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Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
Deep within the Room of Flowers, inside a bright and fragrant chamber filled with the scent of blossoms and foliage, the clean white decor paired with the gentle aroma made it hard to believe that the heart of the Holy Land's most mysterious Room of Flowers looked like this.
On a cabinet in the corner, a pink flamingo doll sat immobile, shackled with ankle chains, its expression full of terror.
Just then, with a soft creak, an elderly man in a white robe stepped through the door. He calmly carried a watering can, placed it down in the opposite corner, then took off his gloves and carefully arranged them in a toolbox.
Throughout the process, the old man never once looked at the flamingo.
But the plush toy's expression immediately turned heavy, as if a grey hare had spotted a falcon, a mouse cub had seen a snake, or a sika deer had stumbled upon an old tiger, its limbs went cold, trembling uncontrollably.
The elder made no effort to emit his presence. The terrifying aura that Rowen once perceived as godlike and demonic was now completely retracted into his body, not leaking even a sliver, making him seem like just a gentle, retired civil servant.
Yet, some sixth sense deep within told the flamingo, Donquixote Doflamingo, that if this man made a move against him, the outcome would be unimaginably tragic!
"Fuf fuf fuffuf fuf…" After a moment of silence, Doflamingo let out a cold laugh. "So what exactly does Imu Sama hope to accomplish by imprisoning me here? I've already told you everything I know. I'm a Celestial Dragon myself, after all. Why not let me go, ah, no, I mean let me live a normal life?"
Clack…
At those words, Imu paused in his task of organizing his tools.
He slowly turned his gaze toward Doflamingo, and in the next moment, a look of faint realization crossed his face.
"Oh right, I nearly forgot, you were still here!"
Doflamingo: "…"
'Are you messing with me, old man?!'
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
'You've had me locked up here for three days, and now you say you forgot???'
Completely oblivious to Doflamingo's inner roaring, Imu smiled gently and turned back to his organizing.
"But no can do. You are someone who will always end up causing trouble if not kept an eye on…"
"Causing trouble I don't mind, but if someone kills you out there, that's just a headache for me."
"So until everything settles down, it's best you stay right here… Besides, now that you're a toy, your appetite's tiny. It doesn't really matter where you stay, does it?"
Crack!
A vein popped on Doflamingo's forehead, his eyes blazing: "Did you just say I'd be killed if I went outside? Who the hell do you think I am, you asshole?!"
Say what you will, he was once one of the Shichibukai! Who didn't know the name Doflamingo back then?
No matter how things fell apart in the storyline, each of the Oka Shichibukai, who once stood shoulder to shoulder with the Yonko and Marine Headquarters, wielded unmatched power and influence.
However, Imu remained utterly calm. He simply nodded silently in response.
"That's right. Exactly so… In today's seas, even if your strength wasn't weakened by residual effects of the Hobi Hobi no Mi (Toy-Toy Fruit), even at your peak, stepping outside still carries the risk of death."
"You…!!"
Doflamingo's tone faltered. He was about to retort, but then he remembered the state of the seas he had seen on his way here. A moment later, he slumped back down onto the cabinet.
"Fuf fuf fuffuf fuf… So that's how it is."
In the end, he was just too weak.
From the moment he conspired with Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi in arms deals, to when Kaido flipped the tables and made him a distributor, Doflamingo had been forced to admit, In this world, some people's power made them untouchable, regardless of their status.
In this world, everything speaks through strength! And today's seas are no exception, they're no longer a stage for pirates.
The Pure Gold incident resulted in the global number of pirates dropping by nearly 70%. Pirates who saw no hope and were consumed by despair disappeared into seclusion, taking their stolen riches and trying to live normal lives.
The most heinous criminals still couldn't escape Marine pursuit, but countless others, those who followed evil yet escaped conviction, vanished into anonymity.
"I heard the Marines have begun building a massive Sea Train network centered around each of their bases, creating an integrated… transportation network, I think that's the term. Everywhere it reaches, the common people rejoice with excitement."
Doflamingo sneered coldly and said: "And just when the World Government is being openly declared war upon by the Revolutionary Army... fuf fuf fuffuf fuf... it looks like they have only two choices, but in truth, they have three, don't they?"
A corrupt World Government, a rising Revolutionary Army,
To be honest, no one likes war.
However, beneath these two forces, a third power had begun to take shape.
A force that, since the founding of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, had spent years eradicating corruption, restoring military discipline, and earning the widespread praise of the common people:
The Marines!
When pushed to the edge, it's obvious what kind of choice the people would make.
With a wicked grin on his face, Doflamingo continued: "I even suspect all of this is being orchestrated by that Monster on purpose… After all, I can't believe someone like him didn't know about the existence of Level 5.5 in Impel Down."
"Garp's death was too much of a coincidence. And then Mihawk last time too... Do you really trust him? Hm? Imu Sama!"
As his words fell, the once-gentle atmosphere in the room suddenly turned stiff and heavy.
Doflamingo looked up in alarm and found Imu slightly turned, glancing at him out of the corner of his eye with a look devoid of any emotion. That utterly still and indifferent gaze instantly brought back memories of being driven out of the Holy Land, denied entry as if he were filth.
"Don't look at me with those eyes…"
"Hm?"
"I said, don't look at me with those, wū wa!"
Boom!!
Rumble, !!
The plush toy crashed through the wall, hurtling into the little garden outside. Doflamingo staggered to his feet, gasping for air. He was immensely grateful that he'd been turned into a toy, otherwise, that kick might have killed him!
Pā dā, pā dā...
The sound of cold, slow footsteps echoed in his chest. Doflamingo looked up and saw Imu walking out of the room, step by step.
Imu stood before him, calm and commanding as he looked down:
"You were born a Celestial Dragon and raised worshipped by worthless fools, but it seems you've never truly understood one simple truth."
"What?!" Doflamingo gritted his teeth and growled: "What do you mean?"
"Bloodline is nothing but an excuse. Nobility without power is like a rootless weed."
"Your lofty status cannot hide your flaws… all people are born equal."
Imu stared at him in silence.
"From poor families come heroes; from noble lines come disgrace. Trash is not defined by birth."
"In that sense, all humans truly are equal."
Ka cha, ka cha,
Doflamingo ground his teeth, his jaws clenched tightly, his eyes bloodshot.
"Then what about you? What are you, huh?!"
"A so-called symbol of peace, sitting on an empty throne claimed to belong to no one, and yet you monopolize it! You who manipulated our ancestors into founding the World Government, what the hell do you want?!"
"Me?"
Imu wasn't angry in the slightest.
He calmly turned his gaze toward the direction of the sun and curled his lips in a faint smile.
"I was just... bored. That's all."
"Nani?!!" (What?!!)
After a pause, Imu ignored him entirely and turned back toward the room. The shattered wall behind them began to mend itself under an unknown force. Bricks and cement flew back into place like a reversed video, even the dust vanishing without a trace.
"That kid truly wants to kill me. I know it well… That's the biggest difference between him and you, and the biggest similarity between him and me."
Before opening the door again, Imu flashed a sharp grin: "Now do you understand why I've kept you locked up here?"
Hiss…!!
Doflamingo, his mind in turmoil, could barely process what he'd heard. His eyes bulged in disbelief.
Then suddenly, a searing rage exploded inside him, burning away all reason. He leapt up and charged at Im in fury.
"This is the world our ancestors created, I will not allow you to defile it!!!"
He finally understood, this ancient monster who had lived for who-knows-how-many years never saw them as one of his own. Doflamingo was now completely convinced, whatever Rowen was planning, Im had never told the Five Elder Stars about it.
Imu was like a spectator, watching from on high, waiting for the show to begin, simply for his own amusement.
"No. You're wrong."
Whish… BOOM!!!
Imu kicked the flamingo away again without looking, then casually adjusted his sleeve with a peaceful demeanor.
"This is my world. Don't take for granted what was granted to you, especially when the one granting it... is a god."
(End of Chapter)