"Fufufufufufu——!"
Hearing the voice, Hawke turned his gaze toward the Den Den Mushi resting in the corner.
"Tap—"
Dane quickly stepped forward, picked up the fallen Den Den Mushi from the floor, and handed it to Hawke.
"…"
Hawke accepted the Den Den Mushi.
That distinctive "Fufu" laugh just now, combined with the look of the Den Den Mushi, left no doubt in his mind.
On the other end of the line was none other than one of the Shichibukai, the "Heavenly Yaksha" — Donquixote Doflamingo.
"..."
From the Den Den Mushi came Doflamingo's voice, light and playful yet tinged with an icy undertone:
"Marine, is my little guy still alive?"
"Hm…"
Hawke's eyes narrowed slightly. Bellamy's shouting earlier had already exposed Hawke's Marine identity.
"Heh… Donquixote Doflamingo."
"Oh? You know me?"
The voice from the Den Den Mushi carried a trace of amusement.
"Since you know me, then this makes things simple."
Doflamingo's tone became perfectly natural, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world.
"The Shichibukai and you Marines… we all serve the World Government, do we not?"
"A failed pirate may be worthless to me."
"But…"
"He is still my pirate."
"So, Marine."
"Give this Heavenly Yaksha a little respect, and let my pirate go, hmm?"
"I'll personally handle my own affairs."
"Heh—"
Hawke chuckled lightly.
Respect?
Doflamingo, do you think you're "Red-Haired" Shanks?
And even if Shanks were here — so what?
He can go and try talking to my Buster Call, see if it'll give him that "respect."
"Huu—"
"Since I am… a merciful man…"
Hawke spoke slowly, his voice so calm it revealed nothing of his thoughts.
He waved his hand toward Dane.
Dane understood instantly, pulling a standard-issue pistol from his belt and handing it over.
From the Den Den Mushi came Doflamingo's satisfied laugh:
"Fufufufufufu! Very good."
"Marine, I think we can become great frien—"
Before he could finish…
Bang!
Bang!
Two sharp gunshots exploded in the air.
"AHHHHHHHH!!!"
At Hawke's feet, Bellamy let out a scream so raw it seemed to tear his lungs apart.
Both his knees had been blown open, twin fountains of blood spilling down his legs.
Hawke lowered the gun from Bellamy's legs and spoke faintly:
"Doflamingo, do you still want this crippled pirate?"
"..."
Silence filled the other end of the line.
Then, after a brief pause, Doflamingo's low voice returned, dripping with murderous intent.
"Marine… do you know you're provoking—"
Bang!
Bang!
Two more shots rang out, sharp and merciless.
"AHHHHHH—!"
"Young master—!"
Bellamy's wrists exploded into bloody sprays, his screams now hoarse and broken, almost animalistic.
Hawke spoke again, tone still casual:
"A pirate with broken legs and hands — do you still want him?"
"..."
The other end went silent.
Doflamingo didn't understand.
This Marine… how dared he?
How dared he trample so openly, step by step, on the dignity of a Shichibukai?
Was he not afraid of the Donquixote Family's retaliation?
Not afraid of the underground network Doflamingo controlled, which spanned the entire world?
He was a former Celestial Dragon — even Vice Admiral Tsuru herself was forced to act cautiously around him.
And yet this Marine… how dared he?!
At that moment—
Bang!
Another gunshot.
The bullet pierced Bellamy's skull cleanly, snuffing out his last breath in an instant.
Warm blood and fragments of brain matter splattered onto Hawke's polished Marine boots.
"Doflamingo, do you still want a dead pirate?"
"Fufufu… FUFUFUFUFUFU!!!"
Suddenly, wild laughter burst from the Den Den Mushi.
The sound was sharp, grating, and carried unrestrained madness and murderous fury.
"Interesting! Too interesting!"
"I'll remember you, Marine! Give me your name!"
"Tell me your name! I'll cut off your head myself!"
"Heh—"
Hawke chuckled softly.
"You'll know soon enough."
"Doflamingo, I have a grand gift to send you."
"I'm certain you'll love it."
With that, Hawke hung up the Den Den Mushi and handed both it and the pistol back to Dane.
"Dane, clean this up."
"Yes, sir!"
Dane accepted the items respectfully, then raised his hand.
The next moment, blades flashed and gunfire erupted.
Desperate screams rang across the deck.
The remaining members of the Bellamy Pirates were mercilessly slaughtered — not a single survivor remained.
"Huu—"
Hawke stood at the ship's bow, lighting a cigar.
Inside, his thoughts began racing.
Doflamingo.
Publicly, he was one of the Shichibukai, a king recognized by the World Government, ruler of Dressrosa, granted legal looting rights and full judicial immunity.
Using this status, Doflamingo had built a massive commercial empire, his influence spanning the entire world.
But beneath that glamorous facade lay endless crimes.
In secret, he was one of the top brokers of the underground world, code-named "Joker," controlling a vast arms trafficking network, selling death to war-torn nations.
He privately ran inhumane human auctions, providing slaves for the Celestial Dragons and the world's nobility, trampling on life without hesitation.
To date, Doflamingo had personally destroyed at least eight towns. Beyond his pirate crew and commercial ventures, he was involved in drug trafficking and countless other illegal dealings.
"Heh…"
"And for this kind of man… I should give 'respect'?"
Hawke's gaze turned icy cold.
Your greatest shield, Doflamingo, is your former identity as a Celestial Dragon — and the secret you hold about that treasure in Mary Geoise.
That's what makes the World Government tread lightly around you.
But… that's also your greatest weakness.
Once your crimes are exposed to the public, the World Government will be forced to sever ties to protect their so-called "dignity."
When that time comes, your precious Shichibukai title will be nothing, torn apart and discarded.
No rush. Your base is in the New World.
I'll come for you after I've finished cleaning up Paradise.
But for now… I'll send you a little gift first.
"One of your top executives… 'Vergo."
A cruel smile curved Hawke's lips.
An elite undercover agent who had infiltrated the Marines for over ten years, now a full Vice Admiral, even serving as the G-5 Branch Commander.
I think Fleet Admiral Sengoku would be very interested in knowing that Vice Admiral Vergo — the very man who exposed Rosinante back then, directly causing his death — has been working for you all along.
"Dane…"
Hawke turned and looked at Dane, who stood at rigid attention behind him.
"Prepare a top-level encrypted intelligence report. Use my clearance and send it directly to Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself."
"The contents are as follows…"
...
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