Doubts and Unease

"Huh?" A slightly puzzled voice rang out, followed by a signature laugh that was all too familiar. This laugh seemed to possess a kind of magic; any fan of the game could immediately recognize who it was upon hearing it! Moke was no exception. He quickly turned around and, sure enough, saw a figure walking towards him.

This man was extremely arrogant and domineering, his dazzling golden hair flying wildly, and a pair of cool sunglasses obscuring his eyes, making it impossible to discern his true emotions. He wore a pink feather coat, the feathers fluttering gently with his movements, making him exceptionally eye-catching. He paired this with cropped trousers and pointed shoes, each step exuding confidence and arrogance, as if the entire world were at his feet. Such a unique attire and gait—who else could it be but Doflamingo, hailed as the number one rogue pirate?

"Holy crap! How did this guy end up here?" Moke cursed inwardly. His gaze quickly shifted to Gizas Jesus Burgess beside him, and he instantly understood. It turned out that in order to find this guy, he had spent a fortune buying the Champion Island Eternal Pose from an underground organization. And it was highly likely that this Eternal Pose originated from one of Doflamingo's forces. In this way, news of his impending trip to Champion Island naturally fell into Doflamingo's hands.

Thinking of this, Moke's pupils involuntarily contracted slightly, and a sense of tension surged into his heart like a tide, instantly overwhelming him. After all, facing such a powerful and troublesome opponent as Doflamingo was incredibly stressful. A slight misstep could plunge him into an abyss of no return, from which he would never recover.

Moke knew all too well how important it was to have his own intelligence system in this fierce competition. Without it, it would be like the blind men and the elephant, limited in every way. Once encountering the enemy, not only would his actions be hindered, but his intelligence would also be easily obtained by the enemy, putting him in an extremely passive position.

Just then, Gizzas Jesus Burgess and Baboon King Burns exchanged a glance. They both thought to themselves, "What special day is this? Champion Island has suddenly welcomed two renowned Shichibukai!" Their eyes met, and they both saw a hint of doubt and unease in each other's gazes.

"Fufufufufu..." A piercing laugh ripped through the sky, and Doflamingo's ghostly figure swiftly appeared before the three. He grinned again, revealing his signature maniacal smile. At the same time, he extended his long tongue and lightly licked his lips, as if the prey before him had already become a delicious meal in his mouth.

"Hmph, you really have some tricks up your sleeve! You managed to recruit two such outstanding crew members in one go!" Doflamingo's lips curled up in a mocking sneer. His sharp, hawk-like eyes were fixed on Moke, as if they could see through his body and see into the deepest thoughts hidden in his heart.

Doflamingo witnessed the entire thrilling battle between Moke and the Baboon King. It must be said that both of them displayed remarkable strength. Especially Moke... What's astonishing is that he didn't even use his Logia Devil Fruit abilities or his superb swordsmanship, yet he easily defeated the Baboon King, who was known as the "Strongest Champion."

Doflamingo's original purpose in coming here was specifically to target Moke. The reason was simple: Moke's recruitment of the Ata, into his service had created an irreconcilable enmity between the two. Ata was relentlessly determined to avenge herself on him and the Donquixote Family. Therefore, conflict and even a direct confrontation between the two was inevitable. Since things had developed to this point, it was better to seize this opportunity to completely eliminate Moke, this major threat, to prevent future problems. After all, once Moke was dead, the weak and isolated Ata wouldn't be able to cause any significant trouble and would be of little concern.

However, the formidable strength that Moke had just displayed truly put him under immense pressure and made him feel troubled. Although he still retained some confidence in defeating Moke, he was no longer entirely certain of successfully killing him. Even so, he felt he had to show himself to have a deterrent effect, because if he didn't, those guys would probably think he, Doflamingo, was a pushover.

In an instant, an incredibly terrifying power erupted from Doflamingo's body like a volcanic eruption, sweeping wildly in all directions. Wherever this power passed, it was as if everyone's soul had been suddenly ripped out. One by one, they collapsed to the ground without any warning, with only a very few managing to hold on and barely maintain their consciousness. Even these few were now ashen-faced, looking as if they had suffered some kind of severe injury.

Upon seeing this, Baboon King Burns and Gizzas Jesus Burgess's pupils contracted slightly, and they exclaimed in unison, "Conqueror's Haki..." At the same time, these two powerful figures were not spared either, and also suffered a huge impact.

Seeing this, Moke's lips involuntarily curled into a playful smile. He murmured softly, "This guy, is he trying to give me a hard time first? Too bad, if it were me, would I be afraid of him?"

In an instant, Conqueror's Haki surged forth like a volcanic eruption... "Crack crack crack..." The two streams of Conqueror's Haki collided, producing a series of chilling sounds. They clashed fiercely in the air, as if two ferocious beasts were fighting to the death, forming an extremely terrifying Shockwave that swept outwards in all directions with overwhelming force.

Wherever it passed, the air was torn apart, the ground trembled violently, and even the originally indestructible walls of the fighting arena could not withstand such a powerful impact, and began to show hideous cracks that quickly spread. Between the two, a mysterious substance resembling black Inazuma flickered and collided, bursting out with dazzling light and astonishing energy fluctuations.

Upon witnessing this scene, Doflamingo's previously relaxed expression instantly turned serious, his face darkening slightly. His sharp, hawk-like eyes were fixed on Moke not far ahead, and he was secretly astonished.

It's important to know that Conqueror's Haki is an ability that only one in ten thousand possesses, and the fact that it's appearing in this unknown guy is truly surprising. Doflamingo never imagined that this person called Moke would also possess such rare and powerful strength.

However, this surprise didn't last long. After only a short while, Doflamingo quickly regained his composure. He slowly extended his long tongue again, the tip lightly gliding over his slightly dry lips, as if savoring some delicacy. At the same time, the corners of his mouth subtly turned up, forming a disdainful and mocking smile, and he let out a low, eerie laugh, "Fufufufufu..."

At that moment, thanks to his precise perception of Conqueror's Haki, Doflamingo quickly realized an important situation—although Moke also possessed Conqueror's Haki, it was clear that Moke had only recently Awakening this ability. In terms of both power and control, it was far inferior to his own.

Realizing this, Doflamingo's initial tension immediately eased, and his confidence soared. He could clearly feel the long-dormant madness within him gradually awakening and becoming increasingly restless.

Under the endless darkness, Doflamingo, like a demon lurking in the night, had his already incredibly sharp eyes gradually glowing with an eerie red light. This red light was like burning hellfire, or like an extremely hungry and ferocious beast that had finally spotted its delectable prey and was eager to tear it apart and devour it whole.

In an instant, an overwhelming and suffocating power erupted from Doflamingo's body—his Conqueror's Haki Ground Burst! This terrifying aura, like a mountain, crushed down on Moke, mercilessly suppressing the Conqueror's Haki released by Moke. In the blink of an eye, Moke's Conqueror's Haki was compressed to only a radius around his body, still struggling to avoid being completely swallowed up.

Without a doubt, in this breathtaking clash of Conqueror's Haki, Moke was clearly at a disadvantage. However, despite facing such immense pressure, Moke did not waver in the slightest. On the contrary, the unwavering belief deep within him grew even stronger.

Just then, a chilling, Ghost Aura suddenly surged from Moke's body, quickly coiling around him and forming a faint black mist. At the same time, two blazing purple flames suddenly ignited in his eyes, flickering and emitting a captivating, mysterious light.

Moke took a deep breath, then suddenly opened his eyes and roared, "Intimidation..." As this roar escaped his Ghost Aura, the demonic energy on his body and his Conqueror's Haki instantly merged into one, complementing and enhancing each other. Then, this fused power surged back towards Doflamingo with overwhelming force, actually suppressing Doflamingo's ferocious Conqueror's Haki!

Beneath Doflamingo's signature sunglasses, the eerie red light that had been flickering instantly intensified, becoming as hot and dazzling as a burning flame. However, this powerful aura only lasted for a moment before quickly dissipating, and even the chilling Conqueror's Haki receded like a tide.

Seeing this, Moke, standing opposite him, couldn't help but feel puzzled. He thought to himself, "??? What's going on? Has this guy changed his mind and doesn't want to fight anymore? Just now, I thought a fierce battle was inevitable!" Just as Moke was full of doubts, Doflamingo suddenly fell into a brief silence.

After some thought, Doflamingo finally broke the silence and asked, "Are you looking for M. Caesar Clown?" Upon hearing this, Moke's eyes widened in disbelief. He truly hadn't expected Doflamingo to be able to so accurately discern the purpose of his trip; this guy's intelligence network was simply unparalleled!

Moke shook his head helplessly and said with a wry smile, "As expected of 'Heavenly Yaksha' Doflamingo, he even knows this kind of thing perfectly well. So, the reason you're here must be because of M. Caesar Clown! After all, that despicable guy is the key figure in your cooperation with Kaido of the Beasts!" After saying that, Moke stared straight at Doflamingo, trying to catch a clue from the changes in the other's expression.

Faced with Moke's questioning, Doflamingo didn't respond directly. Instead, a mysterious smile played on his lips. Seeing this, Moke felt even more that this man was unfathomable. Then, Moke nodded frankly, admitting, "Yes, I am indeed here to see M. Caesar Clown. But you don't need to worry. I have no interest in him personally. My goal is simply to obtain something of paramount importance from him..."

"An item?" Doflamingo frowned, staring at Moke with suspicion. Moke simply waved his hand, a mysterious smile playing on his lips, and said, "Don't worry, that item is like a chicken bone to you—tasteless but not worth throwing away; and it's not indispensable to him either. However, if he dares to refuse to hand it over when I go to collect it... hehe, then I'll have no choice but to use force and just take it by force."

Upon hearing this, Doflamingo's pupils seemed to be greatly stimulated, suddenly contracting to the size of pinpoints. In that instant, a turbulent storm surged within him, raging and difficult to quell. He simply could not imagine what kind of rare treasure could make Moke, who had always been obedient to him, so crazy, even willing to completely break with him and become his enemy.

However, faced with Moke's arrogant and disrespectful attitude, Doflamingo's long-suppressed anger finally erupted like a volcano, becoming uncontrollable. His eyes widened, veins bulging on his forehead, and he roared furiously, "You brat, don't be so arrogant! If you don't give me a reasonable explanation today, you'll regret it!"

But to everyone's surprise, just when Doflamingo thought a fierce conflict was about to erupt, Moke, as if he had anticipated this situation, suddenly changed his tone, his previously sharp voice instantly softening. "Oh dear, don't be so tense and confrontational. Actually, I came here specifically to see you not to cause trouble, but to discuss a huge deal with you."

"Huh?" Doflamingo was clearly caught off guard by such a dramatic turn of events, and for a moment he was at a loss. His body swayed abruptly, and he stumbled, nearly falling to the ground due to his unstable center of gravity.

Moke's face was plastered with a fawning smile as he hurriedly apologized to the angry man before him, saying, "Oh dear, brother, please don't be angry! Even if I had the greatest courage in the world, I would never dare to mock you! I have a sincere heart towards you and genuinely want to work with you to make this deal a success." As he spoke, he deliberately put on an extremely earnest and sincere appearance, as if he wanted the other party to see through his deepest sincerity at a glance.

Doflamingo stared intently at Moke with a suspicious gaze, letting out a heavy snort as he said disdainfully, "Hmph, I knew you wouldn't have the guts! But since we've come this far, tell me in detail what kind of big deal could make you so eager to come to me?" At this moment, although his anger had not completely subsided, his intense curiosity was gradually taking over, driving him to want to find out.

Moke lowered his voice mysteriously and said, "Hehe, big brother, it's Devil Fruit... You're quite the expert in this business in the Underworld. I wonder if you'd be interested?"

Upon hearing the words "Devil Fruit," Doflamingo's pupils instantly contracted to pinpoints, followed by a meaningful smile. He chuckled in a strange tone, "Fufufufu... It seems you have grand ambitions this time. I'm afraid the title of Shichibukai is far from enough to satisfy your aspirations."

Upon hearing this, Moke quickly replied, "Haha, Brother, you are indeed wise and insightful! Nothing escapes your discerning eye! In fact, besides our cooperation on Devil Fruit, we can also engage in in-depth collaboration in the field of intelligence! As long as you are willing to agree, funding is absolutely no problem, and we can discuss everything, including Beli..." He then emphasized the last sentence, seemingly trying to further persuade Moke with money.

Doflamingo's sharp eyes stared intently at Moke, as if piercing his soul, then he spoke slowly in a meaningful tone, "I still remember your captain's cook, she has an irreconcilable blood feud with my Donquixote Family. Are you just going to sit idly by?"

Faced with Doflamingo's oppressive and questioning interrogation, Moke remained as steady as a mountain, his expression unchanged, not even blinking, as he calmly replied, "That's nothing more than the complicated and entangled grudges between her— Ata —and Gladius."

As soon as Moke finished speaking, Doflamingo's previously calm expression subtly shifted, like a small pebble thrown into a still lake, creating faint ripples. However, it was only for a moment; he quickly regained his composure, but that fleeting change in expression didn't escape Moke's sharp eyes. After all, with Doflamingo's experience and wisdom, how could he not understand the deeper meaning hidden behind Moke's words?

Clearly, Moke's stance on the deep-seated hatred between Ata and Gladius was that they should resolve it themselves, and neither he nor the powerful and arrogant Doflamingo should rashly intervene. Doing so might not only fail to solve the problem completely but could also trigger more unexpected trouble and conflict... This was the true intention Moke conveyed through his brief statement.

For a moment, the entire space fell into a suffocating silence. Time seemed to freeze, with only the soft breathing of the two men and the occasional faint sounds from the surroundings creating a tense and oppressive atmosphere. After a while, Doflamingo finally broke the eerie silence. He slowly raised his head, his deep, abyss-like eyes fixed on Moke, and then asked in a low, slightly authoritative voice, "So, tell me, how many Devil Fruit do you want?"

Moke's gaze was firm, and he answered loudly without hesitation, "No matter how many you have, I want them all! Not a single one left!" Hearing this, Doflamingo was slightly taken aback, then burst into a low, mocking laugh, "Fufufufu... Ignorant brat, your tone is truly astonishing! Do you really think that with your pitiful few Beli, you can afford such a vast number of Devil Fruit?"

Faced with Doflamingo's undisguised ridicule and skepticism, Moke showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, he raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a confident smile, and replied firmly, "Hmph, once I've made up my mind to do something, buying these Devil Fruits or your proud Dressrosa Kingdom is absolutely no difficult task for me!" These words were not just empty boasting.

Admittedly, Moke wasn't exactly flush with cash when it came to Beli, but he knew perfectly well that two mysterious places existed in the world, places overflowing with gold and boundless wealth. If he could successfully reach those places and obtain their treasures, the mere funds needed to purchase Devil Fruit and the Dressrosa Kingdom would be a piece of cake. Thinking of this, Moke's eyes hardened, as if he could already see the dawn of victory in sight.