"Fufufu! A big shot has really come!" Doflamingo's forehead seeped with cold sweat; this guy in front of him was terrifyingly strong.
"Eh? You know me? Gah hahahaha! I didn't expect to have some fame out here too, huh?"
Loerke was a bit smug hearing Doflamingo's words. Although Nicuss had been established for so many years, the nature of a noble's work kept him tied to the homeland.
So, few outsiders knew information about Nicuss, even a Great General like him.
"Cough, well, don't flatter me too much. The Silence-Silence Fruit user is named Rosinante, your brother, right?"
Loerke chuckled a few times, then quickly realized something and stopped laughing.
"Well, this might cause a separation between you brothers, but I, as the Lord of Winter of Nicuss, guarantee that he will absolutely not suffer even a hint of grievance in Nicuss!"
Doflamingo looked at the man in front of him, who seemed a bit anxious, and inwardly understood.
It seemed the Silence-Silence Fruit was far more important to Nero than he had imagined. This Great General, at a glance, clearly wasn't a skilled negotiator.
Loerke watched Doflamingo's silence and began to get anxious. He truly didn't want to resort to force unless it was the last option.
This matter truly wasn't on his side, so he directly stated his final bargaining chip.
"Furthermore, we are willing to pay five billion Berries! How about it?"
"Fufufu! So generous?" Doflamingo's mouth stretched to his ears.
"However, Rosinante, that is Corazon, is currently on a mission on the island. How about we discuss this after his mission is complete?"
"What mission? I can come and help too!" Loerke interrupted.
What kind of mission? Is it dangerous? Don't let anything happen to him! He is Nicuss's hope now!
You might not believe it, but in the twenty minutes before I left, everyone managed to scrape together five billion, not even counting the 1.7 billion in the underground bounty pool.
"It's just a small mission, no danger." Doflamingo waved his hand, signaling Loerke to rest assured.
"As for the five billion, it's not necessary. Our Donquixote Family hopes to obtain a pirate flag of His Majesty Nero, and our brothers also need time for a final farewell."
His words were reasonable and logical. In such a short time, Doflamingo had already planned everything.
Isn't that guy Corazon very concerned about that brat Law? Then use Law as a threat to make Corazon obediently go to Nicuss, securing greater benefits for the Donquixote Family.
As for Law's lead poisoning sickness, it could be cured with the Ope-Ope no Mi that would be obtained later. The rest would be fine as long as Law was held as a hostage.
A flawless, perfect plan!
"That? A pirate flag…"
However, Loerke, who hadn't flinched at five billion, unexpectedly hesitated when Doflamingo mentioned wanting a pirate flag.
This attitude made Doflamingo's heart tighten. This condition was already generous enough. Was obtaining a Four Emperors' pirate flag really so demanding?
"That's right! Just a pirate flag of His Majesty Nero will suffice, no need for five billion, and the Donquixote Family will also offer generous remuneration annually."
Loerke heard this, knew he had misunderstood, and quickly waved his hand: "That's not the problem! Nicuss is richer than you imagine, it's just… that… may I ask? What do you plan to do with His Majesty's pirate flag?"
Doflamingo was silent, unsure of this person's intentions.
After thinking it over, he decided to tell the truth: "I heard there are still vacancies in the Nicuss Empire's underworld influence, and I am willing to fill those vacancies for His Majesty Nero."
"Underworld?" Loerke was a bit confused but quickly reacted: "You mean those rats… Gah ha ha… the underworld, huh?"
"No problem… Hmm, most likely no problem! I can't make the decision alone, I still need to discuss it, but there shouldn't be any issues!"
Loerke put an arm around Doflamingo's shoulder: "A pirate flag, in the end, it can only be used for… the underworld, the underworld!"
Feeling Loerke's disdain for the underworld, Doflamingo, who planned to advance into the New World, felt the prestige of a Four Emperors for the first time.
The things he had spent years planning for, even having to humble himself to obtain, were merely sewage garbage in their eyes?
So, it wasn't a vacancy in influence, but rather that they simply didn't care for it at all?
"Fufufu!" Doflamingo chuckled with a low voice: "If I ever get the chance, I'd really like to see what kind of person His Majesty Nero is!"
Loerke laughed evasively: "If there's a chance… definitely if there's a chance!"
"Then I should go find Rosinante now. Lord Loerke, I trouble you to wait a moment."
"Ah, no problem! No problem!" Loerke paused, then added: "But preferably within ten minutes!"
He didn't know why he had a bad feeling, but this was North Blue. After thinking about it, Loerke didn't pay too much attention, but still set a time limit.
"Fufufu! That's enough!" Doflamingo laughed exaggeratedly, and the Donquixote Family members behind him scattered quickly.
"Then, see you later!" With a slight nod, Doflamingo also flew into the air, beginning to search for Corazon and Law.
Corazon, who had escaped again, was already mentally prepared.
In his opinion, he was doomed to die today, but Law still had hope.
The question he was now pondering was, if Law in the future recalled him, wouldn't a smiling face be better?
Thinking this, he looked at Law in his arms and decided to face him with a smile for the rest of their time together.
When Law opened his eyes, he saw Corazon's comical smile, and immediately cried out in surprise.
Patting Law's head, Corazon activated his Silence-Silence Fruit ability.
"This is a special use of the Silence-Silence Fruit. Any sound you make from now on will not be heard," Corazon explained as he placed Law into a treasure chest.
"The nature of those pirates is that they won't pass up these treasures, because that's just the kind of people they are!"
"Then what about you, Mr. Corazon?" Law opened his mouth but no sound came out.
Corazon understood his confusion: "It's alright! We might sever ties this time, but Doflamingo won't kill me."
Finally, Corazon made a V-sign with his fingers, rolling his eyes upwards. Combined with the comical clown makeup on his face, his smile looked very funny.
"I love you, Law!"
After saying that, he closed the lid of the treasure chest. In the distance, he could already see the figures of the Donquixote Family executives.
He still had to attract the attention of others to buy more time for Law's escape.
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