Following Ezra's finger, Doflamingo's gaze landed on the corner where Rosinante stood.
Honestly, Doflamingo had always treated Rosinante as his right-hand man.
How did Ezra manage to identify him immediately?
"Fufufufu! Now I'm curious about the secret you promised to tell me, Admiral Emberflare!"
"Well? Are you willing to agree?"
Doflamingo paused for a moment, then nodded. "Fine! I agree!"
At that, Ezra handed him the appointment document.
Doflamingo obediently handed over the "Heavenly Gold" ship.
"Now, can you tell me the secret?"
A slight smile played on Ezra's lips. He had someone fetch a piece of paper, scribbled a few words, and handed it to Doflamingo.
Reading the paper, Doflamingo's expression turned dark. His eyes glinted with murderous intent as he stared at Ezra.
"How did you know?!"
The paper contained only a single line:
"You were once a Celestial Dragon."
Seeing the murderous glare in Doflamingo's eyes, Ezra's lips curved slightly.
"What's wrong, Doflamingo? You can threaten the Marines, so naturally the Marines can threaten you."
Doflamingo snorted coldly. "The Marines could never know this! You're the only one who knows!"
Ezra raised an eyebrow. "So?"
"So... die here! Emberflare!!"
Doflamingo couldn't tolerate this revelation at all.
"Fiver Line!!"
Whoosh! Five nearly invisible threads shot toward Ezra.
Ezra casually brushed them aside.
Aokiji's expression darkened. He was about to intervene when Ezra stopped him.
"No need. Handle the others; I'll deal with him."
Aokiji nodded.
"Ice Age!!"
Crackling and freezing, the ground between the two ships solidified into ice.
"Men! Attack!"
At Doflamingo's command, the Donquixote family leapt from their ship, charging toward the Marines.
Aokiji led the defense forward, intercepting them.
Meanwhile, Doflamingo appeared directly in front of Ezra.
"Die! Overwhelming String Whip!!"
Countless threads transformed into spiked whips, aimed straight at Ezra.
Ezra shifted lightly, effortlessly dodging the attack.
"Doflamingo, it's not too late to stop."
He spoke casually while evading.
But Doflamingo was already consumed by rage. Threads flailed wildly toward Ezra.
"Unruly Lines!!"
The ground trembled. Five threads shot up from the ice.
Ezra's lips curved slightly. With a flick, the threads scattered.
His crimson eyes fixed on Doflamingo. "You're too weak, Doflamingo. Weak enough to bore me."
Doflamingo screamed.
"Even underestimating someone has limits!"
"Severing Line!!"
Boom! Ezra's spirit pressure erupted, propelling Doflamingo backward.
He used his string to stop mid-air, unleashing his own Haki.
Ezra raised a brow. "Your Conqueror's Haki is still too weak."
He released his spirit pressure, instantly shattering Doflamingo's Haki.
The Celestial Dragon-turned-pirate crashed to the ground unprepared.
Ezra stepped forward slowly.
"Doflamingo, now can we talk calmly?"
"Hmph! Marines! You can't kill me!"
Ezra shrugged. "You mean the secret about the national treasure you know?"
Doflamingo shuddered, slowly raising his head toward Ezra.
"How do you know?!"
A playful glint appeared in Ezra's blood-red eyes.
"Doflamingo, do you want to continue being a Celestial Dragon?"
Doflamingo's eyes widened, staring at Ezra sincerely.
It wasn't a lie he realized Ezra had the power to affect his fate.
He quickly composed himself. "Hmph. You're just a Marine. How could you possibly influence the Gorosei's decision? I was almost foolish enough to believe you."
Ezra didn't waste words. He pulled out a transponder snail reserved for communication with the Gorosei.
"Look up."
Doflamingo obeyed and his pupils instantly shrank.
"What?! This… what is this?!"
A transponder snail reserved for the highest authorities? As a former Celestial Dragon, he knew exactly what it meant. Such devices were normally held only by people like Sengoku or the CP0 chief.
How could a Marine Admiral have one? Impossible. This must be fake!
Ezra didn't hesitate. He dialed the Gorosei's number.
Brrr-brrr. In Doflamingo's tense state, the call connected.
"Yes, Young Lord? Any orders?"
Doflamingo screamed internally. The voice was unmistakably one of the Gorosei. But "Young Lord"?
His memory snapped back. That Young Lord! It had to be him!
Doflamingo's body trembled uncontrollably.
Fear surged through him.
Why was it him? Why was the Young Lord now a Marine Admiral?!
Ezra read the expression and knew Doflamingo had recalled everything.
"Gorosei, restoring Doflamingo's Celestial Dragon identity is that possible?"
Doflamingo, forgetting his fear, stared at Ezra's transponder snail with longing.
The Gorosei paused briefly. "Young Lord, normally it would be impossible. But if it is your request, it is no problem. You intend to restore Donquixote Doflamingo's identity?"
Ezra smiled. "I'll think about it. No rush."
"Understood, Young Lord."
He hung up. Doflamingo gave up struggling. Ezra retracted his spirit pressure.
"Now we can speak calmly. Stand up, or your men will see."
Doflamingo shivered, slowly rising. His face still showed shock.
Only he knew what he had experienced in these few minutes the overwhelming presence of a Marine Admiral frightened him more than the possibility of regaining his Celestial Dragon status.
He swallowed hard. "Young… Young Lord."
Ezra waved a hand. "Stop. That sounds weird. Just call me Admiral Ezra."
"Yes, Admiral Ezra!"
Doflamingo hesitated, then asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
Ezra raised a brow. "Didn't I already say? I want that child."
"Just that simple?"
"Exactly."
"And how can I have you restore my Celestial Dragon status?"
A faint smile played on Ezra's lips. "Go see Stussy. While helping her consolidate her position, complete the ten tasks I assign to you. Then I'll restore your status."