five Elders were naturally the true rulers behind the scenes.
However, in order to help the member nations contain the advance of the Revolutionary Army, they had been purchasing weapons from Wano, the territory controlled by the Beasts Pirates, through Doflamingo’s underground network as the Joker of the black market.
In short...
Using his position as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Doflamingo had been making enormous profits by acting as the middleman.
It was precisely because of this that he had become the wealthiest and most influential of the Seven Warlords.
"Heh... what can I say?"
Doflamingo chuckled without the slightest hint of fear.
"Your CP0 simply isn’t competent."
"They’re nothing but paper tigers."
"That’s why I had an opportunity to profit."
"CP9 is currently in my hands."
"Looks like my Donquixote Family is more capable than your precious CP0."
"So..."
"You only have one choice."
"You—!"
Yamamoto’s face darkened with anger.
Before he could continue, another Elder, Yisi , raised a hand to stop him.
"Doflamingo."
"I’m willing to consider your terms."
"But first, I want proof that CP9 is actually in your custody."
"Otherwise, there’s nothing left to discuss."
To him, money and privileges meant nothing compared to CP9.
After all, CP9 possessed knowledge of the World Government’s secrets.
Any sane person knew which was more valuable.
Doflamingo smiled.
With a flip of his hand, he produced a prepared Den Den Mushi.
"Now that’s what I like to hear."
"I enjoy doing business with straightforward people."
"CP9 is being guarded on the Sabaody Archipelago by my top executive, Pica."
"Nothing can go wrong."
"Since you want proof, I’ll let you see that my men are nothing like those paper tigers in CP0."
As he spoke, Doflamingo activated the Den Den Mushi.
Before he could say a word, however, an anxious voice burst from the receiver.
"Young Master! Something terrible has happened!"
"The newly appointed Marine Admiral, Admiral Glutton Lucas, showed up at Auction House No. 3 demanding CP9!"
"CP9 surrendered immediately!"
"Lord Pica tried to stop the Admiral, but was severely injured by a Conqueror’s Haki attack that descended from the sky!"
"He’s already been taken back to Marine Headquarters to collect the bounty reward!"
The smile on Doflamingo’s face froze.
Veins bulged across the back of the hand gripping the Den Den Mushi.
Only moments earlier, he had been mocking CP0 as paper tigers.
Now...
This report had landed across his face like a resounding slap.
So my people are paper tigers too?
"That brat again?"
"And what do you mean by a Conqueror’s Haki attack descending from the sky?"
Yamamoto frowned before sneering.
"Doflamingo..."
"Looks like your men aren’t any better."
"Since CP9 is already at Marine Headquarters, we’ll simply have CP0 retrieve them."
"As for our earlier deal..."
"There’s no need to continue."
"You...!"
Doflamingo gritted his teeth.
Before he could speak again, another timid voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
"Young Master..."
"There’s one more thing."
"After CP9 fell into the Admiral’s hands, CP0 personally tried to take them back."
"But Admiral Lucas believed they were fake CP0 agents."
"After a brief fight..."
"He bundled them up together with Lord Pica and took them all back to Marine Headquarters."
"Young Master..."
"That Admiral is monstrously powerful."
"His Conqueror’s Haki can even manifest as a beast."
"If you plan to negotiate, you must avoid dealing with Admiral Glutton Lucas directly."
"He doesn’t listen to reason at all."
"I’m worried that if you’re even slightly careless..."
"...he’ll package you up and haul you away too."
Crack!
The Den Den Mushi shattered in Doflamingo’s hand.
If the person on the other end hadn’t been Trebol...
He would have killed them on the spot.
He was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
If word got out that even he had nearly been "packaged up and taken away,"
where would he ever hide his face?
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