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Doflamingo extended the Den Den Mushi on a long, thin thread, keeping it hovering at Arthur's side while maintaining a careful distance of several dozen meters.
Even this gap provided no real sense of security. Dealing with a man of such monstrous reputation subjected him to immense pressure, both physical and psychological.
This distance was the only thing that gave him the courage to speak. From here, with his abilities, he could at least attempt to escape if Arthur made a move.
Or so Doflamingo told himself.
Arthur took the receiver with practiced indifference. He drew a steadying breath, trying to mask his ragged state, and spoke in a low rasp.
"This is Arthur."
"Captain!"
"Captain Arthur—"
"Are you alright?? The Thunder God Pirates are on our way! We'll rendezvous with you soon!"
"The territories in the New World have been mostly secured!"
At least five different voices flooded through the line, each one urgent and raw with concern. Even through Shiryu's usual stoicism, Arthur could detect genuine worry.
Faced with this chaotic flood of voices, Arthur fell silent. A strange warmth bloomed in his chest. This... was this what it felt like to be genuinely cared for?
A feeling he hadn't experienced in years...
Power isolates. The stronger you become, the fewer equals you have. Your personality grows colder, more distant. There's no one left who can truly understand you, no one who can meet you on level ground. It's a loneliness carved into your very soul.
Like Whitebeard. He had his family to accompany him, but what of his peers—the men he could speak to as equals? They had all been killed or captured long ago.
But on these seas, there was still such a thing as comrades—bonds that could make you feel warmth and care.
Perhaps their gathering had been forced, born of circumstance rather than choice, but after spending time together, genuine friendship had emerged. A bond had been forged between them.
Humans are social creatures. When you spend enough time together, no matter how ruthless or indifferent you are, feelings inevitably develop.
"I'm fine." Arthur said, a genuine smile flashing across his face for a split second before vanishing.
In this world, there exists a kind of person who is a born king. Loneliness is inscribed upon their soul.
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He had always believed that through strength alone, he could obtain anything he desired. However, there were many things in this world that were lost precisely because one's strength was too overwhelming.
Arthur had never thought of these crewmates as true comrades. He'd believed they were merely people who had submitted to his overwhelming power. But now... he seemed to understand something deeper.
Only when a king descends from his throne can he see who is truly loyal.
"Captain, please don't be angry with us for making a decision on your behalf. The Thunder God Pirates can survive without anyone else, but you must exist," Shiryu said, worry threading through his voice that Arthur might be furious.
He knew how proud his captain was—an incomprehensible arrogance, a wildness that couldn't be tamed. Arthur preferred to act alone, like the legendary "Red the Aloof."
He never allowed anyone to meddle in his plans. His will was absolute, and anyone who tried to interfere would be treated as an enemy.
Therefore, Shiryu didn't know if his decision to gather the other commanders and have Doflamingo retrieve Arthur was right or wrong.
Arthur let out a long breath and looked up at the blue sky.
"Your concern is noted. The Thor is parked in the sky above Sabaody Archipelago. Have Vegapunk send someone to retrieve it."
After speaking, he immediately hung up, silently closing his eyes, unwilling to let his subordinates witness the emotion he had shown in his moment of weakness.
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"Your name is Doflamingo?" he asked, turning his head, his indifferent mask firmly back in place.
"That is my name, Thunder Emperor," Doflamingo said, a calculating smile gradually returning to his solemn face. He knew his gambit had succeeded.
"Nobody does favors without expecting something in return. So speak—what do you want?"
In this world, besides your parents, no one helps you without reason. If a complete stranger suddenly comes to your aid, they're after something, either now or in the future.
Arthur knew of Doflamingo, knew him well. He was certain that a man who sought to destroy the world would definitely want something in return. So he asked directly.
Beating around the bush had never been his style.
"I only wish to gain the friendship of the Thunder God Pirates," Doflamingo said, spreading his hands and grinning broadly. "The current situation in the New World is divided among four emperors ruling from on high. If one wants to secure a place, you either have to challenge an emperor directly, or become their subordinate."
"But I don't want to be anyone's subordinate. So, I plan to use the flag of the Thunder God Pirates for protection."
"You don't want to be a subordinate, yet you want to use my flag for protection? Cough, cough..." Arthur sneered, but then his face went white and he was seized by a violent coughing fit. It took him several moments to recover. He opened the hand that had been covering his mouth. In his palm, a piece of dark organ tissue was starkly visible.
He casually wiped away the blood, not overly concerned.
The injury would accelerate his life force drain, but with the Pure Gold, even if it couldn't halt time completely and turn him into a perpetual invalid, it would at least sustain him until he could return to the New World and find a world-class doctor.
"'Gaining the friendship of the Thunder God Pirates' is a lie. The truth is, you want me to give you back Dressrosa—the island of your Celestial Dragon ancestors. Am I wrong?"
Arthur sneered, looking directly at Doflamingo. He hated this roundabout way of talking, which was why he appreciated Garp's personality—a straight shooter who never hid anything.
Garp is just a few dozen mangrove trees away, being watched over by Sengoku as they wait for Marine reinforcements.
Arthur hadn't delivered the final blow, partly because his injuries were too severe—even generating force was excruciating—and partly because he genuinely admired the old man's character.
Still, if Marine reinforcements arrived in time, and the World Government had the means, they might be able to pull Garp back from death's door, though he would suffer severe, permanent damage. If they didn't arrive in time... then Garp would undoubtedly die.
The smile froze on Doflamingo's face. His secret had been laid bare by a single sentence. The veins on his forehead bulged visibly.
In that moment, a crazed desire for destruction welled up inside him, but the last remnants of his reason warned him against action.
He fiercely suppressed his killing intent. "Thunder Emperor—"
"I don't care what your plans are," Arthur said, cutting Doflamingo off with a dismissive wave. "I don't care if you were once a so-called World Noble, and I don't care why, of all the islands, you're so fixated on that barren rock, Dressrosa."
"I don't even care if Dressrosa is hiding some secret about the Celestial Dragons. But there is one thing I need to make crystal clear."
"After I give you Dressrosa, how you manage it is your business. But on that island, there is a woman who has eaten the Paramecia-type Glare-Glare Fruit. She is a prospective member of my Thunder God Pirates."
"You touch her, you die."
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