"Fufufufufu~ My dear friend, what do you think?"
You think you can walk away after learning all my secrets? Just be a good little messenger for me.
If it weren't for the time it takes to develop this Devil Fruit, Morgans would've been silenced ages ago.
I could've replaced him and taken control of every News Bird in the world.
"Hehehehehe~"
Under the gaze slithering along his neck, and with thunderlight quietly flickering to the side, Morgans forced a smile.
His beady eyes darted around nervously as he ducked his head, burying it into his puffed-out chest like a terrified ostrich.
"I was just saying, of course I can't leave you, Doffy! I mean, you've got all the biggest headlines in the world."
Nearby, Umit and Giberson had been watching in schadenfreude. But now their expressions turned to disappointment, even disdain.
Morgans… can he really be considered one of the rulers of the Underworld, standing alongside Doflamingo?
He won't even fight back. Scared of what? Losing your life?
At least they'd tried resisting once. Worst case, they got beat up.
"Fufufufufu~ I hope you don't let our pure friendship become… tainted."
Pure friendship? Seriously?
Morgans' beak twitched. If he could go back a few years...
He would've absolutely refused the news and Visual Den Den Mushi this blonde lunatic had offered.
But it was far too late for that.
So he lifted his birdlike head again and put on his most cooperative smile.
"Hahahaha! Of course! You make the news, I publish it. We're a perfect match!"
Even if he was the President of the World Economic News, a man who'd never bowed to pressure—not even from the World Government—
When someone has a blade to your throat...
Morgans figured a little humility wouldn't hurt.
Suppressing Morgans' last flicker of defiance, Doflamingo guided the Numancia Flamingo down through the skies.
...
On the island below
The newest CP agent selection had been halted due to the arrival of an outsider.
Kaku, with his long nose, and the other candidates stood straight and disciplined, showcasing excellent behavior.
But their eyes were already drawn to the noisy chaos in the middle of the square. Their ears perked to catch every word.
"Fury! I want the strongest agents! Don't dump that garbage on me!!"
Spandam was furiously clutching Fury's collar, his features scrunched up in rage as he shouted at the top of his lungs.
Given his pathetic height and that ridiculous red nose, he really did look like a clown.
"Ugh!"
Fury leaned back, dodging the spit flying from Spandam's mouth.
Rob Lucci and Kuro—easily the two strongest rookies he'd ever trained.
And the moment they were handed off to Spandam, both they and their mission target had vanished.
It didn't matter what kind of talent you gave this guy. He'd waste it.
"Oh?!"
Fury's nonchalant attitude lit Spandam's fuse. He gripped Fury's clothes tighter and roared,
"What the hell is that attitude?! I'm reporting you to the Elders!"
Smack! A crisp sound rang out.
"OW! You hit me?!"
Spandam clutched his swollen cheek, howling, and shouted at the CP9 agents behind him.
"Take aim at him!"
The CP9 agents who had come with Spandam obediently raised their flintlock pistols and aimed them at Fury.
"I'm already retired. Don't try pulling rank on me."
Fury didn't even flinch at the gun barrels pointed at him.
He casually smoothed out the wrinkles on his chest, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and said coldly,
"Can we begin now?"
"HAH?!"
Spandam was beyond furious. He yanked out the pistol at his waist.
"Are you even listening to me?!"
Suddenly, Fury's gaze shot up to the sky.
His heartbeat quickened. Something dangerous was approaching.
The next second—
A dark shape appeared in the sky, growing rapidly larger.
The thunderous sound of something cutting through the air drew everyone's attention upward.
A ship—pink twin wings stretching from its hull—soared into view.
That unmistakable symbol. Anyone who'd ever read a newspaper would instantly recognize the owner.
"The Emperor… the Heavenly Yaksha!"
"Doflamingo!!"
"Sound the alarm!"
Fury and the CP9 agents all froze in shock. A chill of terror ran down their spines.
How the hell were they supposed to deal with an opponent like this?
One quick-thinking CP member had already secretly pressed the emergency call on a Den Den Mushi.
As for Spandam—his eyes burned red with hatred the moment he saw the man who'd killed his father.
Legs trembling, he forced himself to stand and locked eyes on the yellow-haired bastard at the bow.
"Doflamingo! Surrender now!"
"What a warm welcome!"
Naturally, Doflamingo saw all their reactions from above. It made him smile.
But he didn't stop the CP9 from calling for backup—he wanted the World Government to know exactly who did this.
That feeling of making them helpless, of rubbing it in their faces... that was true satisfaction.
And the bonus prize? Spandam. A perfect little gift to present to Robin and Franky for their contributions.
Amused at the thought, Doflamingo opened his arms.
"Now, time to receive your reward. Fufufufufu~"
As his laughter echoed, a massive burst of Conqueror's Haki erupted from his body.
It was so intense it had substance, blasting outward like a hurricane.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The first to collapse was weakling Spandam.
Next—Kaku and the other young candidates.
...
In an instant, not a single soul was left standing.
Moments later, Doflamingo packed up the island's population and soared back into the sky aboard the Numancia Flamingo.
He had no idea...
He'd just taken the unrivaled genius of the last 802 years—Kaku.
...
Meanwhile, in the New World—
A World Government speedboat was racing nonstop through the Uto Sea.
The CP agent at the helm, with enormous dark circles under his eyes, looked ready to drop.
But suddenly, his eyes lit up with surprise.
He whipped his head toward the cabin and shouted,
"C-Captain Fūzu Fū! You've gotta see this! Egghead is gone!"
"What?!"
Fūzu Fū shot out of the cabin, stared at the empty sea ahead, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
He looked down at the sea chart and compared it to the coordinates they'd tracked.
His usual composure as an agent completely fell apart. Confusion and panic were written all over his face.
"Where the hell did my giant island go?!"
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Fanfic is finished 527 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg