Pollock Island, Hallstatt Town.
Inside an open-air seaside restaurant.
"Fuffuffuffuffu!"
With a burst of unrestrained laughter, Doflamingo dragged over a chair from a nearby table and brazenly sat down in front of Sephiroth.
"You seem to have something troubling you.
Rear Admiral Sephiroth, the 'Throat Cutter'... interested in telling me about it?
Maybe I can help you..."
As the saying went, one did not slap a smiling face.
But...
Looking at Doflamingo's extremely punchable grin, Sephiroth's hand inexplicably itched.
Still, he did not show it. Instead, he said with mild surprise:
"The newly appointed Shichibukai, Donquixote Doflamingo...
It seems we do not have much of a relationship, do we?"
"There is a little connection, actually...
My subordinate Vergo received quite a bit of care from you when he was in the Marines."
"Oh!"
Sephiroth gave a soft response, silently grumbling to himself, Did he mean making Vergo clean toilets, or making him work as a tool...?
"I happened to overhear your call just now. It seems... you want to leave the Marines?
But the Marines won't agree... right?"
Hearing this, Sephiroth raised an eyebrow with interest.
"So what if that's true?
And what if it isn't?"
"Fuffuffuffuffu!
If it is, perhaps I can lend you a hand. I have some connections among the World Government's upper ranks..."
The corner of Sephiroth's mouth twitched. Without much thought, he refused outright:
"Sorry. I appreciate the offer, but there is no need for you to concern yourself with my affairs."
After saying that, Sephiroth tossed down his knife and fork, rose to his feet, paid at the restaurant counter, and left.
Doflamingo was the sort who never acted without profit. Him coming over and offering help definitely meant he was up to no good. He had probably even dug a pit and was