"That guy is dangerous. Incredibly bold, too," Nelson muttered, unease tightening his voice as he watched Doflamingo disappear into the distance.
He trusted his instincts. Strength was one thing, but the danger Doflamingo radiated came from a different place entirely.
Not that his strength was lacking. Even with both Nelson and Wallace together, their apparent stalemate against him came only from their Devil Fruit abilities. Nelson could teleport, Wallace's body was steel, and even then, if the fight dragged on, Doflamingo would inevitably win.
Nelson's Observation Haki had already awakened, but Wallace still needed time. His focus was on Armament Haki training, where his natural aptitude was far stronger. He was right on the verge of awakening it.
If he did, he would be the third among the Nightfall Pirates to awaken Armament Haki. Teach had been the first, Gar the second. Pito had potential, but Teach was deliberately holding her back; awakening too early could do more harm than good.
"Yes, he's dangerous," Teach said calmly, brushing off their concerns. "But in the face of absolute strength, everything is nothing."
He rolled his shoulders, relaxed and confident. "We'll cross paths with him again. He's bound to become someone significant. After all, he has the qualifications of a king."
"The qualifications of a king? He has Conqueror's Haki too?" Wallace and Nelson exchanged startled glances. They'd heard the term before, especially after witnessing the clash between Teach and Bullet.
Nelson, Pouf, and the other late arrivals had no grasp of what the phrase meant. Pouf seemed to recognize the word but had no solid understanding.
"Captain, please explain. You mentioned it once, but not in detail. What exactly are the qualifications of a king?" Pouf asked, unable to hide his curiosity.
The others leaned in. They knew the two common types of Haki, thanks to Teach, but Conqueror's Haki remained a mystery.
"Conqueror's Haki is the qualification of a king," Teach said. "Those who awaken it can intimidate, pressure, or knock out weaker enemies with nothing but their spirit. It can make opponents faint without a single strike."
As he spoke, he let his spirit unfurl.
The weaker members trembled instantly. Their minds felt struck over and over, like invisible blows echoing inside their skulls. A weight pressed on their bodies, heavy enough to make their knees shake.
Realizing the pressure was too much, Teach reined it in, easing the strain.
He had forgotten how violent his own Conqueror's Haki could be to those experiencing it for the first time.
"This Haki appears in only one person out of several million," Teach continued. "It represents the potential to stand above others. In the New World, it's more of a sign of what you might become. Most monsters, tyrants, and rulers have Conqueror's Haki. That's why people call it the qualification of a king."
When Teach withdrew the last traces of spirit, several members exhaled shakily. Sweat beaded down their faces.
Experiencing it firsthand would always be overwhelming. With more exposure, they would build resistance, strengthening their minds in the process.
"The reason I didn't tell you earlier," Teach said, smiling, "is because it would have only crushed your confidence. Now that you've grown, you can handle knowing."
"That's terrifying… and it's innate," someone whispered.
The presence, the sheer spiritual dominance, only deepened their respect for Teach.
"Doflamingo awakening Conqueror's Haki means he has great ambition and strong potential," Teach said. "He'll definitely become powerful."
But Teach wasn't concerned about raw strength. No matter how far Doflamingo climbed, he would never surpass him.
What Teach valued was Doflamingo's influence; his reach in the underworld and his access to Devil Fruits. His crew needed more Fruits to grow, and the Nightfall Pirates would inevitably expand.
Teach had considered building an underworld network of his own, but he didn't want to spend unnecessary effort on it. Once they reached the New World and claimed territory, he could develop it at his leisure.
Doflamingo would never follow anyone. But if he had been the type to submit, Teach might have been tempted to recruit him.
Far away in the North Blue, Doflamingo descended into one of the Donquixote Family's hidden strongholds. He carried two large crates with him, landing heavily after days of travel.
"Doffy, you're back!" Trebol rushed forward, both relieved and exhausted. He'd been crushed under pressure these last few days, juggling family affairs while dodging Vice Admiral Tsuru's relentless pursuit.
"How were things today?" Doflamingo asked, breathing hard. The constant travel between seas had drained him, even with his Sky Road technique.
"Our business is fine," Trebol reported. "To distract Tsuru, we abandoned two strongholds, but we evacuated the personnel first and left only some disposable members behind. Losses were small."
The other high-ranking members arrived quickly after hearing he was back. When Doflamingo was present, everything ran smoothly. When he was gone, the weight of responsibility became very real.
Doflamingo nodded, though the news stung. Strongholds required secrecy, connections, and resources. Losing two at once meant losing clients and profit.
"Was the deal successful?" Trebol asked, his eyes drifting to the crates.
Doflamingo grinned. "Fufufu, of course it was. We'll be working with him again."
He flicked his fingers, threads opening the crates to reveal piles of Berries. At least a billion.
"As expected of the Young Master!"
Their flattery soothed his frustration, and Doflamingo laughed heartily.
"With this money, our development can accelerate. Also, keep an eye out for news of Devil Fruits. They're high-value goods. Bring them in whenever possible."
Teach would buy any Fruit. Rare ones could be sold for even more.
"And your strength needs to improve," Doflamingo added, voice turning sharp. "Otherwise, you won't be able to keep up with me."
"Yes, Doffy!" Pica replied immediately.
Trebol said nothing, but sweat trickled down his neck. He hadn't trained in far too long.
Doflamingo thought of Teach's crew. Compared to them, his own lacked standout fighters. Trebol and Diamante were strong, but their growth had stagnated. Only Pica and Vergo held real potential, with Vergo currently deep within the Marines as a planted agent.
He had believed his family was formidable. But after meeting the Nightfall Pirates, he clearly saw their shortcomings.
They needed more capable people. More rising stars.
"Pay attention to talented individuals. If you find any who can be useful, recruit them. Our family must expand."
The Nightfall Pirates sailed toward the Nonook Kingdom, but their next stop was something else entirely.
According to Shakky's intelligence, a major underground auction was scheduled along their route.
It was a yearly event held by various dark forces in the West Blue. The region was a tangled web of mafia syndicates, smuggling rings, assassins, arms dealers, drug traffickers, slavers, and countless smaller organizations.
The Five Great Mafia Families held the most power, operating in a murky space between legality and the underworld. Lesser groups rose and fell constantly.
Shakky believed Teach would be interested in the auction. She sold the information for five million Berries.
Without the tip, the Nightfall Pirates would have sailed past before the auction even began.
Their destination was Scorpion Island, a place whose name alone hinted at danger. Venomous scorpions roamed the island, and one sting could kill an ordinary person in minutes.
Most of the terrain was jagged rock and yellow cliffs, with only a few pockets of jungle. Still, it held around thirty thousand residents and a bustling town.
The Nightfall Pirates arrived with three days remaining before the auction, enough time to relax after their trouble on Modern Island.
Their arrival attracted attention, but not fear. Many pirate crews, underworld officials, nobles, and wealthy collectors were arriving as well.
Devil Fruits were common. Famous swords appeared now and then. Strange treasures surfaced every year.
Teach was curious, but more than that, he wanted his crew to broaden their horizons.
In the island's central plaza stood a pond with a massive scorpion statue at its center. Few residents knew that beneath the plaza, deep underground, lay a huge cavern: Scorpion Island's only black market, and the site of the upcoming auction.
Weapons, rare herbs, illegal goods, and slaves filled the stalls.
Teach walked through with Baccarat and Pito at his sides. Baccarat stayed close, hoping her luck would favor him today. The others wandered off to explore.
People glanced at Teach with envy, but they were smart enough not to act on it. Especially the underworld veterans. They recognized him immediately.
The captain of the Nightfall Pirates. A bounty nearing two hundred million. The man who had repeatedly fought off Marine assaults.
No one with sense wanted to provoke him.