The mainmast of the sailing ship now proudly flew a white flag adorned with a smiling skull, replacing the World Government's cross. It fluttered in the wind, flapping loudly.
"State your wishes," Doflamingo said, naturally occupying the central position. Before him, Trebol, Diamante, Vergo, and Pica knelt in a semicircle, having just sworn their allegiance. "This is your deserved reward. I might not be able to fulfill them immediately, but it's only a matter of time."
"Behehehe~Nyeh! nyehh!" Trebol clamored, waving his cane. The man had an outstanding desire to show off, cutting in to say, "Wealth! Vast, immense wealth! That's why I set sail!"
Doflamingo's lips curled upwards. "Fufufufu, a good wish. Easy to satisfy, yet not easy to satisfy."
"Fame!" When Doflamingo looked his way, Diamante didn't hesitate. He fantasized, reveled, and yearned, "I love the feeling of being in the spotlight, it makes me lose myself!"
"Okay," Doflamingo patted Diamante's lean shoulder, coaxing him. "That day will surely come, when everyone adores and reveres you, shouting your name with admiration, worshipping you like a superstar! Fufufufu~ However, Diamante! Will you hone yourself? At the very least, you must possess outstanding qualities that make people worship you like a superstar."
Diamante still didn't hesitate. "I will, Doffy!"
"Can you straighten your tongue when you speak? It's Doflamingo, not Doffy," Doflamingo corrected.
Diamante nodded seriously, his tongue still fumbling. "Do-ffy... Doffy..."
"Alright, you've tried your best," Doflamingo shrugged helplessly. Diamante's accent clearly had regional characteristics, making some pronunciations almost impossible to change. He turned his head and asked, "What about you, Vergo?"
Vergo thought for a long time, then stated plainly, "I don't know."
"Oh?" Doflamingo inquired with interest. "Everyone has wishes or dreams: wanting to eat better, wear better, acquire wealth, fame, wanting others to fear and dread them, or even wanting to kill someone! There are countless forms of expression, because human nature is just that greedy! You're telling me you don't know what you want? Fufufufu~ Then what's the difference between you and a salted fish?"
"Salted fish?" Vergo looked bewildered.
Doflamingo spread his hands. "Dead, you know."
"Behehehe~ Nyeh, nyeh! Doffy, you're being too hard on him," Trebol chuckled, playfully messing with Vergo's bowl cut. "Even though he's the same age as you, he's not as mature! And, and, this guy's old man was a Marine, you know!"
Doflamingo was surprised. "A Marine?"
"Behehehe~ Yeah, yeah! A terrible, incompetent scumbag who was ultimately executed by the Marines themselves, dragging his family down with him," Trebol sneered maliciously and without restraint. "The only decent thing that idiot ever did was 'teach' his son to respect 'authority'!"
Vergo slapped Trebol's hand away, not saying a word.
"It seems we have something in common: terrible, incompetent fathers," Doflamingo said, wiping off the half-eaten bread stuck to Vergo's cheek and flashing a wide smile. "If you're unsure, just follow my will in everything. Fulfilling my wish will be your wish, fufufufu~ You will become my right-hand man, brother!"
Vergo looked up, his stern and muddled expression finally showing a flicker of something different, like a lost person seeing a guiding lighthouse. "Bro... ther...?"
"Pica? Why don't you speak?" Doflamingo lifted the chin of Pica, who, even kneeling, was much taller than him, but had his head bowed.
Pica's lips moved for a long time before he spoke with difficulty, "I... I..." Indeed, it was a high-pitched, thin, comical voice that stirred people's primal urge to laugh, but Doflamingo's expression remained neutral, making Pica secretly sigh in relief. He continued, "I... I'm afraid someone will laugh at me."
"This world will never be without those inferior individuals who find amusement in others' flaws!" Doflamingo said pointedly and languidly. "Pica, your wish is something I can help you achieve on my own! Don't be afraid, speak your mind bravely. That's what you should do. And what I should do... is slaughter those inferior wretches who dare to mock you!"
"Behehehe~ Nyeh, nyeh! Look! This is the demeanor of a King! This is the demeanor of a King!" Trebol cried out feverishly.
Doflamingo spread his arms. "Now, the Donquixote Family is officially established! My family, my partners, please remember your oath of loyalty to me. I will also remember the promises I've made to you."
"Yes!"
Trebol and the other three bowed deeply, signifying their submission.
"To the lounge. Let's discuss things in detail," Doflamingo said, tugging awkwardly at his ill-fitting clothes as he walked towards the lounge.
A short while later.
"Behehehe~ As expected of World Government officials, a bunch of extravagant, corrupt, decadent bastards!" Trebol said, looking around the lounge.
Exquisite sofas and coffee tables held various expensive brands of cigarettes and fine wines. The integrated kitchen had refrigerators stocked with premium ingredients and refined tableware. Most absurdly, there was a large ornamental fish tank, all of which filled him with indignant resentment.
Doflamingo rummaged around for a bit. "Found it."
"A book?" Vergo curiously leaned closer. "Roku... shiki? What's that, Doffy?"
"The Rokushiki, powerful martial arts with extraordinary developmental potential, secret techniques only accessible to Marine and Cipher Pol officers and captain-level figures," Doflamingo said, casually tossing the book to Vergo and sitting on the sofa. "First, let's discuss our itinerary. The World Government won't give up pursuing me. At least until I have the power to counteract them, their pursuit of me will never stop."