"If too many people know, is it still a great secret? Besides, the news that I possess the Celestial Dragons' great secret is itself a great secret," Doflamingo said, reclining on the cot, adjusting himself into a comfortable position. His eyes, behind his sunglasses, fixed on Trebol and Diamante. "So, I'm being very sincere, if we're speaking as collaborators."
Trebol sniffled. "Behehehe~ Nyeh, nyehh, Doffy, we're also very sincere. We're willing to serve you as 'King'! As 'King'! We're your subjects, your partners. Calling us collaborators? That hurts, that really hurts."
"Ohh~" Doflamingo mused meaningfully, then a smile spread across his lips. "If we're partners, you should at least introduce yourselves, like your past, or why you're so intent on finding someone with Conqueror's Haki to follow... How can strangers who don't understand each other be partners? Right? Fufufufu~"
These two questions, like two handfuls of sand and salt, Doflamingo sprinkled onto the still-unhealed wounds of Trebol and Diamante, adding insult to injury, paining them to their very cores.
Yet, despite being many times stronger than Doflamingo, they couldn't even manage a flicker of furious indignation. Instead, there was dejection, despondency, and, more significantly, lingering fear!
"Why so intent on finding someone with Conqueror's Haki to follow... Behehehe~" Trebol's hand trembled, a shiver of fear he couldn't control.
People with stories, that was Doflamingo's assessment. Unfortunately, he had no wine.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of," Diamante said, surprisingly composed, leaning against the wall. "Last year, Trebol and I formed a pirate crew and sailed from the South Blue to the Grand Line. We gathered subordinates along the way, breaking through opponents like a hot knife through butter, and repeatedly escaped the Marines' pursuit... After a year, we entered the New World irresistibly earlier this year, that sea accessible only to the chosen strong."
Doflamingo idly twirled his fingers, a few threads secreting from his fingertips, forming a string figure. "And then?"
"Though the New World is a sea composed of countless strong individuals, everyone knows that 'Whitebeard' Newgate, 'Golden Lion' Shiki, and Gold Roger are the true overlords! And 'Chinjao the Drill', 'Red the Aloof', 'World Destroyer', 'Big Mom', 'Kaido of the Beasts', and others were a step below..." Diamante spoke with difficulty. "Back then, we were full of vigor, thinking we were special and remarkable, destined to replace the old overlords and become the new ones, to rule the entire sea. And then... we decided to challenge the relatively isolated 'Whitebeard'."
"Don't tell me you actually did it. I don't believe you could have done that and still be alive and well in the North Blue," Doflamingo stated.
Trebol stammered, "We first encountered 'Golden Lion,' no... we just glimpsed his figure. A group of rookie pirates, like us, who had entered the New World, were challenging him..." His sparse teeth chattered. "That lion-like man shattered his enemies with just a look, and then... he looked at us..."
A mix of emotions, an unspeakable bitterness.
"It was terrifying, utterly terrifying," Trebol mumbled, his body involuntarily shrinking. "He was a god! A devil! All our so-called strength, our so-called ambition, our so-called pride, were crushed to dust, shattered without resistance by that one look! Despair spread wildly, we were completely dumbfounded, forgetting our dreams, even forgetting who we were! The only thought remaining in our minds was to flee! Flee! Flee! As far as possible!"
Trebol was clearly incoherent, his courage utterly broken.
"We fled day and night, blindly stumbling into the Calm Belt... Our subordinates all died, and we drifted to the North Blue," Diamante murmured, closing his eyes. "Pica and Vergo are people we met later."
Doflamingo suddenly looked up. "The reason why you're so intent on finding someone with Conqueror's Haki to follow is now clear. You've figured out that the 'Golden Lion's' gaze was actually Conqueror's Haki?"
Diamante gritted his teeth. "Yes."
"Conqueror's Haki, huh..." Doflamingo licked his lips. "Is that how it is?"
Vwoom!
The scorching air churned, and an invisible, immense aura erupted.
For a brief few seconds, the fear branded deep within Trebol's and Diamante's souls reawakened. They were horrified, stiff as statues, cold sweat beading on their foreheads, pupils contracting violently. It was as if they weren't seeing a ten-year-old child, but a primordial beast ready to devour them.
Thud.
Trebol slumped off his chair, completely unaware.
"Fufufufu~ Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. We're partners, aren't we?" Doflamingo said airily, reaching out to press down on the top of Trebol's head, which was covered by a small green melon cap, making the seated Trebol bow his head. The posture resembled a kowtow. He smiled, glancing sideways. "Right, Diamante?"
Diamante, rigid, also dropped to one knee, his proud head bowed deeply. "Yes, yes."
Undeniably, in this five-person group, including Doflamingo, the leadership had subtly shifted from Trebol's dominance, with Diamante assisting, to Doflamingo's primary control.
Rising smoothly, Doflamingo continued, "We can talk about your past some other time. Something just occurred to me."