Chapter 55

At the heart of the building lay a vast hall, whose dimensions were so vast that it could comfortably accommodate close to a thousand people. Dominating the center of the hall was a sprawling table made of Adam wood, its polished surface gleaming in the dim light of the room. It was here, amidst the grandeur and opulence, that the fate of tonight's meeting would be decided.

As Doffy took his seat at the far end of the imposing table, his keen observation Haki was on high alert, scrutinizing every detail of the room. He noted the subtle movements of the maids and butlers guiding the leaders to their seats; their every gesture was a potential threat in his eyes. His gaze lingered on the large velvet curtain behind him, sensing the hidden danger lurking just beyond.

Seated between Diamante and Senor, Doffy felt a sense of unease settle over him as he observed the goons stationed behind the curtain, their presence a stark reminder of the volatile nature of the gathering. Despite his discomfort, he maintained a facade of calm, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table as he tried to distract himself from the tension in the air.

Minutes stretched into eternity as the room filled with the leaders of the underworld, each one eyeing the others with a mixture of suspicion and disdain. Doffy's patience wore thin with each passing moment, his veins pulsing with suppressed anger at the delay. But he knew better than to let his emotions get the better of him, at least for the time being.

"Taptaptap..." His fingers continued their steady rhythm, a silent testament to his mounting impatience. But beneath the surface, a storm was brewing, and Doffy could only wait for the inevitable clash that lay ahead.

As the large door leading towards the exit closed with a resounding thud, signaling the start of the meeting, a hushed silence descended upon the room. All eyes turned towards the head of the table, where the representatives of the Five Families of the West Blue sat in solemn anticipation.

One of the representatives, a stout man with a graying beard, rose to his feet, his voice carrying across the room with authority.

"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed leaders of the underworld," he began, his words measured and deliberate. He decided not to bullsh*t around and directly dove into the heart of the matter. "We have gathered here today to address a matter of utmost importance—the growing influence of the Donquixote family and its impact on our operations."

His gaze swept across the room, pausing briefly on Doffy before continuing. "It has come to our attention that the Donquixote family has been expanding its reach into territories that rightfully belong to us. This cannot be allowed to continue unchecked."

Doffy leaned back in his chair, his expression one of mild amusement as he listened to the veiled threats disguised as diplomatic discourse. He exchanged a knowing glance with Senor and Diamante, silently acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

The representative continued, his tone growing more assertive with each passing moment. "Therefore, it is imperative that we take decisive action to ensure that our interests are protected. To this end, we propose a mutually beneficial arrangement—one that will restore balance to the underworld and preserve the integrity of our operations."

Doffy chuckled softly under his breath, the irony of the situation not lost on him. "And what, pray tell, does this 'arrangement' entail?" He interjected, his voice laced with sarcasm.

The representative faltered momentarily, caught off guard by Doffy's interruption, but quickly regained his composure. "Simply put, we expect the Donquixote family to withdraw from territories currently under our control, cease all expansion efforts immediately, and unconditionally surrender all your weapon manufacturing core details," he declared, his tone firm and unwavering.

Doffy raised an eyebrow, his amusement evident as he leaned forward, resting his chin on his folded hands. "Ah, I see. And if we refuse?" he inquired, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

The representative's expression darkened, his facade of civility slipping for a moment before he regained his composure. "Then we will have no choice but to take more... drastic measures," he replied cryptically, his words laden with thinly veiled threats.

Doffy's smirk widened into a sly grin as he leaned back in his chair, unfazed by the veiled threats. "My dear friend, you underestimate the lengths to which I am willing to go to protect what is mine," he countered, his tone dripping with confidence.

With that, the stage was set for a high-stakes showdown between the Donquixote family and the Five Families of the West Blue, each side poised to defend their interests at any cost. And as the meeting wore on, tensions continued to escalate, with the outcome hanging in the balance.

"Hahaha, you little bastard, do you still think you have a choice here?" The man from the Five Families laughed out loud, his voice dripping with malice. "Do you really think it was only our authority that you truly challenged? No, brat, more than half of these people sitting here want your head on a platter," he declared, his words laced with thinly veiled threats as the eyes of many in the room focused on Doffy with cruel smirks.

Doffy's smirk remained firmly in place, his demeanor calm and collected despite the mounting tension in the air. "Ah, but you see, my dear friend, I've always been one to defy expectations," he replied smoothly, his tone betraying none of the unease he felt beneath the surface.

As whispers began to circulate among the attendees, another voice rose above the murmurs. It was a leader from one of the smaller gangs, his voice filled with righteous indignation as he stood up to address the assembly.

"Are you guys trying to go against the code established by the Underworld?" He demanded, his gaze sweeping across the room as he questioned the motives behind the Five Families' actions. "Have the Five Families thought about the consequences of violating the code?"

The room fell into a tense silence as the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on everyone present. The code of the Underworld was sacrosanct, a set of unspoken rules that governed the behavior of all those involved in the shadowy world of organized crime. To break these rules was to invite chaos and discord, threatening the fragile balance that held the Underworld together.

Whispers grew louder as more voices joined in, expressing doubts and concerns about the Five Families' reckless disregard for the code. It was clear that the decision to lay a trap using the name of the Underground had struck a nerve, casting doubt on the integrity of the Five Families and sowing seeds of dissent among their ranks.

"Bang!" The deafening sound of gunfire echoed through the hall, cutting through the growing commotion like a knife through butter. Shock rippled through the assembled crowd as they realized what had just transpired. All eyes turned to the representative who had spoken for the Five Families, their expressions a mix of horror and disbelief.

Moments earlier, they had been engaged in heated debate, questioning the motives and actions of the Five Families. Now, with a single gunshot, the illusion of civility shattered, replaced by a stark reality of violence and betrayal.

The leader of the small gang lay slumped in his chair, a pool of blood spreading beneath him as his lifeless eyes stared blankly ahead. The room fell into a stunned silence as the gravity of the situation sank in.

The representative, his voice dripping with sarcasm, broke the silence with a chilling question. "Anyone else that would like to challenge the decision of the Five Families?" He sneered, his words a thinly veiled threat. "If yes, then you can follow in his footsteps."

Within moments, the entire hall was surrounded by goons carrying weapons. Fear and uncertainty hung heavy in the air as the attendees grappled with the harsh reality of their situation. They had come here seeking resolution, only to find themselves ensnared in a deadly trap orchestrated by those they had trusted.

"Now, for those who have yet to align with us," the man declared, his voice carrying a tone of authority, "I offer you a last chance at redemption. Join us, and together we shall rule the entire Underworld as its undisputed overlords."

Doffy observed the room, noting that the majority—more than sixty percent—had already pledged their allegiance to the Five Families. The remaining attendees seemed to waver, their expressions torn between fear and uncertainty.

As the man's proposal hung in the air, a smattering of applause broke out. Doffy, already on his feet with an amused smile playing across his lips, joined in the applause.

"Bravo! That was quite the performance," Doffy remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Truly remarkable. I must say, I'm impressed."

The man's facade of confidence faltered for a moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features. But he quickly regained his composure, his gaze narrowing on Doffy with a mixture of disdain and determination.

"Do you have a death wish, brat?" he sneered. "Or do you believe that simply because you have a powerful devil fruit user by your side, you are invincible? Look around you. Every gun in this room is loaded with seastone bullets, ready to restrain him. You have no way out. Today, the name of the Donquixote Pirates will be erased from history."

Doffy sneered at the man, his confidence unwavering. He knew the man's claims about the abundance of seastone bullets were likely exaggerated. Seastone was a rare and precious resource, not something that could be easily mass-produced. Even the World Government would struggle to equip an entire army with such ammunition. Doffy estimated that only a handful of the gunmen in the room might possess seastone bullets, and he was prepared to deal with them.

"Hehe, now that you've made your offer, it's only fair that I make mine," Doffy retorted, his laughter echoing through the hall like the cackle of a madman. "Serve me, and in return, I will grant you dominion over this world."

The faces of the remaining attendees darkened at Doffy's proposition. While the Five Families had offered cooperation, Doffy's demand for servitude was met with resentment and suspicion. The tension in the room grew palpable as silence fell over the hall.

After what felt like an eternity, only three individuals stepped forward to stand behind Doffy. He regarded them with a smirk, intrigued by their boldness.

"You've made a wise choice. What's your name?" Doffy inquired, addressing the young man who stood at the forefront.

"Marcus, Master Doflamingo. I am ready to serve you," the young man replied, bowing respectfully, followed by his two aides.

Before any further words could be exchanged, a gunshot rang out, aimed at Doffy's head. With lightning-fast reflexes honed by his observation Haki, Doffy tilted his head, narrowly dodging the bullet.

"Kill them!" the man from the Five Families barked, his command echoing through the room.

In an instant, Senor sprang into action, unleashing his devastating bird cage technique. Strings of razor-sharp wire shot out from his fingertips, encircling the entire island in a lethal cage, trapping everyone within its confines. Meanwhile, Diamante drew his blade, which was disguised as his belt, ready to engage anyone who dared to oppose them.

As Senor's Bird Cage enveloped the island, trapping all within its deadly embrace, chaos erupted in the meeting hall. Doffy's smirk widened into a twisted grin as he reveled in the pandemonium. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned forth the fiery power of his Flame-Flame fruit, engulfing the room in a blaze of searing heat.

"Feel the flames of hell, you pathetic worms!" Doffy's voice echoed with maniacal glee as flames danced from his fingertips, licking hungrily at the terrified attendees. The seastone bullets now seemed like mere trifles as Doffy's Devil Fruit abilities granted him dominion over the very essence of fire itself.