Chapter 60

Knockdown island. It was previously a place filled with blood and violence. In this place, pirates used to laugh and drink heartily, celebrating the fact that they managed to bypass Marine Base G-2.

Then, months ago, there was an abrupt appearance of one marine. He, as his justice coat fluttered on his back, sweep across the entire island, and—

<White Out.>

—brought the entirety of pirates there to ruination. Knockdown no longer was the island under pirates' control, but instead, an empty land full of opportunity.

Many tycoons eyed this piece of land greedily. Simultaneously, an auction was held—one to decide to whom this island will go to.

<Five hundred million! Going once! Going twice—>

<Fuffuffuffu,> And in the middle of the auction, Donquixote Doflamingo barged in, <Two billion.>

Thus, here was the current Knockdown island—the entertaining park filled with various amusement rides, interesting circuses, enjoyable foods, and many more.

And in the centre of this newly established 'Doflamingo Park,' there stood one luxurious-looking building. It peaked above all else, and on its topmost floor was Doflamingo's office, where he currently dwelled within, gazing at the majestic scenery through the window.

"How is the situation at Sabaody Archipelago." Doflamingo, who seemed to be in a foul mood at the current moment, asked.

Behind him stood the executives of Donquixote family, who all knelt down in a submissive manner. Among them, Trebol spoke with a snot dangling out from his nose, "Beheheh, it's confirmed, Doffy. All routes have been discovered, and there is no doubt—White Hunter has a source of intel."

"...Or in other words, a spy." Doflamingo, placing his hand over his forehead, crackled, "I initially believed that 'White Hunter' was merely acting—no, I wished that such was the case. I mean, fuffuffuffu... being suspicious of my very own family? That wasn't something that I wanted to resort to.

And yet, it did turn out that one of you betrayed me."

Then, Doflamingo's right hand twitched, and in correspondence, one executive member, Giolla, abruptly stood up from her position all of a sudden.

"Y-young boss?" Giolla panicked as her body began to move on its own. She tried to wriggle her body around, but instead, ended up robotically walking toward Doflamingo.

"Giolla." Doflamingo gazed at the obese woman with curly hair of orange and blonde colours. Giolla, stopping in front of Doflamingo, then had her knees forced to the ground.

"Why did you betray me?"

Giolla's eyes held confusion. The fact that her beloved boss was accusing her of being a traitor—it truly ached her heart.

"I—I swear to you that I did not! There must be something wrong!" Giolla therefore stuttered while sweating profusely, "Young boss! Please believe in me! Someone is trying to manipulate you—"

"Manipulate? Me?" Doflamingo cut off Giolla's words. He leaned down and looked at the middle-aged woman on eye-level. Though his eyes were hidden behind the sunglasses,

Crack—

the small cracks that were being generated at the edges of windows—Doflamingo's burst of Conqueror's Haki was enough to express his fury.

"Giolla... how much have you leaked? Who sided with you in doing so?"

Giolla desperately shook her head, "I didn't!!! I really didn't, young boss!!!"

"...I see." Doflamingo, as if having finished his business with her, stood back up, "Even in the end, you attempt to deceive me... not even a single shred of loyalty exists in you, it seems."

"I—" Giolla was about to speak, however, a thin string suddenly flew into her view. It violently penetrated her lips, and stitched upper and lower parts together—such that she was no longer capable of opening her mouth.

The blood dripped down Giolla's stitched lips. Her eyes became bloodshot from the pain. Then, they became teary. Such turn of event, and such a miserable ending without any glory—Giolla dreamed of making Doflamingo the king of the world, and she wasn't afraid of dying while doing so. However, being killed by remorseful Doflamingo out of all was...

Click. Doflamingo's right hand held onto a pistol. Its barrel was directly pointed at Giolla's forehead, who continued to stare at Doflamingo with nothing but disbelief.

"...Those who refuse to obey me, face the retribution."

Then,

BANG!

The blood splattered all around the room. Giolla's body fell down powerlessly with a thud, dead. However, Doflamingo didn't cease shooting,

BANG!

BANG!

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!

Sixteen shots. The dead body of Giolla, at this point, wasn't even recognizable.

Click. And Doflamingo ran out of bullets—which he noticed upon pulling the trigger for the seventeenth time.

"...Tch." Doflamingo clicked his tongue before throwing the pistol away. Stepping over the mutilated corpse, Doflamingo walked through the still-kneeling executives. His footsteps left behind bloody footprints, and upon witnessing such a sight, Trebol, Diamante, and Pica—they unconsciously grinned in a crazed manner.

"Trebol, take care of the rest. And then," Doflamingo stopped in front of a round table covered by the luxurious table cover. On top of the table was a plate, and on top of said plate lied a strange-looking fruit, "We'll begin our move."

Among the executives, one man in a black suit, Senor Pink, seemed to be shocked by the abrupt death of Giolla.

__________

"Recently, I've come across some idiots," I said as I took a sip from a cup of tea. After some time passed by, I was currently in the Marine Base at Grove 66, sitting around the round table with my fellow colleagues: Bastille and Cancer.

"They, with nothing but a vigorous motive to rescue their captured sister, sailed in this harsh sea without any navigation skill. If I didn't manage to see them drifting through a stroke of luck, they would've been dead."

Bastille, gulping down the tens of rice crackers at once, then muttered, "That means... there may have been those who lost their lives in that way-dara."

"And coupled with what you've said before, about how this island will eventually return back to its previous state without your presence... I suppose that we do need to move these civilians back." Cancer, whose hands were shaking uncontrollably, said in a calm tone.

"One thing to consider is the fact that the civilians here are either from the East Blue, South Blue, or nearby islands in Paradise." I explained, "And I doubt that I will be able to travel all across such seas with this number of people to carry."

"...I'll take care of the 'Paradise' part-dara," Bastille then said gravely, "Apart from your request, I'm in the process of investigating that scum, Martini-dara."

'Martini' Hook is a Warlord at the present time. Bastille's blatant claim just now was a dangerous statement to make, for 'investigating' Hook meant going against the World Government. Yet, I simply nodded, and Cancer too didn't express any surprise at the red-haired marine's words.

And worry not, for there was the White Den Den Mushi in my chest pocket—one that nullifies the ability of Black Den Den Mushi to eavesdrop. Furthermore, I previously had Rosinante use his fruit ability to render the ongoing conversation in this room silent to anyone outside. After all, Barricade—I was well aware that he was a loyal follower of the World Government's Absolute Justice.

Nodding upon hearing Bastille's firm statement, I turned to Cancer. He hummed before opening his mouth, "I'll handle the East Blue then. Am quite curious of Loguetown, after all."

"South Blue for me then, I guess," I remarked, before leaning back in my seat. Turning to Bastille, I asked, "Oh yeah, what happened to Maynard by the way?"

Bastille, throwing another rice cracker in his mouth, shrugged, "He joined Admiral Akainu's division. For more experience, he said-dara."

"...So he must be sailing in the New World, huh," Cancer muttered while crossing his arms to hide his trembling hands, before his face darkened, as if having remembered a bad memory.

Bastille, not getting a hint of Cancer's emotion, asked out of curiosity, "Oh right, you did mention before that you're from the New World-dara. I remember Maynard telling me a week ago that he's heading to Egghead island. Have you been there before-dara?"

"...No. The only place I've been in the New World is the Totto Land." Cancer replied gloomily, "But Maynard... maybe I should've done the same as him."

Bastille, who seemed confused by Cancer's sudden shift in mood, turned and looked at me questioningly. Biting on a rice cracker, I shrugged in response.

And then, our hearty conversation continued, catching up with how we've been doing, debating the state of the world, and sharing our hobbies and interests—for the rest of the night.

__________

[Three Weeks After; September 7th, 1505]

A busy month it was. Leaving Sabaody Archipelago, my division sailed across the Calm Belt while carrying hundreds of civilians with us. Stopping by from island to island, we dropped off the civilians back at their hometown.

They rejoiced. Hugging their family members tight and letting out tears of joy, they celebrated their reunions.

<Thank you!! You guys are the true heroes!!>

<Will you visit our island some time, Smoker-san?>

All my subordinates held smiles on their faces. Watching as the people express gratitude to us made them feel good and motivated. And among them, Rosinante seemed to be the one who was affected the most. He received the words of thanks with nothing but a shock as if he's never been thanked before.

"And now, the question is..." And back to the present, I muttered to myself while looking at the joyful young girl, Koala, "...Which island are you from?"

Frankly speaking, my memory regarding the canon wasn't perfect. The trivial details such as the name of the island which Koala came from—I couldn't remember no matter how many times I tried to squeeze it out of my brain.

"Um..." Koala, placing his finger on her lips, then laughed, "Heheh! Koala's home has lots of spiky big plants!"

"Yeah, I have no idea which island that can be," I let out a light chuckle while shaking my head, "Well, it seems like you'll be stuck with us for quite some time, Koala."

Koala replied brightly, "Eh... I think it's going to be alright! Mom has lots of friends, so she won't be lonely!"

Robin, who was standing nearby Koala, gazed at Koala with an underlying suspicion, "Lots of friends? That..."

"Don't be excessively pessimistic, Orobi," I quickly interrupted Robin, who stood still in a stoic manner before nodding in realization.

"...My bad, Koala," She tapped Koala on the latter's head, and the young girl simply tilted her head in confusion while still smiling.

"And with that said," I, gazing at the calm ocean of the South Blue, said to myself, "Everyone was sent back to their home—"

<<Purururu, Purururu,>> A loud, ringing noise of one Den Den Mushi was heard, <<Purururu, Purururu!>>

All ongoing conversations in my ship ceased. Everyone gazed at the crying Den Den Mushi with seriousness, and I walked up to the creature and accepted the call,

"Rear Admiral Smoker here."

<<Rear Admiral Smoker, a personal request was sent on your side.>> The voice from the outside immediately spoke without any form of greeting, <<The king Moqueca of Samba kingdom requested that you escort him to the newly established 'Doflamingo Park' in Paradise.>>

A personal request they said. However, said request was from one of the monarchs affiliated with the World Government. This was simply a 'nice' way to give out an order—I was well aware of this.

In addition, Moqueca was quite a famous fellow, in a bad way. Blatant executions of his own civilians because he simply 'wanted to.' Taking control of all his people and sucking them dry to build his wealth. And above all, his loud declaration to become the 'harem king.' He was a much worse version of king Barnon, if I were to comment.

Aramaki frowned, immediately expressing his dislike. Rosinante hid his emotion relatively well—though his fists were clenched tight. Robin and the rest of my subordinates grimaced, not liking the idea of this mission.

'...Is this what you prepared for me, Doflamingo?'

I, on the other hand, grinned as I spoke,

"I accept."

__________

SLAP!

"""AHHH, KING MOQUECA!!!!!" The royal guards of king Moqueca screamed in horror as I slapped the man with absurd hair on his cheek.

"AHHHH!!!! WHY DID YOU HIT ME?!!!!" King Moqueca, said man with absurd hair, screamed at me while holding his swollen cheek.

"Eh... sorry for my brutality, king." In return, I said lazily while picking my ear, "But it wasn't out of any spite whatsoever."

Currently, the ship was sailing in the Calm Blue with Moqueca and his guards boarded my ship.

"You see, a dangerous bug named Aceuqom inhabits this area of sea. Once you're bitten, you'll die within a week before getting a chance to enjoy the Doflamingo Park."

Moqueca's eyes widened upon hearing my words, "F-for real?!"

I nodded casually, "Us marines have a tolerance to those bugs, but you guys don't. One previously landed on your cheek, so I naturally had to kill it before it could infect you."

The king's face turned pale as he gulped, "W-wow! I had no idea... thank you for the save, marine! If I died here, I wouldn't have got the chance to buy the new batch of slaves after year-long boredom—"

SLAP! Slapping his other cheek, I interrupted his words.

"Tch, another bug. Please excuse my rudeness, king. I'd rather have your cheeks swollen than have you die."

"Ho..." Aramaki watched my action while stroking his chin, before,

BOOM! Slamming his fist onto the one royal guard's exposed face. That royal guard was flown back with a couple of teeth broken and his nose shattered.

"""AHH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!""" The other guards shouted with their eyes popped out.

"Damn... be thankful for what I've just done. I'm seeing lots of bugs today," Aramaki shrugged in response.

"...Agreed." Rosinante then spoke up, "Lots of bugs today indeed."

"One is coming your way. Let us save you."

"We got your back!"

Following suit, the other marine soldiers began to take steps toward the royal guards, who were looking to their left and right nervously.

"Ish, ish fuine, all of fyou! Don wowwy!" At the back, Moqueca said to his guards with a smile, with his face swollen beyond a recognizable degree. The royal guards looked at their king in disbelief, before,

Boom!

"OOF—"

Bam!

"AHH!!!!"

The helping hands arrived.