High in the sky, the flamingo stood proudly, suddenly swaying its blazing red feathers with a flamboyant flourish.
Step by step, it descended in midair as if walking down invisible stairs, each footfall pressing against the empty air, slowly approaching Zoro.
The trembling wind whipped through its exaggerated coat, feathers flickering like dancing flames.
Zoro, who had been brimming with tension, suddenly felt his focus waver.
Watching this bizarre, yet strangely familiar spectacle, he couldn't help but wonder inwardly:
"Are all the Shichibukai secretly attention-seeking show-offs?"
Everyone knew Luffy loved to show off. Every entrance, either cold and detached or carefree with a devil-may-care confidence.
Crocodile always had that intimidating, scheming expression, keeping everyone at a distance.
Dracule Mihawk carried himself with the aloof pride of a lone wolf.
And yet, when no one was around, he still rowed his own boat, adjusting his course.
Then there was Doflamingo—his debut required maximum theatrics, acting as if he alone could bend reality.
He set up invisible threads in midair and walked down them step by step.
Did he really think Zoro's Observation Haki wouldn't detect the faint white lines swaying under his weight!?
It was no wonder Zoro felt this way.
By now, he had encountered a majority of the Shichibukai, and each one exuded an overwhelming, flamboyant aura.
Truly, every one of them dominated their own stage, never losing in presence or style.
After a minute, Doflamingo finally touched the ground, still twisting his unnaturally jointed limbs, striking an arrogant, unrestrained pose as he smirked at Zoro:
"Roronoa Zoro, member of the mysterious Starry Sky Pirates.
I hear you're also the vice-captain!
Meeting you in person, I see why your reputation precedes you!"
Zoro frowned slightly, biting down on Phantom Spirit, and asked curiously:
"These people… are they your subordinates?"
"You sent them to spy on the Starry Sky Pirates. For what purpose?"
Doflamingo's chilling, sinister smile returned as he spoke, addressing Zoro who remained ready for battle:
"Relax, Roronoa Zoro.
I've known your captain, Monkey D. Luffy, for quite some time…
I simply heard of your whereabouts and decided to pay a visit."
As he spoke, his long arms gestured dramatically, emphasizing every word.
Yet Zoro, faced with Doflamingo's casual, overly familiar attitude, remained unfazed.
After all, the Conqueror's Haki pressure applied to him and Chopper had not diminished in the slightest!
Everything here was intentional.
Don't let this flamboyant flamingo fool you—its carefree demeanor came from seeing no one as worth serious attention.
Zoro was strong, strong enough to be remembered by the world, but he had yet to perform anything that would earn him recognition.
To the world's major figures, "Roronoa Zoro" would still be just an ordinary, unknown pirate.
In Doflamingo's eyes, Zoro's status was insufficient to warrant an equal conversation.
Though he had an inexplicable respect for Luffy's D. lineage, this did not mean he viewed the Starry Sky Pirates with any admiration.
Subordinates should act like subordinates!
…
Back at the inn where Luffy and the crew had first stopped:
Under the terrified stares of the patrons, the Starry Sky Pirates gathered once more.
The innkeeper didn't even dare to breathe, standing behind the counter, wiping a wine glass he had been cleaning for ten minutes.
The customers sat stiffly, afraid to move or speak.
Even lifting a glass seemed impossible; the wine shook uncontrollably, unable to reach their lips.
The entire western town of Jaya Island was shrouded in an eerie silence.
Why?
Because the Starry Sky crew had just massacred the town's most notorious pirates and bullies.
And on the bodies, they left a recruitment notice for the Starry Sky Hero Academy.
In Jaya Island, anyone bold enough to drink at a tavern during the day was at least a petty thief or street fighter.
Those who assumed the crew had left returned to the tavern, only to find the doors blocked tight!
Their courage to step outside vanished completely.
…
…
"Seriously, why hasn't Zoro come back yet?!"
Irritable Nami stood on tiptoe, craning her neck toward the direction Zoro had gone, muttering complaints.
With Zoro's abilities, handling some low-level pirates should have taken only an instant.
But now they had waited half an hour, seeing not a trace of him, leaving everyone puzzled.
Seeing Nami's impatience, Koby stepped forward, offering a nervous smile:
"Let's wait a bit longer, Miss Nami…
Perhaps something else happened to Master and the others…
We can go inside, order some drinks, and wait patiently."
He gestured toward the inn's interior.
The innkeeper froze, too terrified even to touch a glass.
Usopp, walking at the front, whispered:
"Maybe Zoro, being the great navigator he is… got lost?"
"No way!"
Nami pouted slightly:
"We made sure Chopper went with Zoro. With Chopper's keen nose, there's no way they could get separated."
"Let's just wait… a little longer…"
Koby sighed helplessly, trying to reassure everyone.
Meanwhile, small Merry pressed her face against the table, mumbling in a squished voice:
"So boring… I want to go play with Wuten and Laboon…"
Wuten—the name Luffy gave to the new Kung-Fu manatee he had recruited.
Inspired mainly by its thick green shell.
Wuten now guarded the Merry, and kept an eye on Sanji, who had been devouring the Beelzebub battleship for almost ten days.
Despite Sanji's strength growing, the Beelzebub remained largely untouched, a testament to its enormity.
Sanji continued to consume it bit by bit, a tedious, repetitive task.
…
Time passed.
Outside, the tavern patrons trembled, afraid to breathe, while the Starry Sky crew sat calmly, chatting and drinking.
Suddenly!
A commotion erupted from a distance.
"Ah~!!!"
"Run!!"
"What is that thing!?"
"Damn it! What's happening!?"
…
Inside, the crew looked up at each other, silently agreeing, then rose and headed toward the disturbance.
BOOM!!!
A massive crash echoed from the direction Nami had just been peeking toward.
=============
Completed version available on Patreon P@treon(.)com/Veltoria