Rosinante sat there, allowing his older brother to bandage him up for free. Not only that, Doflamingo even went out of his way to use pink silk threads to tie a butterfly knot for him.
Satisfied with his handiwork, Doflamingo nodded approvingly as he admired Rosinante's current appearance.
Then, under Rosinante's horrified gaze, Doflamingo pulled out a Den Den Mushi from his coat.
"Please calm down!"
Just as Rosinante tried to bolt, countless silk threads pinned him firmly to the ground.
Click!
"Fufufufufu, don't worry, Rosinante. This one's just for my personal collection."
Looking at Rosinante's ashen face, Doflamingo's grin widened. As long as someone was suffering, he would always be happy.
"Let's go, Rosinante. There are some changes regarding the North Blue."
Rosinante clenched his fists as he reached up to touch the ridiculous butterfly knot on his head, staring at the back of his brother's head with silent frustration.
...
Royal Palace Conference Hall
Senior Pink and Baccarat were already waiting inside.
"Rosinante, Pink and I are heading to Sabaody. Are you coming with us, or staying in the North Blue?"
Leaving? What about Trafalgar and the innocent people of Flevance? The thought made Rosinante hesitate before he finally stammered out a response.
"… I-I think I should keep collecting lead-platinum goods first."
As he found an excuse, his words became more confident.
"Now that Flevance's lead-platinum disease has entered the public eye, the surrounding kingdoms have already sealed their borders. At this rate, Flevance doesn't have long before its downfall. This is the last chance to gather lead-platinum materials."
Doflamingo's lips curled into a meaningful smile.
"Fufufufu, you really are a reliable little brother. Fine, then. Stay in North Odesse for two months. Once Judge returns to the North Blue, he'll relieve you. After that, you can devote all your efforts to Flevance."
Rosinante let out a silent breath of relief. If his brother had forced him to go to the New World, there wouldn't have been much he could do about it.
"Understood. I'll guard North Odesse."
"Rosinante, I expect you to improve the next time we meet."
With that, Doflamingo called for Pink and Baccarat before turning on his heel and leaving.
He had no time for sentimentality.
Roger, that short-lived fool, was about to throw his life away.
Doflamingo needed to seize every moment to expand his influence and strengthen his power. Making a trip just to confirm Rosinante's safety was already the extent of his indulgence.
Pink was a maturing asset.
As for Baccarat, she was an unexpected windfall.
"See you in Sabaody, Rosinante."
Senior Pink glanced back as he bid farewell. He had always held a deep respect for Rosinante, the one who had vouched for him.
...
Days Later – Angel Island
Soaring through the sky for days had dulled their sense of wonder, but as they beheld the vast floating island before them, Pink and Baccarat exchanged glances—both seeing the same shock reflected in each other's eyes.
The Sky Islands… weren't just some place called "Sky Island."
They were real islands that existed in the heavens.
"Zehahaha! I say, I say, Doffy, long time no see."
As the Numancia Flamingo docked, Trebol slithered up like a boneless mollusk, having waited in advance.
Boom!
Doflamingo sent a Correction Punch straight into Trebol's face, then patted him on the shoulder.
"Good work, Trebol."
Clutching his head, Trebol regained his composure. "It's nothing! For the family, it's worth it."
"You've grown, Trebol."
Doflamingo pointed at the cigar-smoking, aloof-looking Pink beside him.
"Senior Pink, you remember him, right? Since Diamante is back, you should be the one to deliver the special medicine. Take him and hand him over to Tesoro."
Cool-headed as ever, Pink simply lowered his head slightly. "Trebol-sama, I appreciate your guidance."
"I understand, Doffy. About Roger—"
"There's something more important right now. We'll talk later."
Leaving Pink behind, Doflamingo and Baccarat headed toward Upper Yard.
He needed to confirm a possibility.
...
Donquixote Royal Laboratory
Boom!
The locked doors flew open.
Judge and Caesar turned to the entrance, recognizing immediately that only one man would dare enter so boldly.
As expected, Doflamingo strode in, his impatience showing in his swagger. Behind him followed a tall, red-haired beauty with sun-kissed skin.
Caesar's eyes gleamed as he slithered up.
"Shurorororo! Long time no see, Boss! Regarding that idea you mentioned last time—I've already improved most of it. The only drawback is that the farther one gets from the center, the weaker the effects. But it's more than ready to hit the market now. Judge, that unlucky bastard, hasn't produced a single decent result."
Even as he preened, Caesar took the opportunity to step on his colleague's toes.
Doflamingo walked forward, speaking as he went. "What's the range?"
"A small town."
"That's enough. Have Trebol contact one of the warring nations. We'll sell it as a custom order, same profit split as before."
"Shurorororo! Boss, you're the most generous employer I've ever met! By the way, who's this lovely lady?"
Boom!
Caesar was abruptly slammed into the floor, shifting from gas to solid form upon impact.
Watching the scene with a subtle smirk, Judge remained silent as Doflamingo issued his next command.
"Judge, prepare a Dual Lineage Factor experiment."
"Boss, the single-line trials aren't fully stabilized yet—are you sure—"
"Judge, do it. Use Diamante and Enel."
Seeing the furrow in Doflamingo's brow, Judge turned immediately to begin the preparations.
Doflamingo cast a glance at the groaning Caesar and spoke coldly.
"Caesar, unless you're already dead, get up and get to work."
"Yikes! Right away, Boss!"
Caesar sprang up from the floor and drifted toward Judge.
...
Experiment Chamber
On the table lay an unconscious pirate.
Judge and Caesar exchanged nervous glances.
The research into enhancing Zoan-type Lineage Factors was still incomplete.
Now they were jumping straight to Paramecia.
"Start. Just follow the previous procedures."
Doflamingo's impatient voice drifted in from outside.
Both scientists shuddered and got to work.
"Baccarat, it's time."
"Understood, Boss."
Baccarat began draining the luck she had collected from countless unfortunate pirates along the way.
...
A piercing scream shattered the silence.
"Aaarghhh!!! Aaahhhh!!!"
The agony felt as though it was ripping his very soul apart, dragging Kashu back into consciousness.
After years of bloodshed and captivity, Kashu barely remembered the nameless island he once called home on the Grand Line.
He had taken the special medicine in Mock Town and failed to defeat a mere stone man.
'Looks like this time, I'm really going to die...'
As the inhuman pain engulfed him, Kashu's consciousness began to fade.
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+220 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg