Spandine arrived in a daze and left in a frantic hurry. Unlike his earlier complaints and casual demeanor upon arrival, his departure was a humiliating near-escape.
He no longer cared about his subordinates being wiped out, or having to single-handedly paddle a rickety, capsizing small boat back to Mariejois, or how he would explain the failed mission to the World Government.
All he wanted was to leave this inexplicably bizarre and eerie place, and that chilling human devil, before he considered anything else!
"Fufufufu~ Look, he looks like a dog," Doflamingo said, leaning over the railing of the medium-sized sailing ship, which once belonged to the World Government. He pointed at Spandine, who was furiously paddling away, but his eyes were slanted towards Trebol and Diamante, his mockery deep.
Trebol chuckled, "Behehehe~ Nyeh, nyehh! You're right, Doffy." He seemed completely oblivious.
"This ship is nice. At least it's a decent place to stay. I'm sick of everything terrible on that island," Diamante muttered, looking around the sailboat.
Doflamingo turned, glancing at his dirty clothes. "My insistence on risking an ambush against the CP9 squad wasn't to send a message to the World Government. I'm not that bored. So, what we've gained is more than just a decent place to stay; we also have an inside man in the World Government, and a method to become stronger." He paused, then added, "Hey, Trebol, Diamante, do you know anything about shipbuilding? Even a little?"
"I know a bit. When we formed our previous pirate crew, I was the helmsman, and Trebol was the lookout," Diamante replied. "What's wrong, Doffy?"
Doflamingo spread his hands. "Do you think we can swagger around openly with a ship flying the World Government flag, with obvious World Government characteristics? It needs to be modified! Once Vergo and Pica return, we'll relocate. This place isn't safe! In any case, I'll leave it to you. I'm going to take a bath first."
Ignoring Trebol and Diamante, Doflamingo headed directly into the ship's cabin.
"I'm starting to doubt your decision, Trebol. He... he's too terrifying." After exchanging glances for a moment, Diamante recalled Doflamingo's words and actions, his deep cunning, his practiced manipulation, his arrogant demeanor, that faintly visible ferocity, combined with his innate cruelty and ruthlessness... It all sent shivers down his spine.
Trebol was pleased. "You're overthinking it, Diamante, behehehe~ This is what a King is!"
Diamante sighed helplessly. He meticulously took off his suit and shirt, and removed his hat to get to work. He didn't want his only remaining good attire to get stained.
Inside the ship's bathroom.
"Around 1.25 meters tall, a bit short for a ten-year-old. Probably from malnutrition these past few years?"
"Blond hair, no eyebrows, pointed nose, thin lips and a slightly wide mouth with corners slightly turned up, a rather long face."
"And..."
"Should I be glad it's not beady eyes and that the glasses aren't part of him?"
Doflamingo hadn't entered the bath yet. He was observing his reflection in the mirror, especially those crimson, bloodshot eyes. This unsettling abnormality was likely why he had to wear sunglasses to hide them since childhood.
"Overall, it's that typical 'if you have a villain's face, don't even think about doing good deeds, because no one will believe you even if you do' kind of look," Doflamingo mumbled.
Turning on the water, Doflamingo quickly felt his body grow gradually weak and limp, clearly the Devil Fruit user's constraint from the water.
Interesting, he thought. He began to ponder how to develop his String-String Fruit abilities, which he had consumed earlier. Although he had a certain "template," it wasn't enough. However, all of this would have to wait until he was truly settled before he could implement it in detail.
Knock, knock.
The bathroom door was knocked.
"Nyeh, nyehh, Doffy! Doffy! Vergo and Pica are back!" Trebol shouted.
Doflamingo wiped away the water, glancing at his tattered clothes. "Find me some clean clothes, preferably unworn ones. Those CP9 agents should have spare uniforms."
A moment later.
Doflamingo changed into... roughly tailored clothes, as the CP9's spare black suit uniforms were all adult sizes.
"Ugly," Doflamingo said, not bothering to hide his displeasure, shaking his head as he stepped onto the deck. "Welcome back, Vergo, Pica! You've worked hard."
"Not at all!" Vergo stood ramrod straight. He was the only one among them who was about the same height as Doflamingo. With a bowl cut and sunglasses, half a piece of bread still stuck to his face, he exuded a rigid, almost stern aura at such a young age, subtly revealing a military bearing.
Pica, with his hat pulled low, thick lips, small eyes, and long, thick, robust arms, looking like a peeled King Kong gorilla, said nothing. He silently held an unconscious man in a white lab coat in his left hand and a medical kit in his right.
Clearly, they had tirelessly traveled to other islands to kidnap a doctor for Doflamingo's illness.
"Behehehe~ This guy's useless now, isn't he? What should we do? Nyeh, what should we do, Doffy?" Trebol mischievously patted the doctor's head.
Doflamingo waved his hand. "Do as you please, just don't expose our whereabouts. That's not important. What's important is that we need to discuss our future."