A choice?
He, Donquixote Doflamingo, never made choices.
…Well, if he couldn't win, then maybe he had to.
But hesitation?
There was none.
Protect Sugar—or protect Tesoro?
That wasn't even a question.
Tesoro was just a valuable business partner.
But Sugar—
Was the absolute core of his rule over Dressrosa!
They weren't even comparable.
So, Doflamingo immediately forced a smile and said to Leno:
"Fufufufu… Captain Leno, you must be joking."
"I think you're absolutely right. So please, go ahead. I won't interfere."
He wanted to distance himself—
And leave this mess as quickly as possible.
But after hearing that—
Leno looked at him with a teasing smile.
"You say you won't protect him, so you won't?" Leno spoke lazily, then his expression turned cold.
"Then where does that leave my face?"
He stepped forward.
The pressure of a top-tier powerhouse bore down on Doflamingo.
"Today, whether you like it or not—you're protecting him."
Kids make choices.
Adults take everything.
Leno sneered inwardly.
Tesoro's Gold-Gold Fruit?
He wanted it.
Sugar's Hobby-Hobby Fruit?
He wanted that too.
Hearing this, veins bulged on Doflamingo's forehead.
Black lines crept across his face.
How long had it been—
Since anyone dared speak to him like this?
The ones who did—
Were all dead.
Rage surged to his head.
But he forced it down.
Because Leno—
Was a Yonko.
A monster who could casually crush Tesoro.
Tesoro wasn't weaker than him—
Otherwise, Doflamingo would've killed him long ago and taken the Gold-Gold Fruit himself.
And yet—
Someone on his level had been defeated effortlessly.
Reason told him—
Fighting meant death.
His pride—
The prestige of the Donquixote Family—
Was worthless in front of absolute power.
He could only swallow the humiliation.
Doflamingo forced out a smile uglier than crying, voice squeezed through clenched teeth.
"Fuf… fufufu… fine! Very well! Since Captain Leno has taken a liking to Sugar—then that's her honor."
He pulled out a Den Den Mushi and began dialing.
"I'll contact Dressrosa immediately and have Sugar sent over."
Leno looked at him, then gave a mock approving glance.
"As expected of the Heavenly Yaksha. You really know how to endure."
His tone carried faint mockery.
"No wonder you can do business with a madman like Kaido."
Doflamingo's fingers paused slightly—
But he didn't respond.
At that moment, Leno gave Hancock a look.
She immediately understood.
With elegant steps, she walked up to Tesoro—
Who lay collapsed on the ground.
Looking down at him with cold disdain.
"Filthy man. To be touched by me is your honor."
Tesoro's eyes widened in terror.
He didn't know what she was about to do—
But he knew—
It wouldn't be anything good.
"N-no, wait—"
Hancock didn't let him finish.
Her long leg lifted high—
Then struck down with force!
"Perfume Femur!"
The moment contact was made—
Tesoro's body began to petrify from the point of impact.
In the blink of an eye—
He became a stone statue.
Frozen in terror.
Perfectly lifelike.
Doflamingo's expression darkened further.
His grip on the Den Den Mushi tightened unconsciously.
"Damn it… once he's turned to stone, there's no hope left! This is even worse than Seastone!"
He had still held onto a sliver of hope—
Maybe he could find a chance to escape together with Tesoro.
Now?
Impossible.
Only Hancock could undo petrification.
Leno nodded in satisfaction.
"That's much easier on the eyes."
He ignored Doflamingo and turned toward Baccarat, who had been restrained.
"The Luck-Luck Fruit… interesting."
He examined the voluptuous dealer with curiosity.
Rule-type abilities—
Always intrigued him.
Kalifa adjusted her glasses and stepped forward.
"Captain, shall we interrogate her? I can test the Hundredfold Speed of the More-More Fruit."
Stussy stood beside her, smiling in a way that sent chills down the spine.
"The two of us dealing with one dealer? More than enough."
Baccarat's face turned pale.
Her body trembled slightly.
Her eyes filled with fear.
Hundredfold speed?!
That would kill someone!
She was dragged away by the two women, who were practically radiating "kekeke" energy.
What would happen next—
Didn't need to be said.
Women—
Handled women best.
Meanwhile, Doflamingo was forced to remain in Gran Tesoro.
Leno wasn't worried about him escaping.
Dressrosa was his base—
And too important to abandon.
He could run—
But his kingdom couldn't.
Doflamingo appeared calm on the surface.
But inside—
He was boiling with rage.
"I'll remember this."
He couldn't take revenge now—
But he wouldn't sit still either.
After Leno left—
Doflamingo found a place to rest.
Taking advantage of Leno's absence—
He secretly contacted his executives in Dressrosa.
The Den Den Mushi connected.
He lowered his voice and spoke quickly.
"It's me. Listen—bring Sugar and Monet to—"
He deliberately added Monet.
Compared to Sugar—
Monet was more reliable.
And absolutely loyal to him.
"Don't act rashly. Just do it."
After hanging up—
Doflamingo's eyes flickered coldly.
A ruthless smile formed.
He picked up another encrypted Den Den Mushi—
And dialed.
Soon—
A deep, slightly drunken voice answered.
"Joker?"
"Kaido-sama," Doflamingo said, his tone filled with "urgency" and "helplessness."
"I've run into some trouble. I encountered the new Yonko, Leno."
"He's detained me—and he's trying to take Sugar!"
"Fufufu… Kaido, if Sugar is taken, Dressrosa will fall into chaos. Our SMILE trade… will definitely be affected."
He wasn't entirely lying.
If Sugar's ability were undone—
All the toys in Dressrosa would revert.
Chaos was inevitable.
The SMILE factory would be impacted.
So technically—
He was telling the truth.
The line fell silent for a moment.
Then—
A thunderous roar erupted.
"WORORORORO!!!"
"That brat Leno?! Daring to touch my business?!"
Kaido's voice burned with fury.
"You think becoming a Yonko means you can do whatever you want?! Do you take me for a joke?!"
"Joker! Where are you?! Give me your location!"
Doflamingo immediately reported the exact coordinates of Gran Tesoro.
"Kaido-sama… are you coming?"
"Of course! I want to see which idiot dares intercept my goods!"
Click.
The line cut off.
Doflamingo lowered the Den Den Mushi.
The earlier "panic" and "helplessness" vanished.
Replaced—
By a cold, scheming grin.
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