Doflamingo stood at the bow, that trademark smirk playing on his lips. The gaze behind his sunglasses was chillingly intense.
"Fufufufu..." His laughter carried on the wind. "What a surprising entrance—spat out from a lantern fish's mouth. Truly befitting the captain of 'Crimson Dawn.'"
Rhett lazily picked at his ear as a crimson mist coalesced behind him, forming a throne.
He casually took a seat, crossing one leg over the other. The throne slowly rose into the air. "So, flamingo, you came all this way just to tell me how handsome I am?"
Doflamingo's smirk twitched. Flamingo? What the hell is that supposed to mean?
His fingers flexed, and invisible threads sliced through the air.
"Of course not. I'm here to discuss business."
"Two Hundred Billion—Thunderbird."
White smoke drifted through the sky—threads turned to ash by lightning.
Enel looked down at Doflamingo with utter disdain.
"Behave. Don't try any tricks in front of our captain. Next time, I'll aim for your head."
He retreated behind Rhett.
"Oh?" Rhett raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. He stared at Doflamingo.
"You steal my territory, and now you want to talk business? Your audacity is even brighter than your feathers. And you actually dared to show your face in front of me—do you really have no fear of death, Doflamingo?"
Doflamingo's smile froze for a split second before snapping back to normal. "Those businesses... were merely a misunderstanding. I underestimated your strength. I never imagined that in just a few years, an underground force could grow to such power."
He spread his hands, threads glinting in the sunlight. "But as I am now, perhaps I can be a far better partner for you."
Rhett narrowed his eyes, the crimson mist silently expanding, staining the sea between the two ships a dark red. Doflamingo's crew tensed.
Doflamingo wasn't relaxed either. He was gambling, betting Rhett wanted to subjugate him, not kill him.
But Rhett's reaction was just instinctual. Heh. Inside, he was actually quite pleased.
Not that it was his doing—well, no, actually, it was his doing. As Captain of the Crimson Dawn Pirates, he didn't need the ability. He just needed to know who could get the job done.
"Partnership?" Rhett chuckled. "Go on, then. What can you offer me?"
Doflamingo lowered his voice, sunglasses reflecting the blood mist. "Information, influence... and someone to handle the dirty work. You want to control the entire world, don't you? Gold and brute force alone won't be enough."
When he'd learned the territory he'd seized belonged to Rhett, Rhett hadn't come for him immediately. That was his confidence—Rhett wanted to assess his value.
He'd considered waiting for Rhett at his base, but as the future Joker of the underworld, passively waiting when outright victory was impossible would've been sheer idiocy.
Rhett's gaze flickered, the blood mist slowing. He glanced sideways at Gild Tesoro, leaning against the ship's railing, spinning a golden ring with an amused smirk.
"Captain," Gild Tesoro drawled, "this kid's got some self-awareness, at least."
A faint sweat beaded on Doflamingo's forehead, but his tone remained composed. "Gild Tesoro's schemes are indeed impressive, but there are areas... where my family is better suited to intervene."
"For example, certain... transactions within the Marines. I was once a Celestial Dragon—I'm sure you're aware. Even though I've lost that status, the World Government still grants me some... consideration."
Rhett knew this was why Doflamingo had brazenly stolen the Heavenly Tribute and still secured a Shichibukai position.
Rhett was intrigued. Sure, this flamingo had rebellious tendencies, but that didn't matter. If he got out of line, he could just be killed.
"Interesting!" Rhett lounged in midair, looking down at Doflamingo. "You're smarter than I thought, flamingo. But—" His tone shifted abruptly, and the mist condensed into a blood-red blade hovering above Doflamingo's head. "Why should I trust you?"
Doflamingo's smirk twitched before twisting into something more vicious. "Because our goals align—to overthrow this twisted world. And you... need a blade hidden in the shadows."
The sea breeze stilled, the air thickening with tension. Rhett and Doflamingo locked eyes. Rhett dispersed the blood mist and waved a lazy hand.
"Fine, I'll give you a chance. But—" Rhett grinned sharply. "If I catch even a hint of betrayal, I won't hesitate to pluck every single one of your feathers. Do whatever you want with your other black-market dealings—but the slave trade is off-limits. Understood?"
Cold fury flickered behind Doflamingo's sunglasses. The slave trade was immensely profitable. But it was quickly masked by another laugh. "Fufufufu... A pleasure doing business."
Gild Tesoro stepped forward, extending a hand. "Welcome to the board of 'Crimson Dawn,' Mr. Doflamingo. But remember—" His gaze sharpened. "You're just one piece on the board. Our influence can provide you with support—a little welcome gift, if you will. You're free to expand your own power... so long as you remain loyal to our captain."
As he spoke, a shower of golden dust seeped into the bodies of everyone present—except Doflamingo.
"I trust you understand, Mr. Doflamingo. After all, none of us are exactly good people, are we?"
Doflamingo gave a slight nod before turning and leaping back onto his own ship. He'd already anticipated this outcome. The fact that no gold dust had been implanted in him was a show of respect.
There was another path. He could've returned the stolen assets and disappeared into obscurity.
But for an ambitious man like Doflamingo, that was unthinkable. Besides, with Rhett's banner backing him, he could afford to be even more reckless. His dealings with Kaido had only been possible under the Yonko's influence.
His hatred for the Celestial Dragons burned as fiercely as Rhett's. If I can't have it, I'll destroy it—that mentality was etched into his being, and it was precisely what Rhett valued.
Doflamingo's fleet didn't leave yet.
"Fufufufu... Captain Rhett, since we've gone to the trouble of meeting, why not let my family's youngsters... experience the strength of 'Crimson Dawn' firsthand?"
This was Doflamingo's test. He wanted to gauge the overall power of the Crimson Dawn Pirates, to see how far his ambitions could stretch under their banner. A single lion wasn't terrifying—what was terrifying was an entire pride where any member could be a king.
And with the gold dust ensuring they wouldn't die...
Before he'd finished speaking, the executives of the Donquixote Pirates had already leaped to the front of the ship. The golden dust Gild Tesoro had scattered over them had left them seething.
Diamante brandished his sword, Trebol's slimy body oozed forward, and Pica's shrill voice echoed from within his stone giant:
"Doffy's orders... are to CRUSH YOU!"