While Doflamingo and Enel were resolving their conflict, Diamante and the other three members of the Donquixote Family, each leading their own squads, were advancing into Birka city. Birka, as a sky island, wasn't enormous, but it wasn't tiny either. Three to five people per squad was sufficient manpower. Diamante, Trebol, Pica and Vergo split up to cover the east, south, west, and north, respectively, planning to converge at the center of Birka – the Temple.
The moment the Donquixote Pirates set foot on Birka's soil, they instantly drew the attention of everyone present. The contrast between them and the sky islanders was simply too stark, causing a considerable commotion.
"What's going on? Why are there so many people without wings?"
"Yeah! Look at them, they're so strange, just like that Enel guy."
"Really? They do look similar. Are they relatives of that Enel fellow? Haha!"
Birka's numerous residents showed no fear, freely chatting and laughing in the marketplace, completely disregarding the Donquixote Pirates.
On the east side of Birka, Diamante was leading his search.
"Enel." Diamante's sharp ears immediately picked up the name the Young Master was looking for. He instantly stepped forward and grabbed the wrist of a male sky islander who was watching the spectacle, shouting, "Tell me, where is Enel?"
The Birkan citizen, Fuyudo, looked at the man before him. His eyes were ferocious, as if he wanted to devour Fuyudo alive. Fuyudo felt a surge of panic, but with so many people around, he refused to back down. He retorted loudly.
"You're hurting me! Why should I tell you anything just because you want to know? I'm not telling you!"
Fuyudo's defiance surprised Diamante. However, Diamante was experienced in dealing with such thick-skinned individuals. He had plenty of ways to make him talk.
"Is that so? My patience is limited. The Young Master is waiting for my report." Diamante's expression was stern. The incident on Jaya Island was still fresh in his memory. Disappointing the Young Master again would have dire consequences. Diamante dared not be negligent in carrying out Doflamingo's orders.
"Bastard! My patience has limits too! Are you looking to die? Don't you know where you are? How dare you cause trouble here? You bunch of lowlifes from who-knows-where, let go of me this instant and kneel down to apologize! Otherwise, when the Enforcement Squad arrives, you'll be in for a world of hurt!" Fuyudo was extremely arrogant, completely ignoring Diamante's words. Like a flower in a greenhouse, he was naive, inexperienced, and overly protected. When danger arrived, he wouldn't even know how he died.
Diamante, listening to Fuyudo's incessant ranting, became increasingly impatient. His grip tightened, like a vise, holding Fuyudo firmly. He turned to the surrounding residents and said, "I'll say it one more time. Tell me where Enel is."
"Aaargh! Bastard! You beast, you low-..." Fuyudo screamed in pain, launching into a tirade. But before he could finish, Diamante's patience ran out. His left hand drew his sword, and with a single slash, he bisected Fuyudo. The sound was like tearing paper, shockingly fragile. Blood splattered everywhere, spraying onto the faces of the surrounding residents.
The onlookers could still see the look of terror on Fuyudo's face before he died. Feeling the warm blood splash on their faces, fear instantly consumed them.
"Ah, demons! They're demons!"
"Fuyudo's been killed! Quick, inform the Enforcement Squad! Tell the High Priest!" Some of the more clear-headed individuals, realizing the gravity of the situation, immediately rushed towards the Temple to report the severity of the incident to the High Priest.
Diamante ignored them. Let them go. The more people who came, the better. It didn't matter who they were, god or priest. Whoever stood in his way of completing the Young Master's mission would die. Diamante flung away the remaining half of Fuyudo's body and licked the blood from his face, his excitement evident.
"Diamante-sama, please wipe the blood from your face," one of his subordinates said, ever attentive. Seeing the blood on Diamante's face, he immediately offered a handkerchief he had snatched from a nearby female sky islander.
While Diamante had been questioning Fuyudo, his subordinates had prevented the sky islanders from escaping. A few quick-witted sky islanders, however, had seen the danger and managed to slip away.
"Damn, why didn't I think of that way to suck up? What a loss! That guy, Walid, beat me to it. He'll definitely gain Diamante-sama's favor now," the other subordinates thought, exchanging glances, each understanding the others' thoughts.
Diamante, after wiping his face with the handkerchief, finally gave Walid a proper look. "You, kid, you've got some sense. What's your name?"
"Diamante-sama, this humble one is called Walid," Walid replied respectfully. In this wretched world, a weak person without power had to resort to any means necessary to survive. Deceit, disguise… what could be better than attaching oneself to the strong? After all, it's good to have a big tree to lean on.
"Hmm, not bad," Diamante said casually. He didn't have time for other thoughts right now. If he messed up again, who knew how the Young Master would look down on him? Moreover, with four people leading teams, it was clearly a test of the family members' abilities. Future positions within the family wouldn't be so easily determined. Who wouldn't want to climb higher? Human ambition is never satisfied.
The Young Master had many schemes; carelessness would lead to suffering. Diamante had figured that much out.
If Doflamingo knew Diamante's thoughts, he'd definitely shout, "Hold on! I don't have that many schemes! Don't slander me!"
Looking around at the trembling sky islanders, who were cowering on the ground with their hands over their heads, he shouted again, "My patience is wearing thin. Someone was being uncooperative, so I killed him. Now, tell me, where is Enel?"
"It's all Enel's fault, that jinx, that monster, attracting these bandits."
"Yeah, Enel deserves to die. How would we know where he is?"
"These guys are ruthless killers. What do we do?"
"What else can we do? We can only wait patiently for the Enforcement Squad to arrive."
The cowering residents muttered amongst themselves. Hearing Diamante's renewed demand, their resentment towards Enel deepened, but they still hesitated to answer.
"Hurry up! Tell me, where is Enel? I'll count to ten. Otherwise, I'll kill another one."
"Ten."
"Nine…"
…
"Three."
The demonic countdown, sounding like it came from the depths of hell, made the cowering residents even more panicked and terrified.
"Damn it, why isn't the Enforcement Squad here yet?"
"No, I don't want to die!"
"That damned Enel, how would we know where he is?"
"Two."
Just as he was about to reach one, someone finally couldn't take it anymore. They had been hoping the Enforcement Squad would arrive to deal with these bandits, but their continued absence shattered their hopes.
"L-Lord, um… I… I know," a female sky islander stammered, shakily standing up. Her tight-fitting clothes accentuated her graceful curves, and the swell of her chest was a sight to behold. Her pure white wings, combined with her beautiful face, made her look undeniably angelic.
"Oh? Then hurry up," Diamante said flatly, suppressing the stirrings in his heart. He had no interest in dealing with these bird-people.
Diamante's ferocious gaze scanned Ibes, which frightened her considerably.
"En… En… Enel… we don't really know where he is," Ibes stammered, her chest heaving slightly from fear, drawing even more attention.
"What? Are you playing games with me?" Diamante glared at Ibes again, thinking to himself.
"Damn, she really is stacked! If I give her to the Young Master, he'll definitely like her, and my position will… hehe."
"No, absolutely not! I don't know, but I know someone who does know where Enel is!" Ibes was on the verge of tears. Her vulnerable appearance was like a little lamb facing a big bad wolf.
"Then what are you waiting for? Lead the way!" Diamante was extremely anxious, fearing he would fall behind the others.
"Walid, quickly, take her with us. Let's go."
"Yes, Diamante-sama."
He was about to take Ibes away, making her lead the way.
"Ibes, don't! They're not good people!" Some of the residents, unable to bear it any longer, felt ashamed that so many of them were relying on a weak woman to stand up for them. They rose up in anger.
"We'll fight them!"
"Damn bandits, who do you think you are?"
"How dare you cause trouble in our territory! Let Ibes go!"
Diamante was truly irritated now, his face a mask of impatience and fury. He had spared their lives, and they were still daring to come and seek death?
"Very well, then come on! Let me see what you've got. Die, you flies!"
Seeing Diamante's anger, his subordinates knew he was furious and dared not provoke him further.
Diamante swiftly drew the long sword at his left hip, and a powerful wave of sword energy shot towards the agitated crowd.
"Half-Moon Funeral!"
The residents, seeing the two-to-three-meter flying slash, froze in place, their earlier anger replaced by astonishment as they stared at the approaching blade.
"No, everyone!" Ibes cried out in anguish, then half-knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face, ruining her exquisite makeup. It was a scene of heartbreaking beauty, but there was no one to appreciate it.
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