New Royal Palace of North Odesse.
"Your name is Baccarat, correct? What is your ability?"
Lounging leisurely on his throne, Donquixote Doflamingo regarded the tall, alluring woman before him with an unreadable expression.
The Lucky-Lucky Fruit—a power with endless possibilities.
Hearing her real name spoken so suddenly, Baccarat's heart skipped a beat. She never used it when traveling. Always a false identity.
Her head instinctively shot up, but under Doflamingo's oppressive gaze, she quickly lowered it again. Now was not the time to worry about such things.
She took a deep breath and respectfully answered, "Yes, Boss. I am the Lucky-Lucky Fruit user. I can absorb others' luck and convert it into my own. Those whose luck I steal will suffer extreme misfortune."
"Fuffuffuffuffu… Like that bull-headed fool, huh?"
Sitting nearby, puffing on a cigar, Senor Pink suddenly turned his head and glared at Baccarat.
No wonder so many reckless pirates had been gambling themselves into ruin lately—more in a single month than in the past half-year combined. He had been forced to spend extra time managing the casino, cutting into his training schedule.
So this was why his workload had mysteriously increased.
Baccarat, unfazed by Senor's displeased stare, continued explaining her abilities.
"Yes, and in doing so, I can accumulate even greater wealth for the family. The luck I steal can be expended to influence events in my favor. Just now, at the casino, I used my power to ensure I had the opportunity to meet you, Boss. However, my ability has a limitation—it requires physical contact to activate."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Doflamingo couldn't help but applaud. This ability was exactly what he wanted. Its drawbacks were only relevant in combat.
As for this woman's ambition and desire… he had plenty of ways to fill them to the brim.
With a grin, he asked, "Baccarat, I have great use for you. What do you desire in return?"
"Boss, I want a position in the casino under the Sabaody branch of the family."
Baccarat lifted her gaze, a burning hunger for wealth flickering in her eyes. After a brief pause, she added,
"And I want to be part of the family's inner circle."
A drifter like her lacked protection. But standing before her was a man whose power—both physical and political—was colossal.
"Of course. You're worth it," Doflamingo replied smoothly. "But you have a far greater purpose. Baccarat, is the amount of luck you can absorb from a person fixed?"
A greater purpose? With her limited experience, Baccarat had only ever used her powers for gambling. She hesitated, then answered carefully,
"The amount varies depending on a person's status, circumstances, and strength."
She elaborated, "For example, most common residents of this island would register as a 1. The average pirate from the Four Seas might be somewhere between 5 and 500. As for someone like you, Boss… I've never had the chance to test it."
Interesting.
If Baccarat existed in a world of cultivation, she'd at least be a Grandmaster of Fortune.
Shoving aside his stray thoughts, Doflamingo turned to the stunned Senor Pink.
"Senor, leave us."
"Understood, Boss."
Lowering his head slightly, Senor turned and exited the throne room, even going the extra step of ensuring the doors were firmly shut behind him.
Doflamingo's gaze returned to Baccarat, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"And what price are you willing to pay, Baccarat?"
"Everything."
"Then come. Prove your resolve."
The sound of rustling fabric filled the air.
...
After three days of battling Sea Kings with his bare fists…
After days of travel and a long, exhausting night…
Doflamingo had finally fallen into a deep sleep, something he hadn't experienced in years.
The next morning.
"That was refreshing!"
Shoving aside Baccarat, who clung to him like an octopus, Doflamingo sat up, stretching.
Now that he was fully recharged… it was time to go beat up his little brother.
...
Throwing open the door, Doflamingo was greeted by a familiar sight.
"Brother!"
Rosinante was already waiting, his face drawn and exhausted. His tall, four-meter frame seemed slightly hunched.
Doflamingo's brows furrowed. A surge of irritation rose within him.
What kind of disgraceful posture is that?
As his brother, Rosinante should never look so pitiful.
Raising a clenched fist, Doflamingo's voice dropped into a low growl.
"Rosie, show me how much you've improved!"
His massive fist, larger than most people's heads, shot forward, tearing through the air toward Rosinante's skull.
Rosinante's expression shifted slightly. With no time to argue, he activated his power.
"Silent Barrier!"
An invisible force encased him.
Boom!
The sheer force of Doflamingo's punch sent Rosinante flying, smashing through a doorframe and crashing into the courtyard wall of the palace's main hall.
"Interesting… Absorbing vibrations, huh?"
Doflamingo's lips curled. His casual punch had failed to shatter the barrier. It seemed Rosinante was getting the hang of the Nagi-Nagi no Mi.
Everything in existence vibrated. If Rosinante could absorb vibrations, he could gradually weaken incoming attacks.
"Rosie, the best defense is a strong offense!"
"I understand! Soundwave Barrier!"
From the rubble, Rosinante's weary voice rang out. He knew he wouldn't be able to rest until his brother was satisfied.
Two invisible walls extended outward, forming a narrow passage between them.
"Wind Blade!"
A concentrated slash of compressed air shot out from the other end, its speed increasing exponentially as it passed through the sound barriers.
The moment it reached Doflamingo, the sheer wind pressure slicked his hair tightly against his scalp.
"Not bad… but not enough. Again, Rosinante."
Bernoulli's Principle? Doflamingo's eyes gleamed. Some swordsmen used similar techniques for their slashes.
Coating his fist with Haki, he shattered the Wind Blade's core, instantly disrupting the swirling air currents.
"Silent Combat Armor—Soundless Strike!"
Rosinante vanished, reappearing behind Doflamingo. His leg, glowing with the energy of a Rankyaku, whipped toward his brother's head.
Strangely, not a single sound accompanied his movements—not from his steps, not from the wind, not even from the attack itself.
"Spider's Web! Fuffuffuffuffu… Not bad, Rosie."
Thrum!
A dense web of threads blocked the attack completely. Seeing his brother's stunned expression, Doflamingo chuckled.
"Rosie, you can deceive the air, hide your movements, and mask your presence… but you can't hide your intent."
"Armament—Infinite Heavy Strike."
A storm of thread-formed fists erupted behind him.
Rosinante barely had time to react. He absorbed as much vibrational force as he could, reducing friction to slip away like a shadow.
But his body was still too weak.
Doflamingo's superior physical strength let him keep up effortlessly. He reappeared behind his brother, grinning.
"Rosie, let's see how far your armor can go."
A chill ran down Rosinante's spine. "Wait, Brother—"
"Oraa!"
A barrage of brutal punches hammered into him.
Boom!
His body plummeted into the earth like a fallen meteor, completely defenseless.
"Not bad at all! Ohlalalala!"
As Doflamingo felt the satisfying impact of his attacks, his punches only grew faster, turning into a blur.
Crack!
A distinct shattering sound rang out.
Rosinante's Silent Armor had been broken.
Boom!
One final punch split his forehead open, drawing blood.
Satisfied, Doflamingo lowered his fist, ending the fight.
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+220 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg