Doflamingo's gaze, however, kept drifting back to one particular vial, the one whose contents seemed to swirl with a chaotic, bestial energy.
[KAIDO].
A deep, instinctual sense of apprehension welled up in his heart.
The temptation was immense, a siren's call promising absolute power and indestructibility.
But he still didn't dare to choose it.
To take that step—to claim even a piece of Kaido's power for his own—would be tantamount to a declaration of war.
It would mean tearing down all pretense of civility and partnership with the Beasts Pirates.
In this dangerous and unpredictable world, making an open enemy of a volatile, nigh-unbeatable monster like Kaido would be suicide.
The consequences were unimaginable.
It would trigger a catastrophic chain reaction, causing the vast underworld empire and political influence he had so painstakingly built to crumble into dust overnight.
Given the current circumstances, now was not the time to break ties with his most powerful and unstable business partner.
He still had his own plans, his own reliance on the Yonko—his Artificial Devil Fruit factories.
The SMILEs were his golden goose, his personal money trees, and they were still laying golden eggs, however inconsistently.
Although the market had declined since Ron's miraculous technology had become known, and the once-eager buyers had become far more cautious, there was still profit to be made.
After all, not everyone had the strength, connections, or sheer dumb luck to amass the staggering sums Ron was asking for.
For most pirates and nations, three billion Berries was an unattainable fantasy.
Moreover, even with the money, obtaining the blood of a specific, powerful user was a life-threatening endeavor.
A single misstep could get you erased from existence.
No, the SMILE business, while wounded, was still alive.
And it required Kaido.
"I understand," Doflamingo said, his voice a low purr as he finally tore his gaze away from the tempting vial.
He looked at Ron, his mind already shifting to the finer details.
"A final confirmation, if you would. Once one of my men eats one of these… gains a new ability… their original Devil Fruit powers will be replaced, correct?"
"That's right," Ron confirmed with a simple nod.
Doflamingo didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he fell into a brief, intense contemplation, his brow slightly furrowed as he weighed the pros, the cons, the costs, and the immense, glorious potential.
After a moment that felt like an eternity to his eager subordinates, he finally turned to them.
"I need to discuss this with my Family."
"As you wish," Ron replied with an indifferent shrug, his expression as calm as still water.
Everything was proceeding exactly as he had foreseen.
As if following an unspoken command, the top executives of the Donquixote Family hurried to one side.
They quickly formed a tight, conspiratorial circle, their eyes brimming with a manic excitement and anticipation.
This was a discussion that would determine the future of their entire organization, a chance to ascend to a level of power they had only dreamed of.
Diamante, ever the showman, was the first to break the silence.
He lowered his voice, but couldn't conceal the raw excitement that made it tremble.
"Doffy, listen to me! Kizaru's ability! The Light-Light Fruit is incredibly practical! Just think about it—that speed is insane, like a bolt of lightning! Who on the battlefield could possibly keep up? And his Laser Cannon… devastating! The sheer power is enough to send a chill down anyone's spine!"
Delinger quickly chimed in, his voice sharp with youthful aggression.
"I agree! With Kizaru's ability, we'd have absolute certainty against those despicable scum in the West Blue who dare to defy us. I'd bet anything that with that power, I could reclaim all our lost territories within a month! We'd make those who looked down on us eat their words!"
"And Aokiji's Ice-Ice Fruit is just as useful!" Gladius interjected, his voice rising with his usual explosive excitement.
"It would be invaluable for expanding our underground operations! We could create hidden bases, secure transport routes… the strategic value is immense!"
"Logia Type abilities are already a rarity," Monet added, her voice cool and analytical, speaking as the Family's resident Logia user.
"But powerful ones like an Admiral's are on another level entirely. If we could obtain such abilities, our influence would reach unprecedented heights. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"And the Mythical Zoan: Phoenix!"
"We absolutely must have that ability! It could save lives in critical moments!"
"On the battlefield, danger is everywhere," Machvise added, nodding his heavy head.
"With the healing power of the Phoenix, we'd have an extra layer of security. No matter how severe the injury, we could recover and keep fighting!"
"Why bother with that?" another executive questioned.
"Doesn't our asset, Mansherry, the princess of the Tontatta Kingdom, also have healing powers?"
"...Their abilities are different," Machvise mused thoughtfully.
"The Princess's power is miraculous, but it takes time. The tide of battle can change in the blink of an eye. The Phoenix Form can restore a grievously wounded fighter to peak condition in an instant. That kind of immediate recovery could be the deciding factor in a crucial fight."
"Why isn't there a lightning ability?" Bellamy suddenly asked with confusion.
"I remember Whitebeard had a lightning ability. I'd really like to have that one."
Pica, from his position merged with a nearby stone, grumbled in his high-pitched voice.
"Idiot! This is his current stock, not a made-to-order catalog. What's on display is what's for sale. Isn't that obvious?"
As the fervent discussion continued, they all voiced their opinions, but in the end, they knew there was only one person who would make the final call.
"Make the decision, Doffy. We'll all follow your lead," Diamante said, his tone shifting from excitement to one of absolute loyalty.
"Yeah, Doffy, go with your gut," Trebol added with a sycophantic grin, and the others nodded in agreement.
Doflamingo listened to them all.
"We're not touching Kaido's ability," he stated, his voice firm, ending that particular debate before it could even begin.
"That madman would fly into a rage, and we can't afford his wrath at this stage."
Many of them silently nodded, recognizing the cold wisdom in his words.
Provoking Kaido was a death sentence.
With that settled, all eyes were fixed on Doflamingo, filled with unwavering anticipation and trust, waiting for him to make the final decision that would shape their destiny.
Doflamingo had already made up his mind, but he had wanted to hear their thoughts, to ensure their ambitions aligned with his own.
He slowly stood up, the pink feathers of his coat swaying as he walked with steady, deliberate steps back toward Ron and sat down again.
He took a deep breath, calming the storm of greed and ambition in his heart.
He looked straight into Ron's eyes, his own hidden but their intensity palpable.
"It's decided," he said, his voice deliberate, each word a heavy gold coin being placed on the table.
"We'll take the abilities of Admiral Kizaru, Admiral Aokiji, and Marco the Phoenix."
He let the immense value of that purchase hang in the air for a moment before a wicked, predatory grin spread across his face.
"And," he added, his voice dropping to a low, demanding purr as he tilted his head towards the glowering Golden Lion.
"if possible, I want his power too."
His intent was unmistakable.
He wasn't just buying from the catalog anymore.
There was no way in hell he was letting the legendary Float-Float Fruit slip through his fingers!