After a quick assessment, Caesar immediately darted toward the Numancia Flamingo, and entered the ship through its open bird-shaped bow.
Although neither the pirates nor CP0 are looking for him with the sole purpose of killing him, but rather to use him, Caesar has prior experience cooperating with the World Government and understands that from a "safety" perspective, the "pirates" are actually safer.
After all, the World Government has Vegapunk, so Caesar isn't exactly an irreplaceable "resource"...
Even if we look at it optimistically, it's CP0 that's making the move, while Vegapunk mainly works for the Marine Headquarters. In other words, if Caesar is "asked to leave" by CP0, he might not see Vegapunk and instead serve the Celestial Dragons. But... thinking about it this way makes Vegapunk even more uneasy!
Serving the Celestial Dragons offers no guarantee of personal safety.
In contrast, being a pirate is actually safer for him—not only does he have a cooperative project with Kaido, but he's also recently been trying to persuade Big Mom...
With these two powerful backers, even if a common Great Pirate were to capture him, he wouldn't immediately harm him. Instead, he would use him to seek cooperation with Kaido and Big Mom.
Just like Captain John!
Compared to being directly controlled by Kaido or Big Mom, Caesar actually prefers this model, especially the latter—otherwise, what if Big Mom one day realizes she needs a few smart children?
Although he didn't recognize Doflamingo immediately, Caesar still managed to sneak in right away, much to the chagrin of the CP0 fighters who had just arrived.
"Get out of the way!"
The white-clad figure, without waiting for Doflamingo's reaction, leaped up and unleashed a powerful kick—intending to slice off the bird's neck and prow.
But at that moment, his movements suddenly froze, and he even... ultimately remained suspended in mid-air.
"You..." The CP0 combatant then realized that his body was wrapped with many fine threads that were difficult to see with the naked eye.
Doflamingo's left hand, which wasn't holding the wine glass, twitched a few times as if playing Air Bullet. Then... the originally transparent threads were covered with a layer of Armament Haki purple. The next moment... the bound CP0 combatant had one leg severed.
Other pirates might have to consider the possibility of CP0 retaliation, but Doflamingo didn't care at all.
Even the CP0 agent recognized Doflamingo's identity. After losing a leg and falling onto the leaky bottom of the ship, he didn't dare to utter a sound.
After all...
Doflamingo was once known as "Saint Doflamingo"—a member of the Celestial Dragons. However, because his father voluntarily withdrew from the Celestial Dragons ranks and became a "mortal," he was prevented from becoming Celestial Dragons himself.
Even though he couldn't regain the Celestial Dragons' acceptance of him after killing his own father, the other Celestial Dragons wouldn't provoke Doflamingo after learning some secrets from his father's notes.
CP0... is just a dog of the Celestial Dragons. Even if they don't know this secret, the fact that he "used to" be Celestial Dragons is enough to make CP0 members dare not attack him without a clear order.
Meanwhile, Sig, now living in Caesar's shadow, also entered the interior of the Numancia Flamingo.
Caesar didn't immediately recognize Doflamingo. After all, he spent most of his time researching and a small portion of his time indulging in a life of pleasure and debauchery. He didn't have time to care about the situation or news on the high seas—he certainly knew pirate tyrants, but he couldn't be bothered with anything else.
But how could Sieg not guess his identity when Sig saw that flashy Doflamingo cape?
Doflamingo... a lone Celestial Dragons!
If Caesar had paid even a little attention, he would have spotted his own shadow... grinning wickedly!
Sig wasn't being petty; after all, Doflamingo wasn't Celestial Dragons anymore, and was even causing trouble for the real Celestial Dragons. If... he could do something decent, Sig might have been more righteous and not gone too far in ruining him. But this kid was truly a scoundrel.
If it were Rosinante, Sig felt that although he wouldn't help him much, he could restrain himself and wouldn't kick him when he was down. Fisher Tiger understood Sig's feelings very well. Even though he knew Rosinante was a good person, Sig couldn't let go of his Celestial Dragons identity. That's why Sig had to reveal to Momousagi that Rosinante might be killed after he was captured.
Sig has even less sympathy for Doflamingo...
Of course, Sig didn't immediately attack.
If Sig were to use all his skills, he could definitely take down a single, thirty-year-old Doflamingo. However... there are still quite a few skilled fighters on the Numancia Flamingo!
Furthermore, the composition of Doflamingo's pirate crew, or rather the "Donquixote Family," is quite unique.
Doflamingo can be considered a semi-protagonist template. At the age of 10, he won over a group of "veterans" with his Conqueror's Haki and his unwavering resolve when killing his father.
Therefore, the strength of the "Donquixote Family" is not like that of the Red-Hair Pirates, where everyone's strength gradually increases along with Shanks...
His subordinates Trebol, Pica, and Diamante are no different in strength from twelve years later. Only Doflamingo himself is gradually growing and is not yet at his peak.
If it were one person to take on an entire ship, Sig wouldn't be so confident.
After Caesar entered, he encountered a disheveled man wearing a robe— Trebol.
Logically speaking, Trebol's coat resembled his own, which is why Caesar was particularly disgusted by it. After all, this guy not only had long snot hanging from his nose, but his whole body also looked like it was about to melt into slime.
Fortunately, Caesar could also see that he was experiencing the effects of some kind of fruit, but he didn't know whether it was Logia Devil Fruit or Paramecia fruit.
"Hehehe, it is truly a joyous occasion that Lord Caesar is willing to pledge allegiance to the young master. This way, please!" Upon seeing Caesar, Trebol took the initiative to lead the way for him.
Clearly, they didn't want to give Caesar a chance to refute the "defection" offer, and... given Caesar's low character, he wouldn't refute it at this point.
Afterwards, Sig followed Caesar and met many important members of the Donquixote Family.
Not only does it feature the hulking Pica and the slender Diamante, but it even includes Vergo...
The first two are also quite distinctive, and both are the highest-ranking members of the Donquixote Family.
Wearing sunglasses and with a serious expression, Vergo is easy to recognize—in the original work, he should be an undercover agent in the Navy at this time, but because Sig previously "reported" him to Momousagi in exchange for him, he can only return to be a pirate now!
Upon discovering that Vergo was still alive, Sig cursed the Navy inwardly for being useless.
With all four top officials present, Sig didn't want a direct confrontation, but he was already plotting how to scheme against them.
Meanwhile, Doflamingo of CP0, who had just finished dealing with the pursuit, also retreated. The Numancia Flamingo dived backward repeatedly, pulled its neck out, and prepared to leave.
"Congratulations, young master! You're one step closer to becoming the King of the World!" The four top executives all knelt down to greet Doflamingo and congratulate him.
"Hahaha, it's still a bit early. Let's try to avoid a direct confrontation with Kaido first. Now is not the time!" Doflamingo said arrogantly.
Sig:???
Considering the extent of Doflamingo's fear of Kaido twelve years later in the original work, Sig suspects that he too has succumbed to the "King's Addiction"...