Vergo sat alone in the office of the G-5 branch for more than an hour.
He thought for a long time. Too long.
In the end, he could only think of one way to keep Donquixote Doflamingo and the Donquixote Pirates alive.
Even though he knew this was a huge humiliation for a king who possessed Conqueror's Haki, he still picked up the Den Den Mushi. He first used his Observation Haki to sense the surroundings. After confirming that there were no navy soldiers nearby, he dialed Donquixote Doflamingo.
Bulu Bulu—
As the Den Den Mushi rang, the call was quickly connected.
"I am."
"Vergo."
"Doffy, it's you!"
Vergo, holding the Den Den Mushi with a heavy expression, spoke first.
"Hiyahhhhhh! Of course, it's me."
"Haven't heard from you in a while, mate."
"Is everything okay on your end?"
The Den Den Mushi mirrored Donquixote Doflamingo's grin
Imitating it vividly.
"I am fine!"
"It's you."
"Doffy… the Donquixote Pirates might not be fine next."
Vergo paused for a moment, then spoke.
"How is that possible?"
"I think you should know this, even at the G-5 branch."
"I've already taken the Heavenly Tribute."
"Given the personalities of those guys in the Holy Land, and the importance they place on Celestial Gold, they'll definitely put pressure on Marine Headquarters."
"The World Government, to maintain the balance of power and appease those in the Holy Land, will also press the navy."
Donquixote Doflamingo grinned wider:
"The government and the Celestial Dragons don't care aboutJusticeor what the navy thinks."
"They only care about getting the tribute back as soon as possible."
"As for the title of Shichibukai it's just a name thrown to pirates. Anyway, the headache isn't theirs. It's the navy's."He was pleased to show off his maneuver to Vergo.
However Doflamingo's arrogance made Vergo's heart sink heavier. In the past, Vergo would have only felt proud to see his king so confident. But now, all he felt was..
Dread.
Young and frivolous.
Which young man hasn't had this flaw?
And Donquixote Doflamingo, who bore the qualities of a king, was no exception.
At this time, Tenyaksha hadn't yet seen the monsters of the New World, nor had he endured the domination of Kaido. He was still the youngest, the most arrogant.
"Destiny rests in my hands."
That was his unshakable belief.
But this was the arrogance of every king before their first beating.
"Doffy."
"I want to ask you something."
Vergo suddenly said.
"What's wrong?"
"Do we even need to beg in the relationship between us?"
"Have you been ostracized in the navy? Or wronged? Tell me. If you're not comfortable taking action, I'll get rid of them for you."
Doflamingo's smile turned sharp. To him, Vergo sounded like a man suffering in silence.
After all, Vergo had once been the highest officer in the Donquixote Pirates. But at Doflamingo's command, he abandoned his wealth and status to infiltrate the navy. From private to officer, step by painful step, in the G-5 branch.
This path was bound to be bitter.
So Doflamingo boldly declared he would kill any navy who dared wrong Vergo.
"I haven't been marginalized, nor wronged."
"Only…"
"Doffy, promise me this once."
Vergo's voice grew heavier with each word.
"You say it."
Seeing Vergo's attitude for the first time, Doflamingo's grin faded. He realized the matter was serious. Though he didn't agree immediately, he had already decided in his heart: if it was within his power, he'd grant Vergo's request.
"Doffy."
"Run for your life."
"Immediately. Take the Donquixote family and leave the North Sea. Wherever you go, take every base and all of the family's power with you. Abandon it all here."
Vergo's face was grave.
"Do you even know what you're saying?"
"Partner."
"You and I"
"One in the light, one in the dark. Thief and soldier. We spent years of blood and effort to raise the Donquixote family above all others in the North Sea, ruling both black and white, supreme."
The smile on Doflamingo's face froze.
"You want me to throw all that away?"
Incredulous. If not for his absolute trust in Vergo, he'd have suspected betrayal.
"Yes."
"You must abandon it."
"And leave immediately."
Vergo's tone left no doubt.
"Besides…"
"Leave the Heavenly Tribute behind."
"Don't take it with you. Otherwise, even if you run to the ends of the earth, it will mean nothing."
He added heavily.
"Has Marine Headquarters made a big move? It's Crane, isn't it? She wouldn't act rashly while the tribute's missing. Even if she comes, she alone can't change anything."
"I'm not the same man I was then. To stop me, they'd need to send an Admiral!"Doflamingo's eyes narrowed. He caught the hidden meaning.
Vergo was acting as though the Donquixote Pirates were doomed.
That kind of danger even Crane couldn't bring it.
"Crane hasn't acted. And the headquarters hasn't deployed an Admiral."
"But…"
"Doffy, do you know? The strongest sword of Marine Headquarters has been unsheathed, and it points at the North Sea."
Vergo lowered his voice.
"Once he descends upon the North Sea… it's over. Everything"
"your ambitions"
"the Donquixote family"
"Ends there."
"Doffy. If you leave now, there's still time."
Vergo's tone was grim, filled with both fear and bitter unwillingness.
"The navy's strongest sword?"
"Who is it?"
"Sakazuki? Impossible, he guards the New World. Borsalino? No, he stays at headquarters. Then it's Kuzan."
Doflamingo frowned.
This was the first time he had ever heard fear in Vergo's voice.
"Not Kuzan."
"If it were him, you'd still have a chance.
"It's Rosen."
Vergo shook his head.
If Kuzan were sent, there would still be leeway. Kuzan's nature allowed negotiation.
But Rosen…
There was no room to maneuver.
After all, he was the man who destroyed Impel Down's infinite hell.
"Rosen…"
"I think I've heard you mention that name before. Isn't he the monstrous student with Admiral-level potential?"
Doflamingo recalled, but he couldn't understand why Vergo was so shaken.
A student
Even a monster
Was still only potential.
Qualifications weren't a strength.
Just like a king's potential. It meant nothing without mastering advanced Haki.
"Your information is out of date. No. I need to update it for you." Vergo's voice sharpened.
"Now, Rosen not only has the potential of an Admiral. He has the strength of one."
"This man, in just a few months, grew from a freshman at the Naval Academy to an existence equal to an Admiral. That's why he's called the strongest monster in navy history."
"In other words, you face not a student—"
"—but an Admiral."
"A monster who defeated Patrick Redfield."
"A monster who defeated the Demon's Heir."
"Do you understand me, Doffy? If you do—take the Donquixote Pirates and run. Run for your lives!"