Doflamingo's abrupt words cut through the heavy silence, instantly drawing everyone's attention. The tense standoff between the Beasts Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates suddenly had a new focal point. All eyes turned to the man in the flamboyant pink feather coat, who looked for all the world like a flamingo.
Being stared at by so many powerful figures, Doflamingo couldn't stop a few drops of nervous sweat from forming on his forehead. Kaido's mouth curved into an amused grin, while King and the other All-Stars watched with wide eyes. On the other side, Shanks frowned slightly, but Benn Beckman, standing beside him, seemed to let out a quiet sigh of relief before being the first to speak.
"You're... Doflamingo?"
Seeing that someone had taken the bait without outright rejecting him, Doflamingo visibly relaxed. "Fufufu, that's right. I didn't expect the Red Hair Pirates' First Mate to know my name. It's truly an honor."
"You're being too modest," Beckman replied, his gaze sharp. "On these seas, who doesn't know Doflamingo, the King of the Underworld? Now, what did you mean by being a 'mediator'?"
Doflamingo glanced at Kaido, and seeing no sign of displeasure, he slowly stepped forward, careful to remain a respectful distance behind the Yonko.
"It's very simple," Doflamingo began, his voice slick and persuasive. "Although I'm just an outsider, I've managed to grasp the situation. It seems Kaido-sama never intended to harm this old man's descendants. In fact, he mercifully let them go. It was this old man who, not knowing his place, ran to the Red Hair Pirates for help and caused all this trouble. Am I wrong?"
Sukiyaki flinched as if struck. The members of the Red Hair Pirates exchanged uneasy looks, while the Beasts Pirates remained impassive. Seeing his words were having an effect, Doflamingo pressed on.
"So, the answer is obvious, isn't it? The root of this whole problem is this old man. As long as he makes the right choice, this entire conflict between two Yonko crews can be avoided."
"Choice? What kind of choice?" Beckman asked, his frown deepening.
"It's about paying the necessary price, of course," Doflamingo said with a dismissive wave. "After all, no matter how you look at it, this war was started by him, wasn't it?"
Without waiting for a reply, Doflamingo turned his sinister gaze on Sukiyaki. "Hey, old man, you should understand, right? You're the one who provoked this situation, so only you can end it. If you don't, things could spiral out of control. Then it won't just be you who suffers, but your descendants too... Sacrificing one person to save many is a pretty good deal, don't you think?"
As his words hung in the air, Doflamingo's wicked grin made him look like the very image of a villain. Sukiyaki stood frozen for a moment, the weight of the accusation settling upon him. He knew exactly what Doflamingo was suggesting.
From the Red Hair Pirates' ship, Beckman's voice cut in, low and threatening. "Hey, Doflamingo. You're talking too much."
Doflamingo simply chuckled. "Fufufufufu… I'm just offering my thoughts. When you do something, you have to be prepared to pay the price. And when you're cornered, making the choice that serves your best interests is the smartest move, isn't it?"
Benn Beckman's expression turned grim. Even from a great distance, his stare felt like a physical weight, causing more cold sweat to stream down Doflamingo's face.
"Hmph," Beckman snorted, turning his attention back to Sukiyaki. "Don't worry, Kozuki-san. On these seas, no one can force the Red Hair Pirates to yield."
But just then, Sukiyaki seemed to reach a decision. He shook his head slowly and took off his tengu mask, revealing his aged, weary face.
"No... he's not wrong," Sukiyaki said, his voice filled with resignation. "I'm old. Since driving Kaido out of Wano has become an impossible dream, perhaps using this old body of mine to make one final sacrifice is the best way to serve my country. It might be the true value of my life up to now."
Under the surprised gazes of Beckman and the other Red Hair Pirates, Sukiyaki pulled a sealed letter from inside his robes. "Red Hair-dono, could you please give this letter to my grandson, Momonosuke?"
Seeing the look of grim acceptance on Sukiyaki's face, Shanks's expression became incredibly solemn. "You don't have to do this, Kozuki-san."
"No... I'm sorry, Red Hair-dono. I'm sorry to all of you," Sukiyaki confessed. "Actually, I lied. My request to drive Kaido away wasn't entirely selfless. I had my own selfish reasons. I just couldn't bear to see Wano completely fall under his control. As for that thing... even if Kaido finds it, he won't be able to use its power unless he's recognized."
The members of the Red Hair Pirates were all taken aback. Shanks remained silent, his expression unreadable, but Beckman had already stepped forward and taken the letter.
"I understand, Kozuki-san. We, the Red Hair Pirates, will make sure this letter reaches the boy named Momonosuke."
A heavy weight seemed to lift from Sukiyaki's shoulders, and he let out a long sigh of relief. "Thank you!"
But in that moment, Kaido's thunderous voice echoed across the sea. "Worororo! Kozuki Sukiyaki, are you so sure I can't use its power?"
Even though Sukiyaki had lowered his voice, it was impossible to hide from Kaido's powerful Observation Haki. He wasn't the only one who had heard; other Haki masters, like Katakuri, who was watching from nearby, had also caught the words.
Katakuri's eyes widened in surprise. So Wano is hiding something that even Kaido is this interested in? I have to go back and tell Mama about this!
Hearing Kaido's challenge, Sukiyaki looked calmly across the water at the colossal figure. "That's right, Kaido," he declared with unwavering certainty. "I can confirm that you are not the one Joy Boy ordered our Kozuki Clan to wait for."
"Joy Boy!"
At the mention of that name, Doflamingo's pupils contracted. His expression grew tense, but he quickly noticed something even more interesting: the name caused no confusion among the high-ranking members of the Beasts Pirates. This meant they already knew of Joy Boy's existence.
Katakuri, however, was completely bewildered. He had never heard that name before, yet everyone around him, even Doflamingo, seemed to know its significance. Could this be connected to the secret hidden in Wano Country?
As for Sukiyaki, after speaking those words, he looked as if he had finally seen a ray of sunlight in the darkness. A faint smile touched his lips. What did it matter how powerful Kaido was? When the prophecy came true, he was destined to be defeated by the one chosen by Joy Boy.
But then, Kaido's deep, mocking laughter boomed across the waves. "Worororo... Of course, I know. I know I'm not the one Joy Boy is waiting for!"
Both Shanks's and Sukiyaki's faces stiffened. A deep sense of unease began to creep into their hearts.
"But what about it?" Kaido roared, his voice dripping with contempt. "Rocks, Roger, and your pathetic son Kozuki Oden... I'm not like those pathetic worms! So what if they became the Pirate King? They still died as losers, unable to protect their own families, all because they weren't the one Joy Boy was waiting for!"
At that moment, Kaido unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, a wave of pure power that seemed to shake the very sky.
"If this world can truly only be saved by some savior designated by Joy Boy," he bellowed, his voice laced with demonic fury, "Worororo... then I'll drag this disgusting world completely into hell myself!"
As the chilling words fell, the faces of both Shanks and Sukiyaki turned deathly pale.
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