As White Ghost walked, he spoke into the Den Den Mushi.
"Caesar is someone you can't handle. You haven't even brought out his true value. It's better to hand him over to me."
"Fuffuffuffu. You should know how important Caesar is to me. Do you think I'll hand him over that easily?"
White Ghost frowned.
"To be honest, I could just rob you directly. But I'm a civilized man. I don't like waving weapons around. Isn't it better for everyone to talk this out properly?"
The veins on Doflamingo's forehead bulged.
"Caesar is too important to me. Choose something else."
He knew White Ghost would definitely not let this extortion opportunity pass. He could only compromise.
White Ghost lit another cigarette.
"Then choose between Caesar and that Tontatta princess. Of course, when I say her, I mean the entire Tontatta Tribe."
Boom!
Doflamingo's Conqueror's Haki erupted instantly, knocking over the decorations in the room.
Crack!
The sound of shattering glass spread through the entire palace. The guards outside rolled their eyes and collapsed the moment they were hit by the Conqueror's Haki.
"What's going on? Are there enemies?"
The Donquixote Family officers immediately sensed something was wrong and rushed over with weapons in hand.
When they arrived, they found their young master holding a Den Den Mushi with a ferocious expression. There were no enemies around.
"Uh…"
Everyone present froze, not knowing what to do.
White Ghost naturally heard the commotion on the other side. He smiled indifferently.
"Don't lose your temper. If we tear off all pretenses, it won't benefit either of us.
"Why not talk properly? You benefit, I benefit, and everyone is happy. Don't you think I'm right, Doffy?"
Only then did the Donquixote Family officers understand why their young master was so furious.
Every time he talked to that guy, the young master could not control himself.
Doflamingo forced himself to calm down.
He truly could not understand when that guy had stretched his hand into his territory.
Among his officers, there was absolutely no one who belonged to White Ghost. These people had grown up with him since childhood. It could not be them.
If that guy was so capable that he had arranged people around Doflamingo since childhood, then what was the point of playing anymore?
Doflamingo knew White Ghost's family background. That guy could not have done it.
Doflamingo tapped his fingers against the table.
He was weighing the options, deciding who to give up.
White Ghost was not an ordinary person. Although both of them held each other's weaknesses, Doflamingo truly did not dare fall out with him.
There was no other reason.
That guy was too strong.
Even the World Government was somewhat wary of him.
Just as he said, their relationship was delicate. As long as they did not tear their faces apart, everything was fine. Once they did, no one could protect Doflamingo.
Kaido could not.
He had only recently begun cooperating with Kaido. Kaido probably would not go to war with that guy for his sake. Doflamingo did not believe for a second that White Ghost had prepared for so long without holding any trump cards.
The World Government was even less reliable.
Those five old men would love for him to die, so he, someone who knew certain secrets, would finally shut his mouth forever.
While he was still thinking, White Ghost's impatient voice came through.
"Have you decided yet? It's late. I want to rest early. Staying up late is bad for the mind."
The veins on Doflamingo's forehead bulged again, but he did not dare say anything harsh.
"Can I know what you want Caesar for?"
White Ghost had already reached his ship. Hearing that, the corner of his mouth lifted.
He knew the man was his now.
"Nothing much. I'm also interested in artificial Devil Fruits. I've prepared a little more than you, so I want to give it a try."
Doflamingo took a deep breath.
"I can give you Caesar, but I must have a share of your weapons sales. Also, if you successfully produce Devil Fruits, I want some too."
White Ghost waved his hand, signaling Van Augur to go down with the others first. He would introduce him to everyone tomorrow.
"I can give you that. If you have nowhere to go in the future, I can also save you a place here."
The corner of Doflamingo's mouth lifted.
"Fuffuffuffu. Then should I thank you, you bastard?"
White Ghost walked into the library and noticed someone inside. He pushed the door open and found Robin still reading.
White Ghost gestured for her not to mind and sat down beside her.
"We're already so familiar with each other. There's no need for thanks.
"Take that guy to Water 7. I'll go to Sky Island first, then head there."
Doflamingo froze.
The people beside him also froze.
"Golden Shandora? You found it?"
White Ghost's mouth curved. He accepted the tea Robin handed him.
"I found it ages ago. Last time, I didn't have enough manpower, and time was limited, so I only took half. This time, I plan to empty all the gold there."
Doflamingo's voice came through with clear jealousy.
"I really envy you, bastard."
White Ghost chuckled.
"That's just luck. Anyway, send him there. I'm going to rest."
Click.
White Ghost hung up the Den Den Mushi and considered whether he should call that person.
Robin's cheeks were faintly red.
Going to rest?
So this was the reason you came to my place?
White Ghost did not notice Robin's change. He pressed a few numbers and dialed again.
Ring, ring, ring.
The Den Den Mushi rang for a while before it was picked up.
Click.
A voice that tugged at the heart sounded from the other side.
"Oh my, which little fool is disturbing my sleep?"
Robin looked at him strangely.
How many women did this man have exactly?
So many on the ship, and more outside?
White Ghost ignored Robin's gaze and spoke into the Den Den Mushi.
"I'm White Ghost. I want to make a deal with you."
"Hm?"
The person on the other end was clearly stunned.
She did not seem to have any connection to this guy.
"Oh my, then Lord Dragon Emperor, what sort of deal do you want to make with this little woman?
"You should know, aside from having a few more sisters here, I don't seem to have much else."
White Ghost tapped his fingers against the table.
"Is it convenient for you to talk? After all, what I'm about to say is very dangerous. Dangerous enough to leave you no way back."
Stussy froze on the other end.
She did not think a great figure like him would scare her for no reason.
"Go ahead, Lord Dragon Emperor. Let me see whether the information you give is worth the price I'll have to pay."
White Ghost smiled, his expression wicked.
"I need Vegapunk's Devil Fruit experiment records.
"As the benefit, I can choose not to expose your identity as Vegapunk's spy. Also, I can tell you that someone close to Vegapunk will betray him."
Stussy clenched her small hand into a fist.
"I don't understand what you're saying, Lord Dragon Emperor."
White Ghost pulled Robin's hand over.
"We're all smart people, so let's not talk in circles. Deliver the records to Water 7.
"Of course, you can refuse. As for the consequences… it's only a matter of those five old men learning a few things."
Click.
After saying that, White Ghost hung up the Den Den Mushi, giving her no chance to respond.
White Ghost pulled Robin into his arms and lowered his head to look at her.
Robin did not struggle.
From the moment she boarded this ship, she had known this day would come.
White Ghost kissed her forehead.
"Don't stay up too late. Books can't be finished in one night. You can read tomorrow too."
After saying that, White Ghost walked out.
It was not time yet.
Robin's cheeks burned as she looked at the bad man's back with a resentful gaze.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/StrawHatStudios