A Mere Marine Admiral

Just as Ma Qiao and Miss Bingbing launched a surprise attack on the Donquixote Family's underground factory, Doflamingo was coughing up mouthfuls of blood.

Having just dealt with a remnant of the old era, he is now being beaten by three "sons" from the old era in a mixed brawl.

Of the three sons, only Katakuri is the true son of Charlotte Linlin.

Although Ma Qiao only asked him to come and lend a hand, Katakuri certainly wouldn't mind helping his best friend a bit more.

Furthermore, the Big Mom Pirates still have old scores to settle with Doflamingo!

Two years ago, a flamboyant scientist named Caesar Clown came to Whole Cake Island.

He claimed to be Vegapunk's colleague and the former second-in-command of the Navy's research department.

This impressive resume immediately caught the attention of the Big Mom.

In the minds of Big Mom, scientists should have a flamboyant, "emo" or "shamate" style.

For example, the North Blue Vinsmoke Family, which she had long coveted, was one such example.

Caesar Courant perfectly embodies the Big Mom's perception of a scientist.

Therefore, without further verification, the Big Mom approved a large sum of research funding for this guy.

But in the end, Caesar Courant and the money approved by the Big Mom disappeared together.

Katakuri, as one of the people in charge of handling this matter, had investigated Caesar Clown's whereabouts after leaving Whole Cake Island.

All signs indicate that Doflamingo has a close relationship with this person.

After being ganged up on by three men, Doflamingo, his face bruised and swollen, lay on the ground, panting, and said, "Minister of Flour... Minister of Flour, I really don't know Caesar well..."

"Hehehe, aren't you familiar with that guy?"

Beside him, Yamato, wearing an Onimusha mask Yamato, deliberately chuckled in a rough voice, "So who was the person who brought that Caesar guy to our Onigashima to discuss business?"

Doflamingo looked up at Yamato, who was carrying a spiked club on his shoulder, and memories that had been somewhat forgotten resurfaced in his mind.

That's right. When Onigashima Caesar discuss the Artificial Devil Fruit business with Kaido wasn't home. The person who greeted us was this masked man who claimed to be Kaido's son!

"Thunder Bagua!"

Before Doflamingo could explain, Yamato impatiently raised his spiked club again and slammed it down on Doflamingo, sending him flying more than ten meters, crashing through several buildings before finally coming to a stop.

Compared to Big Mom's real son and Kaido's tomboy, Gangplank, Whitebeard's adopted son, seemed to be putting in a lot of effort. He just leisurely ate oranges on the sidelines and occasionally stepped forward to fire a shot.

Basically, we're in a state of "the three of us are so awesome. jpg".

To be fair, with Katakuri and Yamato, plus Gangplank playing a supporting role, even Kuzan would have to think twice before joining the team.

After all, the scandal Admiral Ryokugyu and Momonosuke drawing had already occurred at some point in the future of the original timeline, which made Ma Qiao somewhat doubt the worth of Kuzan's talent.

Regardless, Doflamingo was already at a significant disadvantage, even though he had used the Awakening power of the String-String Fruit.

Even in Awakening- to- Awakening battle of awakened beings, he was no match for Katakuri.

Through Gangplank's perspective, Ma Qiao saw a bizarre sight: two-thirds of a house had turned into rice cakes, and one-third into lines—making the ticket price worthwhile.

At this moment, almost all of the Donquixote Family's top executives had been killed or were engaged in fierce battles, leaving Doflamingo in a desperate situation with no one to turn to for help.

Even his signature move, "Birdcage," is completely useless in the current situation.

"Damn it, am I, who has the noble blood of the Celestial Dragons flowing through my veins, destined to die here?"

Doflamingo, unwilling to give up, pulled out his phone and screamed to customer service, "Where are the reinforcements? I need reinforcements! Haven't they arrived yet?"

"Dear Shichibukai, your ordered reinforcement service— Admiral Kuzan— has arrived. Please check your inbox." Leona's formal voice came through the client.

"Kuzan is here?"

Doflamingo was taken aback.

While Ma Qiao had some reservations about Kuzan's abilities, Doflamingo had absolute respect for a veteran Admiral like Kuzan.

In the original work, Doflamingo was incredibly arrogant and domineering when facing the newly Admiral Fujitora.

While it wouldn't be accurate to say they completely disregarded Fujitora, they certainly didn't consider Fujitora the kind of suffocating threat he might be.

However, when facing Kuzan, Doflamingo's fear was almost no less than when mentioning Kaido.

Of course, this is partly due to the significant differences in personality between Fujitora and Kuzan.

A virtuous person can be deceived by proper means, but it is difficult to deceive him by things that are not in accordance with the right path.

Fujitora, with his rigid adherence to procedures and principles, posed no threat to Doflamingo, who possessed both the dual identities of a former Celestial Dragons and Shichibukai.

In any case, the news that Kuzan had arrived rekindled Doflamingo's will to survive.

He unleashed his full Conqueror's Haki, even employing Conqueror's Haki Coating.

This nearly caused Ma Qiao, who was watching from a distance, to stumble and fall to the ground.

"You didn't use this move when you King Luffy!"

Ma Qiao didn't know whether it was Doflamingo's sudden realization, or whether he had also been suppressed by the Sun God's halo in the original timeline, or whether some old man who didn't understand the comics hadn't thought of it at the time.

After thinking about it, Ma Qiao concluded that the first possibility was more likely.

Regardless of whether he is good or evil, Doflamingo is undoubtedly a combat genius.

His ability to develop a seemingly ordinary String-String Fruit to an astonishing degree is a testament to his comprehension.

It was when King Luffy faced Kaido's spiked club that he learned how to Conqueror's Haki Coating from "Thunder Bagua".

Doflamingo is now facing "Thunder Bagua," which, although weaker, could still teach him something.

Of course, in theory, to learn Conqueror's Haki Coating, you must first learn prerequisite skills such as "Ryuo".

Each step is interconnected, as if it were tailor-made for King Luffy.

However, Doflamingo is also a well-connected underworld boss.

It's something that a regional mafia boss would know. Doflamingo might not be unfamiliar with it. It might not be "Ryuo," but it could be some other similar method of imbuing Armament Haki.

In short, with the power of Conqueror's Haki Coating from his sudden enlightenment, Doflamingo immediately...

He can now cover his head when he gets hit.

There's no way Conqueror's Haki Coating, a mere mid-tier Shichibukai like him can't possibly withstand a gang attack from two half-Yonko Emperor's Deputy...

However, the advantage is that Conqueror's Haki Coating is much more effective than Armament Haki; Doflamingo was beaten to a pulp, but he actually managed to withstand it.

At that moment, it was as if he were possessed by the souls of countless tanky seniors and juniors from the One Piece world, and he began to do sit-ups frequently.

Finally, when Doflamingo was covered in wounds and had successfully done his umpteenth sit-up under the mochi bullets and spiked clubs, reinforcements finally arrived.

However, it wasn't Admiral Kuzan, Doflamingo had been longing for.

A scarlet long axe clanged as it knocked Yamato's spiked club away.

A man clad in heavy armor, his right arm modified into a long axe, his brows furrowed with iron will, fortitude, and cruelty.

"Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral Darius of the Navy Headquarters has come to the rescue on behalf of the head of the Donquixote Family!"

"The head of the Donquixote Family?"

Yamato had picked up his spiked club again, pointed at the disheveled Doflamingo with a puzzled look. "Isn't this the guy who's the head of the Donquixote Family?"

"Hmph, he's nothing but a pathetic wretch who has lost his noble status Celestial Dragons. The true Donquixote Family is not comparable to such lowly pirates."

Darius, with his nostrils flared, adopted the air of a court lackey, prompting Gangplank was eating an orange nearby, to secretly give him a thumbs up, while also feeling a pang of jealousy.

Darius was recruited by his master less recently, but his level and equipment are now superior.

There's nothing we can do about it; it's no wonder Ma Qiao was biased.

Darius is a good money-maker!

Compared to Whitebeard, despite being one of the Four Emperors, still lived frugally and used all his wealth to build up his hometown, the bloated Celestial Dragons were naturally extravagant.

Darius's equipment was basically not paid for by Ma Qiao; it was all thanks to the donations from the Celestial Dragons.

Moreover, objectively speaking, Darius needs to stand alone and suppress discontent within the Marine Headquarters; strong combat capabilities are also essential.

So, besides his bodyguards, Ma Qiao's biggest investments were Darius and Garen, his arch-rival in the Navy.

These two iconic figures already possess the strength of the All-Stars and the Three Sweet Commanders, or rather...

Half-step Emperor's Deputy!

Katakuri felt that the axe attached to Darius's severed wrist looked familiar; it resembled the axe that Ma Qiao had used to cut his own kidney.

The facts are quite similar; Darius did indeed install the Black Cleaver.

With this divine weapon, he engaged in a fierce battle with "Kaido's Son".

In an instant, the giant axe and the spiked club, the devastating blows and the Thunder Bagua of the Bagua formation, continuously erupted with a metallic clang that could cover the entire Dressrosa.

However, in terms of absolute strength, Yamato still holds the advantage.

Kaido's abnormal physical talent, Yamato is tireless.

This made Ma Qiao somewhat worried.

After all, the effect of the Elixir of Iron only lasts for three minutes, so ten bottles at a time would probably be far from enough.

Darius knew that the person in front of him was one of Ma Qiao's most promising students, so he didn't dare to use any tactics like "ruthlessly flattering his sister-in-law".

Otherwise, if I went back, I'd definitely get a beating from Boss Ma Qiao.

The balance of power began to slowly tilt.

Fortunately, at that moment, Shigure Gangplank roared, "Kaido's son, I'm here to help you!"

Gangplank's lack of assistance was not a problem; his intervention disrupted Yamato's fighting rhythm frequently, rendering him unable to exert his full strength.

On the other side, Doflamingo, who made a breakthrough on the spot, and Katakuri, who couldn't Conqueror's Haki Coating, were also fighting back and forth, and it was no longer a one-sided beating.

And Darius wouldn't be the only one in the special counter-terrorism unit that the Celestial Dragons value so highly.

Hearthunter Varus, who was previously assigned by Ma Qiao, has already risen to the position of vice-captain.

He led the Navy to begin fighting against the Whitebeard Pirates' henchmen.

Miss Fortune and Varus were locked in a fierce battle.

You throw a reverse Q, I throw a crooked cannon, we go back and forth, and neither of us gets hurt.

This battle received a maximum rating of 3.0 on Douban.

For a moment, the battlefield seemed to become tense.

"Fufu~!"

Doflamingo, who seems to have no concept of modesty, started popping champagne halfway through the match again. "I'm waiting for Kuzan, what are you guys waiting for?"

"Once Kuzan arrives, I'm going to wipe you all out!"

Doflamingo pulled out a walkie-talkie from somewhere.

Just like in the original story where he issued a nationwide warrant for "god Usopp," he once again addressed the entire nation via radio and Visual Den Den Mushi:

"Kuzan, I know you're in Dressrosa. I'm on top of the Central Palace right now. If you still remember your duty as a Marine, come and help me fight! Don't forget, I'm one of Marineford's trusted Shichibukai, you know, fufu~"

The reason why Kuzan hasn't reappeared yet, in Doflamingo's opinion, is that the guy is definitely hiding somewhere watching him make a fool of himself!

Although Doflamingo fears Kuzan, he can still make good use of him in a reasonable and lawful way.

With the news broadcast nationwide and reaching millions, Kuzan had no choice but to show himself without a plausible excuse.

However...

Kuzan isn't actually in Dressrosa now; it's Miss Bingbing's Dressrosa.

And...

"Hahaha~ Doflamingo, are you looking for Kuzan?"

At that moment, a round, shiny Red Nose suddenly invaded Doflamingo's live broadcast signal— the Buggy the Clown made a dazzling appearance!

Buggy showed eight teeth.

He spun arrogantly in front of the camera, his captain's cape fluttering in the wind, looking every bit the part of a great pirate.

"That mere Kuzan was easily stopped by me!"

"You probably don't know this, but back in Alabasta, I teamed up with Gal Dino, the nemesis of the Celestial Dragons, to give Kuzan a sound beating. Don't you think so, Gal Dino?"

In the scene, Buggy's arm suddenly splits open and pulls Mr. 3, whose hair is styled in a vertical "3" braid and whose glasses are shattered, close to him.

The latter quickly replied, "Yes, yes, just a mere Marine Admiral. I even dare to fight Celestial Dragons. Marine Admirals and all that... what are Marine Admirals...?"

By the end, Gal Dino was almost in tears, but after receiving a slap on the backside, he shouted, "A mere Marine Admiral is nothing but a worthless chicken or dog to our Buggy Pirates!"

"Click!"

The live stream then returned to Doflamingo's side, and his sour face was, needless to say, a mask.

On Buggy the Clown's side, Ekko revealed his ghostly figure.

It turns out that throughout the entire process, he had been holding Buggy's head in one hand and stepping on Galdino's buttocks with the other, forcing them to recite the script from the teleprompter.

From an angle not visible to the camera, Buggy and Galdino were already bruised and battered, their heads covered in welts...