"Fufufufufu, what a boring proposal. Since when can the weak make demands of the strong?"
Doflamingo sneered at the anxious Mafia boss.
He didn't care about any North Blue rules—the Donquixote rules were the only ones that mattered.
"The North Blue Mafia families have an unwritten code. By breaking it, you'll make enemies of every Mafia family in the North Blue. They'll unite against you."
He wasn't actually lying—there really was such an unwritten code among the North Blue Mafia families.
However, the person he encountered was Doflamingo—someone who couldn't be judged by conventional logic.
"Fufufufufu, so-called codes are orders established by the strong that the weak can only obey—they're meant to restrain the incompetent, the trash, and the garbage."
"In my eyes, the Donquixote Family's code is the only one that matters. Your so-called North Blue Mafia code is nothing but child's play to me."
"I don't need to follow any code..."
Speaking with rising excitement, Doflamingo spread his arms wide as if embracing the entire world.
"Because I am destined to become King."
"No rules can bind a King, so the regulations of the North Blue mean nothing to me. Fufufufufu!"
Doflamingo's theatrical display and arrogant words drove the already loyal Donquixote Family members into a frenzy.
Following Doflamingo's laughter, they grinned savagely while mercilessly bringing their rifles and sharp blades down upon their opponents.
Like great white sharks detecting blood in the ocean, they greedily tore into their enemies' flesh.
The clashing of swords echoed continuously, while the dull thuds of falling bodies sounded almost every second.
The ground had been stained a deep crimson with blood.
Among them, members like Lao G fought with particularly reckless abandon, as if their lives meant nothing.
"G!"
Lao G's arms swelled with renewed strength as he desperately sought to break through the Mafia members before him.
He hoped to make the Mafia boss his first stepping stone into the Donquixote Family.
The Mafia boss's face darkened, years of corruption having eroded his soul.
Now, stimulated by the bloodshed, the vicious version of himself began to reawaken.
His panicked eyes transformed into pools of ferocity as his long blade cut down one Donquixote Family member after another.
"Fufufufufu, fascinating, absolutely fascinating. People can still unlock their potential when death approaches."
"Let me guess - you want to charge over here and cut me down right now, fufufufufu!"
Noticing the change in the Mafia boss's eyes, Doflamingo laughed until tears nearly streamed down his face.
'Perfect opportunity!'
Though burning with rage internally, the Mafia boss maintained cold composure externally.
He observed Doflamingo and his subordinates, all laughing so heartily that they'd exposed numerous openings.
"Die, Doflamingo!"
He stomped the ground with tremendous force, instantly achieving speed rivaling Soru.
In the blink of an eye, he crossed dozens of meters to reach the still-doubled-over Doflamingo.
He'd thought his chances slim, but upon reaching Doflamingo, he discovered his opponent remained bowed in laughter while the surrounding Donquixote Family officers failed to react due to their own mirth.
"You're mine! Don't you dare run! G!"
Lao G had nearly defeated his opponent and was closing in on the Mafia boss.
The boss's sudden appearance before Doflamingo infuriated him.
Seeing the completely unguarded Doflamingo, the Mafia boss revealed a cruel grin.
"Arrogant brat! Did you think I've been wasting all these years?"
Gripping his large blade with both hands, he unleashed his most lethal technique without hesitation.
The air hissed as it split around the razor-sharp edge.
A golden glow even shimmered along the blade's surface.
The Mafia boss had train to the point he can unleash a flying sword slash - given more time, he might have advanced to the realm of sword master.
But now, his life might very well end here.
Just as the blade was about to strike Doflamingo, he saw the cold smirk on Doflamingo's face beneath him.
A danger signal instantly flashed through his mind.
However, there was no reason to retract a full-force strike, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and slash down.
Clang!!!
The Mafia boss's blade clashed with something invisible in the air, sparks flying everywhere!
The Mafia boss's pupils suddenly dilated, a chill shooting from the soles of his feet straight to his head.
"What... what kind of sorcery is this?!"
He couldn't believe his eyes, nor could he loosen his grip on the sword.
It felt as if his heart was being squeezed tightly, and the hairs on his head stood on end one by one.
Sweat trickled down his cheeks.
He strained to widen his remaining eye, staring at the point where his blade was being blocked.
Finally, as the dust settled, he could see what was stopping his blade.
It was several translucent, nearly invisible threads.
Yet, these seemingly fragile threads were firmly holding back his large sword.
Doflamingo, whose entire figure had been obscured by the Mafia boss, finally raised his head after a burst of laughter.
His youthful face revealed an utterly deranged expression.
He couldn't resist licking the corner of his lips before sneering:
"Fufufufufu, trash will always be trash, unable to even distinguish between a trap and an opening."
"Do you really think someone of your caliber can stand against me? You're nothing but an amusing spice in my boring life."
Looking down at the demonic little boy beneath him, the Mafia boss felt regret for the first time.
He shouldn't have been so arrogant.
If only he had learned more about his opponent when he received Doflamingo's letter.
His hesitant lips finally uttered a few words:
"I... I'm willing to give up everything... just spare my life."
"Fufufufufu, only now you want to negotiate terms?"
"But you did put on quite a show for me, so I'll give you a choice. Kill all the remaining Mafia members, and I'll let you live."
Doflamingo's smile appeared utterly sinister in the Mafia boss's eyes.
"However, as punishment for attacking me, you must pay a price too."
Doflamingo suddenly flicked his fingers, manipulating the threads in the air.
Before the Mafia boss could react, several threads that had just appeared in the air sliced through his clothes, leaving deep, extremely fine cuts on his chest.
Doflamingo kicked the Mafia boss in the chest, not caring whether he would survive or not.
"Hurry up now. Your injuries will hold for about five minutes. If you can't finish off the rest within that time, you'll bleed to death. Fufufufufu."
The Mafia boss struggled to get up from the ground, gasping for breath as he stared at Doflamingo's face.
"Doffy, should we kill him now? The way he's looking at you isn't right."
Trebol stepped forward.
He was the one who cared most about Doflamingo and also served as the strategist of the Donquixote Family.
"No rush, Trebol. I believe this guy will make the right choice."
Doflamingo had great confidence in his judgment.
He believed he had complete control over the battlefield situation and that no one could defy his will.
The Mafia boss's single eye was bloodshot, and the bulging veins on his face revealed his intense internal struggle.
Finally, just as Doflamingo was growing impatient.
His gaze shifted from initial confusion to firm determination.
Gripping his large blade, he turned and charged into the crowd, beginning his slaughter.
"Boss, it's me! It's me, boss!"
"The boss has betrayed us! He's betrayed the family! He's become the executioner for the Donquixote Family!"
Tears streaming down his face, the Mafia boss repeatedly raised his butcher knife, cutting down his former family members.
Faced with the choice between saving himself or dying with his family, he had chosen to be a coward.
To ease his conscience, he tried not to look at his family members' faces, focusing only on their waists as he swung his blade.
....
"Let it be. If they die, then they die."
Raleigh, Gion, and their group had been watching everything from a distance.
Holding binoculars, they observed all the events in the area.
"Is this Doflamingo kid also a Devil Fruit Ability User?"
"Can't tell what ability it is. It looks like air currents cutting wounds into enemies, but why can it block blades?"
Gion and Tokikake couldn't figure out what fruit ability it was.
Raleigh had no intention of getting involved.
He naturally knew about Doflamingo's Devil Fruit ability.
A seemingly useless Paramecia type fruit that Doflamingo had managed to use in incredibly creative ways.
This guy just had bad luck.
If he had eaten a Logia type like the Flame-Flame Fruit or a Zoan type Ancient or Mythical species, his achievements wouldn't have stopped at being a mere Warlord.
Logically speaking, someone as sinister, arrogant, and complex as Doflamingo shouldn't have been defeated so early by Luffy.
Anyway, Raleigh didn't notice much else, but he did think Doflamingo was already somewhat psychologically disturbed.
That Mafia boss probably never stood a chance of surviving from the beginning, in Doflamingo's plans.
Raleigh remembered Doflamingo had a move called Parasitic Strings, but it seemed he hadn't developed it yet.
Probably because Doflamingo enjoyed playing with people's minds that he eventually developed that technique.
Well, it fits the mindset of a disturbed individual.
"Master, aren't we going to intervene in the battle?"
Miles asked, having seen through his binoculars that the battle was nearly over, with only about sixty or seventy Mafia members still standing.
"Intervine.... for what?"
Raleigh looked curiously at Miles, not understanding what his senior disciple was thinking.
"To save people! Didn't we already set up our encirclement? If we jump out now, we can capture both Mafia families at once."
Miles said excitedly.
Raleigh's mouth twitched.
He glanced at Miles, then at the slovenly Tokikake.
Stroking his chin, he thought: 'Is stupidity contagious?'
He'd have to keep Miles away from Tokikake in the future.
Miles, who originally had at least some brains, was now getting infected.
Raleigh felt his intolerance for foolishness was about to flare up.
"Raleigh, do you want to wait until the Mafia's fight is over before we make a move?"
Gion, seeing that the battle was nearly concluded but Raleigh still hadn't given the order, spoke up.
Raleigh nodded, then reached out and flicked Miles' head hard with his finger.
"Ouch, Master!"
Miles hugged his head, whining pitifully.
"Good, it should hurt. If you weren't so foolish, I wouldn't bother with you. Next time, think before you speak."
"Two Mafia groups fighting - such a perfect opportunity to watch tigers fight from a safe distance. Why shouldn't we wait until they're finished?"
"Besides, if we suddenly appear, it might actually make them unite to deal with the threat from the Marines first."
"After all, this is an internal territory dispute - they can surrender and join the other Mafia group. But surrendering to the Marines only means getting thrown in prison."