The first light of dawn rose across the sky.
Warm sunlight streamed through the glass, scattering into a rainbow of colors that fell gently across the soft, cloud-like bed.
Buried in the cloudbed, several figures were tangled together.
Among them, a certain blond man was sleeping soundly, exhausted, nestled against Doflamingo's broad chest.
After a while...
A pair of blood-red eyes snapped open.
Rarely given the luxury of proper sleep, Doflamingo had finally awakened.
He reached for his glasses, slid them on, and carefully shifted the sleeping Rocinante off his chest, pulling himself free.
Fine silk threads spun from his fingertips, weaving into a sharp black suit.
He slicked his golden hair back neatly.
From the side, Monet gazed at him dreamily:
"Doflamingo-sama is the most handsome man in the world!!"
Feeling refreshed, Doflamingo stepped outside.
After all, he had worked hard all night trying to gift Ace with a little brother.
A child born of the bloodline of a god... and the bloodline of a god's sworn enemy.
In a fantasy or magical world, this would be considered nothing less than the offspring of divine sin.
Just the name alone...
Would be enough to start on the level of world-destroyer.
Stretching lazily, Doflamingo smiled to himself.
...
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
Beside Angel Island, at the newly expanded Dials Breeding Facility.
Ever-diligent Pica had already arrived with a tour group of Tontattas.
Over the past few years, the breeding facility had grown dramatically—its landmass now far surpassing the original Angel Island.
The interior had been divided into independent sections.
Only rare and endangered species, like Impact Dials and Laser Dials, were kept in specialized labs for cultivation.
All other types of Dials could be found here, flourishing.
All around, winged workers bustled about, diligently recording temperatures, humidity levels, and more for each sector.
The Tontattas watched with wide, curious eyes, trying to take it all in—though much of it went right over their heads.
Pica cleared his throat and began explaining:
"Everyone, welcome. This is the family's Dials Breeding Center. Here, we cultivate and propagate all varieties of Dials. The work is organized in three shifts—rotating monthly. As for the pay rates..."
Ganfu raised his hand shyly, looking rather cute with his puzzled expression.
"Pica-san, what do you mean by 'three shifts'?"
...Are they stupid?
Pica suddenly understood why Doflamingo had always insisted they needed more education.
Patiently, he explained:
"A day has 24 hours. Each person works for 8 hours a day. Because these Dials are extremely valuable, they must be monitored around the clock. Later, when you start cultivating IQ Grass, it'll be the same."
"Ah! So a day has 24 hours!" one of the Tontattas exclaimed, looking genuinely enlightened.
Was that really the important part?!
The important part was about Doflamingo's precious IQ Grass!!!
That stuff needed constant, careful tending!!!
Pica couldn't help but doubt whether these Tontattas could truly handle the responsibility Doflamingo had entrusted to them.
THWACK!
"Ganfu! Why'd you hit me?!"
THWACK!
Another swift smack brought a peaceful silence to the rowdy crowd.
Ganfu continued his questioning seriously:
"Pica-san, so in the future, will we also need to organize into three shifts? Also... what exactly does IQ Grass look like?"
Finally, someone asking a real question.
Pica gave a slight nod and answered:
"Whether you use shifts or not is up to you. Doflamingo won't micromanage. He has only two requirements: First, someone must be watching over the IQ Grass 24/7. Second, there must be no mistakes. As for what the IQ Grass looks like—follow me. I'll show you."
...
A short while later.
Standing atop a floating stone, Pica ferried the Tontattas across Upper Yard.
As they neared the island where the IQ Grass grew, Pica's expression darkened.
Something was off.
The Tontattas around him were practically swooning, inhaling the air like addicts needing a fix.
"Ganfu... you guys..."
"Ah!"
Ganfu snapped awake, looking like someone who'd just been jolted from a sweet dream.
He took a deep, greedy breath of the strange aroma in the air, bowed deeply to Pica, and apologized:
"Sorry, Pica-san... there seems to be something in the air that... instinctively feels amazing. We couldn't help ourselves."
...Pica's face twitched.
Yeah. Doflamingo definitely needed to know about this.
...
Wano Country.
On Onigashima.
Fleet after fleet of blood-smeared ships docked at the harbor, the decks still wet with fresh gore.
"Move it! Get the cargo off!"
Carts filled with cages of prisoners were hauled onto the shore.
Their cries, pleas, and curses rang out endlessly.
"Anyone who refuses to join—kill them on the spot! Don't make the Boss waste his time! Boss Kaido doesn't raise useless trash!"
A hulking beastman with devil horns, tusks jutting from his mouth, and an orcish build—Babanuki—bellowed at the crowd.
Atop the skeletal mountain, Kaido lounged with a massive sake jug, watching the scene unfold with great satisfaction.
"Fuhahahahaha! Kaido-sama, are you satisfied with the modifications?"
"Uororororo! To think you actually managed to create this, Doflamingo!"
Kaido's laughter boomed like thunder as he gazed at the half-beast army expanding rapidly before him.
The only downside was the high mortality rate—but then again, that was the fate of every pirate.
In Kaido's view, they probably died happily.
Moved by his own sentimentality, Kaido suddenly burst into tears:
"Uuuu... I'm the only one who can't die!!"
...
At the side, Doflamingo twitched slightly, utterly ignoring Kaido's latest episode.
Whatever. Let the big crybaby do his thing.
Instead, Doflamingo put on a polite smile and made his request:
"Well then, Kaido-sama, could you spare a little bit of Arber-san's blood for me?"
"Uorororo! My blood didn't produce anything useful with Yamato, and now you want King's too?You're making this hard for me, Doflamingo!"
Kaido chugged half a barrel of sake, wiped his mouth, and grinned wickedly:
"Tell you what—fight me, and I'll give you what you want."
Typical. Always looking for a brawl.
Doflamingo sighed inwardly but kept smiling on the outside.
With a straight face and a sickeningly sweet tone, he replied:
"Of course. I miss your firm, powerful muscles so very much."
CRACK!
Kaido scratched his head, looking vaguely disturbed.
Something definitely felt wrong about that statement... but he couldn't put his finger on it.
...
Meanwhile—
Hidden deep within the mountains of Wano, a small boat silently slipped out through a secret waterway, vanishing into the mist.
...
Back in the sky—
After successfully disgusting Kaido, Doflamingo was in an excellent mood.
He was just about to check on his unfamiliar new son when Pica's call came through.
"Doffy, the Tontattas... they're having a special reaction to the IQ Grass."
Special reaction?
How special could it be?
...
Soon after, on the island where the IQ Grass grew—
Doflamingo arrived.
He stared blankly at the scene before him.
Was this... drug-induced euphoria?
He had come here looking for workers, not a bunch of junkies.
Following Doflamingo's gaze...
The Tontatta "tour group" was standing in place, their hands and feet bound by stone shackles.
Their heads were stretched forward, eyes half-closed in bliss as they breathed in the IQ Grass's scent.
They looked exactly like the people he'd seen once in a very graphic addiction documentary in his previous life.
Turning to Pica, Doflamingo asked:
"Any attempts to snatch or eat it?"
"None, Doffy. They're just... inhaling the scent. But to be safe, I restrained them."
Pica answered seriously.
No attempts to snatch it, huh...
Doflamingo's mind raced, considering a new possibility.
He ordered:
"Record everything. Send it to Caesar and Judge."
Pica obediently pulled out a video Den Den Mushi and hit record.
Watching the intoxicated little Tontattas, Doflamingo chuckled darkly to himself.
This time...
He might just get his labor force for free.
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Fanfic is finished 527 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg