Hearing this, the bloodied Doflamingo lying on the ground suddenly laughed, crimson froth bubbling from his nose and mouth.
This was the devastating impact that make his spirit shattering in an instant.
Jake could tell that until the moment Doflamingo was knocked down, the man had never truly despaired.
Even when he'd appeared to surrender earlier, that arrogant pride had never faded.
And to Jake's perception, such heightened emotions stood out as clearly as lamplight in the dark.
When Trebol came rushing over, Jake became even more certain of his judgment.
The tear-streaked man radiated nothing but exhilaration and excitement.
There could be no doubt—the two were conspiring some plan that could instantly reverse their defeat.
The only means they could use to turn the tables was obvious: Sugar, the Hobby-Hobby Fruit user.
If Sugar touched him, his very memory and existence would be erased from everyone's minds.
The remaining Monet would stand no chance against Doflamingo and the other elite officers.
Even if Monet were spared because of Sugar's power, everything on their side would already be lost.
Moreover, for Sugar to touch him would be frighteningly simple—her status was too special.
Even the normally vigilant Jake and Monet wouldn't suspect her.
Had Jake not possessed his healer template's emotion-sensing ability, or if he weren't a transmigrator, he might well have fallen for it this time.
But unfortunately for them, Jake was both a transmigrator and someone who could perceive others' emotions.
From the moment Doflamingo secretly sent Monet the first letter, Monet had already brought the envelope to Jake and handed it over for him to read.
It was from that point onward that Monet and Jake deduced Doflamingo might very well be using these letters to mislead Sugar.
After discussing it between themselves, they decided to play along—starting with the first letter, Jake personally wrote the replies.
Sugar, however, was no fool.
The moment she received the first letter, she could tell it wasn't her sister's handwriting.
But she didn't expose it.
Instead, as Doflamingo had instructed, she feigned extreme unease and fear.
From beginning to end, Doflamingo's plan had been completely seen through by Jake and the others.
The reason for that mouthful of blood was simple—this was the first time Doflamingo had ever been utterly crushed in terms of tactics, strength, and sheer willpower.
Staring at Jake standing before him, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, yet the grin on his lips never faded as he continued.
"Fufufufufu… If only I had finished you off back in that slave dungeon in the North Blue. Then maybe none of this would've happened. What a shame."
Jake looked at Doflamingo, his expression unreadably complex.
"Things rarely go the way we want them to, don't they? Besides, there's someone who wants to see you before you die. I promised him."
At Jake's words, Doflamingo struggled to sit up from Trebol's arms.
His bloodied lips parted as a hoarse voice emerged, his eyes flickering with something complicated.
"That would be Rosinante, wouldn't it? My dear little brother. At a time like this, only he would want to see me. He was just as foolish as our father. If he had chosen to kill Father sooner like I did, instead of getting in my way, maybe Mother wouldn't have died."
Jake glanced at the two lingering souls behind Doflamingo and said calmly,
"I'll give you one chance. Order all members of the Donquixote Family to surrender and lay down their arms, and I'll let you see your parents—and Rosinante—before you die. Believe me, I'm not joking. The power of the Seraphim Fruit is far more terrifying than you think."
Doflamingo froze.
At first, he laughed, then broke into violent coughs—his injuries were too severe, and even laughter strained his body beyond its limits.
"You're serious? If you're lying to me now, even in death, I'll make sure to cause you endless trouble!"
Meeting Doflamingo's gaze, Jake nodded indifferently.
"You're about to die. I have no reason to deceive you."
"Then bring Rosinante here. If I'm to see our parents, he should be present too."
"That's only fair. I won't refuse."
As a somewhat unsteady figure was escorted over by the marines, Rosinante lifted his head with an expression more miserable than tears.
"Sorry, brother... I failed to keep my promise to you."
This was what Jake and Rosinante had agreed upon—if Doflamingo were to fail, then at least before his death, Rosinante would see him off on his final journey.
Jake had initially thought Rosinante intended to deliver the final blow to Doflamingo, but his answer had surprised even Jake.
Rosinante had said.
"If possible... I want to send him off as his family, as his younger brother, to let him pass peacefully. Please!"
Jake hadn't refused his request.
The current circumstances were all part of the ruse to make Doflamingo believe Rosinante was truly his subordinate.
Seeing the brother whose features bore some resemblance to his own, Doflamingo's lips curled into a grin.
He didn't rush to speak, instead turning to Jake.
"Bring out my long-dead father and mother for us to see! Even if I must die, I want to pass in the embrace of my family! Trebol, come along—you're family too!"
Hearing this, Jake glanced at the two souls still lingering behind Doflamingo and sighed.
A faint golden light flickered in his hand as he summoned the barest minimum of Holy Light Energy to awaken the spirits of Doflamingo's parents.
The next moment, under the brothers' utterly disbelieving gazes, two familiar figures emerged from the golden radiance—a couple who appeared deeply devoted to each other.
One of the spirits immediately embraced both brothers the moment she appeared.