Queen's First Appearance
The next day · North Blue · Donquixote Family headquarters
"Boom!!!"
The entire castle shook violently in an instant. Cracks spread across the walls like spiderwebs, and hundreds of glass windows shattered under the terrifying blast of Conqueror's Haki, as though heralding the end of the world!
In the center of the hall, Doflamingo stood like a demon god in his long feathered coat. The floor tiles beneath his feet cracked apart as strings lashed wildly about, and the air was thick with killing intent and oppressive fear.
His trademark smile remained on his lips, but anger had twisted it beyond recognition. Even his eyes behind his sunglasses were streaked with scarlet.
"Roy... Roy!!!"
His voice was low, like the roar of a beast from hell, and it made the entire hall tremble.
Diamante knelt on the floor like a corpse, his forehead pressed against the tiles. Cold sweat dripped from his body like rain, and his cape was already soaked through.
"D-Doffy... he also, also told me to pass on a message..." His voice trembled, and he could barely get the words out.
Doflamingo abruptly bent down and yanked him up with one hand, his gaze terrifying. "Speak!!!"
Diamante was nearly in tears, but he steeled himself and said, "He said... you should stop setting your sights on Dressrosa..."
"...What?"
A brief, deathly silence fell over the hall.
The next moment, Doflamingo's pupils contracted sharply, and he froze as if struck by lightning.
"How could he know... about that?"
"That kingdom... I've been planning for it for ten years..."
"That's information even the World Government might not have..."
He abruptly took a step back, his expression turning utterly grim.
Images flashed through his mind—
The boy in the spotted hat, with the cold gaze.
His traitorous younger brother, Rosinante, who hid everything behind a smile.
"Traitor... damn traitor!!!"
Doflamingo gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking as blood slowly dripped down his palms.
"Roy... what exactly are you trying to do?"
He felt a pressure unlike any he had ever known. A man who did not belong to the Marines, yet had a grasp of dangerous rules, was dismantling his throne piece by piece in what seemed like a game.
Just as his thoughts grew ever darker—
"Bang!"
The doors to the meeting room were violently forced open, the panels nearly coming off their hinges!
Trebol stumbled in, snot flying everywhere, beside himself with panic:
"L-Lord Doffy!!! Something's happened!!! It's terrible!!!"
"What is it now?!" Doflamingo roared.
Trebol nearly fell to his knees in fright. "It's Queen from the Beasts Pirates! He's already outside the castle!"
"Queen?!"
This time, Doflamingo's anger gave way to genuine wariness and contemplation.
Even his usual wild laughter briefly faded, replaced by a deep frown.
"Kaido's man... coming to work with me at a time like this?"
"Does he want to draw me into the game... or is he trying to spread the pressure around?"
He fell silent for a moment, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
"Let him in."
Trebol quickly nodded and withdrew.
Doflamingo walked to the shattered window and looked up at the dark sky. A smile rose to his lips once more, but this time it was no longer arrogant. It was cold, restrained, and unfathomably deep.
"Interesting..."
"Roy, you're forcing my hand..."
Marine Headquarters · Marineford
Sunlight spilled across the magnificent white buildings, and the early morning sea breeze blew down the central avenue, stirring the metal buckles on the hem of Roy's uniform.
With his hands in his pockets, he walked at a leisurely pace, his face calm, though his thoughts had already drifted far away.
...Is it already the year 1510 of the Sea Circle Calendar?
According to the original course of history, Red-Hair will steal the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika this year, and then lose his arm in Foosha Village...
He frowned slightly, then shook his head.
But I've already brought Luffy to headquarters to train. That accident... probably won't happen again, will it?
He lowered his gaze and parted his lips. As for Sabo...
I've already spoken to Dragon in advance. The Revolutionary Army's people should be here soon, and they can get him out of the Goa Kingdom before the accident happens.
That way, at least I can rewrite that darkest part of his fate and let him grow up in the Revolutionary Army...
As he was thinking, a patter of light footsteps suddenly came from ahead:
"Big Brother Roy!!"
Two petite figures rushed at him like the wind, hugging his legs tightly, one on each side.
"Nojiko? Nami?" Roy looked down and couldn't help laughing.
The sisters were looking up at him, their eyes sparkling as though filled with starlight.
Nojiko looked shy, while Nami was already grinning from ear to ear.
"Don't you two have lessons today?"
"We do!" Nami rose on tiptoe and said proudly, "We're going to the intelligence division today to learn how to read sea charts!"
"We're going to become super amazing Marines!" Nojiko nodded vigorously too, clenching her little fist.
Before Roy could speak, a languid, amused woman's voice came from behind him:
"Well, the busy man finally decided to come back~"
He looked up to see Gion standing on the steps with her arms folded, a teasing smile on her lips.
Today, she wasn't wearing her flowing kimono. Instead, she had changed into a standard dark-blue Marine uniform, its fitted waist outlining her impressive figure. Her features had a sharper, more heroic look.
Behind her stood a somewhat bashful young girl—
Her long strawberry-blond hair fell smoothly to her waist, and her clear green eyes were like gems reflected in the blue sea.
The moment she saw Roy, her entire face instantly flushed bright red.
"Kujaku?" Roy paused in surprise, then a gentle smile rose to his lips.
"Long time no see, Kujaku."
"...Big Brother Roy."
Kujaku answered shyly, nearly biting her lip as her fingertips kept twisting the hem of her clothes. She looked like butter about to melt in the sunlight.
Vice Admiral Tsuru's granddaughter, a future Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral.
She's frighteningly smart, but she blushes too easily, Roy thought, his gaze softening a little.
"Where are all of you headed?"
"To class, of course!" Nami raised her little hand. "Big Sister Gion said she'd teach us chart reading and navigation!"
"We're also going to learn codebreaking!" Nojiko said earnestly.
"Hmph, a good navigator needs more than a sense of direction."
Gion stepped forward and patted their shoulders. "All right, that's enough. We have important things to do."
She turned back and gave Roy a meaningful wink:
"By the way, I hear Admiral Sengoku heard you caused quite a stir in the North Blue?"
"Ha..."
Roy smiled and shrugged. "I just took a few things. Is it really such a big deal~?"
Gion didn't press him further. She turned and led the three girls toward the intelligence division.
Before leaving, Kujaku secretly glanced back. When she found Roy looking at her too, she turned away as if she'd been burned, the tips of her ears so red they looked ready to bleed.
Roy watched them leave with a smile, then tilted his head up toward the boundless blue sky. Sunlight shone through the white clouds onto his shoulders, warm and quiet.
"Next, it's time to see how Ace and Law's training has been coming along."