Raleigh knew exactly what the North Blue Mafia was like.
Although fights between gangs could be brutal, often resulting in dozens or even hundreds of casualties, most gangs actually developed peacefully.
Even armed conflicts weren't that vicious, and Mafia members often switched to other Mafia families.
The Mafia didn't care about members' backgrounds - in their view, loyalty to the family was all that mattered.
So they had thieves, beggars, and even defectors from other Mafia families among them.
Raleigh and Borsalino had briefly joined a gang for a period when Mafia families offered better benefits.
Just by joining a Mafia family, everyone got a uniform, plus meals and accommodation provided.
Raleigh and Borsalino stayed for two months before being kicked out for not pulling their weight.
To this day, Raleigh still missed his Mafia days - eating, fighting, flirting with beautiful women, and sleeping, life was extremely easy.
"Rear Admiral Raleigh, it looks like the battle is almost over."
Cleveland suddenly spoke up, interrupting Raleigh's reminiscence.
He was the only one who hadn't been led astray by Raleigh, because his idol was Sakazuki.
...
On the battlefield, everything was exactly as Cleveland had said.
Only about twenty Mafia members remained standing while supporting each other, back to back, facing the threat from the Donquixote Family.
"Boss, have you gone mad? The enemy isn't us!"
They were all veteran members, many having been cadres for years.
But they couldn't understand or accept their boss's betrayal.
The Mafia boss didn't dare look them in the eye, feeling deeply ashamed inside.
He should have died fighting with his family, but because of his cowardice, he had turned his weapon on his own family members.
He wanted to hide in the crowd, unnoticed.
"Fufufufufu, what are you doing? You just wasted half a minute. You have one minute left - if you don't finish the fight, you'll bleed to death."
Doflamingo's voice came from behind, filled with extreme arrogance.
"Sorry, I'm almost out of time."
He cast aside his inner weakness; now he would fight to survive.
Anyone who stood in his way was his enemy.
Having abandoned all sense of pride and shame, the one-eyed boss quickly entered a combat state.
The Mafia members were already far inferior to him in strength, and having fought for so long, they were practically exhausted.
Facing a boss fighting for his life, they naturally had no power to resist.
"You'll die a miserable death!"
"Heh, only today have I seen through you—you are nothing but a scoundrel!"
"We will be waiting for you in hell, you despicable and shameless traitor."
The Mafia members cursed their former boss one after another, their despair palpable.
Surrounded by the watchful members of the Donquixote Family and their frenzied Mafia boss, they had no chance of escape.
"Boss, spare me. I'm willing to join the Donquixote Family too."
A young Mafia member laid down his blade, knelt on the ground, and pleaded with his boss.
He thought that by surrendering to his boss, he might still save his own life.
However, he never expected that before the Donquixote Family could even respond, the Mafia boss's blade had already struck him down.
"Wh-why?"
The young Mafia member lay helpless on the ground, his vision blurring, but his gaze remained fixed intently on his boss.
"One survivor from the family is enough."
That was the thought in his mind.
Having committed such a disgraceful act, he would naturally not allow any other family member to live.
Though Doflamingo hadn't said it, he feared it might jeopardize his own survival.
"Fufufufufu, the evil in human nature only truly emerges when life is at stake."
"A man who should have been the family boss instead betrayed his family and turned his blade on them. How amusing, utterly amusing."
His handsome yet twisted face was on the verge of tears from laughter.
This was his favorite spectacle—watching those who should have been protectors instead wield their blades against the very people they were meant to guard.
"Fufufufufu, this world is far too entertaining."
The members of the Donquixote Family looked toward the madly laughing youth with reverent eyes, as if gazing upon a deity.
Trebol, Vergo, Diamante, and other family executives knelt on one knee.
Their eyes, fixed on Doflamingo's back, burned with fervent admiration and pride.
This… this was the king they had chosen!
A dazzling new star in the Underworld, a king destined to claim his place in the world.
The unbridled arrogance and audacity radiating from him, along with his celestial dragon bloodline, captivated everyone who followed him.
A cold smirk curled at the corner of Doflamingo's lips as he strode across the battlefield, now littered with corpses, in his pointed shoes.
Step by step, he advanced toward the final battleground.
Trebol was the first to rise silently from the ground, following closely behind Doflamingo.
Like loyal guards trailing their king, they remained solemn, their gazes only growing more intense.
At that moment, all eyes in the vicinity were fixed on Doflamingo.
Had they not witnessed it themselves, no one would have believed that a teenager could truly possess the aura of a king.
Tap… tap… tap…
The pointed shoes clicked rhythmically against the stone pavement.
With each step he took, the Donquixote Family members on either side knelt on one knee, their eyes blazing as they watched their king.
In this manner, Doflamingo walked through the crowd's gaze until he stood before the Mafia boss.
By now, the Mafia boss had completed his task—he had personally slaughtered every last member of his own family.
The large blade was set aside as he knelt on both knees, his forehead pressed tightly against the ground.
Footsteps came to a halt before his head.
The Mafia boss remained silent.
A pointed shoe abruptly came down upon his head without warning.
The Mafia boss clenched his fists tightly, the humiliation swelling rapidly within him.
Doflamingo said nothing, instead steadily increasing the pressure with his pointed shoe.
He was curious—would the head beneath his foot resist before being crushed?
"I have eliminated all the enemies as you commanded, Doflamingo-sama."
A low voice emerged from beneath the foot, though the Mafia boss could not see the maniacal grin plastered across Doflamingo's face.
"Fufufufufu, what a pity. You have failed the Donquixote Family's trial. So, die."
Doflamingo's calf suddenly tensed, and he stomped down with immense force.
"You dare to deceive me you arrogant brat!"
The pent-up rage within the Mafia boss instantly ignited.
He pushed against the ground with both hands, trying to rise.
Thump!
A dull sound erupted from beneath Doflamingo's foot.
The Mafia boss's head burst open like a watermelon, red and white fluids splattering across the ground.