Doflamingo had answered the Marines' summons and was headed for Marine Headquarters, so naturally, he had a permanent Log Pose for Marineford.
In fact, getting a permanent Log Pose for Marineford was not particularly difficult.
That was because while Marineford was Marine Headquarters, it was also a medium-sized island. Besides the Marine base, a large portion of it was a residential area inhabited by Marines' families.
The island's permanent population was close to a million.
There were still plenty of merchant ships coming and going.
Moreover, most merchant ships conducting legitimate business liked trading at Marineford.
After all, in theory, this was the safest place in the entire One Piece World.
Tens of thousands of elite Marines were stationed here year-round, including officers of every rank.
Most importantly, Fleet Admiral Sengoku the Buddha, Hero of the Marines Garp, and the three Admirals were all permanently stationed here.
What blind pirate would dare cause trouble here?
Even the legendary pirate Golden Lion had to leave behind both legs as toll payment when he went to Marine Headquarters.
The number-one gang in the One Piece World truly lived up to its reputation.
All this information came from Doflamingo.
Seeing that this lord seemed unfamiliar with certain aspects of the world yet was quite interested in them, Doflamingo guessed that he might be some secluded master from a small non-member nation, or perhaps even a remote island.
The world was vast, and people like that did occasionally appear.
Perhaps the long-lost strongest Logia—the Rumble-Rumble Fruit—was on some unknown little island, where ignorant natives who had never seen a Devil Fruit might even regard it as "the power of a god."
In any case, such things did not surprise the well-traveled Doflamingo.
Zhu Mang had no idea that this seemingly aloof fellow had secretly concocted an entire backstory for him.
He really did not know much about some of the finer details of the One Piece World.
Who paid attention to that stuff while reading manga?
It was even possible that the manga itself had never shown it!
After all, Oda was just a manga artist. What the hell did he know about One Piece?
Since this "aloof flamingo" was willing to shed his usual cold exterior and evolve into a "chatty parrot," Zhu Mang was happy to listen. It would at least give him a preliminary understanding of this world's customs.
From the looks of things, he would have to remain in this world for quite some time.
Who knew when that barely noticeable "game" of his would grant him another chance to travel between worlds?
Thanks to Doflamingo's introduction, he finally learned his approximate location.
They were actually already nearing the Red Line.
Doflamingo had flown directly over the Red Line with his ability, then turned toward the Sabaody Archipelago before heading to Marineford. (Although the Sabaody Archipelago was theoretically beneath the Red Line, it was actually below Pangea Castle, where the Celestial Dragons lived. The Red Line was extremely long and vast, so anyone capable of flight could cross it elsewhere.)
The direction Zhu Mang had flown in earlier had indeed been somewhat off.
If he had not encountered Doflamingo and had continued flying in a straight line, he would probably have seen the Red Line after a while longer.
Mm, he had been off from Marineford's direction by around thirty degrees.
That was ridiculously far off.
Of course, Zhu Mang would never admit that.
He casually stuffed the stack of bounty posters into Doflamingo's hands.
Doflamingo glanced at them casually and discovered that they were pirate bounty posters, making his eyelid twitch.
"Lord Gebinz, these are...?"
"Oh, I borrowed them from a News Coo. I promised to return them, so you can do it for me."
"Borrow... bounty posters? Are you planning to become a bounty hunter?" Doflamingo accepted the posters, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Yeah. I'm hungry and don't have money for food, so I have to find a way to earn some," Zhu Mang said, rubbing his stomach. His stomach cooperatively let out a rumbling growl.
Doflamingo understood at once.
"My lord, the Sabaody Archipelago is not far ahead. How about we rest there for a while and sample some local delicacies?"
"You're treating?"
"It's only a small expense, as long as you are pleased..."
"Then let's go."
Zhu Mang grinned and suddenly accelerated.
Boom!
White air currents erupted around him, instantly blasting away all the surrounding clouds.
!!!
Doflamingo's eyes widened, filled with horror.
His whole body tumbled through the air as he frantically used his strings to find nearby clouds and stabilize himself.
After finally steadying himself, he discovered that the lord's figure had completely vanished from his sight.
He was slightly angry at first, but his anger quickly subsided and turned into wild delight.
Powerful—too powerful!
First there had been that strange energy cannon, then the astonishing burst of flying speed just now, along with that terrifying aura capable of scattering clouds.
Lord Gebinz's strength was absolutely no weaker than any of the Four Emperors or the Holy Knights of the Holy Land!
Most importantly...
This lord had no allegiance!
His origins were mysterious. He was neither a Marine nor a pirate!
If he could be recruited and brought to Dressrosa to join the Donquixote Family...
A blaze of almost tangible ambition flashed in Doflamingo's eyes.
With that thought, he hurriedly tugged on the cloud strings and flew after Zhu Mang at the fastest speed he could manage.
After flying a long way, Zhu Mang finally realized that he had left Doflamingo behind.
He probably would not get lost this time, though—now that he knew he was near the Sabaody Archipelago, all he had to do was find the Red Line and follow it.
After all, the Sabaody Archipelago lay directly beneath some part of the Red Line.
It was just that when he thought about going to eat, he had no one to pay the bill.
And when he went to Marineford later to watch the show, he would also be short a blind... guide.
Better wait for him.
After waiting for quite a while, he finally spotted that familiar pink coat.
"I've been waiting so long the flowers have withered. Could you move any slower?" Zhu Mang ruthlessly mocked his sluggish pace.
In a world with extraordinary martial power, strength was revered above all else, especially among pirates who worshipped might.
Doflamingo did not find anything inappropriate in Zhu Mang's words. Instead, he explained in a tone that was both ingratiating and flattering, "I can only fly by using strings to pull on clouds. I cannot move as freely or as quickly as you can."
He had his own grievances to bear.
Along the way, he had discovered that many of the clouds had been scattered by Zhu Mang's aura, forcing him to detour and climb higher in search of clouds.
"Actually, what you mainly lack is an uncle named Ben."
"Huh? Why do you say that?"
"I know a strong man who also uses strings. His Uncle Ben pulls his strings from the sky, so he can go wherever he wants. It's especially convenient."
Doflamingo: Hm? Why did that sound so strange?
Before you continue