Island 13.
Ryuen and Hog were sorting through the maps given to them by the Red-Haired Pirates. These were maps of islands in the New World!
"Hehehe~~~"
"Hog, if I sell these to Nami, how much do you think she'd pay?" Ryuen asked excitedly.
"If she's in a good mood... maybe 1 Berry." Hog replied with a strange expression.
"Huh?"
"1 Berry?"
"Hog, do you even hear yourself? These are New World maps, they're priceless! And you're saying they're only worth 1 Berry?" Ryuen was not happy with that answer.
"Yep, 1 Berry."
Hog glanced at Ryuen's stunned expression, then at the curious Red-Haired Pirates. Considering Ryuen's pride, he decided not to say what he was really thinking.
"Forget it, I won't ask you anymore. You just don't know the value of things. Anyway, Shanks, thanks! I'll treat you to some barbecue next time!" Ryuen put the maps away and expressed his gratitude.
"Ahahaha~~~"
"It's nothing. We're just doing our small part to see the world map as soon as possible." Shanks ran his hand through his messy hair and laughed.
"Alright, once we reach the New World, let's have a drink together. Hogg, we should get going." Ryuen didn't linger. He called Hogg and left the Knock-Off Bar, laughing as they walked away.
It wasn't until Ryuen and Hogg had walked far away that Shakky finally realized something. "Wait… they haven't paid their bill..."
"Ahahaha~~~"
"That's so like Captain Ryuen, skipping out on Shakky's tab..." Shanks burst into laughter.
But Shakky didn't take Shanks' words to heart. Instead, she changed the subject with a meaningful tone. "Still… it seems like they're up to something big..."
"Oh?"
"What kind of big thing?" Everyone immediately became serious.
"You'll all find out soon enough." Shakky left it at that and headed into the bar's backyard.
Only she knew how shocked she truly was. In her mind, she thought, "Doflamingo's family... is finished."
She entered a room in the backyard, where countless spiderwebs filled the space, with hundreds of spiders crawling over them.
If Ryuen had seen this scene—and noticed Shakky's T-shirt with a spider design—he would have immediately realized that Shakky had the powers of a spider-related Devil Fruit!
~~~~~~
"Uh, Ryuen... I think we forgot to pay the bill..." Hogg finally spoke up as they were about to leave Island 13.
"Eh???"
"Why didn't you remind me earlier...?"
"Forget it, we'll pay next time. Besides, Shakky didn't say anything. Maybe she actually wanted to treat us." Ryuen finally realized that he had just dined and dashed.
"Alright, so should we head to Island 1 now? They've probably already made their move." Hogg sighed.
"Hmm~~~"
"Yeah, we should go to Island 1. Nine Celestial Dragons… tsk tsk tsk~~~ I wonder if Doflamingo can handle it..."
"Hahahahaha!!!"
Ryuen laughed wildly and marched toward Island 1.
Hogg, following behind, wore a proud expression. This time, their Dream Exploration Team was truly going to "slay gods"!
~~~~~~
At that moment, on Island 1—
The entire crowd was kneeling. Some were trembling in fear, their shoulders shaking. A few women with slightly purplish skin hid behind their men.
Even the criminals had hidden behind distant buildings, too scared to come out.
In the middle of the kneeling crowd, nine Celestial Dragons paraded through. Some rode fierce beasts like tigers, some sat on human slaves wearing collars, and some simply walked with arrogant expressions, stepping through the path of kneeling commoners.
Behind each Celestial Dragon was a chained woman and three armored soldiers holding long spears. The tips of those spears were made of solid Seastone!
Walking beside each Celestial Dragon was a man in sunglasses and a suit.
These were their bodyguards—CP0.
Even though the more attractive women had done everything they could to stay out of sight, it was useless.
As the Celestial Dragons passed by, they occasionally seized women by force. None dared to resist—because those who resisted were already dead.
"Fufufufu~~~"
"How arrogant..."
Not far from the auction house, at the entrance of a top-class hotel, Doflamingo watched the scene with a mocking expression.
But deep down, he felt jealousy, hatred, and envy.
He could have enjoyed all of this himself.
But his foolish father had taken away all of his privileges.
So he utterly despised the Celestial Dragons who lived in Mary Geoise.
Yet at the same time, he envied them.
"Hehahaha!!!"
"Isred! How could you come to Sabaody Archipelago without inviting me? I'm so hurt! We're supposed to be good brothers!"
Behind him, there was also a group of people. But what others didn't know was that among his servants, there were a few top-level doctors.
This was his standard setup whenever he traveled.
"Lindgas?"
"Why are you in Sabaody Archipelago too? Wait, don't tell me you followed us here!" Isred was shocked and a little panicked when he saw Lindgas.
After all, their plan today was aimed at Lindgas' forces.
Doflamingo also frowned when he saw Lindgas appear. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
"Ohhh~~~"
"Isred, how could you say something like that to me? We're such good brothers... That really hurts my heart..." Lindgas pretended to look heartbroken.
As he spoke, he had already walked up to Isred.
"You!!!"
Isred was furious, but there was nothing he could do. His face turned red from holding back his anger.
"Fufufufu~~~"
"Everyone, let's head into the hotel first. This isn't the place to talk," Doflamingo said as he stepped forward.
"'We'?"
"Hmph!"
"Isred, he's talking about you," Lindgas said as he walked past Doflamingo and headed toward the hotel.
Doflamingo's veins bulged, and his fists clenched so tightly that they cracked.
Because he saw the look of disgust on Isred's face.
After Lindgas' remark, Isred and the others ignored Doflamingo, and the nine Celestial Dragons walked toward the hotel.
Behind them, Doflamingo had a crazed look on his face.
Meanwhile, everything that had just happened was seen by Kizaru in the sky.
"Aiyaaa~~~"
"What a troublesome mission..." Kizaru scratched his head, looking a little distressed.
---
Nami: Brother, I'm about to do something bad~~~
---
Chapter 202: Lindgas' Cooperation
After standing still for a long time to calm himself, Doflamingo finally returned to normal.
Then he suddenly looked up at the sky.
A man wearing a yellow-striped suit and a "Justice" cape, with a sleazy expression, appeared in his view.
"Kizaru..."
Doflamingo was stunned for a moment, then his expression turned cold.
Because Kizaru's gaze wasn't friendly. He figured it was probably because of how the Celestial Dragons had treated him just now.
But he didn't bother with Kizaru. As one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, he wasn't worried about Kizaru making a move on him. So he simply continued walking toward the hotel.
Inside the hotel, Lindgas was already arguing with Isred and the others.
"I'm telling you, Isred, and all of you—if you dare touch these women, I'll fight you to the death!" Lindgas shouted.
"Yahahaha!"
"Lindgas, have you fallen so low? Begging for these lowly commoners? As Celestial Dragons, we look down on you!" Isred sneered.
"Who said I was begging for them?"
Suddenly, Lindgas came running over from the distance, laughing loudly.
Doflamingo frowned uncontrollably when he saw Lindgas appear. He had a feeling something was off today.
"Oh~~~"
"Isred, I can't believe you're saying this to me. We're such good brothers, after all. This really breaks my heart..." Lindegas pretended to look deeply hurt.
As he spoke, he had already walked up to Isred.
"You!!!"
Isred was furious, but there was nothing he could do about it, so he held it in until his face turned bright red.
"Fufufufu~~~"
"Everyone, let's talk inside the hotel. This isn't the place for a conversation." Doflamingo stepped forward and said.
"We?"
"Hmph!"
"Isred, he's including you when he says 'we'." After saying that, Lindegas walked past Doflamingo and headed toward the hotel.
But Doflamingo's veins bulged in anger, and his fists clenched so tightly they made cracking sounds because of Lindegas's words.
Because he had also seen the look of disgust on Isred's face!
Thanks to what Lindegas said, Isred and the others ignored Doflamingo, and the nine Celestial Dragons all walked toward the hotel.
But behind them, Doflamingo's expression turned twisted with rage.
Up in the sky, Kizaru had been watching everything unfold.
"Aiya~~~"
"What a real headache of a mission..." Kizaru scratched his head, looking troubled.
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