Doflamingo stood at the bow of his ship, lips curled into his signature sinister grin, but behind his sunglasses his eyes were deadly serious.
"Fufufufu…" his laugh carried on the wind. "What an entrance. Bursting out of a lantern fish's mouth… I suppose that's fitting for the captain of the Blood Dawn Pirates."
Ritter lazily dug at his ear, while behind him the blood mist coalesced into the shape of a throne.
He sank into it, crossing one leg over the other as the throne slowly rose into the air. "Flamingo, you came all this way. Don't tell me it's just to compliment me on how handsome I am?"
Doflamingo's mouth twitched. Flamingo? Seriously?
His fingers flexed slightly, and invisible threads flashed coldly in the sunlight. "Of course not. I'm here to talk business."
"Two hundred billion volts Thunderbird."
White smoke drifted through the sky, remnants of his threads that had just been scorched into ash by lightning.
Enel sneered, eyes narrowing at Doflamingo.
"Behave. Don't try little tricks in front of our captain. Next time, the lightning goes through your head."
He stepped back behind Ritter.
"Oh?" Ritter arched an eyebrow, smiling faintly at Doflamingo.
"You seize my territory, then come here to negotiate with me? Your feathers are bolder than your colors. And yet, here you stand in front of me. You really aren't afraid of dying, are you, Doflamingo?"
For a brief instant, Doflamingo's grin faltered. But it quickly returned. "Those businesses… were a misunderstanding. I'll admit, I underestimated you. I didn't expect your power in the underworld to grow so vast in just a few years."
He spread his arms, threads glinting in the sun. "But right now, I may be able to offer you a better partnership."
Blood mist rippled outward, dyeing the sea between the two ships a dark crimson. Doflamingo's men stiffened nervously, while even Doflamingo himself felt his pulse quicken. He was gambling that Ritter wanted to use him, not kill him.
Ritter wasn't even doing it on purpose. He was in too good of a mood.
"Heh."
After all, it wasn't about whether Ritter had the strength. As the captain of the Blood Dawn Pirates, he didn't need to personally achieve everything he only needed to know who could.
"Partnership, huh?" Ritter's laugh was soft but sharp. "Let's hear it. What exactly can you give me?"
Doflamingo's voice dropped low, sunglasses catching the reflection of the blood mist. "Information. Influence. And… someone to handle the dirty work. You want to control the world, don't you? Wealth and force alone won't cut it."
What gave him confidence was this: when Ritter learned his industries had been seized, he hadn't immediately come for him. That meant Ritter was weighing his value.
He had considered staying at his stronghold to wait, but that would have been suicidal. If you can't win, you can't just sit there.
Ritter tilted his head toward Tesoro, who lounged by the railing, twirling a golden ring and watching with a smirk.
"Captain," Tesoro drawled, "at least the bird knows his place."
Sweat beaded on Doflamingo's brow, though his tone stayed smooth. "Tesoro's plans are impressive, but in some areas… my family is better suited to intervene. For example, certain transactions within the Navy. I was once a Celestial Dragon, as you know. Even stripped of that title, the World Government still gives me certain courtesies."
Ritter recalled: that was why, after robbing the Heavenly Tribute, Doflamingo could still claim a seat among the Seven Warlords.
Ritter found himself intrigued. Yes, this flamingo surely had his own schemes but what of it? If he betrayed them, Ritter would just kill him.
"Interesting." Ritter looked down at him from his blood-forged throne. "You're smarter than I gave you credit for. But—" His tone sharpened. The mist condensed into a blood blade hanging over Doflamingo's head. "Why should I trust you?"
Doflamingo's mouth twitched again before curving into a menacing grin. "Because our goals are the same: to shatter this twisted world. And you… need a knife hidden in the shadows."
The sea breeze stilled. The air between the ships froze. Ritter and Doflamingo locked eyes. Then Ritter waved his hand lazily, withdrawing the blood mist.
"Fine. You'll have your chance. But—" Ritter's grin widened. "If I even sense you wavering, I'll pluck every feather off your back. Keep whatever other dirty businesses you want. But slavery off limits. Understood?"
A flicker of ice passed beneath Doflamingo's shades. Slavery was one of the most profitable trades. But he quickly masked it with a laugh. "Fufufufu… understood. To a fruitful partnership."
Tesoro stepped forward and extended a hand. "Welcome to the chessboard of Blood Dawn, Doflamingo. But remember—" his gaze sharpened, "you're just a piece. We'll give you support, that's our courtesy to newcomers. Grow your power as you like, but loyalty to our captain is non-negotiable."
As he spoke, golden dust seeped into everyone's bodies except Doflamingo's.
"I trust you understand, don't you?"
Doflamingo gave a slight nod and turned back to his ship. He had already guessed this outcome. Not having Tesoro plant gold inside him was, in its way, a show of respect.
He could have chosen to surrender his enterprises and retire into obscurity.
But that wasn't Doflamingo. With Ritter's banner above him, he could push his schemes further. His deals with Kaido had been the same trading under the Emperor's shadow.
His hatred for the Celestial Dragons burned just as hot as Ritter's. If he couldn't possess something, he'd destroy it. Ritter appreciated that madness.
Doflamingo's fleet didn't leave immediately.
"Fufufufu… Captain Ritter. Since we're here, why don't I let my family's officers… test the strength of the Blood Dawn Pirates?"
It was a probe. He needed to see how much Ritter's crew could shoulder his ambitions. A single lion wasn't frightening. A pride where any member could be a lion king that was terrifying.
Besides, with Tesoro's gold inside them, his people wouldn't be in real danger.
Before he finished speaking, the Donquixote family officers were already leaping to the bow. Tesoro's "precaution" had infuriated them.
Diamante swung his long sword. Trebol's slimy body writhed. And Pica's shrill voice boomed from within a stone giant.
"Doffy's orders… are absolute!"
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