"Fufufufufufu… hahahahahahaha!!!"
New World, Dressrosa.
Above the royal palace, a burst of hearty, triumphant laughter echoed through the air.
Countless bikini-clad girls frolicked in the swimming pool below. Sitting cross-legged on the main seat, a man with an arrogant grin held a newspaper in one hand, laughing uncontrollably.
Around him, all sorts of people gathered, watching their young master's joy with curiosity written on their faces.
"Hey, hey… Doffy, did some good news come in~? You look really happy~"
"Yeah, it's been a while since we've seen Young Master this cheerful. I think the last time was the day Corazon-san was found, right?"
The various executives—each with their own unique faces and bizarre outfits—turned their eyes toward the man wearing a pink feathered coat.
Doflamingo stretched out his tongue, licking the corner of his mouth, and said in an unusually good mood:
"This sea has once again welcomed back its king…"
"Fufufufufufu! Our big BOSS has returned!!!"
At that announcement, every member of the Donquixote Family froze in shock. Their jaws trembled in disbelief before erupting into wild cheers. Even the younger ones began spinning around in joy.
"Wait, you mean… that person…"
"If that's really true, then there's nothing to worry about anymore!!!"
After all, over the past two years, the Donquixote Family's business had suffered a bit—though not severely. Still…
Maybe it was because Orin had scared them enough, but unlike others who were making little moves during that time, Doflamingo had firmly kept his position. Even when other powers offered him lucrative deals,
he would just brush them off with a sly "fufufufu," then turn around and send a report straight to Sammi.
With the middle-aged Rayleigh keeping order, the Sabaody Archipelago remained a solid fortress and stronghold.
And in the notebook Orin held, some of those names came directly from Doffy's own contributions.
After sharing this piece of happy news, Doflamingo suddenly seemed to recall something. The grin on his lips slowly faded into a calm line.
"By the way, about that fruit that recently appeared—the one the World Government claims is worth five billion Belly—the so-called Op-Op Fruit. I heard a lot of the underworld guys are fighting over it?"
Hearing Doflamingo's sudden question, Diamante froze for a moment, then recalled and replied:
"The Op-Op Fruit, huh… yeah, it's true. Since it's said to be capable of removing Orin-sama's tracking method—and it also has such incredible powers— even though we've already put the word out that the Donquixote Family has its eyes on it, there are still plenty of people coveting it."
Doflamingo was silent for a while, then finally stood up.
"In that case… I'll go personally to make sure nothing goes wrong."
After all, it was a power capable of granting true immortality with almost no limits. He guessed Orin would be interested, so it would be best to secure it.
After all—
Doflamingo was officially recognized as the "Devil Fruit Supplier."
...
"Kumo? What do you need me for~"
Supporting his lower back, Orin woke up from the massive bed, hundreds of square meters wide. Leaving behind the gentle warmth of two women—one dark, one fair—he picked up the Den Den Mushi and walked out.
The phone snail had two cute bear ears on top, and its bespectacled face looked full of anxiety and desperation.
Kuma was truly at a dead end.
Aside from Orin, there was no other way out.
"It's like this."
Even now, Kuma's voice remained gentle. Keeping it brief, he explained the situation regarding Ginny.
To Orin, it was obviously a trivial matter—just snatching a Celestial Dragon's wife, really. After all, Ginny herself had been taken by that Celestial Dragon in the first place.
"That's not a big deal. However…"
At the first part of that sentence, Kuma nearly wept with joy—but the turn at the end made his heart leap into his throat again.
"Why should I help you, anyway? We're not related, after all."
Orin wasn't in a hurry. He simply watched the gentle, honest man grow flustered, smiling mischievously as he countered.
Although he also couldn't stand that tragic cuckold storyline—the most miserable one in pirate history—since he'd already saved Stella, it wouldn't hurt to rescue another pair.
But in the adult world, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
"…"
Kuma was silent for a long time before finally giving his answer:
"As long as you can save Ginny… then this life of mine is yours to command."
A satisfactory answer.
Orin nodded. With that, Kuma—once only half his ally among the Shichibukai—was now a true subordinate.
"Yours to command"—those words carried weight.
It meant that if orders from Orin and Dragon ever conflicted, Kuma would follow Orin without hesitation.
In other words, Orin had successfully placed a true chess piece within the Revolutionary Army.
While talking on the phone, Orin walked out onto the balcony and lit a cigarette.
Looking down at the plaza below—where many people were chained—he smiled in satisfaction.
His magnetic voice reached Kuma's ears, sounding incredibly soothing at that moment.
"Deal. In the name of the Black Emperor, I promise you—Ginny will return to your side within a month."
Clack.
It was like the first bloom of spring.
With Orin's promise, the knot in Kuma's heart finally loosened. Tears of joy filled his eyes as a bright, relieved smile spread across his face.
...
Without listening further to Kuma's gratitude, Orin slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, his gaze deepening.
At that moment, a thought crossed his mind.
Was helping Kuma truly about wanting his loyalty?
Maybe a little. But that wasn't the main reason.
Ever since the Black Gun took down Rocks, Orin had realized—he might've lost his sense of purpose and drive.
His Conqueror's Haki had already surpassed Captain Roger's level, advancing toward Rocks' tier… but he still couldn't quite take that final step.
Maybe it was age. Or maybe he was just lost.
These days, he acted more out of preference and freedom than strategy or ambition.
When he liked something, he found himself strangely tolerant.
When he disliked something, even if it hadn't offended him, he'd naturally develop a twisted desire—to ruin it, or simply destroy it.
Rocks had grown to such heights because he wanted to be King of the World—his goal was crystal clear.
But Orin… he just wanted to be the happiest, freest man alive.
And yet now, managing this, maintaining that—showing off strength here, keeping authority there—wasn't that its own form of bondage?
Orin didn't hate wealth or luxury. In fact, he enjoyed it. But he didn't want to be chained by it either.
He was greedy.
He wanted both.
The closer one's Conqueror's Haki got to that final point, the more one's true heart became clear.
Just like Rocks, Roger, Whitebeard, and Garp before him.
And now, Orin finally realized something—
Compared to the constant prestige of the Black Emperor,he still preferred being the Black Gun.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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