Chapter 244: The Overbearing Marco
"What do you want?"
Doflamingo's voice lowered.
Axel really wanted to answer, "Guess."
But if he said that, Doflamingo, who was already on the edge of impatience, would probably lose his mind on the spot.
So Axel only curled the corner of his mouth slightly and said, "Weren't the conditions clear from the start?"
"Oh?" Doflamingo's smile remained. "I have no idea what you mean."
"We were never in such a complicated relationship to begin with, were we?"
Axel's tone was calm.
"In the end, at the start, I was only using Vergo's secret to protect myself. And you never expected that someone you considered insignificant would become a threat to you in the blink of an eye."
His gaze moved toward Doflamingo.
"Now, you think there's no room for reconciliation between us. Even if you said there was, I wouldn't believe it."
That was the truth.
From the moment Axel ruined Doflamingo's plans, there had been no room for reconciliation between them.
Forget negotiating conditions.
Even bringing up conditions now only sounded ridiculous.
Doflamingo glanced sideways.
"What a pity. Regret is the most useless word in the world."
He sighed softly.
If he had taken stronger action when Vergo reported the matter back then, there would not have been so much trouble now.
But just as he said, regret was the most useless word in the world.
Because regret represented failure.
However, Doflamingo also understood Axel's meaning.
It was nothing more than distrust.
So he added, "This time is different. Sugar is far too important to my family."
His tone became serious.
"I promise that as long as you hand Sugar over, I can let you leave."
Axel smiled.
He never trusted promises.
Especially not promises from someone like Doflamingo.
Because the moment you trusted him, he would draw the dagger at his waist without hesitation and stab you in the back.
"Even if you agreed, I wouldn't."
At that moment, Marco, who had followed closely behind and was not much slower than Doflamingo, spoke up.
His fiery wings flapped as he hovered in midair, his gaze sizing up the person Doflamingo had called the mastermind.
Marco found it hard to believe.
The person before him could not even be called a man.
He was only a boy.
And this boy was the one who had dared scheme against Pops?
Since when were children this troublesome?
However, from the way Axel stood in midair and the extraordinary wind wings behind him, it was clear he was different from children his age who were still playing in the mud.
"So it's you?"
Marco's tone was unfriendly.
"The one who dared mock Pops?"
"How could it be me?"
Axel put on a helpless expression.
"Do you really think a kid like me would have the guts for that? I just got caught in the crossfire, like the conflict between Tesoro and Doflamingo."
Marco clearly did not believe him.
Still, he asked, "So you're saying that guy named Tesoro planned it?"
Axel nodded.
Following the principle that it was better for a friend to die than for himself to suffer, he admitted it very frankly.
"You're only half right."
"The correct part is that this matter was indeed planned by Tesoro."
"The part you're missing is that Doflamingo was also involved."
Axel pointed at Doflamingo with complete sincerity.
"Think about it. For something this important, as the opposing party, is it possible Doflamingo didn't know?"
"Then the answer is obvious. He did it deliberately."
"Maybe he was thinking something like, Whitebeard? He's just a relic of the old era."
As Axel spoke sentence after sentence, Doflamingo's face grew darker and darker.
He finally understood something.
There really was a kind of person in the world who could lie with their eyes wide open.
"Enough."
Marco cut Axel off.
Whether it was conjecture or not, he would not allow anyone to insult Pops.
"Whether what you're saying is true or false, there is only one thing you need to know."
His eyes sharpened.
"You're coming with me."
"Everything will be decided once we stand before Pops."
"Just me?" Axel asked.
"Including you, Doflamingo, and that Tesoro you mentioned."
Axel clicked his tongue softly.
He could not help sighing inwardly.
The Whitebeard Pirates really were overbearing.
But in this world, being overbearing was, from a certain perspective, also a symbol of strength.
"But I'm not available recently."
Axel looked troubled.
"Think about it. It isn't easy for a kid like me."
"I have to guard against this pink-feathered, hairy-legged uncle beside me, and I also have Marine work to deal with. I'm having a hard time too."
As he complained, his expression changed dramatically.
His bright red eyes rolled around mischievously, making him look both sly and wronged.
Anyone who did not know better might really think he had suffered some great grievance.
But if the pirates he had killed could see that expression, they would probably crawl out of hell just to complain.
Axel shifted his gaze toward Doflamingo.
Doflamingo was also looking at Marco with a smile.
It was easy to imagine what his answer would be.
Clearly, he also disagreed.
Marine?
Hearing that word, Marco frowned.
What connection did this kid have with the Marines?
If that was true, then things would become much more troublesome.
If this were only a conflict among pirates, Marco would not be afraid.
But if the Marines were involved, then this matter would need to be discussed with Pops.
"You're a Marine?" Marco asked.
"Don't doubt your eyes."
Axel's face was completely serious.
"Genuine and authentic. Someone as upright as me is rare even among the current Marines."
He paused, then added, "For example, Admirals, Fleet Admirals, and the like, their character is still slightly lacking compared to mine."
Marco's cheek twitched.
Should he call this kid thick-skinned?
Thick-skinned?
Or simply thick-skinned?
"But since when did the Marines start human trafficking?"
Marco pointed at the little girl slung over Axel's shoulder.
Doflamingo did not mind fanning the flames at all.
Instead, he added fuel directly.
"That's right. This is a little girl from my family. I never expected you to have such tastes at such a young age."
Axel answered plainly, "That's right. I do have such tastes."
Then he looked at Doflamingo.
"Since you seem so generous, I won't return her to you."
Those words gave Doflamingo the feeling of lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot.
But for the sake of face, he said nothing.
Marco did not continue with this strange topic either.
"Whether you're really a Marine or a fake one, the choice remains the same."
His tone became firm.
"Either you come with me, or I tie you up and take you."
"When we stand before Pops, everything will be decided."
Even if Pops chose to go to war with the Marines afterward, Marco would not bat an eye.
From the very beginning, they had entrusted their lives to him.
"Fine. I agree."
Axel's answer shocked both Marco and Doflamingo.
But then he added, "However, my time is precious."
"When you manage to capture... I mean, invite Doflamingo and Tesoro, then I'll go with you."
"That isn't an unreasonable request, is it?"
Axel smiled.
"I am, after all, a Marine Rear Admiral."
"Marine Rear Admiral...?"
Marco chuckled softly.
"What a joke. Since when can a kid become a Marine Rear Admiral?"
His pale blue flames began to burn brighter.
"Since you don't intend to come with me, I'll have to use force."
.....
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