While Don was momentarily reconsidering, carrying the severed head toward Loguetown, in Dressrosa's royal palace in the New World…
A terrifying aura filled the entire palace.
Guards and servants collapsed, eyes rolled back from the sheer pressure.
The officers of the Donquixote Family stared at Doflamingo, a mixture of awe, fanatic loyalty, and barely concealed anger in their eyes.
"Doflam, this is all my fault!"
As Doflamingo unleashed his Conqueror's Haki in fury, Trebol spoke up.
Doflamingo turned toward him, veins throbbing on his forehead.
"It's not your fault. I didn't expect the East Blue to produce such a creature."
He retracted his Conqueror's Haki, his expression darkening.
"Master, I will take care of this brat and avenge Diamante!"
A sharp voice erupted from a heavily armored man.
Though Diamante often mocked his voice, he was family, and the task of vengeance naturally fell to him.
Doflamingo shook his head.
Pica's Devil Fruit powers only reached their full potential on the island.
Other members of the Donquixote Family were eager to act.
But one figure, a tall young woman of about twenty, remained calm.
Viola—originally the second daughter of Dressrosa's former king—had joined the Donquixote Family to preserve her father's life after Doflamingo seized control of Dressrosa.
She knew her sister had been killed by Diamante.
Now, she could only suppress her joy, grateful to the one who had killed Diamante.
"That brat said he was going to the North Blue to disrupt our family's business? Lao, you and Pica will return to the North Blue."
Doflamingo, naturally enraged by Diamante's death, remained rational.
The priority now was to secure relations with Kaido, one of the New World emperors, and become his weapons supplier—a far more important matter.
As for the one who killed Diamante, if he went to the North Blue, they could intercept him there later.
But Doflamingo doubted Don would actually head north; he assumed it was bluster.
"Viola—and you as well—go with them. Use your abilities to locate him in advance if he really goes to the North Blue."
Doflamingo's gaze fell on Viola.
"Yes, Master!"
The codename Viola nodded.
Thanks to the Giro Giro no Mi, she had saved her father's life and could now fully utilize her powers—reading minds and seeing up to four thousand kilometers away.
"Doflam?"
Once Lao and Pica departed with Viola, Trebol spoke up.
"All eyes in the Four Seas are tracking that bastard. I need to know his location constantly, until I have the time to act. Hmph!"
Doflamingo snorted and stood.
"When Jack arrives, have him come see me!"
He strode out in his polished shoes.
Those remaining exchanged glances.
They hadn't expected Diamante to die so easily.
What had seemed a minor issue had escalated dramatically.
Who could have killed Diamante?
...
East Blue – Loguetown.
A small ship approached quietly, unnoticed by most.
As the gateway to Reverse Mountain, a sizable Marine presence was stationed, commanded by a Brigadier General. No pirate dared cause trouble here, much less dock.
Yet when Don stepped ashore carrying the head, many could only gape.
As he walked toward the Marine base, dockworkers whispered among themselves:
"Looks like a bounty hunter."
"Bringing a head for the bounty… that's ruthless."
"What's with that head? Can't tell who it belongs to."
"If no one recognizes it, it must be some minor pirate. Young too… probably not very strong."
Don approached the Marine base and announced his intent.
Brigadier General Tibbs, seeing the menacing head of Diamante, was stunned.
He now knew the name: Don.
A few days prior, when Garp had stopped at the East Blue, he mentioned recruiting Don.
And of course, the earlier confrontation between the Seven Warlord Jinbe and Don—though its outcome was unknown.
If Tibbs wasn't mistaken, this head belonged to a Donquixote Family officer with a bounty of 99 million.
This person had angered both Jinbe and Doflamingo?
Tibbs was dumbfounded.
How much trouble could this person stir up?
Doflamingo's cruelty far surpassed Jinbe's; who knew what he was capable of?
"Sir?"
A Marine soldier, noticing Tibbs' constantly shifting expression, whispered a warning.
"The bounty hunter said to deposit the reward directly into Garp's account."
Tibbs blinked.
"And the person?"
"He left, heading toward Reverse Mountain… probably for the Grand Line."
The soldier's response was immediate.
"Gone? Good."
Tibbs exhaled and grabbed his Den Den Mushi to contact Garp.
"Ha ha ha! That brat dared to anger Doflamingo and killed an officer. Truly audacious," Garp laughed through the device.
"He said to deposit the bounty in your account."
"Understood. So he's heading for Reverse Mountain… probably for the Grand Line?"
"Yes, Vice Admiral Garp!"
"Alright, noted."
The call ended. Tibbs instructed his men to process the head and drafted a report for headquarters.
...
At the foot of Reverse Mountain, Don stood on his ship, eyes scanning the bizarre upstream currents of the mountain.
He had seen Loguetown, the execution platform of the Pirate King.
Ordinary, yet a place many paused to visit.
Don lingered only briefly, restocked supplies, and made his way to Reverse Mountain.
The ship rode the current toward the mountain, Don's gaze sweeping across his navigational chart. Flames surged across his body.
As the ship ascended the upstream current, the flames lifted the bow, and at the peak, it soared, pivoting midair to another upstream path.
The fiery ship resembled a spacecraft, skimming the waters toward the West Blue.
Below, a pirate ship cheered, likely another group eager to make their mark on the Grand Line.
Whoosh!
A descending slash of fire tore through the pirate ship, cleaving it into three segments.
Don sheathed Hono, watching the pirates plunge into the sea, flames spraying as he controlled the ship to land safely on the water.
END OF CHAPTER
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