Stepping out of the dim hall, Daren lit a fresh cigar and stretched lazily.
The crumbling courtyard was overgrown with dead ivy, tangled around the ruins of a collapsed fountain. The night was bleak, the moonlight cold and pale as it spilled down from above.
Momonga stood silently in the shadows of the wall, completely motionless. He blended into the surrounding architecture so seamlessly it was as if he were part of it. For a full hour, he hadn't moved a muscle or even shifted his weight. His expression was cold and resolute. To Daren, it seemed like he wasn't even breathing—like a statue, silently standing guard.
A wave of warmth passed through Daren's chest as he spoke with a smile.
The North Blue was a perilous sea.
He still vividly remembered how chaotic it had been when he first arrived. The mafia fought openly in the streets, gunfire echoing through towns, while sobbing civilians trembled in alleyways. Meanwhile, the kingdom's elites clinked glasses at opulent banquets, untouched by the chaos.
There was no trust between people—only scheming, deceit, and betrayal. Someone might act like your sworn brother, showering you with flattery and gifts, only to stab you in the back the moment you turned away.
Clawing his way up the ladder of power, Daren had long lost count of how many people's blood stained his hands. He had always had more enemies than friends.
Even now, with nearly unrivaled power in the North Blue, he lived each day with caution.
In an environment , having a dependable second-in-command was a rare and fortunate thing.
Momonga stepped out from the shadows, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"You really are cold-blooded. He's just a twelve-year-old kid."
He had clearly overheard Daren's "CPU" speech to Doflamingo inside the hall.
"Even a young wolf can tear out a man's throat."
"Don't forget, he killed his own father at ten. And awakened Conqueror's Haki."
Momonga fell silent at that.
He glanced at the chip Daren was toying with, then cast a wary look toward the ominous hall.
"You're not worried he'll stab you in the back?"
"He wouldn't dare. No proof, and no one would believe him," Daren replied with a smile. "Besides, I'm his godfather now..."
Momonga rolled his eyes.
A son laughs over his father's death—that had already happened with Doflamingo.
But he also understood Daren's nature.
This ambitious supreme officer of the North Blue had madness flowing in his blood. He craved the thrill of danger, the rush of walking a tightrope at the edge of a cliff.
It was as if only in those suffocating moments—when his heart nearly stopped—could he truly feel alive.
"By the way, has the situation been contained?"
Daren suddenly asked, as if remembering something.
Momonga nodded seriously.
"The perimeter was secured, and civilians fully evacuated. Even the North Blue Marines who came with us don't know the details... All they know is that it was a mission to eliminate pirates."
"Good. Let's keep it quiet for as long as we can."
"It's about time we head back. If I'm not mistaken, we've got a meeting with Vinsmoke Judge tomorrow?"
Momonga replied in a low voice.
"That's right. The first batch of high-tech weapon prototypes from Germa is ready. You need to inspect them personally and conduct the first field tests."
"The exact location of the meeting is still awaiting confirmation from Vinsmoke Judge."
Daren nodded and began walking.
The wide cloak of justice behind him whipped in the wind.
"Excellent. That means our North Blue Fleet initiative can officially begin."
Under the night sky, his eyes gleamed brighter than the stars.
The dim hall was shrouded in shadows.
Cold moonlight pierced through the dusty glass dome above, spilling down like silver onto Doflamingo. The wall lamps flickered faintly, casting dancing patterns of light and dark.
The blond youth sat on a plush sofa, an extinguished cigar pinched between his fingers. His head leaned back, eyes unfocused, staring blankly at the distant dome ceiling.
It was unclear how much time had passed before the four finally stirred from their unconscious state. They glanced around in alarm, only relaxing once they confirmed the Marine was nowhere to be seen.
"Doffy... I mean... how did we end up back here?"
Leaning on his cane, Trebol struggled to his feet. His breath was ragged, and his face was deathly pale from the severity of his wounds.
"I don't know. I woke up here," Doflamingo replied.
"If I had to guess..."
Still staring at the moon through the dome, he suddenly grinned.
"It was probably Rogers Daren who sent us back."
The moment he said it, the four of them gasped in unison, cold sweat seeping down their backs.
This place was on Minion Island. The old, abandoned manor had long served as a secret base for the Donquixote Family—known only to them.
But now, the highest-ranking officer in the North Blue Navy had somehow returned them here while they were unconscious.
What did that mean...?
It meant that every move they'd made in the North Blue had already been under the watch of that monster-like Marine.
In a daze, they began to feel like even this secret stronghold was no longer safe. As if unseen terrors lurked within the dark corridors and eerie rooms, silently watching their every move.
"So, young master... what do we do now?"
Diamante asked anxiously.
Since setting out to sea, they had enjoyed smooth sailing, never facing a defeat . They were used to people kneeling before them, begging for mercy. Used to giving orders, not taking hits.
That Marine, Rogers Daren, was like an unshakable fortress blocking their path to conquering the North Blue.
He had annihilated thousands of their subordinates on his own. None of them could even last a single exchange against him.
That man was like a demon—terrifying and suffocating.
Doflamingo murmured. At last, his eyes regained focus.
He turned to meet the uneasy and fearful stares of Trebol and the others. He didn't speak for a long time.
I've already lost my entire family. You're all I have left.
The thought surfaced, bringing with it a wave of bitter emotion.
And in that moment, he finally understood why Daren had spared Trebol and the rest.
So that's it... that's why...
You're ruthless, Daren.
In your eyes, everything I've done must seem like nothing more than a child's game, huh?
Doflamingo sighed inwardly but gave a slight smile.
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As the four looked at him in growing disbelief,
the blond youth stood from the sofa and burst into laughter.
"From this day forward, Rogers Daren is the godfather of Donquixote Doflamingo!"
His crazed, maniacal laughter echoed throughout the grim, desolate courtyard...