After leaving the Rip-Off Bar, Robin and the others couldn't help but press Doflamingo for more information.
"Young Master, is that guy—the right hand of the Pirate King, the Dark King Rayleigh—really here?" Baby 5 asked, tugging on Doflamingo's pant leg.
The others also looked at him curiously, waiting for an answer.
"Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. I was just saying," Doflamingo said evasively.
"Oh, I get it," Baby 5 said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "The Young Master must have been trying to scare that bartender."
Robin, Monet, and Ibes exchanged a knowing glance. They understood Doflamingo well enough to know that if he didn't want to talk about something, he wouldn't. Only the simple-minded pair of Baby 5 and Bepo would take his words at face value and think themselves clever for figuring it out.
"You're a real genius, aren't you?" Doflamingo said, looking down at Baby 5.
Before she could reply, he started walking, and the others fell into step behind him.
"Hehe, I'm impressed, Baby 5! You're certainly sharp today," Robin said with her signature dark humor.
"I've always been smart, don't underestimate me," Baby 5 huffed, tilting her head proudly.
"Yes, yes, Baby 5, you're a regular mastermind," Robin teased.
"Of course!" Baby 5 replied, quite pleased with Robin's attitude.
"Haha!"
The others couldn't help but laugh at their exchange.
While Doflamingo and his group were enjoying their time on the Sabaody Archipelago, news of their arrival reached Fleet Admiral Sengoku at Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
"Tsuru, what do you think we should do?" Sengoku asked, testing the waters for the Vice Admiral's opinion.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, sitting on the sofa, frowned deeply. She found herself in a difficult position, with no easy answer to Sengoku's question.
"Bwahahaha! What's so hard about it? You're all making it too complicated," Garp chimed in with a hearty laugh, completely unconcerned. With his strength, a single Doflamingo was nothing to fear.
"Garp, we're discussing serious matters here! Do you have a plan?" Sengoku asked, trying to keep his temper in check.
Tsuru didn't even look at Garp, her mind still focused on the problem. She knew them both too well; getting a useful idea out of Garp was less likely than the sun rising in the west.
"Just let them go," Garp said casually, picking his nose with a loud voice. "They want to go to the New World, don't they? Why should we pick a fight with Doflamingo on Sabaody?"
At that moment, Tsuru finally spoke. "Sengoku, you've already made up your mind, haven't you? You just don't want to let Doflamingo go, so you're looking for our support."
Sengoku was silent for a moment before he replied, "I understand. The bigger picture for the Marines must come first. Let Doflamingo go and test his mettle against the pirates of the New World."
"You've made a wise decision, Sengoku," Tsuru said with approval.
"I..." Sengoku's expression wasn't one of relief, but of deep frustration.
For the safety of the Celestial Dragons, he had to let Doflamingo pass. For the stability of the world, he couldn't seek revenge, no matter how deeply he hated the man. For the sake of the Marines, he had to consider the overall situation and not let personal feelings interfere with his duty. Besides, there was no guarantee they could even capture Doflamingo. All things considered, it was better to let him enter the New World and stir up trouble there.
"Bwahahaha! Don't worry, Sengoku, you'll get your chance someday!" Garp said, trying to console him with a laugh.
"I hope so," Sengoku sighed. Hearing his two old comrades say as much, he finally let it go.
Then, another thought struck him, and his face changed.
"Damn it, I forgot to warn those Celestial Dragons! What if they run into Doflamingo?" Sengoku shot up from his seat, his voice filled with worry.
"Let Doflamingo kill that scum. They're all family, anyway," Garp said dismissively.
"Garp!" Sengoku shot him a stern look.
Garp just picked his nose again, ignoring him.
"Get a message to the Celestial Dragons immediately. Tell them not to go out for the time being!" Sengoku ordered an aide who had just entered.
Hearing the order, the aide's expression shifted uncomfortably.
"What is it? Was I not clear?" Sengoku demanded.
"Sir, do you really think the Celestial Dragons will listen to us?" the aide asked, looking troubled.
"Then let them die!" Garp interjected.
"Garp!" Sengoku snapped. But it was useless against the old veteran.
"Just do it," Sengoku said, sounding weary. "Whether they listen is their business. Whether we warn them is ours."
"Understood!"
Garp watched the scene unfold idly, munching on a rice cracker. "I'm telling you, Sengoku, why do you even bother with that scum?"
"Garp, don't forget our duty," Sengoku reminded him.
"Bwahahaha! Forget it, I'm going out to hunt some pirates. Protecting Celestial Dragons? Not a job for me!" Garp laughed as he got up from the sofa, heading for the door.
"Garp, you get back here!"
Sengoku's voice echoed behind him, but Garp paid it no mind.
Tsuru watched the two old fools bicker in silence. It was always the same. Whenever the Celestial Dragons came up, Garp's disdain was clear. It was nothing new to them. If it weren't for the fact that an Admiral's duties included protecting the World Nobles, Garp would have accepted the promotion long ago.
The office fell quiet again. Garp had made his escape, boarding his warship and getting as far away as possible.
Back on Sabaody, Sengoku's fears were about to come true. Doflamingo's group was, after all, rather conspicuous. A handsome man and beautiful women—it was impossible for them not to attract attention.
A Celestial Dragon procession on Sabaody was always an oppressive affair, making it hard for the common citizens to even breathe. Doflamingo and his group saw the commotion up ahead.
"Why is everyone kneeling?" Baby 5 asked.
"Because the Celestial Dragons are here," Robin answered gravely.
"Celestial Dragons?"
The name only made Baby 5 more curious to see what they looked like.
"Nothing to be curious about. Just another person with one nose, two eyes, and a mouth," Doflamingo quipped.
"Then they're just like us. So why is everyone so afraid?" Baby 5 asked, looking at the prostrating crowds.
"Because the words 'Celestial Dragon' represent power and status," Monet explained. Though she came from a humble background, she knew what their name signified.
As they were talking, the Celestial Dragon, riding on the back of a slave, swaggered closer.
"Damn you! The Celestial Dragons are here! Why aren't you kneeling?" one of the guards shouted at Doflamingo's group.
"How pitiful," Baby 5 said, her eyes fixed on the slave the Celestial Dragon was riding. The man was covered in shackles, stripped of all dignity like an animal, his eyes hollow and empty. He looked like someone who could neither live nor die.
Monet, Robin, and Ibes felt sympathy for the slave's plight, but they said nothing. There were too many pitiful people in the world. They couldn't save them all; it was best to just mind their own business.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" the guard shouted again, his voice laced with a serious threat.
"I don't have a habit of kneeling to others," Doflamingo said, scratching his ear and ignoring the threat. "How about you all?"
"Ohoho, neither do I," Monet said with a smile, covering her mouth.
"Same here," Robin added, her eyes carefully scanning the procession.
Ibes, Baby 5, and Bepo all put on serious expressions, ignoring the threat as well. With Doflamingo there, they had nothing to fear.
Finally, the Celestial Dragon on his human steed came face to face with them. Surrounded by the kneeling crowds on either side, the World Noble seemed to tower over them, while Doflamingo's group, standing defiantly before him, was a glaring eyesore.
"Fuffuffu... I was wondering who it could be. So it's you."