Scattered footsteps clattered in the stone corridor; the prison environment was damp and gloomy due to the lack of sunlight.
Holio covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief, frowning as he quickened his pace at the front.
Only after exiting the prison did the expression on his face soften: "Rosinante, thank you for your trouble. If you're interested in what happens next, you can also listen in."
"Holio, it's nothing," Rosinante, covered in scars and bandages, scratched his head, indicating that Holio didn't need to be so polite.
Recently, he had been undergoing intensive special training from the nobles. To make him stronger, the nobles took turns making time to train him.
Various resources were thrown at him without reservation. Although every day was tough, he could clearly feel the results of gradually getting stronger, so he was quite grateful to the people of Nicuss.
The prison gate closed, and after the fruit ability was released, the sacred confession song on the broadcast was almost inaudible.
Holio stroked his handlebar mustache, nodded slightly, and didn't respond to Rosinante. Instead, he turned to look at Doflamingo and Tesoro, who were behind him in prison uniforms.
Only after the two removed the hard-currency earplugs of this prison did Holio slowly speak: "Someone should have already told you about your disposition. First, give proper thanks for His Majesty's benevolence."
Tesoro and Doflamingo both looked terrible, their sickly pale skin noticeably whiter than when they arrived.
Hearing Holio say this, Tesoro stammered, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say.
Doflamingo forced a smile: "Fufufufu, I thank His Majesty for his benevolence, and I will engrave it in my heart."
"Hmm, also, His Majesty said he wants one of your eyes. This might have some impact on your future life. Left or right?"
Holio calmly pulled a white glove from his pocket and slowly put it on his right hand.
"Let me explain beforehand, do not attempt to recover it later; this is permanent."
Haki, like flowing water, wrapped around Holio's hand. It didn't feel fierce or wild; instead, it had a silky smoothness, as if go through a thousand refinements.
Doflamingo's mouth turned down for a moment, then quickly recovered. The price of one eye was too light, but if it was permanent... this was more than just an eye. Compared to physical scars, the blow to the spirit was fatal, especially during this period of rapid Haki growth. His own potential might be capped here.
However, it no longer mattered. Haki was currently sufficient for establishing himself in the New World, and the development of the String-String Fruit had already reached its limit.
It only needed an opportunity for the fruit to awaken. Perhaps by focusing on this aspect, he would grow stronger even faster.
Thinking of this, Doflamingo grinned again: "Fufufufufu! This depends on Holio's choice. If half my vision can slightly appease His Majesty's wrath, then it can be considered my atonement."
Holio looked up and scoffed disdainfully: "A glib-tongued brat. Remember today. Whenever you think of today, you'll recall this old man's terror. Respect for His Majesty isn't just words."
The domain of Haki expanded from his body, its arc the most perfect circle in the world, cutting through the air like a blade.
The invisible sharpness made the hair on the other three present stand on end. Any contact with their bodies would surely shred them to pieces.
His right hand, encased in a white glove, formed an eagle's claw and slowly, inch by inch, reached towards Doflamingo's eye.
The white in front of him gradually expanded. Doflamingo's heart beat irregularly, and he involuntarily gasped for air until the vision in his left eye completely turned to darkness.
He felt no pain; he even felt it was because the white glove completely covered his iris, blocking out the light.
But this scene made the other two shudder. From their perspective, Holio's two fingers had already plunged into Doflamingo's eyeball.
At least two knuckles had entered, yet Doflamingo seemed to feel no pain, his body still tensed, waiting for Holio to act.
Holio's mouth curved upwards, his thick handlebar mustache trembling: "Feel hell, brat!"
His bent thumb flicked Doflamingo's lower eyelid, and instantly, his left eye completely vanished, evaporating from its socket.
Only Holio's Haki flickered twice inside, and at the same time, an intense pain shot straight to his brain.
Doflamingo only lasted three seconds before he couldn't help but roll on the ground in agony. The pain was like a maggot attached to his bones, as if a piece of his soul was missing.
Rosinante's jaw dropped in surprise. Only he knew what kind of person Doflamingo was.
The pain from losing an eye should never make him lose his composure, but this guy, who could barely maintain a shred of dignity, had snot and drool smeared all over his face.
Rosinante swallowed. "As expected of Nicuss, such a high level!"
Tesoro had no particular thoughts, watching Doflamingo coldly. Just a clown. The Donquixote Family had a grand name, but their boss was such a good-for-nothing.
Seeing Doflamingo's pathetic state, he felt even more regret for believing his nonsense. This guy was at least seventy percent responsible for his current predicament.
Thinking of this, Tesoro's gaze at Doflamingo also carried a hint of hatred and schadenfreude.
The screams lasted for ten minutes until Doflamingo's throat was hoarse and the pain finally stopped. He couldn't even sit up, only able to slump weakly on the ground.
"I hope such pain can truly teach you reverence, brat, and make you recognize His Majesty's greatness. If there's a next time, this old man will show you that this was just an appetizer."
Holio had already thrown the white glove on the ground. Adjusting his collar, he looked down at Doflamingo with disdain.
After speaking, he didn't wait for his reaction and looked at Tesoro: "As for you, you will be supervised by a specialist from the Royal Intelligence Department. You can just casually do the tasks His Majesty mentioned."
"Eh?" When Holio's gaze swept over him, Tesoro felt a surge of pressure, but hearing him say this, he was still a little confused.
Could it be that Nero had forgiven him? It was just a matter of a step, it was Stella... "Because everyone has high expectations for Tesoro! Everyone discussed for a long time how to make you die painfully. Even those exclusive guys from the medical school have started making some special medicines."
Holio smiled: "Ah, everyone hasn't been this united in a long time. Tesoro, please don't disappoint everyone's expectations."
A cold glint flashed in his eyes, which were narrowed into slits. Tesoro's heart pounded, unsure if he had truly walked out or actually walked further in.
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 70 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!