Demon Town.
The Donquixote Family's temporary base.
Their casino had been reduced to ruins, so they had no choice but to relocate their headquarters for the time being.
Inside the new base, Doflamingo sat with a dark expression as several of his officers reported the aftermath.
"How bad are the casualties?"
His voice was low.
The casino had collapsed completely.
More than two thousand pirates had been knocked unconscious by Conqueror's Haki before being buried beneath the rubble. Among them were over three hundred members of the Donquixote Family.
There was no way the losses would be light.
Diamante lowered his head and answered in a heavy voice.
"After the collapse, nine hundred and sixty-four people were confirmed dead."
"Another three hundred and twenty-one were seriously injured."
"The rest suffered minor injuries, but their lives are not in danger."
He paused, then continued.
"As for our own people… the Family lost nearly one hundred and ninety members. The others have already been rescued and sent for treatment."
Doflamingo's face sank.
He had expected losses.
Still, hearing the exact number made his chest tighten.
Those were elites the Donquixote Family had spent great effort recruiting and training. Losing nearly two hundred in a single day was no small matter.
"Also…"
Diamante hesitated.
"Based on the damage assessment, the casino collapse cost us roughly three hundred million berries, including construction costs and the valuables stored inside."
"Damn that Fist Demon."
Doflamingo's fingers twitched.
Not only had they lost people, they had also suffered a massive financial blow.
One day.
Sooner or later, he would settle this account with Kai.
"Young Master, the money is not the worst part."
Pica spoke in a low voice.
"The real problem is our reputation."
"The casino was one of our biggest symbols in Demon Town. Now that Kai destroyed it in front of everyone, people are beginning to question the Family's authority."
"If this continues, our long-term businesses will be affected."
Trebol and Diamante both nodded.
Short-term losses could be recovered.
But reputation was different.
If pirates across the sea began to doubt the Donquixote Family's power, their entire network would suffer.
Doflamingo's expression grew colder.
"Even after becoming a Warlord, I still have to swallow this loss…"
The more he thought about it, the more suffocating it felt.
That brat could have simply delivered the invitation.
Instead, he had smashed his way through the Family's territory, destroyed the casino, and nearly forced Doflamingo into a life-and-death battle.
Worst of all, Doflamingo could not do anything about it.
Kai was too strong.
"Young Master," Trebol said carefully, "some pirates in Demon Town have started spreading rumors. They're saying the Donquixote Family isn't as terrifying as before."
His voice became sharper.
"Some of the pirates who survived the casino collapse are saying we failed to protect them."
"Because of them, more and more people are starting to question us."
The room fell silent.
The three top officers were furious, but they also knew the situation was troublesome.
Doflamingo looked at Pica.
"Handle it."
"Clean up every fool who thinks the Donquixote Family has become weak."
"Leave none of them behind."
Pica nodded.
"Yes, Young Master."
Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside.
A man in a black suit rushed in and lowered his head.
"Young Master."
Doflamingo looked at him.
"Has Fist Demon left?"
"Yes. Kai has already boarded the Marine warship and left Demon Town's harbor."
The pressure in Doflamingo's chest eased slightly.
But the man hesitated.
"Only…"
Doflamingo narrowed his eyes.
"Only what?"
The man swallowed.
"I may have been mistaken, but I think I saw another major Marine figure on the same warship."
Doflamingo's expression changed.
"Who?"
The man lowered his voice.
"Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral… Tsuru."
The room froze.
Even Doflamingo's pupils shrank.
"Tsuru?"
Of course he knew that name.
Tsuru was one of the old monsters of the Marines. A veteran from the same era as Garp and Sengoku.
Even Doflamingo at his peak would not want to face someone like her alone.
And now he learned that Tsuru had been nearby the entire time?
His back turned cold.
"If I had refused…"
His voice became faint.
"Even if Kai had walked away, Tsuru would have made her move."
Only now did he understand what Kai had meant before leaving.
If Doflamingo had rejected the invitation, he would not have left Demon Town free.
The Marines had not sent only Kai.
They had also sent Tsuru.
One Fist Demon had nearly pushed the Donquixote Family to the edge.
If Tsuru had joined in…
Doflamingo did not want to imagine the result.
Trebol's face turned pale.
"Young Master… thankfully, you accepted."
Diamante and Pica were silent.
They understood it too.
Against Kai alone, Doflamingo had already reached his limit.
If Tsuru had entered the battlefield, the Donquixote Family would have had no chance.
Doflamingo leaned back, breathing slowly.
For the first time that day, the anger in his eyes was mixed with lingering fear.
"Those Marines…"
"They really don't play fair."
He laughed coldly, though the sound carried no joy.
"They sent Kai, and then hid Tsuru behind him."
"What an honor."
"The Donquixote Family actually deserved two Marine monsters at once."
The officers lowered their heads.
None of them spoke.
That day, the Donquixote Family had not merely lost a casino.
They had walked through death's door.
And survived only because Doflamingo had chosen correctly.
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