"Can you really do it?" Doflamingo asked, suspicion flickering in his sharp gaze.
"You'll know soon enough if I can," Ashveil replied calmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "I hope you're smart enough to choose the right side, Doflamingo. Otherwise, whether the Donquixote Family survives this war will remain in question."
Doflamingo's lips twisted into a smirk, though unease lingered in his eyes. "I'm still skeptical… I don't know…"
"Just speak." Ashveil's patience was already wearing thin. If not for his concern about casualties among the Whitebeard Pirates in the coming war, he wouldn't waste time negotiating.
"Then let me test your strength," Doflamingo said cautiously.
Ashveil chuckled softly. The Ten Yasha was indeed a businessman at heart, weighing risks before investments. Still, he didn't dislike intelligent partners.
"You may," Ashveil replied lightly, his eyes still fixed on the food before him. "But don't make it troublesome. Just use your strongest attack, Joker."
Doflamingo's smirk faded into something colder. "You're quite arrogant."
Strings burst forth at once, the floor beneath him unraveling into countless threads that spread across the villa like a tide. In moments, the entire hall became Doflamingo's domain. Sixteen massive cords of compressed strings gathered, hardened with Armament Haki until they gleamed like black steel under the sunlight.
The sheer force of the attack shook the air.
"This is my ultimate move! Sixteen Holy Assassin's Bullets—God Thread!" Doflamingo roared as the strings converged into pillars of destructive force.
The sixteen massive projectiles shot forward like fangs of a monstrous beast, each carrying lethal power. Their speed was immense; in a heartbeat they were upon Ashveil, who remained seated, still eating, not a flicker of defense raised.
Doflamingo's veins bulged in frustration. "Too arrogant…!"
Five meters.
Four meters.
Three.
Two.
Doflamingo's eyes widened. Is he just going to let it hit him?
One meter.
BOOM!
The pillars slammed into something invisible with a deafening shockwave that rattled the entire villa. Dressrosa itself seemed to tremble. Yet, instead of piercing Ashveil, the strings shattered into fragments, falling limply to the ground as broken threads.
Every thread that crossed into a one-meter radius around him had been stopped cold, as if striking an unseen wall.
"What… stopped my attack?" Doflamingo muttered, shock flashing through his eyes. "Is it… the Barrier Fruit?"
He pushed out with his Observation Haki—and froze.
His pupils shrank. His lips trembled as he pointed at Ashveil. "This… this can't be… Conqueror's Haki?"
Ashveil didn't even lift his head. "That's right," he answered faintly.
Doflamingo swallowed hard, throat dry. He knew of Conqueror's Haki, but this was no ordinary display. The advanced application—imbuement—was something even he had never mastered. And yet this young man had taken it even further, wielding it like an impregnable shield.
Genius? Monster? Devil?
The words spun in Doflamingo's mind as the truth settled in.
His suspicion gave way to cautious respect. He licked his lips and forced his voice steady. "You… said you wanted to do business. If I join the Whitebeard Pirates, what's in it for me?"
Ashveil finally set down his fork and looked at him with a calm smile.
"After the war, when Whitebeard stands victorious, there will be nations that swear allegiance under our banner. I can grant you the tax rights to three of them."
Doflamingo's breath hitched. The taxes of three entire nations… He had bled to wrest control of Dressrosa, and this boy was offering him three countries' worth of wealth.
But Ashveil's next words cut the temptation with steel.
"You'll only have the taxes. The governing rights remain ours. And you will be responsible for protecting these nations from other pirates. That is non-negotiable."
To Doflamingo, this was hardly a problem. The Donquixote Family was powerful enough to handle minor threats, and the taxes alone could double his empire. Stability would serve him better than exploitation.
A slow grin crept across his face. "Fufufufu… You're interesting, Ashveil. I look forward to seeing your strength at Marineford. Let's toast to our deal."
Ashveil raised his glass. "Cheers."
Clink!
Crystal rang out, sealing their tentative alliance.
If Ashveil proved his worth in the war, Doflamingo would betray the Marines at the critical moment, turning double agent to Whitebeard's advantage. But if Ashveil failed, the Donquixote Family would remain aligned with the Marines.
Either way, Doflamingo wouldn't lose.
After finishing his meal, Ashveil pulled out a den-den mushi and contacted the Whitebeard Pirates.
"I won't return just yet," he said. "I have a plan—one that can help us rescue Ace and even win the war."
The plan was laid out carefully. Responsibilities were divided. Time was short—Ace's execution would soon be announced. Assignments were given: Jinbe would be contacted at Fish-Man Island.
When Ashveil hung up, Doflamingo raised a brow. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell the Marines everything you just said?"
Ashveil smiled faintly. "You're too smart for that. You won't betray me until you've chosen your side."
Behind them, the top officers of the Donquixote Family finally stirred. Trebol, Pica, and Diamante groaned as they pushed themselves up, clutching their heads.
"Ugh… my skull feels like it was split open…"
"What was that just now… Conqueror's Haki?"
"I've never felt anything so suffocating before."
The three of them froze as they spotted Ashveil standing near the entrance, casually holding a bottle of Doflamingo's prized red wine, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.
_____
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