One day earlier – Merveille.
A half-destroyed island ship.
Bzzzt! Bzzzt!
Dr. Indigo, the eccentric dancer-scientist, strode forward confidently with his new boss. He was robbing his old boss's stash.
"Doflamingo-sama! This way—this is where the IQ supply is stored."
He pointed to a towering ten-meter-high storage door and jumped to pull down the lever beside it.
Nothing happened.
Sweat beading on his forehead, Indigo turned awkwardly to Doflamingo with an embarrassed smile.
"Geh-heh-heh! Looks like the mechanism is busted, Doflamingo-sama!"
"Fufufufufu. I quite enjoy your comedic performance, but now—step aside."
Indigo obediently moved out of the way.
Whoosh!
A thin strand of string sliced through the air.
With a resounding boom, the sealed door shattered into countless pieces.
Inside the storage unit, a considerable amount of IQ remained intact.
Doflamingo nodded in satisfaction.
So, the Golden Lion had been mindful enough to protect these high-quality resources.
He turned to the side.
"Indigo, organize the citizens immediately and restart the IQ plantation."
"Yes, Doflamingo-sama!"
"What about your SIQ research?"
Indigo, who hadn't even mentioned it yet, was momentarily stunned before answering honestly.
"SIQ is still unstable; it's still in the experimental phase."
"Change your research direction. Animals are useless—humans are far more valuable. Let me introduce you to two new colleagues."
...
Right on cue, a buzzing sound filled the air.
Buffalo came running in, clutching a visual transponder snail.
"Doflamingo-sama, it's Caesar and Judge!"
The moment the call connected, Caesar's enormous face filled the screen, his impatient voice following immediately.
"Shurorororo! BOSS, I've got a surprise for you!!!"
"A surprise?"
Doflamingo leaned back slightly, distancing himself from Caesar's grotesque expression.
"Let me see."
Caesar moved aside, revealing two figures—one fully recovered Rosinante and... a peculiar-looking Bone.
Doflamingo's gaze lingered on Rosinante for a second before shifting to the greenified Bone.
His eyes lit up.
Wasn't this the ultimate tool he had dreamed of?
For once, Doflamingo displayed genuine excitement over something unrelated to battle or power.
He eagerly spoke up.
"Did you cure Rosinante's Amber Lead Syndrome, Bone?"
"Yes, Doflamingo-sama."
Bone confirmed, demonstrating his abilities as the flowers on his head bloomed before retracting. His extended fingers transformed into vines.
Doflamingo's grin stretched to his ears. He pressed further.
"What changes has your body undergone?"
"My body now possesses plant-like characteristics. I no longer require food—only soil and water to survive. I also have some ability to enhance external plant growth."
Bone hesitated as he recalled the combat records of the original owner of his Lineage Factor. His eyes flickered with a trace of longing before he continued.
"However, this serum is still imperfect. It doesn't grant the disaster-level strength described in the research documents."
"No matter. It's good enough."
Doflamingo waved a hand dismissively. He didn't care.
Lineage Factors weren't about immediate power but potential.
The heights one could reach depended on their own development.
With a grin, he turned to Judge and Caesar, speaking in an uncharacteristically gentle tone.
"What do you want? Name it."
Shit. They hadn't thought about this!
Caesar and Judge exchanged panicked looks.
Doflamingo's eyes narrowed. That wasn't like Caesar—he was usually eager to claim credit.
Noticing their boss's worsening expression, Caesar braced himself and began, "BOSS, we—"
"Doflamingo-sama, this is my achievement."
Bone's voice cut through the awkward moment.
Doflamingo shifted his gaze from the scientists to Bone.
"Yours?"
"Yes, brother. I can vouch for him," Rosinante interjected.
"Very well, then. Trafalgar D. Bone, what do you want?"
Doflamingo's gaze drifted for a moment, deep in thought.
If he staged a fake pirate invasion and killed Bone, would he find a new serum in his home?
...
"Doflamingo-sama, Flevance only continues to exist today because of your mercy. I will provide the new production method and ratio to Caesar and Judge shortly."
At least he knew how to show gratitude.
Doflamingo mentally approved, his furrowed brows relaxing slightly.
Bone continued, "We shouldn't ask for too much, but..."
But? Doflamingo's mind immediately defaulted to murder.
"But now, with my abilities, I can cure the citizens of Flevance. Can we halt the experiments on them?"
With that, Bone bowed so deeply his forehead nearly touched the ground.
"You're sure? Rosinante should have told you about Sky Island. Your contributions now are enough for you and your family to live peacefully up there."
Doflamingo wasn't thrilled. Tens of thousands of test subjects—how long would it take to replace them?
Thud!
Bone knelt, stopping Rosinante from helping him up.
He pressed his forehead to the ground, but when he looked up, his face carried a bright smile.
"I am a doctor."
His words weren't loud, nor did they carry the force of Observation Haki.
But for a moment, Doflamingo was silent.
People who acknowledged reality yet still chose to act like saints...
That was a level he could never reach.
"Fine. But you'll have to prove your value in the lab from now on. Your wife and child will wait for you on Sky Island."
Rosinante clapped Bone's shoulder, pulling him to his feet.
Doflamingo paid no mind to the emotional moment.
Instead, he barked an order.
"Indigo! Show them your research."
"Yes, Doflamingo-sama!"
Indigo held up an intact IQ plant in front of the screen.
"My primary research focuses on IQ. Its main function is—"
"What?! It enhances adaptability? Mutates and evolves organisms according to their environment???"
Not that he doubted it—Caesar knew Doflamingo must have verified its authenticity.
But a substance that accelerated biological evolution?
It defied the laws of nature.
Caesar and Judge exchanged stunned glances.
Wasn't this the perfect alternative to Devil Fruits they'd been searching for?
...
Meanwhile, Doflamingo had only one question on his mind—where to find the next batch of experimental subjects.
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