Chapter 77: Doflamingo!

Sabaody Archipelago!

The towering mangroves stretched into forests, casting shadows over the island. Countless bubbles drifted lazily through the air, creating a surreal landscape.

Crunch, crunch…

Marine Vice Admiral Momousagi pedaled down a quiet path on a bubble tricycle, her expression serene as she moved through the eerily still archipelago.

"Am I seeing this right?" one pirate whispered from behind the roots of a mangrove, his eyes wide with disbelief. His companions exchanged glances, unsure whether to believe their own eyes.

The pirate captain rubbed his eyes furiously. "No... I'm not mistaken."

Before them, the new commander of the Sabaody Archipelago, Marine Vice Admiral Gion, was riding a bubble tricycle.

"Is this real? Am I dreaming?"

Rumors had spread that on her first day on the island, Gion had used her beauty to bait and capture several formidable pirates. Now, though, what they were witnessing was beyond strange.

Suddenly, a bubble burst nearby.

Pop!

The sharp sound startled a flock of birds, sending them into the air. The pirates, equally shocked, fell backward in a clumsy heap. Their grunts of pain quickly confirmed that this was no dream.

"Seriously, Leno, you're living the life!" Buggy, trailing behind on a bubble bike, shot an envious look at the tricycle. His face contorted with both jealousy and longing.

He would have given anything to hitch a ride himself. But the thought of the ferocious Marines ahead made him break into a nervous sweat.

"I'll pass," Buggy muttered under his breath, riding off in another direction.

From the shadows, a flurry of movement caught the pirates' attention. Marines, swift and silent, encircled the group of stunned pirates.

"Found the targets! Move in!"

The dazed pirates were no match for the Marines, who swiftly subdued them with ruthless efficiency. One pirate groaned, "What's gotten into these guys today?"

A younger pirate, still in shock, murmured,

"You didn't hear? That beauty Vice Admiral is riding a tricycle with the head of the Hunter's Guild from East Blue."

The older pirate's jaw dropped. "What? Are you serious?"

"I saw it with my own eyes!"

The rumor spread like wildfire, sweeping across the Sabaody Archipelago and drawing the attention of various factions. After all, the archipelago was the gateway to the New World, a convergence point for pirates, bounty hunters, and slavers alike.

In the more unsavory parts of the island, the illegal trade of fish-men, humans, and mermaids thrived, sanctioned by the powerful and wealthy. Here, the most disturbing of activities were conducted beneath the island's veneer of beauty.

At one such auction house, hidden in the shadows of Area 7, an elite crowd gathered. Sitting in a dimly lit box above the auction floor, a man sipped red wine and watched the proceedings with a smug grin.

"Xixixixi... Tezolo, do you fancy her?" Doflamingo's laughter rang out, sharp and cold.

"If I'd known, I would have gifted her to you."

Across from him, Gild Tesoro, the infamous Casino King, responded flatly, "I prefer to pay for what I want."

Doflamingo's grin widened. "You cheeky bastard. You stole the Gol-Gol Fruit and now parade around as the Casino King. And you have the nerve to act high and mighty in front of me?"

Anger flickered across Doflamingo's face, veins bulging at his temples. "Should I put you in your place?"

Tesoro, however, remained calm, a glimmer of gold spreading from the glass he held, turning it into a solid golden cup.

"You still don't get it, do you? This is the power of the Gol-Gol Fruit. Everything I touch becomes gold."

He took a sip from his golden cup, his voice low and menacing. "Doflamingo, do you know what that means? Unlimited Belly."

Doflamingo's eyes glinted as he gazed at the golden cup. "Xixixixi… Impressive. But how long can you keep this up? Once you release your Devil Fruit's ability, everything reverts, right?"

A sinister smile tugged at the corners of Tesoro's lips. "Don't underestimate me, Doflamingo. There's something called Awakening. Once my fruit is fully awakened, I'll be able to permanently alter the properties of matter."

Doflamingo laughed, his sharp tone filling the dark room. "Xixixixi, looks like you've picked up some tricks in Mary Geoise."

At the mention of Mary Geoise, Tesoro's expression darkened, but he didn't rise to the bait. "If you're not interested, I'll take my leave."

As Tesoro stood to go, Doflamingo called after him, "Wait!"

He chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Let's not get too hasty. Business is business, after all. No need to flip the table so soon."

Just then, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Doflamingo stepped outside to find Monet waiting.

"What is it?" he asked, his voice cold.

Monet leaned in and whispered, "We've received information that Leno, the head of the Hunter's Guild, has landed on Sabaody. His purpose remains unclear."

Doflamingo raised an eyebrow. "Leno, here? What is that guy planning?"

"The Marine resident commander, Vice Admiral Gion, is keeping a close eye on him," Monet added.

Doflamingo's sinister smile returned. "Xixixixi, this is getting interesting. The Marines are in for a headache."

Monet handed over a document. "Additionally, there's word that the fish-man who joined the Beasts Pirates is also on the island."

"Jack, right? Kaido seems to have taken a liking to him," Doflamingo mused.

"Well, it seems things are about to get lively. Let's make sure Jack hears about this. He'll definitely want to make a move."

"Understood, young master."

Monet left to deliver the message, leaving Doflamingo to return to Tesoro. "Sorry about the interruption."

Tesoro's curiosity was piqued. "What's got you so amused?"

"Have you heard of the Hunter's Guild?"

"The one from East Blue?" Tesoro scoffed.

"They think they can challenge the New World? How arrogant. They don't stand a chance against the Four Emperors."

Doflamingo chuckled. "Maybe. But word is, Leno defeated Kuzan."

Tesoro's eyes narrowed. "You really believe that?"

"Who knows," Doflamingo replied. "But I'm eager to see it for myself."

With the stage set, the island of Sabaody was about to erupt into chaos once more.

In the bustling Area 33, known as the Sabaody Park, Leno, Kuina, and Buggy found themselves amidst a flurry of lively activity. The air was filled with the sounds of amusement, with attractions like the Ferris wheel, drop tower and roller coaster entertaining the crowds.

Leno grinned, his eyes scanning the park. "Let's go and play together!" he said to Kuina.

"Eh? Really? We can actually play?" Kuina's eyes sparkled with curiosity. She had never seen such a massive playground before, let alone one with a Ferris wheel.

"Of course," Leno nodded confidently. "I'll take you. Buggy, want to join us?"

Buggy, shaking his head, declined immediately. "No thanks, I'll stay here and eat. You go ahead."

"Alright," Leno shrugged. "Watch the Bon Chari, though. The Sabaody Archipelago is huge, we'll be back soon."

As they headed towards the attractions, Gion, the Vice Admiral who had been keeping an eye on Leno, sighed. She wasn't used to following someone around like this, but something about Leno made her uneasy. Her gut told her there was more to his playful demeanor than met the eye.

Suddenly, Leno turned to her. "Hey, Vice Admiral, can you buy the tickets for us?"

Gion's eyes narrowed, barely hiding her annoyance. Was this guy really making her, a Vice Admiral, buy tickets?

A murmur erupted from the nearby Marines, who had been silently watching from the shadows.

"Did he just ask our goddess to buy tickets?"

"I can't take this! I must stop him!"

The Marines gritted their teeth, their loyalty to Gion making it hard to stomach what they were witnessing. But before they could act, Gion, keeping her emotions in check, simply nodded.

"No problem," she said, much to the disbelief of the hidden onlookers.

Inside the amusement park, Leno and Kuina gleefully headed toward the Ferris wheel. Before boarding, Leno handed his sword to Gion.

"Here, hold this."

Gion took the sword, instantly feeling its immense weight.

"What...?" She hadn't expected such heaviness. This wasn't just any sword.

Leno winked at her before hopping into the Ferris wheel with Kuina, leaving Gion standing there with the blade. She frowned, still puzzled by Leno's carefree attitude. Was he really just here to play? Her instincts told her otherwise.

Outside the amusement park, Buggy sat at a restaurant, happily stuffing his face with food.

"It's strange," he mused, staring out into the distance.

"When the captain and I came here, none of these rides were here. It's been over ten years, huh?"

Suddenly, Buggy overheard a conversation from a nearby table. "Did you hear? Momousagi and Leno are here together!"

"What? Gion and Leno, together? Are they… dating?"

Buggy nearly choked on his food. Dating? Gion and Leno? That didn't sound right. Could it be an act? A lightbulb went off in Buggy's head.

"Yes, that's it!" he thought.

"They must be pretending! Leno came here to date Gion in secret before the big battle. That sly dog!"

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the Sabaody Archipelago, Jack of the Beasts Pirates heard some startling news.

"Leno? The one who challenged us? He's here?"

Jack stood up, his towering frame casting a shadow over the fish-man who delivered the message.

"An East Blue nobody thinks he can challenge the Beasts Pirates?" His voice was laced with disdain.

"Brother Jack," the fish-man cautioned,

"Leno is traveling with a Marine Vice Admiral. It might be wise to consult Kaido-sama first."

Jack scoffed, dismissing the warning.

"Vice Admiral or not, I'll crush them both!" He started marching toward Area 33, his fury evident in his every step.

The Marines tracking Jack quickly sent out an alert.

"Jack, the notorious pirate from the Beasts Pirates, is on the move! Inform Vice Admiral Gion immediately! If they encounter him, the battle could break out sooner than expected!"

As Leno, Kuina, and Gion enjoyed their day at the amusement park, danger loomed closer with every passing moment.

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+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg

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