Doflamingo paid no mind to the little mice, but he hadn't expected them to be so bold as to follow him.
Truly unafraid of death. When it rains, it pours. Today, it was destined for blood to be spilt.
"Come on out."
Reaching a secluded street, Doflamingo stopped and spoke to the figures hidden in the shadows.
The scene was quiet. Doflamingo wasn't in a hurry, calmly waiting for the hidden rats to appear.
"What do we do? Should we go out?" a grunt asked his team leader.
"What do we do? We're screwed either way. We die if we don't go out, and we die if we do," the team leader said irritably.
"Then..." the grunt asked, shrinking back.
"Let's go out. Hopefully, Doflamingo will see that we're with the World Government and won't kill us," the team leader said with a sigh of resignation.
"How is that possible? Doflamingo is a man that even two Marine admirals couldn't capture. Why would he give the World Government any face?" the grunt said.
"It's up to fate now," the team leader said flatly, a look of grim acceptance on his face.
Doflamingo paid no attention to their hushed conversation.
After a while, he grew tired of waiting and urged them on.
"What, you don't want to come out? Or do you need me to invite you out?" Doflamingo said coldly.
The moment his words fell, several men in black suits quickly appeared before him.
"Doflamingo, let's mind our own business. We're not here to cause trouble. This is just a misunderstanding," the team leader explained. If they could avoid it, they didn't want to die. Although as agents of the World Government their lives were not their own, they still wanted to live.
"Is that so? But from the moment you started following me, your names were already on my death list," Doflamingo said, not believing a word of their nonsense.
"What do we do? Are we going to die such a pathetic death?"
"I told you not to mess with this guy, but you wouldn't listen."
"Did you really think Doflamingo was someone easy to deal with?"
His subordinates couldn't help but complain. Since they were going to die anyway, they weren't afraid of saying anything that might get them punished by their leader.
"Shut up!" the team leader roared at his men.
The effect was immediate. His outburst and his usual authority silenced them.
Doflamingo quietly watched their performance, thinking to himself, What a bunch of rats. Is this the level of CP5? As expected, Spandam has taught them well.
"Thunder Bird!"
Doflamingo had no time for idle chat with them. Even if he did, he couldn't be bothered. He attacked directly.
"Run!" the team leader shouted.
Knowing they were no match, the World Government agents turned and fled for their lives the moment Doflamingo attacked.
Dozens of thunder birds shot from Doflamingo's hands, chasing after them and catching up in the blink of an eye.
"Aaargh!"
A few screams rang out. Except for the team leader, everyone was dead, their charred, smoking corpses emitting the smell of roasted meat.
The thunder birds circled above the team leader's head, causing a cold sweat to break out on his forehead.
"Why didn't you kill me?" the team leader asked, mustering his courage as he looked at his dead comrades and the circling birds.
"I'm giving you a chance to live," Doflamingo said flatly.
"What must I do?" the team leader asked nervously.
"I must say, you're a smart man," Doflamingo praised.
"Smart people live longer, don't they? I just want to live. Is that so wrong?" the team leader retorted.
"Wanting to live, of course, is not wrong. But the weak can only live pitifully at the mercy of the strong. Whether you live or not depends on my mood. That is your mistake—placing your life in my hands," Doflamingo said coolly.
"Even so, I want to live. Living is living, no matter how. Tell me what you want me to do," the team leader said, his nervousness replaced by a calm resolve.
"A fine resolve," Doflamingo felt a hint of admiration for the man before him. Although he was just someone Doflamingo could crush with a lift of his hand, the small man's will to survive was impressive.
"Bring your superior to me. I need his help," Doflamingo stated his purpose.
"You want to see my superior?" the team leader said in disbelief.
"That's right. I want to see your superior, Spandam," Doflamingo said in a tone that brooked no argument.
"How did you know?" The team leader's face was a mask of disbelief. He hadn't said a thing. How could Doflamingo so easily know who his superior was? Could it be that Doflamingo had a spy within the World Government?
"Don't worry about how I know. You just have to trick him into coming here," Doflamingo said, amused by the man's shocked, life-questioning expression. I can't very well tell him I can see the future, can I?
"But... but..." the team leader stammered.
"What?" Doflamingo said sternly.
"I don't know how to get Chief Spandam to come here," the team leader knew his superior's habits well. He was ambitious and obsessed with merit, but he wouldn't stick his neck out for a rabbit he couldn't see. He wouldn't risk coming here without a guaranteed reward. With that kind of time, he'd rather be in his office drinking tea with his secretary.
"Don't worry. He'll come," Doflamingo reassured him.
The team leader looked at Doflamingo with curiosity, wondering what brilliant idea he had.
Seeing his look, Doflamingo continued, "Just tell him that Tom has the blueprints for Pluton. He'll come at once."
"The Pluton blueprints? This...!" As a World Government official, the team leader had heard of the Ancient Weapons. He was instantly filled with disbelief, his heart heavy.
This is a huge deal!
Coming back to his senses, the team leader gave Doflamingo a deep look. Doflamingo, in turn, looked back at him meaningfully, which startled the man.
This is dangerous! Knowing such a secret meant he would either die or have to join them. For the sake of his own life, he had no other choice. It was better to drag someone else down with him than to die alone. Besides, Spandam was no saint.
"Have you made up your mind?" Doflamingo urged.
"Yes. I will report to Chief Spandam immediately," the team leader said, gritting his teeth and steeling his heart.
"You will be glad you made this decision."
"Perhaps," the team leader said dejectedly.
"Follow me."
Doflamingo walked ahead, speaking to the team leader behind him.
At this point, the team leader had accepted his fate.
To ensure the man would work for him without any tricks, Doflamingo naturally had to take some precautions. And what better method than having Law use his Op-Op Fruit to remove the man's heart?
Actually, Doflamingo had a similar method himself. He could inject his lightning into a person's heart, killing them if they were provoked. But it wasn't as convenient or as good as Law's method.
Doflamingo brought the team leader to where Law was.
He's really working hard. The rest of the family was relaxing on vacation, and only Law was still training desperately.
"Law," Doflamingo called out.
Hearing the familiar voice, Law stopped what he was doing and quickly looked toward the source of the sound.
"Mr. Doflamingo, what is this?" Law asked curiously, seeing the unfamiliar person following him.
"I need you to do me a favor," Doflamingo said, getting straight to the point without explaining.
"What is it, Mr. Doflamingo? Just say the word," Law said respectfully.
"Take out his heart. You should be able to do that by now, right?" Doflamingo asked.
"I can," Law replied without any nonsense. He didn't understand what Doflamingo wanted to do, but whatever it was, it was always for a reason. He supported him unconditionally.
"Room... Scalpel."
A transparent surgical space quickly enveloped the team leader. He knew his fate and didn't resist. Resistance was futile anyway.
A pink, beating heart, encased in a transparent cube, was removed by Law. He held it in his hand. The team leader, suffering from some after-effects, collapsed weakly to the ground.
"Mr. Doflamingo."
Law handed the heart to Doflamingo, looking at him curiously, wondering what he planned to do next.
"It's time. Get to it. I'll be waiting for your good news," Doflamingo said to the man on the ground.
"I will," the team leader said weakly.
"Don't worry. As long as you work for me, I will keep your heart safe. Welcome to the family," Doflamingo said, spreading his arms in a welcoming gesture.
"I understand. From now on, I am a member of the Donquixote Pirates," the team leader said with a newfound sense of purpose.
"Leave your name. The name of a smart man is worth remembering," Doflamingo said as the man was about to leave.
"Elsie Wayne. A smart man."
Without another word, Wayne turned and left, leaving only his back and his words for Doflamingo and Law to contemplate.
"A smart man, huh? He certainly is."
Doflamingo smiled to himself.
Interesting. Water 7 is truly interesting.