Orochimaru gently swirled the crystal-clear red wine glass in his hand, the crimson liquid swirling within. He looked up at the two people staring intently at him, a faint curve on his lips: "Did I not make myself clear? Your fight isn't over yet."
Doflamingo's mouth twitched. He raised a hand to adjust his sunglasses, letting out a deliberate cough to break the delicate atmosphere.
He looked at the person before him, a fake smile on his face, and asked with feigned concern: "Orochimaru, are you... angry?"
Hearing this, Orochimaru slowly turned his head, his gaze unruffled, looking at Doflamingo as if appraising an ordinary object, his tone laced with impatience and a hint of mockery.
"Am I not 'that guy'?"
Doflamingo's words caught in his throat, his signature mocking smile instantly freezing, his mouth twitching unnaturally a few times.
He opened his mouth, and the usually eloquent Doffy was now speechless. Was that the point?
"I... I didn't do it on purpose..." He finally managed to squeeze out the words, his voice involuntarily dropping a few octaves.
Luffy saw Doflamingo's expression and instantly understood that the animosity had shifted.
He grinned and stealthily squatted to the side.
He was clutching a cantaloupe tightly, a cantaloupe he'd no doubt pilfered from some corner.
A thin layer of cold sweat seeped from Doflamingo's forehead, his expression tense, yet he still maintained his composure, explaining urgently:
"I'm just about to fight Straw Hat! I'm preparing for battle!"
His voice involuntarily rose, carrying a rare hint of panic.
Orochimaru seemed not to hear, slowly picking up his wine glass and downing the red wine in one gulp.
Then, he reached out and casually stroked the transponder snail on Law's fluffy hat, his movements gentle, as if comforting his own pet.
Throughout, he didn't even lift an eyelid, showing no regard for Doflamingo, and completely ignoring his words.
"Battle... what battle? Aren't you just playing house with a bunch of snot-nosed kids?"
Doflamingo's body stiffened sharply again, his confidence instantly crumbling.
Meanwhile, Luffy and Sabo, each with half a melon, squatted on the side, eating with great relish.
Double attack!
As for why Sabo was there, the moment Orochimaru woke up, Sabo abandoned Fujitora Issho. A Marine Admiral candidate? Please, how could he be as important as his brother?
At this moment, everyone else in Dressrosa was intently watching the big screen, dumbfounded by the Heavenly Yaksha's unusual behavior.
Poor Doflamingo was still in the dark, completely unaware that his every move was being live-streamed and exposed to everyone.
What Doflamingo was completely unaware of was that the moment the live broadcast began, those Executives/Cadres, beaten black and blue and looking miserable, who had been slumped on the ground with vacant eyes, instantly sprang up as if struck by an invisible electric current when their gaze hit the live screen, their eyes wide open.
"Oh no!"
Someone shouted first, and then only one thought remained in everyone's mind: this live broadcast absolutely cannot continue! Their young master's 'henpecked husband' side must not be seen by everyone!
Baby5 was anxious, her small face flushed red. She yelled, "Charge!" and took the lead, sprinting desperately towards the high ground.
The other Executives/Cadres also came to their senses, following close behind, their faces flushed, running for their lives.
This sudden scene stunned their opponents, leaving them dumbfounded.
On the originally tense battlefield, the opponents watched as these previously dejected individuals ran madly in the same direction, exchanging bewildered glances, completely at a loss. They could only stand foolishly in place, watching their backs disappear from sight.
Just as Doflamingo put on a fawning smile and was about to reach out to pull Orochimaru into his arms, preparing a string of sweet nothings to coax him, a cacophony of footsteps approached from a distance.
A group of ordinary Executives/Cadres, led by Baby5, burst into the room, their faces flushed, gasping for breath, as if they had just survived a frantic race, their steps faltering.
Their chests heaved violently, their foreheads covered in large beads of sweat, which soaked their collars.
"Found it! The target is on Law!! Die, Law!!"
Baby5 saw the live transponder snail, her eyes red, and screamed at the top of her lungs, raising her weapon high and pouncing towards Law.
Her posture suggested Law was her sworn enemy, and she had only one thought: to destroy the live-streaming device and prevent Doflamingo's "embarrassing moments" from being seen by others.
Doflamingo saw the disheveled state of the Executives/Cadres, his heart sank, and he instinctively hugged Orochimaru tightly, his figure flashing as he swiftly retreated.
On the other side, Law was caught off guard, suddenly pinned down by Baby5, Dellinger, Lao G, and others like hungry tigers pouncing on their prey.
In that instant, Law felt as if his internal organs were squeezed together, so uncomfortable he almost vomited his soul.
He struggled to raise a hand, reaching out to Luffy, who was engrossed in eating his melon nearby, and let out a faint cry: "Straw Hat Captain..."
Luffy saw Law's pitiful appearance, first startled, then quickly hid the cantaloupe behind his back, like a child guarding his food, looking at Law warily: "This is my melon."
Law's eyes widened, full of disbelief... his outstretched hand fell to the ground.
Law is dead, murderer Straw Hat Luffy... (just kidding)
Doflamingo stared intently at the disheveled Executives/Cadres, veins bulging on his forehead like twisted green snakes writhing under his skin, his face so dark it looked like it could drip ink.
His voice was deep and cold, every word seemingly carrying a bone-chilling coldness: "Who can explain to me what you are doing?"
The voice seemed to be squeezed from between his teeth, carrying suppressed fury, echoing in the air.
The surrounding temperature seemed to drop sharply due to his anger. The Executives/Cadres were all silent, not daring to breathe.
Law, pinned underneath, struggled with difficulty, while the Executives/Cadres looked at each other, no one daring to break the suffocating silence first.
Baby5 mustered her courage and finally spoke first.
She looked up at Doflamingo, who was full of rage and tightly hugging Orochimaru, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
"Young Master..." Her voice trembled slightly. After taking a deep breath, she continued to speak.
"You are... currently being live-streamed... Please put down Lord Orochimaru... Stop hugging him!!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the surroundings instantly became quiet enough to hear a pin drop. The Executives/Cadres all silently lowered their heads... Doflamingo stiffened again, and Orochimaru seemed to hear a cracking sound... and contentedly stroked the flamingo's fur.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"