Doflamingo's talent was actually quite high, but judging from his later performances, he put most of his energy into things unrelated to his strength.
For example, controlling Dressrosa, making money, socializing, and expanding his influence, so much so that when he was finally defeated, he hadn't even learned a high-level application of Haki.
Among powerhouses over forty years old who possess Haoshoku, Doflamingo could almost be said to be at the bottom.
In contrast, Shanks, who is two years younger than him... it's truly a case of comparing people to people and goods to goods.
Blake was preparing to take Baby5, so he definitely needed to give Doffy a warning to prevent him from doing anything irrational later.
Additionally, Blake's impression of Doflamingo was decent, so he might as well give him a reminder.
As for whether it would be effective, that didn't matter.
"Let's go to the open space over there."
Blake gestured with his chin towards a nearby spot:
"Don't break the tableware here; it's quite troublesome to get a new set."
The battle between Doflamingo and Mandy started quickly and ended even faster.
The two stood facing each other in the open space; Doflamingo's strings had just been unleashed, and Mandy's sword had not even fully left its sheath.
Just a one-inch draw of the sword, and the biting sword pressure perfectly fused with the awakened cold air, instantly sweeping across the entire space.
Doflamingo's face showed shock.
Both he and the Donquixote Family executives believed Doflamingo was a rare genius in the world, a strong contender for the future Pirate King.
But facing this maid, who was roughly his age, Doflamingo felt distinct pressure.
His proud strings were rapidly frozen and brittle in the realm of absolute zero.
Mandy's sword edge lightly tapped, and the Haki-entwined strings shattered like ice shards!
Immediately following was a flurry of attacks, like a sudden storm, and Doflamingo barely dodged a few times before quickly being defeated.
However, his emotional management was not bad; his ashen face lasted only an instant before his signature smile reappeared:
"Fufufu... Saint Blake truly has hidden talents around him."
"Tsk tsk..."
Blake shook his head:
"Doffy, it seems you haven't figured out what the hard currency on the sea is."
After a casual hint, Blake no longer looked at Doflamingo's reaction, lowering his head to look at Baby5 and continuing:
"You're so young, can you really be a maid?"
"I can do it! Lord Saint Blake!"
Baby5 nodded vigorously, as if afraid that even a slight delay would lead to rejection.
"Is that so..."
Blake feigned hesitation for a moment before reluctantly saying:
"Alright then, I need you to be my maid!"
He extended his hand, and Baby-5 immediately grasped it tightly without hesitation, completely forgetting that she originally belonged to an organization.
Blake, holding the hand of the little girl who was incredibly happy because she had realized her life's value of "being needed," smiled at Doflamingo:
"I'm taking a maid, no problem, right?"
Can I say there's a problem?
Doflamingo knew very well that the recent battle was both a hint and a warning, and even more, a process that made him understand and "voluntarily accept" this fact more deeply.
This time, he couldn't quite control his expression:
"Fufufu... It's her honor to be favored by Saint Blake."
Doflamingo valued his family members greatly, but he was also an opportunist who knew how to assess the situation.
Just then, Stella approached Blake and handed him a note—
"Barrels has set sail and is heading towards Barleysis Island."
Blake raised an eyebrow and stood up:
"It seems this banquet should also end."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Doffy."
Doflamingo looked surprised, wondering what news could make the other party disrupt his original plans.
But he didn't dare to inquire casually, extending his hand to lead the way:
"Fufufu... You're too kind; you're welcome to visit again anytime."
Blake nodded slightly, and with Baby5 trailing him, he instructed Stella:
"Call them all back; we should depart."
Doflamingo, as if nothing had happened, led a group of family executives and personally escorted Blake to the dock, watching him board his magnificent flagship.
Olga, who was suddenly recalled, was very displeased:
"What's the rush? I haven't had enough fun yet!"
Blake ignored the two-hundred-year-old loli, who was becoming more and more like Perona; he didn't plan to tell them about the Ope-Ope no Mi for now.
After waiting a moment longer, until all the maids had returned to the ship, the sanctuary slowly sailed out of the harbor.
The days of sailing were calm and monotonous, until the afternoon of the second day, when Perona in the crow's nest suddenly shouted:
"There's a ship ahead on the starboard side, a style I've never seen before!"
After moonlighting as a lookout for a while, Perona had made some progress, at least knowing how to report directions.
Blake stood at the bow, looking in the direction she pointed.
The style of this ship was indeed different from ordinary merchant ships, with special shackles and iron cages erected on the deck.
Blake examined the ship, a look of interest on his face.
As a Celestial Noble who often went out to sea, he had seen many different kinds of ships on the ocean.
There were merchant ships, fishing boats, Marine ships, pirate ships, and even the flagships of other Celestial Dragons.
But this was indeed the first time he had personally seen a Slave ship specifically engaged in the Slave trade.
Blake had bought many Slaves, but usually through Area 16 of the Sabaody Archipelago or the Slave market of Mary Geoise.
The sudden appearance of the Slave ship piqued his interest.
Blake decided to go to this ship and buy a batch of first-hand Slaves.
This would be a unique shopping experience.
He instructed Hancock beside him:
"Bring the ship closer. I want to see what the difference is between Slaves on a Slave ship and Slaves from the Holy Land."
The sanctuary adjusted its course, approaching the ship gracefully and swiftly.
At the same time, Dr. Fran's loudspeaker installed on the ship blared:
"This is the sanctuary of World Nobles Saint Blake! The Slave ship ahead, stop immediately!"
The sound echoed over the sea, and the Slave ship erupted in a flurry of activity:
"It's... it's a Celestial Noble! Boss, what do we do?"
The middle-aged man called the boss also had cold sweat on his forehead, forcing himself to remain calm:
"Don't panic! Don't panic! Celestial Dragons all keep Slaves! They won't do anything to us!"
Despite saying that, they still frantically furled all the sails, and the ship's body sent Newton's coffin lid flying, slamming on the brakes on the sea.
The two ships quickly docked smoothly, and Blake stepped onto the Slave ship's deck, frowning slightly.
The conditions on this ship were even worse than the pirate ships he had encountered before; a smell mixed with sweat and despair assailed him.
The sight before him immediately extinguished his enthusiasm upon boarding; he even considered sinking the ship directly.
Just then, Blake's gaze inadvertently swept over two sisters huddled in the corner of a cage—
The slightly older green-haired girl tightly protected her naive younger sister behind her.
In their eyes, besides fear, there remained a trace of unique spirituality.
Blake's expression was strange:
"Could Doflamingo be the'sheep' recently?"
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