"Young Master, it's confirmed," Senor Pink stated coldly to Doflamingo. "Rosinante is a Navy plant—a spy they embedded in the family. And he can even talk."
"Fufufufu! Is that so? What delightful news!"
Doflamingo burst into laughter as he strode over to Rosinante.
"Rosinante, my dear brother, the surprises you've prepared for me never seem to end."
Rosinante was silent for a moment. Then, he slowly lifted his head and glanced at Drake, who was leaning against the wall nearby.
"I'm just heartbroken," Rosinante said quietly, his voice heavy with sorrow. "A child who once had such a bright future has been corrupted by all of you."
"Fufufufu! Corrupted?"
Doflamingo burst into a fit of manic laughter, his voice echoing with twisted glee. Suddenly, his expression shifted, and he lashed out, driving a sharp kick into Rosinante's jaw.
The force sent Rosinante flying across the room, slamming headfirst into the wall. A sickening crack accompanied the sight of blood streaming from his head.
"Even a child knows that the World government and the Marines are filthy scum!" Doflamingo snarled, his voice seething with fury. "And yet, you dared to trample on the only shred of family I have left!"
"You broke my heart, Rosinante!"
Rosinante crumpled to the ground, his body convulsing weakly. But he didn't respond. What was there left to say at this point?
Doflamingo let out a long, slow exhale, his fiery anger subsiding into chilling calm. "Diamante, take care of him. I want to know everything he's been hiding all these years."
The man named Diamante pointed at himself, his face a mix of shock and alarm. He quickly shook his head, waving his hands as if to deflect the order. "No, no, no! I can't do it, Doffy!"
Watching this unfold, Ian couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu.
Doflamingo, however, was unfazed. His tone remained steady. "Fine, then Pica—"
"I'll handle it!" Diamante suddenly shouted, cutting him off. His demeanor shifted dramatically as he proclaimed, "I'll pry every last secret out of this man! Even if it means crushing every bone in his body, inch by inch!"
Yeah, good luck with that.
Ian shook his head, unimpressed.
He turned and walked toward someone slumped in the corner—Drake.
"How are you feeling?" Ian asked.
"The so-called justice of the Marines is nothing but garbage," Drake spat, his words laced with venom. His expression twisted with the bitterness of disillusionment.
It was as if his entire worldview had shattered. What he once idolized, he now loathed with equal intensity.
"You should have realized that long ago," Ian said with a wry smile. "Marine justice is just the justice of the Celestial Dragons. The Marines exist for one purpose—to uphold their rule."
"The Celestial Dragons are the true cancer of this world."
"Even setting aside the ritual of the three-year massacres, the Heavenly Tribute alone is terrifying enough. How many nations have been ruined, how many families torn apart, simply because of this tribute? Compared to the Celestial Dragons, what are we pirates?"
"The seas are filled with countless pirates. But do you think every pirate is an ambitious schemer? That every pirate is obsessed with the One Piece? That every pirate is inherently evil?"
"I believe there's another reason—a desperate lack of alternatives."
Drake stayed silent, clenching his teeth tightly.
He thought he could now understand his father's perspective.
Of course, that wasn't true. His old man had simply sought a life of indulgence and luxury.
"Is the World Government your enemy?"
"Of course," Ian nodded lightly. "They're the biggest enemy—likely the final one as well."
"Then let me join this fight!"
Drake didn't know what justice truly meant anymore. But one thing he was sure of—overthrowing the World Government couldn't be a bad thing.
"Welcome aboard, Drake."
Ian ruffled the young man's hair.
It was… slightly awkward. A thirteen-year-old ruffling the hair of someone nearly eighteen.
But no one said it couldn't happen.
Another voice chimed in as a young boy stepped forward.
Trafalgar D. Water Law walked over, fixing Ian with an intense stare.
Ian raised an eyebrow and glanced at Doflamingo.
"Heh heh heh... Law, you planning to switch sides?"
Doflamingo chuckled lowly. "That's treason, you know."
"Compared to you," Law simply looked at Ian and said, "I can cause more destruction following this man."
His life wasn't going to last much longer.
So, he wanted to make the most of the time left and create more chaos.
"Sounds interesting."
Ian replied, "Then he's mine, Doffy."
"I don't mind," Doflamingo said nonchalantly, "This kid's got some talent, but... Ian, he's infected with White Lead disease. His lifespan's barely over two years."
Ian said, "I'll cure him."
Law blinked in surprise.
"Anyway, welcome to the Beasts Pirates, Law."
Ian extended the invitation to the kid.
Law nodded awkwardly.
Looks like we've picked up three little brats on this trip.
Oh wait, two. Drake's the big brother.
Although Doflamingo's information about the Celestial Dragons turned out to be useless, it still seems like a pretty good deal.
Support me on my and read upto 15 early chapters.