Chapter 53: Doflamingo

On the way out of the training room, Garling walked in front with a dark face, and Lucia followed Carl with a red face.

Only Carl's expression remained calm, lost in thought, recalling the scene in the training room.

Wrapped in countless soft black feathers, Lucia had kissed him affectionately, and he kept his eyes open the whole time until Lucia released the fruit ability.

As the fire of desire burned out, Lucia slowly opened her eyes, only to find Carl staring at her intently...

Then Lucia fainted in Carl's arms, and it took him quite a bit of effort to wake her up.

Garling decided to prevent the two from sparring any further. He saw that the two would never fight each other again in their lifetime.

At this moment, filled with frustration, he walked ahead without uttering a word.

Carl glanced at Lucia, who was hanging her head beside him, and teased, "Lucia, your fruit ability really surprised me."

"Master, please don't tease me anymore, I... I..."

A wisp of steam rose from Lucia's head.

Although she still refused to look up, Carl could see her ears, which had turned bright red.

Carl did not intend to let Lucia off easily and continued, "But I want to hear it again—who did you say you liked the most?"

Lucia almost buried her head in her chest.

She hummed a few times, and finally, under Carl's "coercion," she whispered, "I like you the most, Master!"

Hearing this, Carl suddenly felt refreshed and nodded with satisfaction. "Enough!"

Garling could no longer bear it. He turned around and roared, but Carl wasn't afraid of him at all, and Lucia, startled, suddenly buried herself in Carl's arms again.

"..."

Garling silently put his hand on the handle of the sword at his waist, contemplating enforcing family law.

Carl was completely unaware and even hugged Lucia a little tighter.

"Bulu Bulu..."

The voice of the Den Den Mushi sounded, and Garling frowned slightly as he took out a Den Den Mushi with a white beard from his coat. There was a scar over the left eye of the Den Den Mushi, and it wore a very serious expression.

After Garling answered the call, the Den Den Mushi spoke in an old voice, "Saint Garling, come to the meeting room. There is something that requires your arbitration as the leader of the Knights of God."

"What is it? Speak clearly, I'm with my nephew."

The serious expression of the Den Den Mushi suddenly turned to surprise as it said, "Nephew? You mean Carl? You brought him back!?"

"Yes, he is back. Now tell me, what's the matter?"

"Okay, do you remember Homing of the Donquixote Family?"

"Oh, that complete idiot. I remember he sent a message some time ago wanting to return to Mary Geoise."

"Yes, but he's dead."

"Dead?"

A cold light flashed in Garling's eyes as he lightly raised his thumb, unsheathing the sharp blade at his waist, and said coldly, "How did he die? Who killed him? Hmph, although he deserved it, Celestial Dragon blood still flows in his veins. No one kills him without my permission!"

The Den Den Mushi was silent for a while, then slowly said, "It was his biological son, Doflamingo."

Garling's face froze. He suddenly looked up at Carl and then fell silent.

Carl spread his hands, cursing silently in his heart.

"What are you looking at me for? I haven't even started, yet you're already under scrutiny."

When there was no reply from Garling, the voice on the other end continued, "Doflamingo has just returned with the head of Saint Homing. He wants to express his intentions to return to the Celestial Dragons. This matter is a bit tricky. I have summoned members from other families, and we're waiting for you to come over to discuss this together."

"I see."

Garling hung up the phone, and Carl asked, "Uncle Garling, who was that?"

"Saint Saturn. You should have met him. He was at the Valley of Gods back then. He's one of the Five Elders and is currently responsible for the science division. He has a good relationship with our family."

"So, you have to go to his place now? Take me with you; I'm quite interested in this Doflamingo."

"I think his behavior aligns with your tastes."

Carl smiled and said, "Any reason I shouldn't go?"

"Fine, you've barely been to Mary Geoise. It's time you get familiar with the place. But first, you need to change your clothes."

"Change?"

Carl immediately thought of the space suits worn by the Celestial Dragons and expressed his disgust, "Forget it. Those clothes are fat and ugly. I don't like them."

Garling's face darkened as he said, "What nonsense are you talking about? You must wear our family's formal attire on this occasion. It's a symbol of status. Lucia will help you change. Let her take you there."

With that, Garling turned and left to change his clothes.

Lucia softly said, "Young Master, I think the family's formal attire looks very nice. Come on, I'll help you change."

Carl sighed helplessly, waved his hand, and followed Lucia back to his original room.

Nearly seven years had passed since Carl last left this place, but the furnishings in the palace were still clean and tidy, especially his room, which was spotless.

Lucia opened the wardrobe next to the bed, revealing a row of long black trench coats of the same style from childhood to adulthood.

She took out a few pieces that roughly fit Carl's figure and placed them on the bed, saying softly, "Every year when the young master was away, I ordered a few new ones, just in case you returned and couldn't find formal clothes that fit."

Carl looked at Lucia blankly. She seemed to always touch the deepest parts of his heart unintentionally.

Lucia stepped forward and gently untied Carl's shirt, saying softly, "I still remember how I used to change your clothes when you were a child. My skills might be a bit rusty now. I hope you won't blame me, young master..."

"Lucia, have you been cleaning my bedroom all these years?"

"Yes, it's my duty. Although there's no shortage of places to live here, I thought the young master would still prefer to stay here, right?"

"Yes."

Lucia neatly folded the unbuttoned coats and placed them on the bed. Then she picked up a black trench coat and helped Carl put it on, beginning to fasten the buttons.

Carl looked down at Lucia, who looked serious, and suddenly said, "Lucia, if I asked you to stay with me, would you feel like you've lost your freedom?"

Lucia was stunned for a moment. She raised her head and stared into Carl's eyes. Then she slowly pressed her face against Carl's chest and murmured softly, "How could that be possible? Master, this is my wish..."

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