Cyrus's voice was calm.
But in the silent environment, it was like a thunderclap in everyone's ears.
The surrounding pirates held their breath, afraid of attracting Cyrus's attention.
However, Cyrus really wasn't paying attention to these pirates.
To have a Devil Fruit user as a subordinate, this couldn't be a force from the East Blue.
It was more likely someone from the underworld, or one of the North Blue mafias.
His hand, covered in Armament Haki, squeezed harder.
The excruciating pain, as if his head was about to be crushed, made the man under Cyrus's hand cry out in pain.
He couldn't even maintain his beast form and reverted from his transformation.
"Speak!"
Cyrus was about to apply more force when the man on the ground twitched twice and went still.
Cyrus paused and released his hand.
The man on the ground had rolled his eyes back. He wasn't dead, just passed out.
Cyrus stood up, glanced around, and then looked toward the town.
Many people were watching from there.
Seemingly sensing Cyrus's gaze, they turned and fled, ducking into the houses on either side of the town.
Some even tried to escape from the other side of the island.
Cyrus said nothing.
The surrounding pirates trembled with fear.
Just as when Cyrus first arrived, he had them surrounded.
The unconscious man on the ground kicked his legs a couple of times, let out a few groans, and came to.
Cyrus looked down at the man on the ground.
He was in his twenties or thirties and looked rather thin and weak, a physique possibly cultivated for the sake of his Devil Fruit ability.
But Zoan-type Devil Fruit users did have good constitutions.
Cyrus had indeed used a bit too much force just now, almost crushing the guy to death.
But for him to wake up after being unconscious for such a short time showed his impressive physique.
When the man woke up, there was a moment of confusion in his eyes.
When he saw Cyrus looking down at him, he instantly became fully awake.
"It's the Shichibukai, Lord Doflamingo!"
Before Cyrus could ask again, the man blurted out who was behind him.
"Doflamingo?" Cyrus was stunned, somewhat surprised.
'That guy's reach extends to the East Blue?'
Cyrus knew that Doflamingo seemed to have spent a considerable amount of time in the West Blue or North Blue, where he apparently became some big shot in the underworld, making money and building his forces through black market dealings.
Even by the time Luffy set sail, that guy hadn't given up those businesses.
A commotion rippled through the surrounding pirates.
Many of them knew of this Devil Fruit user.
Before today, this guy was someone no one on this trading island dared to provoke.
No one knew who was backing him, but everyone knew he sold all sorts of weapons.
Though the prices were high, they sold very well.
Some pirates had tried to make a move on him, only to end up hung on the island's cliffs to dry in the wind.
To think he was actually a subordinate of a Shichibukai.
These pirates didn't know much about the New World or the Grand Line, but they knew a fair bit about the great pirates of the sea.
After all, most of the news in the papers dropped by the News Coos was related to these people, not to mention the bounty posters with their long strings of zeros.
The Shichibukai, Heavenly Yaksha Doflamingo, had a bounty of 340 million.
In the East Blue, where bounties were commonly in the millions and most pirates had no bounty at all, he was a legendary figure in their conversations.
"Since you know of Lord Doflamingo, you should be aware of how terrifying he is."
Hearing Cyrus say Doflamingo's name, the man on the ground seemed to regain some strength.
He seemed certain that Cyrus wouldn't dare to provoke Doflamingo.
"Leave now, and I can pretend this never happened."
He didn't dare to fight back, nor did he even dare to ask Cyrus for an apology.
He just wanted to use Doflamingo's name to make Cyrus back off.
After all, this trading island was established under Doflamingo's orders, a stepping stone for his move into the East Blue.
If something went wrong, he would definitely die.
He knew all too well how the Donquixote Family treated those who made mistakes.
His predecessor, after all, had met his end that way.
"Even if Doflamingo came here himself, he wouldn't be qualified to say such a thing."
Cyrus's expression didn't change at his words.
Doflamingo was indeed very powerful.
If it were the Doflamingo from after the story's start, ten years from now, he might not be able to beat him in his normal state and would have to activate Indomitable.
But the Doflamingo of the present? He really had nothing to fear.
"You..."
Cyrus's words made the man's face change drastically, his eyes wide as he stared at Cyrus.
The other pirates were also dumbfounded.
That was one of the Shichibukai, a major figure with a bounty of over 300 million.
Was this person insane? To not even show respect to such a powerful figure.
"Buru buru!"
Just then, the sound of a Den Den Mushi rang out.
The Zoan-type ability user swallowed hard and, under Cyrus's gaze, carefully took out the Den Den Mushi.
Then, the Den Den Mushi's appearance changed, and a face wearing sunglasses appeared.
"Fuffuffuffu, if you're not dead, I want to speak with that guy."
After a burst of arrogant and strange laughter, a voice spoke.
"Yes!"
Hearing this voice, the man held out the Den Den Mushi to Cyrus.
Cyrus glanced at it and took the Den Den Mushi in his hand.
"I don't care who you are. Leave now."
"Doflamingo, are you talking to me?"
Cyrus looked at the Den Den Mushi and said with a cold snort.
"Fuffuffuffu, you can't afford the consequences of destroying that place."
Doflamingo's voice turned grim.
"So, you know me? If I destroy this place right now, what can you do about it?"
Cyrus said to the Den Den Mushi, his eyes narrowing.
The other end of the Den Den Mushi went silent for a moment.
"That place isn't as important as you think."
"Is that so? Well then, when I get to Dressrosa, I'll come and see you!"
After saying this, Cyrus directly ended the call.
He... he hung up?
The Zoan-type ability user watched as Cyrus hung up on Doflamingo, recalling their brief conversation.
He swallowed hard and subconsciously retreated.
"Go and capture everyone here. If you let a single person escape, I'll kill one of you. For every person that gets away, I'll kill that many of you. Or, you can try to escape yourselves."
Cyrus sheathed his longsword and shouted at the surrounding pirates. He then turned around and sat on the gunwale of his boat, watching the stunned pirates.
"Time's almost up. If you don't get moving, everyone will die," Cyrus said calmly.
A commotion broke out among the pirates. They looked at each other, and then one of them grabbed his weapon and charged towards the town.
With one person taking the lead, the others followed suit, rushing towards the town.
"The Heavenly Yaksha will not let you go."
"Mm, I know."
Cyrus nodded, looking unconcerned.
"You have no idea how terrifying that man is."
He wasn't worried for Cyrus's safety, but for his own.
Because if this place was destroyed, he would die.
If he tried to persuade Cyrus, he might die.
The choice was easy to make.
Buru buru!
The Den Den Mushi rang again.
Cyrus hung up immediately.
In Dressrosa, a vein throbbed on Doflamingo's forehead!