"Doflamingo?"
The man riding the slave, Donquixote Mjosgard Saint, recognized the person standing before him. Doflamingo's name had been explosive news recently; it would have been difficult for Mjosgard not to know it. Besides, the two of them were related, both members of the Donquixote family.
"Protect me!" Mjosgard shrieked, a jolt of fear running through him as he got a clear look at Doflamingo's face. He frantically called for his guards.
Mjosgard's reaction startled his entourage. Their master was a Celestial Dragon! That there was someone in the world who could frighten him was unthinkable. Even the commoners kneeling on the ground couldn't help but sneak glances at Doflamingo, their curiosity piqued.
The guards quickly formed a protective circle around Mjosgard, which only then gave him a sliver of security.
Within the Celestial Dragons' social circles, it was common knowledge that Doflamingo's parents had once tried to return to the Holy Land. It was they who had conspired to reject the family's request, setting Doflamingo on his arduous path. If they hadn't pushed things along, Doflamingo would be happily living as a Celestial Dragon right now, and none of this would have ever happened.
Mjosgard knew full well that Doflamingo's hatred for them ran deep. He wasn't the only one; the other Celestial Dragons also worried about Doflamingo's potential revenge. Why else would they have repeatedly petitioned the World Government to capture him? It wasn't just a matter of the Celestial Dragons' pride; he was a lingering threat.
"What's the matter? Are you that afraid to see me?" Doflamingo asked.
"Doflamingo, what is a guy like you doing here?" Mjosgard said, his voice trembling. "I'm telling you, I had no choice in what happened back then! You can't blame me!"
"Relax. I'm not here to cause you trouble today," Doflamingo said, his tone surprisingly placid in response to Mjosgard's panic. "But... what was taken from me, I will take back, piece by piece."
"I have a Marine Admiral protecting me! Doflamingo, you should leave now! I'll let this slide for today," Mjosgard said. He wasn't a complete fool like Charlos. He could hear the threat in Doflamingo's words, but he still offered him a way out, urging him to leave.
Mjosgard's words sent a shockwave through the crowd. Everyone was stunned. Who was this Doflamingo, that a Celestial Dragon would actually back down before him?
Those watching from the shadows grew even more curious. One man, his hair a shade of gray-green, glared at the Celestial Dragons with pure hatred, a flicker of interest for Doflamingo in his eyes. He knew his own limits, however; trying to uncover Doflamingo's secrets would be suicide.
Doflamingo paid no mind to the eyes on him. They were just a bunch of little rats. No matter how much they scurried, they could never touch the sky.
"Thunder Judgment."
Just when everyone thought Doflamingo would obediently leave, he raised his hand. Arcs of lightning shot out, striking down Mjosgard's guards one by one.
"Aah! People are dead!" someone screamed.
The scene instantly descended into chaos. The kneeling citizens scrambled to their feet and fled for their lives.
"Doflamingo! You said you wouldn't kill me!" Mjosgard cried out, terrified by Doflamingo's actions.
"I don't have a habit of taking orders from others," Doflamingo said coldly. "And don't you dare act all high and mighty in front of me. Don't you know what kind of trash you are?"
"You—" Mjosgard sputtered with rage, but quickly conceded. "I understand."
His life was more important. Mjosgard, at least, had that much sense. If it had been Charlos Saint here, he probably would have been screaming for an Admiral to come and save him.
"Let's go," Doflamingo said to the women and Bepo behind him.
"Young Master! Wait for us!" Baby 5 called out, hurrying to catch up.
As they passed by Mjosgard, Robin and the others took a good look at him. His face was a mask of utter defeat.
"He's insane," someone whispered from the shadows, their heart still pounding from Doflamingo's display.
Only one person had watched Doflamingo's actions with admiration, but he was disappointed that the pirate hadn't finished the job.
"Why? Why didn't he kill those damned scumbags?!" the gray-green-haired man cried out, clutching his head in anguish. "Damn it! When will I ever get my revenge?!"
He pounded the ground helplessly until his fists were stained with blood. After one last, deep glare in the direction of the Celestial Dragon, he disappeared.
He didn't know, however, that Doflamingo had been watching him all along. After searching high and low with no success, his target had finally appeared as if by fate.
The disturbance on Sabaody quickly attracted the attention of the Marines.
When the report reached Sengoku, his face darkened. He immediately asked if the Celestial Dragon was safe.
"Saint Mjosgard is unharmed, sir, just a little shaken," the aide reported. "However, he is strongly demanding that we dispatch an Admiral to eliminate Doflamingo."
"As long as he's alright," Sengoku grumbled. "Damn Celestial Dragons! What are they doing wandering around for no reason? Didn't we warn them?! If dealing with Doflamingo were that easy, I would have done it long ago."
"But, sir, we can't exactly say that to the World Nobles," the aide said helplessly.
"Send Kizaru," Sengoku sighed.
Soon, Kizaru received the call.
"Moshi moshi, Kizaru here," he said into the Den Den Mushi in his signature drawl.
"Borsalino, there's been trouble with the Celestial Dragons. Get over to the Sabaody Archipelago," Sengoku ordered, the weariness evident in his voice.
"The Celestial Dragons? Ooh, who would dare to provoke them?" Kizaru complained. He had been having a perfectly normal day, and now he had to work overtime, with no extra pay. It was quite annoying.
"It was Doflamingo," Sengoku said.
"How scary. Doflamingo."
Hearing that name gave Kizaru a headache. If he could, he would really rather not face Doflamingo. It was just too much work.
Sengoku made the arrangements, and Kizaru immediately set off for Sabaody. He put on a bit of a show, and though he never even saw Doflamingo, he arrested a few small-time pirates to make it look like he'd done something. He couldn't come all this way for nothing, right?
Back in the Holy Land, Mjosgard was utterly humiliated. Even the other Celestial Dragons he usually associated with mocked him relentlessly. The young Charlos Saint, in particular, looked down on him with contempt, believing he had disgraced the World Nobles. Of course, when Charlos later found himself in a similar situation, he would end up looking even more pathetic.
At the center of the storm, Doflamingo was in high spirits, acting as if the chaos he'd just caused had nothing to do with him.
The commotion on Sabaody affected all the scattered members of the Donquixote Pirates. The entire island was on high alert, tense with the presence of Marines rounding up pirates everywhere. The Navy was blaming them for the disaster Doflamingo had created.
"Young Master, should we leave as soon as possible?" Monet asked, looking worriedly at the island's turmoil. Being so close to the Marines, she couldn't help but feel anxious.
"Then let's leave early," Doflamingo agreed, glancing at the chaotic crowds.
The crew planned to meet back at the Ark Maxim. However, the ship was massive, and the coating process was not yet complete. It would still take some time before they could depart.
Doflamingo decided to use this time to go and meet that guy.
And accompanying him would be Law.