"Really? Sir, you must know that you are the representative sent by the World Government to handle this incident. As for me, I am just a lowly Vice Admiral at Marine Headquarters,"
Daren said with a troubled expression.
Staff Officer Tsuru: "..."
The World Government official looked like he was about to cry. With a miserable face, he pleaded,
"Vice Admiral Daren, please don't play around with me."
Daren raised his hands helplessly and sighed.
"Since you insist, I'll do my best then."
"Now, would you kindly contact the Five Elders?"
Hearing this, the World Government official felt as if he had been granted a pardon.
At this moment, he bitterly regretted his earlier foolishness.
At first, he thought this mission would be a cushy assignment. He never expected that all his colleagues would end up dead, and he'd be left with no way to explain himself.
With trembling hands, he pulled out an encrypted Den Den Mushi and dialed a number.
The Den Den Mushi rang for a few seconds before the call was picked up.
A hoarse, ancient voice came through, carrying an unsettling arrogance and cold indifference.
"How is the situation being handled?"
The official knelt respectfully on the ground and stammered,
"Doflamingo went mad. He completely disregarded the government's authority and launched a ruthless massacre against us!"
"Fortunately, Vice Admiral Rogers Daren of Marine Headquarters arrived in time, and I was lucky to survive."
"The situation is now under control. Doflamingo has lost all ability to resist... Please, great sirs, make your judgment!"
There was a brief silence on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"Have that brat Daren speak."
Daren recognized the familiar voice.
The official hurriedly bowed and, with trembling hands, presented the Den Den Mushi to Daren.
Daren casually took it and, smiling respectfully, spoke,
"Great and noble Warrior God of Justice, Saint Topman Warcury, greetings. I am Rogers Daren, honored to once again await your orders."
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, at the World Government Headquarters inside Pangaea Castle's council hall.
The faint fragrance of freshly brewed tea lingered in the air as the highest authorities of the World Government stood or sat, each radiating a profound, unfathomable presence.
On the tea table before them sat a gleaming golden encrypted Den Den Mushi.
At this moment, the Den Den Mushi opened its mouth, projecting a beam of light onto the gray wall.
The image of Daren, Doflamingo, Staff Officer Tsuru, and others was displayed clearly.
Seated on a plush sofa, Topman Warcury—no, Saint Topman Warcury—watched the scene unfold with a faint smile on his face.
He glanced down at Doflamingo, who lay motionless on the ground, and said indifferently,
"Well, Daren, what's Doflamingo's condition?"
"Doflamingo is currently under my control and has temporarily lost consciousness,"
"What about the Heavenly Tribute?"
The blond Five Elder, the Warrior God of Agriculture, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, asked coldly.
Daren shook his head with some difficulty.
"I'm sorry. We haven't found any trace of the Heavenly Tribute yet. Based on my judgment, it's highly likely that Doflamingo has hidden it somewhere."
Hearing this, the Five Elders all frowned slightly.
They exchanged glances.
Then, the Warrior God of Science and Defense, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, wearing a black flat cap and sporting a white beard, lightly tapped his ancient cane on the floor and rasped,
"Wake Doflamingo up."
Daren waved his hand, signaling to the Marines.
The kneeling Marines immediately sprang into action, and before long, Doflamingo slowly regained consciousness.
He struggled to lift his swollen eyelids and, spotting the Den Den Mushi connected to the call, quickly pieced the situation together.
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he let out a sinister chuckle.
"Fufufufu, so it's you five old relics..."
A military boot suddenly stomped down hard on his head, blasting a shallow crater into the ground and sending rubble flying.
The brutality of the scene made everyone's eyelids twitch violently.
Doflamingo grunted heavily, fresh blood seeping from his mouth. The sheer force of the stomp caused his pupils to momentarily dilate, his face smashed and bloodied.
"Damn Marine! One day I'll kill you!" Latest content published on novelFirｅ.net
He roared, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Daren with vicious hatred.
A suffocating killing intent burst from his body, almost tangible in the air, dropping the temperature around them.
Daren pressed down on Doflamingo's head without a shred of hesitation, bent over, and sneered coldly.
"Mind your attitude, Doflamingo.
Right now, you're speaking to the highest authority of the World Government—the Five Elders!"
Blood dripped from Doflamingo's mouth and nose as he laughed brazenly.
"Five Elders, huh? Without the Heavenly Tribute, you're nothing but a bunch of lapdogs groveling at my feet!
Fufufufu... Go ahead, kill me! I'd love to see how you plan to explain to the Celestial Dragons back in the Holy Land!"
"You're digging your own grave!"
Daren roared, pulling out his military sword in a flash and swinging it like lightning toward Doflamingo's neck!
Staff Officer Tsuru and the nearby Marines' faces changed drastically, their pupils shrinking sharply.
Daren's attack was too sudden, too fast—they had no way to stop him!
At that moment, a cold, oppressive voice rang out from the Den Den Mushi.
The military sword halted midair. The force of the swing dispersed abruptly, sending a gust sweeping across the ground.
A thin line of blood appeared on the back of Doflamingo's neck, the wound oozing fresh blood.
Staff Officer Tsuru and the Marines all broke out in cold sweat, gasping.
From this distance, they could see it clearly...
Just a little more—just a little more—and Doflamingo's head would have been rolling on the ground!
If not for Saint Saturn's intervention at the last second, Doflamingo would already be dead.
"Daren, you've done well... Let go of this brat for now,"
Saint Saturn said after a moment of silence, his gaze deep as he watched the Vice Admiral through the projection.
Daren answered. He hesitated slightly, then slowly withdrew his blade and lifted his foot from Doflamingo's head.
Doflamingo, seeing this, burst into even wilder laughter, flashing his bloodstained teeth.
"Speak, Doflamingo. What do you want?"
The long-bearded Warrior God of Environment, Saint Marcus Mars, exhaled a long breath and asked indifferently.
"My demands... fufufufu, are actually very simple."
Doflamingo struggled to prop himself up, letting out a low, maniacal chuckle.
"Isn't your government setting up the Shichibukai system?"
His eyes burned with unrestrained ambition.
"I'll return the Heavenly Tribute to you...
But in exchange, I want to become one of the Shichibukai!"
p@treon com / PinkSnake