Chapter 50: Enter Queen
The next day · North Blue · Donquixote Family Headquarters
"BOOOOM!!!"
The entire castle shook violently. Cracks spiderwebbed across the walls, and hundreds of windows exploded outward from a terrifying wave of Conqueror's Haki!
In the center of the grand hall, Doflamingo stood like a demon, his pink feather coat flapping, the floor beneath him cracking as his own strings danced wildly in the air.
His signature smile was still on his face, but it was twisted with an inhuman rage. His eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, were completely bloodshot.
"ROY... RRRROOOOYYYY!!!"
His voice was a low, guttural roar, shaking the entire hall.
On the floor, Diamante was kneeling, his forehead pressed to the stone, trembling so hard his sweat soaked the ground.
"D-Doffy..." he stammered, his voice choked with terror, "He... he also had a message for you..."
Doflamingo spun, grabbing him by the shirt and lifting him into the air. "SPEAK!!!"
"He said..." Diamante was practically crying. "He said... to 'stay away from Dressrosa'..."
"...What?"
The hall went dead silent.
The next second, Doflamingo's pupils shrank to pinpricks. He was frozen, as if struck by lightning.
"How... how could he know about that?"
"My... my kingdom... the one I've been planning for ten years..."
"That's intel not even the World Government has..."
He staggered back, his expression turning impossibly dark. His mind flashed to the spotted hat of the young boy, Law... and the smiling, traitorous face of his brother, Rosinante.
"Traitor... THAT DAMN TRAITOR!!!"
Doflamingo gritted his teeth, his fists clenched so hard that blood dripped from his palms.
"Roy... what is your game?"
He felt a pressure he had never felt before—a man who wasn't playing by the Marines' rules, who was casually, playfully, dismantling his entire life's work.
Just as his mind was sinking into a cold, dark place—
"BAM!"
The doors to the hall were violently thrown open.
Trebol came stumbling in, snot flying, his face a mask of pure panic.
"D-D-Doffy!!! It's terrible!!! We have a huge problem!!!"
"WHAT NOW?!" Doflamingo roared.
Trebol nearly collapsed. "Queen of the Beast Pirates is here! He's right outside the castle!"
"Queen?!"
This time, Doflamingo's rage vanished, replaced instantly by cold, calculating caution. His manic smile faded, and he frowned.
"Kaido's people... coming to me now? Are they trying to pull me into their game... or are they looking to share the pressure?"
He was silent for a moment, a cold light in his eyes.
"Let him in."
Trebol nodded frantically and scrambled out.
Doflamingo walked to the shattered window, looking out at the dark sky. His smile returned, no longer manic, but cold, calculating, and bottomless.
"Interesting..."
"Roy... you're forcing my hand."
Marine Headquarters - Marineford
Sunlight shone on the grand white buildings. Roy walked down the main avenue, hands in his pockets, his expression calm, his mind elsewhere.
"...It's already Sea Calendar 1510, isn't it?"
"According to the original timeline, this is the year Shanks steals the Nika Fruit... and loses his arm in Foosha Village."
He frowned, then shook his head.
"But I brought Luffy here, to HQ. That... 'accident'... it shouldn't happen now."
His gaze dropped. "As for Sabo..."
"I already tipped off Dragon. The Revolutionary Army should be moving soon. They'll be able to get him out of Goa before that accident."
"This way, at least he'll be spared that fate... and he can grow up with the Revolutionaries..."
As he was thinking, he heard fast, light footsteps.
"Big Bro Roy!!"
Two small figures launched themselves at him, hugging his legs.
"Nojiko? Nami?" Roy looked down and couldn"t help but smile.
The two girls looked up at him, their eyes sparkling. Nojiko was shy, but Nami was grinning from ear to ear.
"Shouldn't you two be in class?"
"We are!" Nami said proudly, standing on her tiptoes. "We're going to the Intelligence Division! We're learning to read sea charts!"
"And code-breaking!" Nojiko added seriously, clenching her small fists.
"Well, well, the big-shot is finally back."
A lazy, teasing female voice came from the steps. He looked up. Gion (Momousagi) was standing there, her arms crossed, a smirk on her face.
She wasn't in her usual kimono, but in a standard-issue blue Marine uniform, its sharp cut making her look even more impressive.
And behind her stood a very shy, blushing girl. She had strawberry-blond hair and clear green eyes. The moment she saw Roy, her face turned bright red.
"Hibari?" Roy paused, then gave her a warm smile. "Long time no see, Hibari."
"...Big Bro Roy." Hibari whispered, nervously fidgeting with her uniform, looking like she was about to melt.
"Tsuru's granddaughter," Roy thought, his gaze softening. "She's a genius, but just way too shy."
"What are you all up to?"
"Class!" Nami said, grabbing Gion's hand. "Big Sis Gion is teaching us navigation!"
"And intel analysis!" Nojiko added.
"Hmph. A good navigator needs more than just a sense of direction," Gion said, patting their heads. "Alright, let's go."
She glanced back at Roy, giving him a meaningful wink.
"By the way... I heard from Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office that you made quite a splash in the North Blue?"
"Hah..." Roy just shrugged. "I just... picked something up. No big deal~"
Gion didn't press. She turned and led the three girls toward the Intelligence building. As they walked away, Hibari snuck one last, quick glance back. When she saw Roy was still watching her, she snapped her head forward, her ears turning so red they looked like they might bleed.
Roy watched them go, a smile on his face, but his eyes were thoughtful. He looked up at the blue sky.
"Alright. Time to go check on Ace and Law's training."
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