"Behehehe~ Nyeh, nyeh, little fellow, you recognized Doffy as your boss the moment you met him. Why not anyone else?" Trebol, predictably, couldn't keep his mouth shut. His desire to talk was strong, even with Doflamingo's intimidating presence beside him. "I'm not bad either, nyeh! Or do you think Doffy is the strongest...?"
"Idiot," Pato replied to Trebol with an innocent look.
Trebol: "..."
"I guess it's because it can't stand fools, fufufufu~" Doflamingo chuckled playfully.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Each of Doflamingo's words was like a hammer striking Spandine's head, causing him to involuntarily bow and hunch over. He then pitifully looked up at Trebol, his will deflated. Only Trebol could offer him solace as they were in the same miserable boat.
"Nukikiki~"
Pato happily bounced, like a small ball of fluff, rolling on Doflamingo's palm and arm, full of eagerness to please, or perhaps just adapting.
Doflamingo pondered, then tilted his head, signaling Trebol to leave. "What was Caesar Clown's reply?" he asked.
"Ah? Ah! He agreed to cooperate with you, and he's looking forward to meeting you, but... the scientific unit's control is too strict." Spandine rubbed his hands submissively. "And, and... the scientific unit recently moved to a new experimental base. I didn't receive any prior notice. CP0 Headquarters took full control, and CP5 was excluded..."
Doflamingo suddenly stared at Spandine, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's. "This isn't a good sign!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Spandine repeatedly bowed.
Doflamingo's brows furrowed as he paced, contemplating. "You're too conspicuous. Your visits to the casino are too frequent. Cipher Pol has likely noticed something is amiss." He looked down at Spandine from above. "Lie low for a few years. Don't do anything beyond what the World Government orders, and you're forbidden from gambling recklessly or anything similar. Ride out this storm."
"Yes, yes, I understand, Joker," Spandine's gaze flickered. "Then, what about my next..."
"Damn it, you're truly incorrigible." Doflamingo was clearly exasperated by Spandine. How could he not understand what Spandine meant? He also blamed himself for cultivating Spandine too well; greed had become ingrained, valuing money over life! He grabbed Spandine's shoulder forcefully. "Wake up, my friend! You're about to lose your head!"
Spandine seemed dazed.
"As for your share, I'll have Trebol set up a bank card and deposit it into the account monthly. I won't give you the card; it'll stay at the casino. Don't even check it; it's easy to get traced that way! We've been cooperating for over ten years; when have I ever shortchanged you? I'm not short on money, never!" Doflamingo bared his teeth. "My friend, endure this difficult time. I need us to continue cooperating, fufufufu~ Once you do, your share will be doubled."
Spandine's spirits lifted, and joy bloomed on his face. "Really? Joker!"
"Have I ever lied to you, my friend?" Doflamingo asked earnestly.
Spandine thought carefully, then shook his head. "No, only more, never less."
"Prepare to endure hardship. I'm afraid it's easy for you to go from frugality to extravagance, but hard to go from extravagance to frugality," Doflamingo said, tidying Spandine's attire, then smilingly enticed him, "Bring out the courage, fighting spirit, and ambition you had when you were just an ordinary CP agent. Get through this difficult time. Think about it, how much glittering Berries will you accumulate? Hmm? We're talking about billions, tens of billions of Berries."
Spandine took a deep breath, his expression as resolute as if he were facing a raging beast that he could handle in minutes.
"Go," Doflamingo patted Spandine. "Good luck, my friend."
After seeing Spandine off, Doflamingo's smile instantly vanished.
"Just one Spandine isn't enough," Doflamingo's fingers habitually twitched, thinking about whether there were suitable people in Cipher Pol to turn, or suitable people to send as moles into Cipher Pol.
After much deliberation, Doflamingo shook his head and sighed. He couldn't think of anyone.
"Nukikiki~ Boss? Boss Joker?" Pato could sense Doflamingo's annoyance and lively tried to amuse Doflamingo.
Doflamingo stroked Pato's small head, chuckling, "Joker' is a hidden identity. You can call me Boss or Boss Doffy, Pato-chan."
"Boss Doffy, nukikiki~," Pato readily complied.
Doflamingo rested his chin on one hand, threads of silk secreting from his fingertips. "Pato-chan, your true form is my silk. Transform, and let's see if I can connect."
"Okay!"
Poof~~
Smoke wafted, and Pato reverted to the silk bracelet.
"Only 'Bake-Danuki' form and true form? No hybrid form?" Doflamingo was momentarily stunned.
Pato quickly transformed into its "Bake-Danuki form" and said "Mm," then reverted to the silk bracelet.
"A miraculous Mythical Zoan," Doflamingo didn't dwell on it, attempting to connect his own silk to what was once his silk...
The connection was fine, similar to how Doflamingo used "Parasite String" to control Devil Fruit users and objects. However, he couldn't manipulate the power of the "Tanuki Fruit."
Doflamingo clicked his tongue. "Plan failed." He had intended to obtain a second Devil Fruit ability through this indirect method, but reality was unforgiving. He was not the anomaly, Marshall D. Teach, after all. "Alright, Pato."
Poof~~
Pato reappeared.
"From now on, you'll have to assist me in battle. You're also a member of the family, my family," Doflamingo said with rare warmth. "Won't you show me your power?"
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