Donquixote Family Residence.
The council hall was so silent, a pin drop would echo.
The room was dim, the flicker of oil lamps casting dancing shadows on the walls. Senor stood to the side, stiff and silent, not daring to breathe.
On the glass coffee table sat an encrypted Den Den Mushi, vividly mimicking the balding, thick-mustached face of Saint Topman Warcury, his expression as gloomy as ever.
Doflamingo reclined arrogantly on the leather sofa, arms stretched across the backrest. Despite speaking to the five most powerful men in the world, he showed no respect, no fear. Instead, he crossed his legs and wore a mocking smirk on his face.
"It's been a long time since we last talked, esteemed Five Elders..."
His exaggerated sunglasses glinted coldly as he let out his trademark laugh.
"Fufufufufu... what an honor."
The sarcasm in his voice made the Five Elders on the other end of the line frown.
"Doflamingo, watch your tone! Don't forget your place!"
"Oh?"
Doflamingo raised an eyebrow, clicking his tongue as he sneered.
"My place? And what exactly is my place...?"
"My memory's a bit fuzzy. Care to remind me, gentlemen?"
"I vaguely recall that back then, you all coldly told me... hmm, how did it go again?"
"Ah, right! You called me 'trash' and told me to get out of the Holy Land. That all the nobility and privileges of the Celestial Dragons had nothing to do with trash like me... Isn't that right?"
"I remember it now. Hah, guess my memory's not so bad after all. I can still recall everything from back then... including those disgusted looks you gave me, like I was filth."
"Fufufufufu!"
"So I'm a little curious... why would gods who sit high above in the clouds personally call someone like me, this 'trash'?"
"Surely it's not just to check on the well-being of a former kinsman? Fufufufufu..."
The blond Celestial Dragon's laughter grew increasingly manic, his whole body trembling. Veins bulged hideously across his forehead.
Beside him, Senor could feel a violent, twisted killing intent radiating from his young master, warping the air of the chamber, making it thick and suffocating.
Doflamingo's blatant mockery silenced the Five Elders.
Topman Warcury exhaled slowly and spoke in a calm, measured tone.
"Doflamingo, all that was long ago."
"You've clawed your way to your current position and power by your own hand, haven't you?"
"You should know that it was we who gave you the opportunity to become one of the Shichibukai."
At those words, Doflamingo felt a laugh clawing at his throat.
Not from joy—but from rage.
And he didn't hold it back.
"Fufufufufu..."
He burst into mad laughter, covering his face with one hand.
"Oh please..."
Then his gaze snapped to the Den Den Mushi, and he roared with fury,
"Don't insult me, you five wrinkled fossils!"
A storm of Conqueror's Haki erupted from his body, tearing through the air with raging winds and streaks of black-and-red lightning crackling into existence.
"I didn't become one of the Shichibukai because of your favor!"
"I earned it because I'm strong enough!"
"If you've got something to say, spit it out. I don't have time to waste chatting with a bunch of old men."
On the other end, the Five Elders were seething.
"Doflamingo, if you value your life, you'd better watch your mouth."
"Don't forget—we can strip you of your Shichibukai title at any time!"
...
Saint Saturn tapped his cane gently and said coolly,
"You should understand that the fact we called you ourselves already shows our sincerity."
"Is that so?"
Doflamingo sneered.
"If the Five Elders were truly sincere, you'd come to the New World and meet me in person."
"I'd even brew you a fine pot of tea—treat you properly."
"Instead of reaching out with this cold, mechanical Den Den Mushi just to reminisce."
Suddenly, he tapped his forehead with mock surprise, smiling with feigned apology.
"Ah, my bad. Silly me. I forgot—it's not exactly convenient for you gentlemen to leave the Holy Land these days, is it?"
"Really now, all that talk about the World Government's '800 years of history'... and you're so terrified of that Rogers Daren guy, you don't even dare step outside Mary Geoise!"
"—Doflamingo, you!"
The Five Elders' faces twisted with fury.
"Fufufufufu... So, tell me, esteemed ones."
Doflamingo sneered.
"What do you want from me this time?"
"But let me make this clear—I don't have much to offer. To the five mighty rulers of the world, I'm still just trash. Hardly someone you'd expect much from."
The Five Elders fell silent, as if trying to restrain their growing anger.
Several seconds passed before Topman Warcury finally spoke in a hoarse voice,
"Doflamingo, Saint Jaygarcia Michael—the commander of the God's Knights—is dead. He was killed by Rogers Daren."
Doflamingo's pupils contracted.
So Michael... was killed by that guy?
No wonder there hadn't been any news about him lately.
He'd pulled off something so earth-shattering—without making a sound.
Doflamingo clenched his teeth and fists.
No one understood the terror and strength of the God's Knights better than him. The cold, absolute authority of those enforcers had cast long shadows over the hearts of Celestial Dragons since childhood.
For Daren to have killed Saint Michael meant he was even stronger now than he had been when he first challenged the World Government.
"So what?" Doflamingo took a deep breath, letting out a cold laugh.
"What's it got to do with me? I've already been stripped of my Celestial Dragon status, haven't I?"
"Doflamingo, status can be taken away... and it can also be returned."
Saint Saturn spoke calmly.
"Figarland Garling will assume command of the God's Knights. That leaves the position of vice commander open."
"To be frank, your performance over the years has far exceeded our expectations. Even among the elite Celestial Dragons, there's no one who compares."
"We're extending you an invitation—to serve as his adjutant. We want you to become the vice commander of the God's Knights."