"The sun???"
"To be precise, something resembling the sun!!"
Doflamingo's words reminded Roy of the murals in Elbaf, a group of people stealing the sun from the earth and offering it to their rulers.
This allowed a crowned individual to possess the power to drive away the sky, while a spaceship flashed with lightning. Perhaps that ship wasn't heading to the infinite land but was fighting against the crowned figure below.
The sun-like power represented their continuous theft of a certain energy, which angered the earth, leading the world into an era of human rule.
Thus, the first world was established. The second world's upheaval originated from Joy Boy, who, after understanding the world, united everyone in resistance.
Among those people, that power also appeared on the ship of Alabasta. Its presence indicated that Alabasta had once benefited from this power, and it still remained there.
"A sun-like thing? You didn't get a clear look?"
"It's not something ordinary people can see. I was discovered. After I woke up, I told my father," Doflamingo said solemly.
"You told your father?"
Roy sensed that Doflamingo's emotions were somewhat off. For some reason, he seemed to regret something.
"Your heart is weeping," Roy said.
"I really hate your Observation Haki," Doflamingo covered his face, laughing loudly to mask the sorrow within.
"Fufufu, perhaps I understand now why my father led our entire family away from Mary Geiose," Doflamingo said.
"Because you saw that thing?" Roy had an idea, looking at Doflamingo.
"Exactly. Thinking back now, after I told my father, his face turned pale. I had never seen such a terrified expression on his face before. Later, my father became abnormal. A few days later, he took our family and left Mary Geoise," Doflamingo said calmly.
Roy could feel the grief and hatred for the Celestial Dragons within him.
"Because you saw something you shouldn't have, your father lied to protect you, renounced his status as a Celestial Dragon, and chose to become an ordinary person in the lower world," Roy said.
"Perhaps it's just my wild imagination. But it was indeed the day after I saw that thing that my father took me away. And our family's misfortune might not have been caused by my father after all... Hahahaha, but because of me!!!" Doflamingo laughed heartily.
His laughter changed from before into a loud, almost manic sound. He lay on the ground, just as he had when bound, his inner grief and rage intensifying. His hatred for the Celestial Dragons and the world grew stronger.
"What exactly was that thing?" Roy asked.
"I'm not sure what it was, but it seemed to lead to another world. It was the beginning of human desire. Back then, I felt a desire for that thing. That sun-like object seemed capable of fulfilling all my desires, whatever I wanted, it could give me," Doflamingo said.
"Something that fulfills desires... It seems you don't know what the so-called national treasure is either," Roy said.
"Fufufu, now I'm useless to you. Do you want to kill me?" Doflamingo asked.
"Not really. I want to keep you. The anger and hatred in your heart can be used against those Celestial Dragons. I doubt anyone in the world understands the Celestial Dragons better than you, knows them more intimately. Perhaps you can help me eradicate every last trace of Celestial Dragon bloodline," Roy smiled.
"Fufufu, thank you. I will do just that. I will eliminate every single one of them," Doflamingo said.
"Your subordinates are next door. They were rescued, too. You're free. Will you stay with the Revolutionary Army or come with me?" Roy asked.
"What are you planning to do next?" Doflamingo asked.
Doflamingo was highly intelligent. Although there was history between him and Roy, that grudge was in the past, just the matter of Vergo.
Doflamingo was a ruthless and ambitious person. He wouldn't dwell on such things. He needed to consider his next move: stay with the Revolutionary Army or go with Roy? True freedom wasn't an option; both the Revolutionary Army and Roy would tightly control him.
"What else? War, of course," Roy smiled.
"Direct war with the Celestial Dragons..." Doflamingo hadn't expected this answer and felt a surge of excitement. He made his decision.
"I'll stay here. It's fine," Doflamingo said.
Roy sneered: "Right, you are like this."
Doflamingo smiled without reply. Roy understood his motives, so there was nothing more to say.
"One last question."
Roy stared intently at Doflamingo, who felt his heart race. If he lied, Roy would not hesitate to kill him.
"Do you know of Imu's existence?"
"Yes."
Doflamingo didn't dare deceive Roy. A shadow had already formed behind him. If he tried to lie, Roy would kill him instantly.
"Tell me everything you know about Imu."
Doflamingo took a deep breath and smiled: "It seems you fear her too. I learned about Imu after becoming a Warlord of the Sea. I didn't know before, perhaps I was too young or hadn't reached that level."
"And regarding Imu, you should ask my cousin. He knows quite a bit, too."
"I forgot to ask him. And I think you know more than he does."
"Fufufufu, you're right. Because knowing of her existence, I've long wanted to replace her," Doflamingo laughed.
"Replace her? Is that possible?" Roy asked.
"Absolutely. Who wouldn't want to become the king of the world?" Doflamingo said.
"Tell me, what is Imu's origin? What are her specific abilities? Spit out everything you know," Roy said, locking eyes with him.
Doflamingo still wore his sunglasses, but beneath them, his eyes were uncharacteristically serious. What he was about to say even he found unbelievable, perhaps even nonexistent.
"What are you afraid of?" Roy noticed Doflamingo's hesitation.
"There might be eavesdropping over there," Doflamingo glanced at the nearby Den Den Mushi.
"Relax, I already jammed it," Roy said.
"Alright. I thought our conversation was being overheard by the Revolutionary Army," Doflamingo laughed.
"Speak."
"Fine. Imu... might not be from this world!!"
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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