A terrifying aura intensified in Whiskey Peak. Those with weak or insufficient willpower, under the pressure of Conqueror's Haki, began to lose their resistance.
"Nee, nee, Doffy's angry," Trebol commented, observing the scene sincerely.
Diamante, every time he witnessed the situation, which seemed like a natural disaster, felt his admiration for Doflamingo grow.
"Yeah, Doffy's really a bit angry. The Marines underestimate them too much."
In the distance, the two figures struggling to resist the Conqueror's Haki still fought with all their might. To avoid passing out, they intentionally harmed themselves, desperate. They were bloody and in a sorry state, knowing that if they didn't fight now, they would end up as fish in the hands of their tormentors, who could mold them as they wished.
Could this be the struggle of the weak? A useless struggle. No matter how much they try, they won't be able to break free. They resembled a small boat about to be swallowed by a rough sea.
Truly, the weak cannot even choose the form of their death. Weakness is like a tragedy: a desperate roar, a brave resistance to the oppression of the strong, yet still ignored. No matter how much they fight, a clown remains a clown and cannot step onto the stage.
Doflamingo continued to laugh extravagantly in the same spot, and his Conqueror's Haki increased without diminishing, devastating the once dark and gloomy port. After a long time, the violent aura began to slowly subside, as if his master's emotions had been vented.
Doflamingo observed the two figures fallen on the ground in the distance, slowly walked up to them, and said: "If you're not dead, prepare what I need immediately. Remember, you only have half an hour, and my patience is limited."
"Yes, yes, we'll do our best to meet your needs," said the two figures, barely able to breathe, looking at each other and responding respectfully. In their eyes, there was relief and the joy of having narrowly escaped death.
As for the two in front of him, Doflamingo didn't care what they thought. If they didn't have some use, he wouldn't hesitate to choose the form of their death. After all, for the weak, there was no choice.
Wendel and Ryder hurriedly retreated and rushed back to town. They only had half an hour, and time was short. If they couldn't complete the task, Doflamingo probably wouldn't leave them alone again. This time, they were lucky, as the Marine took responsibility for them. They were just insignificant people, and the moment they saw Doflamingo's Haki manifest, they knew they were still too weak, like ants, insignificant in the eyes of a strong man.
Doflamingo and his group remained silent at the scene, resting and awaiting the results of the two men.
Half an hour passed, and the quiet street became bustling again. Ryder and Wendel had a great expense this time. To save their lives and satisfy Doflamingo, they worked with extreme care. More than a dozen large carts, laden with wine and food, almost emptying the town, majestically headed for the pirate ship in the harbor.
The two, ignoring their injuries, personally took charge of loading and unloading the goods. Although there was no communication, their silent actions showed their thoughts: they wanted to get rid of that "disaster" as quickly as possible and send him somewhere quieter. With their hard work, the large ship's food supplies quickly became abundant.
"Sir, the food has been loaded. Could we please..." Ryder and Wendel cautiously asked Doflamingo.
"You've done a good job, but your lives aren't that cheap."
"Ah, sir, if you need anything, we'll go through fire and water to satisfy you!" The two hurriedly knelt before Doflamingo. After all, compared to death, dignity was worthless. Living was the most important thing.
"Fufufufu, I want to cooperate with you. You also want to go further, don't you? Being stuck in this small place all the time won't bring you a future. Cooperate with me, and you'll have power, treasures, and beautiful women. Everything you desire, you can obtain."
"This... sir, you're joking. We know our own capabilities. How could we cooperate with you?" The two seemed impassive.
Diamante wouldn't tolerate anyone questioning his young master. Any order from the young master would be followed unconditionally, and he wouldn't allow anyone to disobey. With a voice full of fury, he yelled at the two: "Hey, hey, hey, our young master deigns to cooperate with you, and you're so ungrateful you don't immediately accept, you keep mumbling and making excuses? Are you disrespecting us?"
Doflamingo waved his hand, interrupting Diamante's questioning, and said loudly: "I don't need you to have immense power, just to expand your teams. I'll give you funds and support. You just need to spread your people throughout the Grand Line, connecting it completely. Every single country must have someone from you. What you need to do is stay hidden, acting behind the scenes. I don't care about your identity, and I won't restrict you. I just want that, when I need it, you give me a little help. I want you to be my eyes, watching the world on behalf of the King."
"Living like this, on the edge of a knife, isn't easy at all, is it? Every day is a matter of life or death, with no guarantee of safety. Aren't you tired of it? I know all of you want to live, and live better, but is this uncertain life truly what you desire? Come, accept my proposal, seize your future. Your future will certainly be bright. Power, treasures, beautiful women, all of this you can have. Otherwise, in the future, you won't even know who will collect your bodies. Think about your future, think about the brothers who are with you. Are you willing to continue living in mediocrity? If you encounter insoluble problems, I'll also secretly help you solve them. After all, we're part of the same team, aren't we? If you help me, I'll also help you."
Doflamingo's words were imbued with a seductive and magical power, deeply affecting the souls of the two, step by step.
Doflamingo's magical words shocked the two. Yes, nobody wants to live a mediocre life, and who doesn't dream of having a grand, glorious, and brilliant life?
This was a great opportunity, and it would be up to them if they could seize it. Doflamingo was just playing "idle chess" out of interest.
The quiet air was laden with a serious atmosphere. Wendel and Ryder knew they had no choice. Both were intelligent people, otherwise, they would have been discarded long ago. And Doflamingo's words truly touched them. After deep thought, they immediately made the most important decision of their lives. Whether it would be a blessing or a curse, only the future would tell.
"We are willing."
It was no surprise to Doflamingo. They were intelligent people and made the right choice.
"Fufufufu, from now on, your organization will be called White Dove. A dove of peace that brings peace and light to the world — the White Dove. This is our Den Den Mushi. Trebol, you'll maintain contact with them from now on."
He handed the Den Den Mushi that was on his chest to the two men, who carefully put it away.
"Nee, nee, remember to keep in touch later," Trebol said to the two with a smile, while two streams of snot hung from his nose.
Trebol's state was truly disgusting, but the two dared not show anything in his presence. After all, as the saying goes, one shouldn't hit someone who's smiling. The two could only praise him: "Alright, we'll count on Lord Trebol's care in the future."
After settling matters, Doflamingo and his family members officially set sail. Observing the Donquixote Pirates depart, the weight on the two's hearts finally lightened, as if they had survived a great disaster.
"Good-natured man, do you believe him? His ambition isn't small."
"Yeah, it's not easy to be King, but I want to bet this time. I believe him."
"Hahaha, really? I believe it too."
The two looked at each other and laughed, their laughter echoing throughout Whiskey Peak.
On the other side, Doflamingo and his group, who had just set sail.
"Doffy, do you really trust them?" Diamante asked nervously. Since Doffy had just spoken, he didn't dare to question him and could only express his doubts now.
"No, no, no. I don't trust them. I trust myself. As long as my strength is greater and my fame grows, they will have to work for me obediently, without daring to have ulterior motives. Besides, how could I cooperate with them? They are just my pawns, weak. How can they be on the same level as me?"
"Nee, nee, Doffy, you really haven't changed at all."