Chapter 470 - 309

Chapter 310: The Secret Plot of Green Bit!Dozens of nautical miles northeast of Dressrosa.Green Bit.This island is separated from Dressrosa by only a bridge, yet it is completely covered in dense primeval jungle.At this moment, in a hidden harbor on the west side of Green Bit.A black warship without any flags or markings is slowly docking.The gangway is lowered.Two figures, one after the other, step onto the soft soil of Green Bit.Walking in front is Donquixote Doflamingo.He has changed into a brand-new pink feather coat, which looks exceptionally striking in the dark jungle.Sunglasses hide his eyes, but the curve of his lips remains crazed. His pace seems composed, but upon closer inspection, a faint, imperceptible lag can be seen when his left foot hits the ground."Whew..."Mingo exhales a breath of turbid air and looks around.Low growls of unknown beasts come from deep within the jungle, and the sound of birds flapping their wings echoes among the canopy. Everything is primitive, savage, and untamed.It is completely different from the hypocritical prosperity of Dressrosa.He likes it here.Because here, there is no need for pretense."It's quite a nice place, isn't it, Old Brother Aramaki?"Mingo turns back, looking at the man who followed him off the ship.He is an exceptionally tall and sturdy man, at least three meters tall.He is wearing a dark green suit, his coat open to reveal the black tight-fitting clothes and bulging muscles underneath.Most striking is his hair—countless small, vine-like green plants winding around the top of his head, with small dark red flowers blooming at the ends.Marine Admiral, Aramaki.A Logia-type, Mori Mori no Mi user.At this moment, Aramaki is puffing on a thick cigar, taking a deep drag and then slowly exhaling. The smoke condenses into a milky white mist in the humid jungle air, lingering for a long time."A nice place?"Aramaki grins, revealing teeth yellowed by smoke."I think it's quite gloomy. If it weren't for the mission, I wouldn't want to come to such a godforsaken place."His voice is raspy, carrying a certain cynical laziness. But those eyes hidden behind his sunglasses occasionally flash with a sharp, hawk-like brilliance."Mission?"Mingo tilts his head."What kind of mission would make a MarineAdmiral personally set out? Could it be... to protect me, a 'Shichibukai'?""Protect?"Aramaki sneers, the cigar tilting at the corner of his mouth."Don't flatter yourself, Donquixote Doflamingo. I'm here to monitor you.""Monitor?""Yeah."Aramaki takes another drag of his cigar."Don't you have any idea how many forces are gathering in Dressrosa right now? BIG MOM's people, Kaido's people, the Revolutionary Army's spies, the Emperors of the Underworld, and a bunch of reckless pirates... not to mention—"He pauses, his sunglasses turning toward Mingo."The Straw Hat is on your island."The smile on Mingo's face stiffens for a split second.But soon, the smile widens again, becoming even more exaggerated."Fuffuffu... Old Brother Aramaki is truly well-informed. I only found out last night myself.""Quit acting."Aramaki exhales a smoke ring."You had a fight with Trafalgar Law at the Royal Palace last night, and that old man Fujitora even stepped in. Do you really think the Marine is blind after such a huge commotion?"He walks up to Mingo, his massive height requiring him to look down to see him."Seriously, Donquixote Doflamingo, what on earth are you up to? Using a Tremor-Tremor Fruit as bait to lure all sorts of characters to your own territory... do you have a death wish?"Mingo remains silent for two seconds.Then he takes off his sunglasses.In those eyes, the usual madness and playfulness are gone, replaced only by a cold, abyss-like exhaustion."Old Brother Aramaki."Mingo's voice is very low."Do you think... I still have a choice?"Aramaki raises an eyebrow."The trade of the Artificial Devil Fruit has been exposed, and Kaido has already lost patience with me! The World Government treats me as a disposable pawn and could revoke my Shichibukaititle at any time! The Straw Hat has come to Dressrosa, and his target is me!"Mingo speaks slowly, each word sounding as if it were squeezed out of his throat."I am currently surrounded by enemies on all sides! If I don't make some noise, if I don't muddy the waters... I won't survive this month!""So you're using the Tremor-Tremor Fruit as bait?"Aramaki shakes his head. "Aren't you afraid of luring in too many sharks and being swallowed yourself?""I am."Mingo puts his sunglasses back on, his smile reappearing, but this time it carries a certain desperate ruthlessness."But I'm even more afraid of just waiting for death."He turns, facing deep into the jungle."The Tremor-Tremor Fruit is the bait, and the Gladiator Tournament is the stage. I want all the forces to slaughter each other on that stage, letting them bleed out to their last drop. And then..."He pauses."Only those who survive to the end will be qualified to leave this island."Aramaki watches him quietly.He watches for a long time.Then he sighs."Madman.""Fuffuffu... thank you for the compliment.""I wasn't complimenting you."Aramaki takes the cigar out of his mouth and flicks the ash."But... whatever. Anyway, my mission is only to monitor, not to protect. If you want to seek death, go right ahead.""That won't do."Mingo turns back, a hint of flattery in his smile."Old Brother Aramaki, I'll have to rely on you a lot during this time. After all, you are a MarineAdmiral. With you here, those nobodies won't dare to act out.""Cut the crap."Aramaki puts the cigar back in his mouth."The reason I'm staying here isn't because of your face, Donquixote Doflamingo, but because—"His eyes narrow slightly behind his sunglasses."You are a Celestial Dragon."For the first time, a crack appears in Mingo's smile."Even if you were stripped of your status, the bloodline remains."Aramaki continues, his voice lazy yet carrying an unquestionable weight."Those old fogies in the World Government gave a strict order: Donquixote Doflamingo can die, but he cannot die under the Marine's watch. Especially not at the hands of... 'certain people'.""Certain people?"Mingo keenly catches the phrase."Yeah, certain people."Aramaki exhales a puff of smoke."Like the Revolutionary Army, or... the Straw Hat."Mingo falls silent.He knows what Aramaki means.Straw Hat Luffy — Monkey D. Luffy.That surname, that 'D'.Mingo knows better than anyone what that means to the World Government and the Celestial Dragons."So..."Mingo speaks slowly."If the Straw Hat tries to kill me, you will stop him?""Yes."Aramaki nods."But only to'stop him from killing you'. If he just gives you a beating and breaks a few ribs, I'll just pretend I didn't see it."The corner of Mingo's mouth twitches.But in the end, he says nothing.Because he knows this is already the maximum 'protection' Aramaki can offer him."Then... thank you."Mingo puts his sunglasses back on, his smile returning to normal."But Old Brother Aramaki, we didn't come to Green Bit just to chat about this, did we?""Yeah."Aramaki nods, his sunglasses turning toward the depths of the jungle."We received intelligence that the Tontatta Tribehas been active lately. They seem to want to use this chaos in Dressrosa to stir up some trouble.""The Tontatta Tribe..."Mingo's eyes narrow."Those annoying little things."Ten years ago, when he seized Dressrosa, the Tontatta Tribe was one of the biggest obstacles.Those little people, only palm-sized yet possessing incredible strength and speed, appeared and disappeared like ghosts in the jungle, causing no small amount of trouble for his plans.Although they were eventually suppressed, a small remnant force has always been active on Green Bit."Do they need to be cleared out?" Aramaki asks."No need."Mingo shakes his head."Just a bunch of fleas; they can't cause much of a stir. And..."He pauses, a cruel smile curling his lips."Keeping them might prove useful.""Useful?""Yeah."Mingo turns and walks toward the depths of the jungle."The stage of Dressrosa is already crowded enough. But what if... we add some 'unexpected' actors?"Aramaki watches his back and remains silent for a moment.Then he shakes his head and follows."Madman."He repeats in a low voice.But a hint of an amused curve appears at the corner of his mouth.Deep in the jungle, ancient trees tower toward the sky.Sunlight leaks through the gaps in the canopy, casting swaying spots of light on the ground covered with decaying leaves.Two figures, one pink and one green, follow one after the other, disappearing into the depths of the jungle.And three hundred meters above them, in the canopy layer.On a giant leaf.A Tontatta, only palm-sized and wearing clothes woven from leaves, lies there, observing below with a homemade telescope.When he clearly sees the faces of those two people, his small body trembles violently."Do-Doflamingo... and... a Marine Admiral..."He puts down the telescope, his face deathly pale.Then he turns and runs toward the deeper parts of the jungle at his fastest speed.He must report.He must report immediately.Donquixote Doflamingo has come to Green Bit.Bringing a Marine Admiral.The Tontatta Tribe... is in danger.