"Heso, you're from the Blue Sea?! How did you get here? If you came by the Summit of the Western Sky, the islands you passed should have sent word. What is your purpose?"
So we were noticed after all. For the "God" of Skypiea—Gan Fall—to arrive ahead of time was both within and outside Doflamingo's expectations.
As the so-called god who often patrolled his domain, Gan Fall bore no hatred toward Blue Sea dwellers. In fact, he tended toward a certain kindness. At first, Doflamingo hadn't planned to deal much with Gan Fall. He intended to find the Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit) first, then speak with Gan Fall about the matter of who truly ruled the Sky Island. If "discussion" worked, fine; if it didn't, then…
Meeting early changed the order. Doflamingo could only play along—keep things friendly, and make the real move when the time was right.
"Fufufufufu, we're a band of adventure-lovers who rode the Knock Up Stream to the Sky Island, chasing the truth of the Golden City Shandora from Noland's tale." Whether Gan Fall believed it or not, Doflamingo felt he delivered the line sincerely.
"Heso, I see. You must mean God's Island, Apayado—called Shandora in the Blue Sea. It is where I reside. If you merely seek the truth, then the Sky Island welcomes you, and you are welcome to tour Apayado." Gan Fall was warm enough. Though he still harbored doubts about Doflamingo's group, he had confidence in himself—and in his Guardian Squadron—to handle any trouble.
"That would be wonderful. But we can't visit your residence yet. One of our companions was separated from us when we rose up. With his life or death unknown, finding him must come first." Doflamingo spoke with firm apology.
At that, Gan Fall's suspicions vanished in an instant. If a man would think first of his companions, how could he be a villain? Don't be ridiculous. Without delay, Gan Fall produced a whistle and handed it to Doflamingo.
"Heso, the camaraderie of adventurers is enviable indeed. Whenever you face danger in the Sky Island, blow this whistle. I—and my Guardian Squadron—will cross any distance to aid you!"
"That's truly perfect timing! In fact, we already have a small problem where your help would be most appreciated. Might you—" Doflamingo didn't stand on ceremony and followed through.
"Speak freely, and fear not. The God of the Sky will grant your request." Gan Fall clearly enjoyed helping others. He flourished his knight's lance and struck a very theatrical pose.
"God of the Sky, our sailing ship is too large for travel up here. Could you provide a craft suitable for the Sky Island? Also—where should we moor our ship?"
"Oh, a small matter. I shall assign the Guardian Squadron to watch over your vessel. Next, proceed to Angel Island's Lovely Street harbor. They rent Wavers—Dial-powered boats using Breeze Dials. Show the whistle to the rental master, and you may use any boat free of charge." Gan Fall wore a self-satisfied smile; clearly, this was an easy ask.
"Then, adventurers, I must resume my patrol. Farewell!"
With a tug on his bird-horse's reins, Gan Fall wheeled away—cleanly, decisively, without a trace of attachment.
Doflamingo smiled inwardly. Gan Fall's breezy departure earned no comment. He merely wondered if, when next they met, Gan Fall would still be so breezy.
Wasting no time, Doflamingo and his crew headed to Lovely Street's Waver rentals. He didn't use Gan Fall's whistle; instead, at Doflamingo's nod, Diamante slapped down 100,000 Beli to rent the two finest Wavers.
It wasn't that Doflamingo didn't know he'd overpaid. The extra Beli bought an additional prize: a detailed map of the Sky Island from the rental master.
Worth it or not didn't matter right now. Finding the Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit) was what mattered.
Following the Sky Island map, Doflamingo and Diamante took one Waver, while Vergo and Pica took the other, bound for Birka, Enel's homeland.
Time slid by. Once they reached Birka, Doflamingo understood why, in the end, Enel would destroy his own birthplace.
All along the way, the winged residents of Birka were an insult to the word "angel." Toward Doflamingo's wingless party, they began with verbal abuse. Then the adult men encircled them, ready to attack.
Was that something Doflamingo would swallow?
He carved a path straight through—one punch, one man; one kick, one man. Whoever struck at them suffered a heavy blow—dead, and dead beyond doubt.
Of course, Doflamingo never forgot his aim: find Enel. Better than searching blind was to track the places Enel frequented.
Perhaps because Doflamingo's party had slain too many Birkans, those who hadn't yet moved grew visibly frightened, edging back and whispering among themselves. Doflamingo ignored it. He flung open his senses—Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) fully unleashed—and searched for Enel's presence.
Soon, he felt a different aura. He sped toward it and, upon seeing a scrawny, bare-chested boy—young in years, with huge earlobes, a headscarf, and a lean frame—Doflamingo knew he'd found the right one.
But he didn't question Enel at once. If Enel had already acquired the Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit), there would be no need to ask. Better to watch his movements for a day, then expand the search outward from that path.
After a patient day of observation, Doflamingo indeed spotted something telling.
Like any child who never had enough to eat, Enel spent the day scrambling for food. Finding nothing in the dump, he went to fish in a cloud-stream on Birka's forest edge, then returned to his ramshackle home to sleep.
The pattern was clear, and Doflamingo drew a conclusion. If Enel were to obtain a Devil Fruit, he wouldn't keep it at home. If a "fruit" sat there, why wouldn't a hungry boy simply eat it?
Nor was "found it along the road" very likely. That left one major possibility: on some day to come—driven by hunger, or by some other cause—Enel would push deeper into Birka's forest. Perhaps then, and there, he would find and consume the Devil Fruit.
(End of Chapter)
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