"Cricket, what is it that you want?"
He remembered what had happened to his companions—how they had suffered the same fate.
For a brief moment, Cricket forgot all about his own impending crisis. Words of pleading spilled from his mouth before he could stop them.
"Lord Doflamingo, what about my comrades? They're innocent! The Tontatta Tribe wasn't targeting you—they were after the Celestial Dragons from over 800 years ago. This is just… a coincidence. Please, forgive them for any offense they've caused."
No sooner had the words left his lips—
Thin threads extended toward him, wrapping around his body.
One moment he was twisted into the shape of an S, the next a B.
"You're wrong again, Cricket," Doflamingo said, calm and flat, like still water. "The Tontatta were right. I am a descendant of the Celestial Dragons from 800 years ago. There was just a… minor change along the way."
Cricket's face contorted as he was forced through increasingly impossible contortions. His limbs jerked this way and that under Doflamingo's power. Despair surged in his heart.
Celestial Dragons…! What do I do? How can I save Shoujou and the Tontatta?
"But," Doflamingo added with a sly smile, "your friends are fine."
He gestured to the right. "See for yourself."
The wall to Cricket's side vanished, revealing a one-way mirror.
Through the glass, he saw into the adjacent room.
There, looking noticeably rounder than before, were Masira, Shoujou, and the others—lounging peacefully in the laps of modest-looking geishas, fast asleep, faces flush with contentment.
They were clearly living the good life. Totally at ease, utterly carefree.
Cricket's eyes bulged even more than usual, so much so they looked ready to pop out of his skull.
All this time I thought they were being tortured like me—and they've been feasting and napping?!
So I was the only one suffering?!
...
"Creak!"
Just as he stared, dumbfounded, a massive hand grabbed his head and forcefully turned it back.
"You see, Cricket?" Doflamingo said smoothly. "I don't bear you any ill will."
Cricket: ...
Right. So all these injuries—self-inflicted, huh?
Doflamingo ignored the look Cricket gave him. He was used to this—he'd been in sales in his past life. Looks like that didn't faze him then, and it certainly didn't now.
Besides, now?
Even if he was wrong, he was still right.
His will alone determined what was true.
And so, he continued.
"I have no grudge against the Tontatta either. I'm just a former Celestial Dragon, after all. No reason for hostility. Of course, there was a little misunderstanding between us. I'm sure you'll be happy to help clear it up, won't you?"
...
So the target wasn't me—it was the Tontatta all along.
Cricket's thoughts wavered, subtly bent by some strange, unseen force.
After a long pause, he finally muttered,
"What… does the Tontatta need to give?"
Doflamingo smiled, clearly pleased, and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Oh, nothing much. Just a little bit of labor. Some light dispatch work. Should be easy for them."
"I'll do my best to make it happen."
"Fufufufufu~ Then I'll leave it in your hands."
With a swish of his coat, Doflamingo rose and strolled out of the room.
A team of attendants came in, carrying trays of carefully prepared, nourishing food.
Cricket still needed to recover a bit before he was presentable again.
...
Farther down the hallway, the smile slipped from Doflamingo's face. He was clearly annoyed by how slowly things were moving.
Queen Otohime's gentle methods really were easier for people to accept.
This way—breaking people's defenses and reshaping their thoughts—it just takes too damn long.
He wondered where Monet and Sugar were. Were they still in the North Blue? Or had they made it to the Grand Line?
The Hobby-Hobby Fruit wouldn't be eaten by Sugar until 1510… who knew where it was now?
If I could get it now, I could just turn all the Tontatta into toys directly.
Then again, maybe I'm thinking too far ahead.
Maybe it's time to gather some Tontatta blood.
Let Bone experiment with it. See if he can awaken the same talent.
After all…
There's no reason a plant can't outgrow the gardener.
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