"Then 3—2—1!!!"
As the last word fell, Nero and Loerke's figures instantly vanished from their original spots.
The ground suddenly began to sink, and two cracked craters appeared where Nero and Loerke had stood.
Dust flew everywhere, and the snowflakes in the sky were blown back upwards by the chaotic storm.
"Got him!" x2
The furry touch in their hands made both of them smile simultaneously.
"It seems I (I) won!" x2
They both turned at the same time, looking behind them.
Doflamingo and Corazon only felt a dizzying sensation, their vision stretching intensely.
Their heads felt like they were falling from a great height, only to brake sharply at the last second. If not for a force supporting their collars from behind, they would have definitely fallen to the ground.
"What... happened?" Corazon asked, breaking the silence.
He looked up and met Doflamingo's gaze, who was in Nero's hand, and actually saw an expression of utter despair on his inherently evil brother's face.
"Hmm... Is that what you wanted?"
"Your Majesty, aren't you here to capture Rosinante?"
"..."
"..."
"Mwahahahaha..."
"Gahahahaha..."
Awkward! Inexplicable awkwardness! A flock of Crows seemed to fly across the sky, cawing "idiot..." "So, if Your Majesty has nothing else, I'll take my leave?"
Loerke lifted Corazon in his hand, smiling like a simpleton.
"Hmm, it's fine! It's just that the fellow in your hand seems to be on the verge of death. If there's anything you need to do, I recommend doing it while he's still warm!"
"Nani?" Loerke lifted Corazon to look, and sure enough, it was just as Nero had said.
At this rate, he probably wouldn't even last until they got on the ship.
"This is troublesome! Do any of you guys have a doctor?"
The members of the Donquixote Family exchanged glances, and finally, Doflamingo, still in Nero's hand, spoke up.
"I am a String-String Fruit user. I can temporarily stitch his wounds with strings, which should buy enough time to find a suitable doctor."
"Oh? You have that trick up your sleeve? Then hurry up and do it!" Nero let go, just wanting to send Loerke away quickly.
"Yes!"
Doflamingo tidied his clothes slightly. As the saying goes, when under someone's roof, one must bow their head, but this roof was too low!
He felt like he wasn't just bowing his head, but also bending his back and knees.
However, thinking of the humiliation he experienced in his youth, Doflamingo felt that bowing even lower was not unacceptable.
His five fingers moved slightly, and white threads pierced through Corazon's body surface and internal organs. Soon, the deterioration stopped, and his complexion improved significantly.
"Not bad! This will do!" Loerke, as if weighing a piece of pork, lifted him to his eyes and showed a satisfied expression.
"Wait! I still want to bring someone with me! Please!"
Just as Loerke was about to leave, Corazon grabbed his collar again.
"Hey! stinky brat! Don't push your luck!" Loerke grabbed Corazon's wrist, his expression unfriendly.
Did he really think he was a philanthropist? Making wishes here?
But Corazon's comical clown face was full of determination: "Otherwise, no matter what you want to do, I won't cooperate!"
"You stinky brat! Are you threatening me?"
The giant beast bared its fangs, and the predator's oppressive aura filled the hearts of everyone except Nero.
"Who do you think I am?"
Loerke's expression turned fierce, intending to teach this arrogant fellow a lesson.
Anyway, after Doflamingo's thread stitching, he wouldn't die anytime soon.
"Hmm, never mind! Is it the stinky brat in that treasure chest? Take him and leave quickly!"
Nero impatiently waved his hand, signaling them to take the person, while also not forgetting to emphasize.
"But not the treasure! That belongs to me... to the Donquixote Family!"
"Yes!" Loerke nodded slightly to Nero, then gave Corazon an evil smile: "You fellow, once we're on the ship..."
Suddenly remembering Corazon's ability, Loerke abruptly changed his tone: "Once on the ship... you'll have to take good care of yourself!"
"stinky brat?" The members of the Donquixote Family, however, were all bewildered.
Corazon then deactivated his Silence-Silence Fruit ability, and Law in the treasure chest pushed open the lid and climbed out.
"Corazon-san!" The oppressive aura from Nero and the current scene made Law appear somewhat timid.
"Hmm, is what this stinky brat has lead poisoning sickness?"
"Nani? That infectious disease?" Loerke's hand went to his sword hilt, glaring at Law: "stinky brat! Stay away from His Majesty! You guys, how dare you..."
"Wait! lead poisoning sickness is not contagious!" Corazon quickly explained.
Doflamingo, beside him, also spoke up to help explain: "That stinky brat has lived with Corazon for so long, and there haven't been any problems!"
"Shut up! You damn pathogens! Turn into dust for me!" Loerke listened but remained unchanged.
There were priorities; if there was even the slightest possibility of Nero getting infected, it was a capital offense!
"Don't worry! Lord Loerke, what they say is true! The so-called infectious disease is nothing but a lie from the World Government and the Flevance royal family."
Nero's hand pressed on Loerke's sword hilt, preventing him from drawing his sword.
"Let go, Your Majesty! This is the one thing I cannot concede!" Loerke's expression was serious: "And please move to the ship and let the imperial physicians give you a thorough examination!"
"As for these pathogens, I guarantee not a single speck of dust will remain of them!"
"Calm down! I've eaten the Red Dragon Fruit. There are no pathogens in this world that can survive my scorching flames!"
Nero raised his voice, stopping Loerke. Are you kidding, my five billion Beli worth, you're just going to let it be blown away like that?
This exclamation successfully brought Loerke back to his senses. He quickly knelt on one knee, head bowed: "My apologies! This subordinate was presumptuous!"
"Hmm, no matter! You acted this way because you were worried about me!"
Nero waved his hand dismissively: "By the way, I have another task to give you!"
"I've found two excellent shipwrights from Water Seven. They are currently on Nicuss's ship nearby. You can take them back directly!"
"Understood!" Loerke nodded in agreement.
Originally, to save time, he had rushed ahead alone when they were still half a day's journey away.
He didn't expect that after that, the ship would encounter His Majesty again? Glancing at Corazon, Loerke sighed inwardly.
How truly lucky!
...Loerke, carrying a large person on his shoulder and a small one in his hand, gradually disappeared from sight.
Nero finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Doflamingo: "Hmm! So, where is my five billion Beli Ope-Ope no Mi?"
"..."
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