Doflamingo collapsed weakly onto his desk, like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
After being turned into a toy, his bodily functions were severely weakened, and so was his Haki.
He had already been no match for Ian before—now, Ian could crush him with just one finger.
It was over.
Everything was already over.
That bastard Ian had somehow become immune to Sugar's Hobby-Hobby Fruit ability that erased memories.
No wonder he was able to send someone to Dressrosa so quickly to capture him.
But how was this possible?
A Devil Fruit's power was supposed to be absolute.
How could Ian still retain his memory?
Unless... he used a Devil Fruit power to counter another Devil Fruit power!
Doflamingo suddenly remembered—it was at the exact moment Sugar used her ability that Ian entered his beast form!
It was his Mythical Zoan!
That guy's power naturally possessed the ability to resist other Devil Fruits!
Who could've imagined something like that?
Now, reduced to a flamingo toy, Doflamingo clenched his teeth in fury.
There was no longer any hope of turning things around.
His life, his ambition, his dream... it all ended here.
All he could do now was watch helplessly as his beloved family—his crew—fell to their knees before Ian, trembling in fear.
Even when Ian called out his name, none of them reacted.
They had completely forgotten him.
The same people who once followed him with absolute loyalty, worshipping him like a god, were now truly going to become Ian's subordinates.
Ian, you bastard... this hurts more than dying!
All Doflamingo could do now was seethe in rage—again and again.
However, it wasn't over yet.
"Law."
Doflamingo heard Ian speak.
"Although from now on we're allies, for safety's sake, it's best to have a little insurance."
Then Doflamingo watched as that brat Law silently stepped forward, extended his translucent surgical space, and in the blink of an eye, extracted everyone's hearts.
Ian!
Doflamingo couldn't help but curse Ian's shamelessness.
On the surface, he looked like a generous and benevolent man, but in reality, he was more ruthless than anyone!
After having their hearts taken, all the officers of the Donquixote Family were left temporarily powerless.
Ian ordered his men to take them away to rest.
Then—
"There's only you left, Doffy."
Ian smiled as he looked at the flamingo doll placed on the table. "Now, how should I deal with you?"
Doflamingo said nothing.
He couldn't speak.
Not all toys are mute, but unfortunately for him, the flamingo he had turned into couldn't talk.
"If I kill you, would the power of the Hobby-Hobby Fruit be lifted instantly?"
Ian chuckled.
It was an interesting question.
Would any damage taken in toy form be transferred to the real body?
Could one even be killed while in toy form?
And if so, would they die as a toy or return to their original body upon death?
"But oh well, reaching this point is enough."
Ian sighed.
"How could I possibly bring myself to kill my own good friend with my own hands?"
So, under Doflamingo's mocking sneer, Ian was bound by his so-called good friend with refined Seastone handcuffs and thrown straight into the deepest part of the dungeon.
No one in the world remembered Ian anymore, except Ian himself.
Naturally, no one would ever come to rescue him.
Stretching lazily, Ian thought to himself, "Now I can calmly take over the Donquixote Family's fortune."
One day later.
In the same office, the people talking had changed to Ian and Tesoro.
"I have to say, the scale of the Donquixote Family's operations is truly astonishing," Tesoro said, a hint of amazement still lingering in his voice.
"Leaving aside their former base in the North Blue, they have strongholds in nearly every kingdom, deep ties with local warlords, and their reach extends into Paradise and the other three seas. Even in the New World, they're a major player in the underground world."
"Human trafficking, kidnapping, assassination, arms trading—there's no dirty business they haven't done, as long as it made money."
"They could stir up world-shaking events with just a flick of their fingers."
At this point, Tesoro's lips curled into a smirk.
"But of course, their biggest business has always been weapons trading, which they've carried out with the support of our Beasts Pirates."
Ian gave a small nod.
"Now that it all belongs to us, let's stop those low-tier businesses."
Things like human trafficking, kidnapping, and assassination were too degrading.
What mattered most to Ian in the Donquixote Family's empire were the channels—
The channels that led to all four seas.
Although the Beasts Pirates' weapons were sold worldwide, they mostly relied on distributors and business partners to spread the goods.
But now, things were different.
"As for the rest, do as you see fit, Tesoro. The remnants of the Donquixote Family—I'll leave them to you to handle."
Ian had completely entrusted the Donquixote family business to Tesoro, even sending those lost dogs of the Donquixote crew to assist him.
If it wasn't for the world-class manager like Tesoro, was Ian really going to rely on himself?
A flush of excitement appeared again on Tesoro's face. "Please leave it to me, Lord Ian!"
There was a hint of disdain in his words. "Having access to such resources yet still indulging in petty underground brawls— that guy— uh!"
For a moment, he didn't know who to despise more.
"In any case, Lord Ian," he abandoned his strange thoughts and patted his chest in promise, "I absolutely will not disappoint you!"
"Good."
Ian nodded with satisfaction.
One of the best decisions of his life was recruiting Tesoro.
It made things so much easier.
"By the way, Lord Ian," Tesoro suddenly remembered something, "Those guys from the Donquixote family said they had a top officer who's currently undercover in the Navy."
Tesoro was very dismissive about this so-called top officer of the Donquixote family.
If even he couldn't beat him, what kind of top officer is that?
Just a bunch of weaklings.
However, the fact that someone was undercover in the Navy was worth paying attention to.
**********
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