"Lord Doflamingo, thank you for your generosity."
"I prefer actions over words when it comes to gratitude."
Doflamingo stepped forward slowly, eyes half-lidded behind his crimson-tinted sunglasses.
Something about Monet's current state reminded him of his past.
Of the time he fought with everything he had, only to fail to protect his mother.
Monet… was lucky.
She trembled as his footsteps drew closer—not from fear of harm, but from a deep, instinctual awe of overwhelming strength.
Doflamingo ignored the blood on her forehead and gently caressed her face.
"I'm curious about your past. Why don't you share it with me?"
It was only then that Monet finally felt sure—Doflamingo truly meant her no harm.
After a moment's hesitation, she began to recount her story.
"My mother and I… we're from the Kingdom of Weiss, near Sabaody Archipelago…"
Doflamingo quickly pieced together the cliché behind her tale.
Her father, Baron Moll of the Kingdom of Weiss, had political disagreements with the other nobles. In the end, he chose to leave everything behind and move to Sabaody.
But politics is a game where standing still means falling behind.
And in this world, falling behind meant death.
Moll tried to start over.
In the end, his so-called noble pride only barely kept Monet and her mother alive.
But they were left crippled, clinging to life in the gutters of Sabaody.
Sitting nearby, Smoothie showed no reaction whatsoever.
Losers lose everything—that's the law of pirates. Her mother had drilled that into her long ago.
That girl's father… was far too naïve.
"Monet."
Doflamingo lifted her chin with two fingers.
Her vision filled with the red glow of his glasses. She swallowed hard, her throat moving visibly.
She was nervous.
"Do you want revenge?"
It was like an angel whispering salvation.
Like a decree from the gods themselves.
Monet couldn't help the smile that broke across her face.
"Yes, Lord Doflamingo. I'm willing to give up everything!"
"Everything?"
"Everything!"
"Good. From this moment on, you're family. Call me Boss."
Doflamingo stood up.
Jones was hoisted into the air by threads.
"Come with me."
Only now did Monet finally approach her mother and notice something wrong.
"Boss, my mom—what about her?"
Doflamingo snapped his fingers.
The mute-string on Jones was released.
After all, wives were natural enemies of blond men.
Just in case things got messy, he'd gagged her earlier.
Now freed, Jones simply reached out and gently stroked Monet's hair, eyes full of sorrow.
She wasn't a fool. Once a noble herself, she understood the situation.
Doflamingo wasn't a good man.
But at this point, how many choices did they really have?
Monet had been carrying them both for so long. It was a miracle they'd even survived.
Feeling the weight of those emotions, Doflamingo—for the first time in ages—felt a twinge of guilt.
Jones's expression reminded him far too much of his own mother's final days.
He turned to Monet and said,
"Don't worry. Your mother's leg is just a compound fracture. I'll have it fixed up."
"Really, Boss?!"
Monet's eyes lit up, and she shouted in joy.
No matter how much hardship the world piled on her, she was still just a little girl at heart.
Doflamingo smiled faintly.
"Of course. Your mother is family, too."
"That's amazing, Boss!"
"But first… I think what you both really need is a long, hot bath."
"Mm! Mm! Mm!"
Not just Monet—even Jones lit up with excitement. It had been far too long since they'd had a proper wash.
...
And as Monet finally emerged from her personal hell...
Far away, in the West Blue—
At the sacred archaeological site of Ohara—
The great Tree of Knowledge was engulfed in flames.
A young girl, no older than Monet.
Her home destroyed. Her family gone.
Tears froze on her cheeks as she walked alone down a road of ice...
Heading into the unknown.
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