Chapter 51

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Chapter 51: Top Traitor, G5 Vice Admiral Vergo

Cluck~

Doflamingo laughed softly, "The Straw Hat must have provoked Kaido somehow because Kaido has taken him as prey. No matter who supports him, it now seems he's as good as dead."

The ringtone of the phone bug suddenly echoed in the room. Doflamingo, facing Kaido's gaze, spread his hands to show he didn't have a phone bug. Kaido, realizing he still had one on him, searched himself and connected the phone bug.

The long-unheard voice came through. "Brother Kaido, I've brought people back," King said calmly on the other end.

Joker might be puzzled by these words, and this needed clarification. Some time ago, Kaido had sent King to Sky Island and the moon to capture Enel, the man with the Thunder Fruit, who was deemed the strongest Logia. The delayed reply suggested he hadn't found him on Sky Island. Therefore, King's trip to the moon had taken extra time.

"Where are you now?" Kaido asked.

"I'm at Sky Island. I just returned from the moon with him. I didn't dare bring the phone bug, so I couldn't contact you," King explained with slight apology.

Then he asked, "What should we do with him next? Bring him back to Haunted Island along with Pudding's abilities?"

"No need. The only valuable thing about this guy is his fruit. Take him to Hive Island and hand him over to Blackbeard. I'll tell him what to do," Kaido ordered.

"Understood."

After the phone bug hung up, King on Sky Island immediately took off with the unconscious Enel towards the New World. His Lunarian tribe's innate strength and endurance made flying such distances as simple for him as eating and drinking.

"The moon?" Doflamingo reacted with surprise after the call ended. "Can people really go up to that kind of place?"

The technology of their world was sufficient for basic physical observation, but without rockets or spacecraft to land on the moon, the World Government wouldn't allow anyone to research such travel. Using their current knowledge, space was considered uninhabitable for humans, wasn't it? Doflamingo pondered, his eyebrows twitching.

"If you want to go, you can ask King to take you up there later," Kaido replied, squinting at him without explaining how the moon allowed people like Enel to survive there. It was a mystery to him as well, and King was the only option for such a journey.

"Forget it. I'm more interested in the throne of the One Piece," Doflamingo smirked. "By the way, may I ask who was caught?" He inquired, adding, "I'm on your ship now, after all."

"Presumably someone lucky who ate a powerful Devil Fruit since you're sending him to Blackbeard. According to my family's intelligence, Blackbeard hasn't done such a thing to anyone else. He's satisfied with his group of pirates. So, if it's about luring someone, Don Quixote might be useful," Doflamingo implied, guessing at Kaido's intentions and deciding to play a role in the unfolding events.

"Have you heard of the Thunder Fruit?" Kaido asked casually.

"The strongest Logia, yes. I remember seeing it in the Devil Fruit Illustrated Book." A strange feeling arose in Doflamingo's heart as his family had not been able to find any information on the Thunder Fruit. "So, you have captured the Thunder Fruit's power? What's the plan for Blackbeard?"

"Do you need me to offer some treasures? I promise that all of them are treasures from the sea."

"No, I have something to trade," Kaido said lightly.

He couldn't just get Blackbeard to agree to retrieve the Thunder Fruit for him.

It had to serve another purpose.

It would allow him to distract another Four Emperor while he dealt with the Straw Hat.

"But since you're here, there is something I want," Kaido said, looking at him quietly again.

"My... What the?" Doflamingo peered into Kaido's eyes. He wouldn't be stingy if Kaido had a request.

"Hearts."

The moment he heard these two words, Doflamingo was shocked,

Initially, he thought Kaido wanted his life, his heart.

But regaining his composure, he realized Kaido didn't need to do that. It must be the "red heart" representing his family's four suits,

Immediately, he regretted it in his heart.

This was his trump card,

A secret likely known by only a few people in the world.

Why would Kaido want this? Did Kaido know his true identity?

"G5 Base Chief, Headquarters Vice Admiral Virgo," Kaido slowly revealed his knowledge.

Doflamingo's eyes twitched, and his palms became sweaty.

Had Virgo's identity been exposed?

If a group with an intelligence system as fragile as the Beasts Pirates knew, then the World Government surely had the information too.

Virgo would be in danger. It seemed that Doflamingo could only forfeit the emergency recall of his foundation...

"Don't worry, this secret is still safe. I have special intelligence," Kaido said, noticing Doflamingo's nervousness and explaining with a chuckle.

"But I need this person; he will be very useful to me."

Kaido couldn't pass up on a Vice Admiral and base commander of this caliber,

A rare talent who, if obtained, would bring the Marine's broader strategies and specific maneuvers under his control.

Besides, Virgo was strong,

He once broke Sanji's leg bone with a kick,

Sanji, known for his kicking prowess, was one third of the Straw Hat's primary fighters.

"Of course, Virgo will do his best to help you, and our entire Don Quixote Family stands with you," Doflamingo replied humbly.

In his words, he showed reluctance to give Virgo up completely,

Even if Virgo worked for Kaido, he would still represent Doflamingo and be a part of his Don Quixote Family.

But Kaido wasn't underestimating his own influence.

He only wanted those he could use,

Regardless of whose control they were under.

"I will support him to become an Admiral. Are you sure you can keep him in line then?" Kaido pressed on.

"An Admiral?" Doflamingo questioned in disbelief, unable to wrap his head around the idea.

It seemed Kaido intended not just to groom him for the title of One Piece but to give Virgo significant responsibility as well.

The importance of the Donquixote Family under the Beasts Pirates was self-evident.

This could be a good or bad thing,

Hinging on whether he could control Virgo after he became Admiral.

Without hesitation, Doflamingo replied,

"He will never betray me, and I will never betray you!"

"Please go ahead with confidence, Governor Kaido."