Just as the warship was about to arrive at the Sabaody Archipelago—something happened.
It wasn't an attack.
Someone had blocked off the Marine port and wasn't allowing entry.
"Who the hell has the guts to block my ship?" Valthior asked in surprise after hearing Vice Admiral Winnick's report.
"It's Saint Donquixote Doflamingo. He set out a bit earlier than you this morning and arrived at Sabaody first. It seems someone offended him, so he's currently throwing a fit," Winnick replied awkwardly.
In a Marine port, who could possibly offend a Celestial Dragon?
Obviously—the Marines themselves.
As the commanding officer stationed at Sabaody, Winnick was in a difficult position. Given his status, he couldn't even protect his own subordinates.
Fortunately, Saint Valthior was on his ship, so he hurried over to report the matter.
Having worked at Sabaody for a long time, Winnick had interacted with Celestial Dragons quite often. Although he had only served Valthior twice, he could clearly sense that this man was completely different from the others.
There was no concrete evidence—just intuition from reading people.
If this big shot was willing to step in, maybe today's situation could be resolved.
"Doflamingo!?" Valthior was stunned, even more surprised. "That brat's only five or six, right? Who brought him here?"
"No one. Saint Doflamingo came alone. In fact, over the past two years, he's often come to Sabaody by himself," Winnick quickly explained.
Damn… no wonder he ends up opening shops in Sabaody later. So he's been interested in this place since he was a kid.
After thinking for a moment, Valthior asked, "That kid's caused plenty of trouble here, hasn't he?"
Winnick forced a stiff smile and didn't answer.
But the meaning was obvious—Doflamingo was a menace. A little demon who definitely stirred up trouble all over Sabaody.
No wonder the Marines beat the hell out of you later when you lost your Celestial Dragon status. With that attitude, you've been making enemies since childhood.
Compared to your father, the sea really does a better job of educating people…
Thinking back, by seniority, Doflamingo was technically his nephew.
Doflamingo's father, Homing, was his cousin—since Homing's mother was Valthior's aunt.
Although Doflamingo was currently a little monster, after suffering great hardships and experiencing the brutality of the sea, he would eventually become quite accomplished.
In terms of strength, he might have flaws—but in other aspects, he was undeniably a rare talent.
With that in mind, Valthior decided to intervene.
First, he'd leave a deep impression on his dear nephew.
Who knew—maybe it would lead to something interesting in the future.
"Pass down my order—lift the port blockade and dock the ship!" Valthior instructed.
Winnick let out a sigh of relief and immediately responded, "Yes, Saint Valthior!"
Since the port was under Winnick's authority—and now with Valthior's order—the blockade was quickly lifted, and the warship slowly sailed in.
Before even disembarking, Valthior could already see Doflamingo causing chaos in the port.
How to put it…
Even though he was still just a kid, Doflamingo had already developed his distinctive style.
Short blond hair, a pink shirt, blue shorts, his favorite loafers, and red sunglasses.
Most outrageous of all—this little brat even had a cigarette hanging from his mouth, holding a flintlock pistol in his hand, cursing arrogantly.
In front of him, two Marine soldiers had already been shot. Blood streamed from their shoulders, yet they didn't dare resist. They could only lie on the ground, crying and begging for mercy.
"You dare look down on me!? I'll kill all of you!!!" Doflamingo shrieked, his voice sharp and hysterical.
Like a completely unhinged little demon.
Whatever tantrum he was throwing, Valthior had no intention of indulging him.
Stepping off the gangway with Gaban, Valthior shouted:
"Doflamingo, you little bastard—what the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Hearing someone call his name like that, Doflamingo was momentarily thrown off.
Not only was his name called without the honorific "Saint"—he was even insulted?
Who dared to be so disrespectful!?
He turned around with his gun, looking toward the source of the voice.
He saw a Vice Admiral trailing behind two men walking toward him.
He looked them over carefully.
Didn't recognize them.
After all, when Valthior left Mary Geoise, Doflamingo had only been around two or three years old. Aside from seeing him once at birth as a relative, they had no real interaction.
Since he didn't recognize Valthior—and seeing that Valthior wasn't dressed like a typical Celestial Dragon—he didn't take him seriously at all.
"What the hell are you supposed to be!? How dare you insult me!? Men, tie him up! I'm going to blow his head off with one shot!!! Doflamingo shouted.
But soon, he realized something was wrong.
None of the Marines around him moved.
"You really don't know your place," Valthior smirked coldly. "Gaban—go give him a couple of slaps. Teach him a lesson."
Strictly speaking, Valthior was Gaban's junior, so giving orders like that wasn't exactly appropriate.
But since Gaban was currently calling Valthior "Lord," why not?
Besides—Gaban had never openly slapped a Celestial Dragon before.
The moment Valthior said it, Gaban stepped forward eagerly. Crouching slightly, he delivered two loud slaps—smack, smack!—sending Doflamingo flying to the ground, even knocking the cigarette out of his mouth.
As for Doflamingo being just a kid? Please. Gaban never said he didn't hit children!
Doflamingo lay on the ground, clutching his swollen face, completely stunned.
Who am I? Where am I? I just got hit?
I'm a Celestial Dragon!
At that moment, one of the Donquixote family servants snapped out of it and rushed over, helping the dazed Doflamingo up while whispering:
"Saint Doflamingo, this is your uncle, Saint Jaygarcia Valthior. He is Lord Homing's cousin and the Young Master of the Jaygarcia family..."
Before the servant could finish, Valthior had already stepped in front of Doflamingo, looking down at him from above.
"Brat, go back and ask around about my reputation in Mary Geoise. In all my years, I've never seen anyone dare block my ship. Even your father doesn't dare act out in front of me."
"Take this as a lesson. If you cross me again, I'll throw you into the sea to feed the fish."
After saying that, Valthior glanced at the Donquixote servants.
Under that gaze, they all dropped to their knees instantly, not daring to breathe loudly.
"A bunch of useless trash. Take this brat and get the hell back to Mary Geoise right now," Valthior snorted coldly.
With that, he and Gaban walked past the still-dazed Doflamingo and headed out of the port.
Doflamingo instinctively watched their backs, feeling something strange stir within him.
"That's my uncle? Why have I never seen him in Mary Geoise?" Doflamingo asked the servant beside him.
At the same time, he had already decided—once he got back, he would kill all these bastards. After all, they had witnessed the humiliating sight of him being slapped.
"Saint Valthior left Mary Geoise three years ago. There are rumors he's now a pirate… but that's just what people say. I don't know the details," the servant hurriedly replied.
"A pirate?" Doflamingo was even more shocked.
Though young, he knew exactly what kind of person he was.
Even among Celestial Dragons his age in Mary Geoise, he ranked among the worst—a true little demon.
But not only did he see nothing wrong with it—he was proud of it.
Wasn't that how Celestial Dragons were supposed to be?
Yet now, after being thoroughly bullied by this uncle of his, he felt both resentment… and admiration.
That was amazing… way too arrogant… that's what a Celestial Dragon should be like!
Compared to that, his usual bullying of servants felt completely amateurish.
A real man should beat up Celestial Dragons!
He decided then and there: once he got back, he was going to give that crybaby Rosinante a serious thrashing!
..
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