"Let's kill them all! Then bring in a new batch!"
"Smoothie!"
Doflamingo lowered his head slightly, staring at his unruly fiancée. His voice was soft, but the weight in it was unmistakable.
"Are you trying to teach me how to do things?"
As he tilted his head just slightly, those rarely seen blood-red eyes came into full view—piercing right into Smoothie's soul.
They made her involuntarily recall her furious mother...
And the destruction wrought by a certain azure dragon and a giant on Whole Cake Island.
These images were carved into her memory—deep, terrifying, and unforgettable.
Her body trembled ever so slightly. Under his crimson gaze, she bowed her head.
"Doffy, I…"
"I suggest you really think carefully about what you should be doing. I doubt Lady Linlin would want to see you like this."
Smoothie: "..."
Now silenced, shackled, and locked down, her mind was a tangled mess of emotions.
...
While Smoothie stood frozen like a statue, Doflamingo turned his attention to Caesar, who was watching the scene with barely concealed glee.
"Shift part of your focus to the Gigantification Project. Lady Linlin is an important partner."
"BOSS, the genetic factor transplants can't go on without me! Without me—!"
Before he could finish, a shadow flew across the room and struck him square in the face.
THUD!
Caesar crashed into the floor, leaving a dent behind.
"OWWWW!!! PAIN PAIN PAIN!"
He instantly snapped back to his senses, clutching his throbbing horn in agony and blurting out:
"BOSS! I-I'll handle it right away!"
"Good. I'll have Baccarat assist you. This is a priority."
It's been dragging on for years—time to whip up some half-baked results to trick the clients.
"Shurorororo! BOSS, this kind of important mission is obviously best left to the number one scientific genius—me!"
The moment he heard Baccarat would be involved, Caesar's eyes lit up. Somehow, it didn't hurt quite so much anymore.
Puffing up his chest proudly, he turned to gas and began floating around the lab.
Off to the side, Smoothie watched the entire farce unfold. Her heart swelled with unexpected sweetness.
My dear husband really does love me... I made a mistake and he didn't even hit me.
Ah, context really is everything, Doflamingo thought to himself, inwardly amused.
Then, with Smoothie in tow, he set off again—
Toward the Merveille.
...
"Aren't you going to rest a little, Doffy? You're pushing yourself too hard."
By the edge of the endless white sea, Smoothie—finally free to speak again—turned toward him with concern.
Ever since she'd reunited with her dear husband, he'd been on the move nonstop.
Rushing from place to place, juggling one thing after another. The only real break he'd taken was that half-day shopping spree at Sabaody...
And that brief moment holding his son up in Skypiea.
"Rest?"
Doflamingo tugged at Numancia Flamingo 2.0 as it lifted off the ground.
It wouldn't have bothered him if she hadn't said anything—but now that she brought it up...
He suddenly realized—these past few years really had been nonstop, back-to-back chaos.
But did he need to rest?
Not at all.
With the boundless stamina of someone blessed with eternal youth, he was built to grind.
He'd outwork all these lazy pirates if it killed them.
Besides, the world was filled with untapped treasures and opportunities just waiting for the taking.
Still... there was a nagging feeling.
Like something important had slipped his mind.
...
The Palace of the Gods.
Zoffy and Ace had already been taken away by Rouge.
Only Jora and Monet remained behind.
"These are the rules of the family. Do you understand?"
"I understand. The BOSS is the rules."
Monet answered with complete sincerity.
"Wuhuhuhu! Exactly right."
Jora reached out and ruffled Monet's hair, pleased.
This little cutie is way smarter than that idiot Weevil.
"Doffy! Take me out to play!"
Yamato burst into the room, fashionably late as ever.
Calling him Doffy so casually—just who was she?
Monet narrowed her eyes slightly, casting a suspicious look her way.
The two women locked eyes in the now-empty hall.
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