"Are you ready, Little fellows!"
Adrian knocked on the door.
Doflamingo and Rosinante came out together, specially dressed up for the day.
Because Adrian was invited today and was taking the two of them to negotiate a business deal.
Although the other party wasn't extremely important, he was a skilled businessman who had long been involved in the underworld.
Adrian was willing to bring the two brothers, not only because of the invitation, but also to let the two Little fellows gain some experience.
Today, Doflamingo and Rosinante were wearing black suits and both had top hats. Doflamingo's shirt was burgundy, while Rosinante's was dark purple.
Adrian, breaking from his usual attire, wore a formal suit, a bow tie, a black feather coat draped over his shoulders, a blue diamond brooch pinned to his chest, and black gloves. Upon closer inspection, the edges of the gloves were embroidered with the Star Sea Merchant Guild's emblem. Adrian also unexpectedly carried an exquisite cane, its handle crafted from gold, inlaid with 12 diamonds, and engraved with a serpent pattern.
Looking at Adrian's attire, Doflamingo couldn't help but tease:
"Are you a gangster or a mob boss?"
Adrian didn't joke with Doflamingo as usual, but said seriously:
"This is our external image. You two don't need to say much later, just observe carefully. After all, I have the entire Guild behind me, and not just anyone can disrespect it."
As he spoke, three unfamiliar men in bowler hats appeared beside Adrian. Their hat brims were so low that their faces were obscured. They stood uniformly, yet gave off a sense of disarray.
"The three of them will accompany us. They are my trusted confidants, worthy of trust."
After a brief introduction, Adrian led the two somewhat precocious Little fellows onto a small boat. They were heading to an agreed-upon location for business.
On the boat, Rosinante was visibly nervous, constantly fidgeting with her handkerchief.
"Don't worry, Rosie, you need to know that you are now the Second Young Master of the Star Sea Merchant Guild. Be calm. You represent my dignity. Learn from your brother."
Adrian silently cast his gaze towards Doflamingo, who was sitting in an arrogant posture.
Doflamingo was accustomed to such scenes, but this time his identity was slightly different. He was not the Young Master of the Donquixote Family, but the Eldest Young Master of the Star Sea Merchant Guild.
Soon, they reached their destination: a large ship anchored in a sea area. Adrian led everyone aboard.
Under the guidance of specialized personnel, they were led to a room door.
Along the way, Doffy and Rosie were on either side of Adrian, half a step behind him. Doflamingo, after observing along the way, showed a puzzled expression to Adrian, mixed with a hint of tension and seriousness.
But Adrian ignored him, striding into the room. His black feather coat left a trail in the air. Adrian unceremoniously sat on a sofa, leaning back, crossing his legs, and folding his arms across his chest.
Doflamingo and Rosinante followed closely, sitting on either side of Adrian, not at all timid.
The three men in bowler hats stood silently to the side.
The person sitting opposite them was a man with a black curly beard. His thin face looked unusually fierce, and he wore a large hat with a ship anchor shape on it.
He seemed a bit surprised by Adrian's arrival, especially since Adrian had brought two children. He hadn't expected the other party to bring them.
"It seems these two are the two Young Masters of the Star Sea Merchant Guild. Truly outstanding individuals."
"I just brought them to gain some experience. Haven't you also established quite a career?"
Their business pleasantries seemed so peaceful, but Doflamingo felt increasingly uneasy, becoming agitated.
"So, Mr. President, how about our previous proposal?"
"Well, that matter, of course, depends on the sincerity of both parties, doesn't it, Mr. Umit?"
"Hahahaha, of course, of course."
"Then, did you bring your things?"
The man with the ship anchor hat was Umit. Most of his ventures were in Euro-Asian shipping, which clashed with the interests of the Star Sea Merchant Guild. Umit had recently shown interest in the Star Sea Merchant Guild's North Blue shipping routes.
Umit motioned to a secretary behind him, who handed over a briefcase.
Adrian also clapped his hands, signaling the person behind him to hand over documents.
"Mr. President (Umit), don't mind if we verify first."
Both sides simultaneously presented their items.
Umit dispatched a middle-aged man with glasses to carefully examine the contents of the documents, then nodded in affirmation to Umit.
One of the men Adrian brought also opened the briefcase, counting the banknotes inside. After confirming the amount and authenticity, he nodded to Adrian and then stepped back.
"Mr. Umit, you are truly a man of your word."
The moment Umit spoke, he pulled out his pistol and aimed the dark muzzle at Adrian. At this point, the atmosphere became tense, and the three men behind Adrian and Umit simultaneously drew their weapons.
At the beginning of their agreed meeting, it was stipulated that each side would only bring three attendants.
Facing Umit's gun threat, Adrian showed no signs of tension, but calmly questioned the other party.
"What is the meaning of this, Mr. Umit."
"Ha? What do I mean? I didn't expect you to be so foolish as to bring your sons here. How could I possibly accept this treaty? Little ones, come out!"
Umit laughed wildly, and more people appeared beside him. Numerous enemies also burst into the room from outside.
Rosinante tugged at Adrian's clothes, quietly asking:
"Dad, what should we do!"
Adrian didn't answer her directly, but simply put a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture.
Compared to the others, Doflamingo was much calmer. Although he had sensed something was wrong from the beginning, having witnessed Adrian's strength, he wasn't worried. Even he could escape, but Rosinante was also here, and the other side was prepared.
"Is this your answer, Mr. Umit."
"Hahahahaha, at this point, you still want to pretend to be calm! You and these two Little fellows are dead today, and I will eventually seize your Star Sea Merchant Guild's shipping routes! I am the man who will become the shipping king!"
Umit laughed arrogantly, and the surrounding enemies were poised to attack.
Adrian held back Doflamingo, who was about to make a move, then continued to calmly look at Umit opposite him, before sighing subtly:
"Clean up."
Instantly, Umit's body was split in half. One of the men behind Adrian had acted.
Before Rosinante could recover from the shock, Adrian educated her with a serious expression:
"Observe carefully, and don't make the same mistake in the future."
Then he added, "Try to hold back."
Rosinante hadn't truly understood the meaning yet.
The other two men behind Adrian also moved. They were Number Two and Number Three.
Number Two directly slammed his body into the people around, crushing them like a road roller.
Number Three was relatively more civilized, dispatching one after another, always aiming for the head.
The sudden bloody scene made Rosinante's stomach churn with extreme discomfort. After a wave of nausea, the stomach acid erupted from her throat. Number Three, while dispatching people, also took out a bag to catch the vomit.
Number One, who had first cut Umit in half, thoughtfully offered a cup of water.
The screams ended very quickly. On the entire ship, apart from the people Adrian brought, everyone else became lost souls.
Walking on a carpet paved with blood, Adrian calmly drank red wine to pass the time.
After confirming that there were no more survivors on the ship, Number One, Number Two, and Number Three came to Adrian to report:
"Sir, confirmed."
Number One bowed deeply.
"Then clean up Umit's things and send someone to stabilize the situation, preparing for future absorption."
"Yes!"
The three received their orders. Number Two and Number Three set off first, while Number One remained by Adrian's side.
Doflamingo, who was nearby, felt he had seen through Adrian. Although the other side was very dishonest, Adrian wasn't kind-hearted either. He had probably anticipated the current situation long ago and specifically brought the two brothers to learn.
"How is it, are you adapting?"
"Tch, just so-so."
"This time, it's because the future conflicts between us are inevitable; it's either I die or he dies. Next time, I'll take you to see a true businessman's gathering."
"Hmph."
Adrian gave Number One a look, and Number One disappeared from sight.
Adrian, holding Doffy's hand in his left and Rosie's in his right, returned to his own boat. After waiting for a while, Number One returned. As the boat sailed a short distance, an explosion echoed from the place Adrian and the others had been just minutes before.
"Don't worry, it's just to erase some traces."
Adrian explained with a smile to the children. Subsequently, that smile held a deeper meaning in Doflamingo's eyes.
Adrian controlled the two curious Little fellows' desire to turn their heads and look, admonishing them:
"Real men never look back at explosions."
Then Adrian stood at the bow of the ship, the explosion's flames behind him seeming like his artwork, vying for brilliance.
But this time, Doflamingo truly remembered a figure.
That arrogant and fearless black feather coat back, walking into the unknown, illuminated by the flames.
Adrian was never a good person,
But
When it came to raising them,