Moke Smiled

Wait a minute... Suddenly, when the word "gold" was mentioned, he slapped his forehead, inwardly cursing: Oh dear! How could I have completely forgotten about that guy in the sky?

Speaking of that guy, if we're just talking about attack power, he's definitely on par with Admiral! His power is astonishing. However, his only weakness is his relatively weak defense and Armament Haki. If he could put in a little effort and hard work to improve these two key areas, then in the whole world, you could probably count the number of people who could defeat him on one hand! Thinking of this, Moke couldn't help but grin, a smile that seemed to contain a hint of pride and anticipation.

Meanwhile, far away on that mysterious Sky Island, Enel, who had been leisurely enjoying himself, suddenly shuddered inexplicably, a chill running down his spine. His previously calm face instantly contorted with confusion. Ever since he had luckily swallowed the incredibly powerful Logia Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he had never experienced such a strange chill before! What could have caused this bizarre phenomenon? Was it some kind of divine intervention, a premonition that a great upheaval was about to befall him?

Upon hearing Moke's words, Doflamingo's body trembled slightly, his smile instantly freezing. He stood there dumbfounded, as if frozen in place. A few seconds later, his narrow eyes widened suddenly, and his already upturned lips stretched even wider to his ears, his shock evident.

"What? Buy my Dressrosa Kingdom? Hahahaha..." Doflamingo suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, the sound sharp and piercing, like the hooting of an owl. "What arrogance! Do you know how many Beli my Dressrosa Kingdom rakes in every day? This is a fortune that a mere brat like you can't even imagine!" Doflamingo laughed as he pointed at Moke, his eyes full of disdain and mockery.

However, at that moment, Moke remained calm and composed, saying, "I'm serious. I'll offer 200 million Beli for each ordinary Zoan or Paramecia Devil Fruit. But for special types, such as Ancient Zoan, Mythical Zoan, or Logia Devil Fruit, we can discuss the price separately." After saying this, Moke paused, then added, "If you still have doubts about this deal, you can decide the location yourself."

Upon hearing this, Doflamingo's expression immediately turned serious. He stared intently at Moke, trying to discern a clue from the other's eyes, but Moke remained calm and composed, showing no sign of backing down.

Time ticked by, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Finally, Doflamingo broke the silence. He slowly reached out and pulled a small, exquisite Den Den Mushi from his pocket, then forcefully tossed it towards Moke. The Den Den Mushi arced through the air and landed precisely in Moke's hand.

"Hmph! Once you've prepared your Devil Fruit, I'll contact you through this Den Den Mushi. But let me make this clear: if you can't produce something that satisfies me, the consequences will be quite severe," Doflamingo coldly warned. With that, he turned and strode away, leaving Moke standing alone, thoughtfully fiddling with the Den Den Mushi in his hand.

Then, the man stared intently at Moke, as if trying to see through his eyes to the depths of his heart. After a moment, he added a chilling and threatening remark, "I hope you're not joking with me, otherwise, I'll make you truly understand what it feels like to regret being alive." With that, he abruptly turned and strode away without hesitation, leaving only a receding figure in the distance.

After Doflamingo had walked a distance, Gizas Jesus Burgess, a hint of doubt on his face, couldn't help but ask, "Captain, are you Shinuchi buy Devil Fruit from him? Could there be some kind of conspiracy involved?" The massive, mountain-like Baboon King Burns, standing nearby, also frowned and echoed, "Yes, Captain! I have a feeling something's off about this. Could that guy be planning to double-cross us?"

Hearing his two subordinates' doubts and concerns, Moke smiled slightly and calmly replied, "Hehe, I don't know the specifics right now. But... to be honest, seeing their arrogant and domineering attitude, I really want to take this opportunity to double-cross them and teach that ignorant fool a lesson."

"Huh???" Hearing Moke's unexpected answer, Baboon King Burns and Gizzas Jesus Burgess looked at each other, speechless for a moment. They had thought their captain might have some reservations or act cautiously, but they didn't expect him to be so audacious as to directly devise a double-cross.

However, on second thought, perhaps Doflamingo had already anticipated this possibility and was just waiting for Moke to walk right into his trap! In that case, it's truly unpredictable how many conspiracies and traps are hidden behind this deal, and who will ultimately outmaneuver the other!

Baboon King Burns' eyes snapped open, instantly understanding the situation. But before he could even speak, Moke's sharp, hawk-like gaze shot straight at him, as if it could penetrate the deepest, most hidden corners of his heart.

Moke's lips curled into a confident yet slightly mocking smile as he calmly said, "Even if that guy harbors ill intentions and tries some tricks, he can only obediently admit defeat like a pathetic wretch in the face of my absolutely overwhelming strength!"

Just then, a figure appeared silently beside Doflamingo. Upon closer inspection, it was Gladius. He approached with a fawning expression and cautiously asked, "Young Master... are you Shinuchi sell that incredibly precious Devil Fruit to them?"

Upon hearing this, Doflamingo threw his head back and burst into laughter, his signature eerie laugh echoing around him, "Fufufufu... Of course, we won't hand them over to those destined to become our enemies so easily! When it's time to make the deal, we'll first rip them off handsomely... and then catch them off guard and wipe them all out! That way, we can make a fortune and get rid of a major threat at the same time—isn't that the best of both worlds?"

Gladius was taken aback for a moment, a hint of hesitation appearing on his face. Although he was very unwilling to admit this fact, he had to face reality—the strength of Moke's group was indeed not to be underestimated. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but mutter softly, "Young master, with the strength of our Donquixote Family alone, it's probably too much to completely eliminate Moke's group..." He didn't finish his sentence, but his worry was already evident.

Doflamingo's face stiffened upon hearing this, but he immediately smiled again, "Fufufufu... This time, the items being traded with Kaido include not only Artificial Devil Fruit, but also several Zoan Devil Fruits, including a Mythical Zoan. Therefore, he will personally attend this transaction. We'll use his help then."

Upon hearing this, Gladius's face lit up with ecstatic joy. He exclaimed excitedly, "Great! That's wonderful!" He knew all too well that Kaido was no ordinary person; he was a terrifying being known as the World's Strongest Creature, and one of the Four Emperors who ruled the New World, truly the undisputed ruler of the seas! Although the Moke crew was not to be underestimated, compared to Kaido's Beast Pirates, they were worlds apart... Thinking of this, Gladius seemed to already foresee the Moke crew's tragic annihilation. Therefore, he couldn't help but laugh heartily along with Doflamingo.

The laughter subsided slightly, and Gladius asked with a fawning expression, "So, young master, where should we arrange to meet him?" Doflamingo's lips curled into a sly smile as he replied, "Do we really need to make a special appointment? Don't you know he's been searching everywhere for M. Caesar Clown? Just let him know, and he'll naturally come looking for us."

Gladius stood there quietly, listening to every word the other person said. His gaze had been somewhat unfocused at first, but as the conversation deepened, suddenly, like an Inazuma flashing across the dark night sky, the fog in his mind vanished instantly, and everything became clear.

It turned out that Doflamingo's meticulously planned scheme was actually intended to cleverly disguise the location of the transaction with Kaido as M. Caesar Clown's hideout. Furthermore, he had deliberately leaked this information to Moke and his group through some means. Gladius, realizing this, couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "What a cunning and treacherous scheme!"

Without a doubt, if Moke and his crew received such intelligence, they would be like moths drawn to a candle flame, rushing headlong towards the so-called "hiding place" without hesitation. Capturing M. Caesar Clown is of paramount importance to them, and this is precisely the outcome Doflamingo desires.

Gladius thought about it more and more and felt that his young master's wisdom was truly unfathomable and unpredictable. Just as he was immersed in admiration for Doflamingo's wisdom, suddenly, the situation on the field changed unexpectedly.

This crucial transaction, which should have proceeded smoothly, was now being disrupted and sabotaged without cause. Gladius's heart tightened; he knew Kaido's fiery temper all too well. The sea tyrant was by no means a patient man; let alone making him wait even a moment, even the slightest provocation could have unimaginable consequences.

Moke and his group were probably unaware of the dire straits they were in. If Kaido to become enraged, they could be reduced to ashes in an instant, leaving not a trace. Thinking of this, Gladius couldn't help but feel a chill for Moke and his companions.

"Bru bru... bru bru..." A rapid, crisp sound, like water droplets falling into a crystal-clear mountain stream, suddenly emanated from Moke's vast, ocean-like embrace. In that instant, a sudden, deafening sound rang out, like a lightning Inazuma cleaving the inky black night sky with lightning speed. The sound was so abrupt and violent that the previously tranquil and peaceful atmosphere was instantly torn in two.

Moke was startled by the strange noise, his body trembling slightly involuntarily, a look of astonishment on his face. He seemed frozen in place, momentarily at a loss for what to do. However, this stunned state did not last long. After only a short while, Moke quickly came to his senses, as if he had suddenly woken up from a nightmare.

His gaze immediately sharpened, and he instinctively lowered his head, staring intently at the noisy object in his arms, wondering what could possibly be making such a commotion. At that moment, his heart pounded, his breathing became rapid, and a tense atmosphere began to permeate the air around him.

Looking down, he saw that a tiny, exquisitely cute Den Den Mushi had appeared in his arms. The Den Den Mushi resembled a lovable snail and was now vibrating its round body with great joy, making a continuous "brubru" chirping sound, like an overly excited child cheering.

Upon seeing the little creature, Moke's face immediately lit up with joy. Without thinking, he quickly reached out his right hand, his movements as swift as Inazuma, and snatched the incessantly behaving Den Den Mushi from his pocket.

Without hesitation, Moke pressed the prominent answer button on the back of the Den Den Mushi with his thumb. After doing so, he carefully held the Den Den Mushi to his ear, afraid of missing any important information from the other party.

Just then, a woman's soft yet steady voice came through the Den Den Mushi, as comforting and reassuring as a spring breeze. "Mr. 0, hello! This is Miss All Sunday. I'm reporting to you that, following your detailed instructions, I have successfully led everyone to the mysterious and unpredictable Florian Triangle. Currently, everything is progressing smoothly according to your meticulously planned scheme."

Upon hearing this good news, Moke's tense face finally relaxed slightly, and a barely perceptible hint of relief flashed in his deep, still eyes. Moke nodded gently, a slight smile playing on his lips, and replied to the Den Den Mushi, "Yes, well done, Miss All Sunday. Keep up this good momentum, closely monitor the situation, and report any unusual developments to me immediately."

However, simply changing the headquarters of our intelligence organization is far from enough. Next, you must do everything you can to recruit some capable and trustworthy individuals to join our Baroque Works. Only in this way can our intelligence organization truly gain a foothold in this Wind Rises New World and continue to grow and thrive."

Robin on the other end of the phone answered without hesitation, "Yes..." However, she seemed to suddenly remember something important and quickly added, "Mr. 0, there's something else I need to report. Regarding M. Caesar Courland, I feel he seems to have become aware of our actions. Now he's inexplicably vanished without a trace, as if he's evaporated into thin air. Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that someone else is deliberately helping him conceal his whereabouts. This matter is quite strange, and I would appreciate your decision on how to handle it."

Moke said gravely, "That's right. Based on the clues we have so far, it's highly likely that Doflamingo sensed someone was tracking down M. Caesar Clown, which is why he took action." Hearing this name, Robin's eyes widened in surprise. "Doflamingo?" she asked, racking her brains for information about him. If she remembered correctly, he was one of the infamous Shichibukai! Good heavens...

Recalling Moke's past experiences, Robin was even more astonished. Moke had risen to fame by killing Crocodile, one of the Shichibukai. Shortly after, he engaged in a thrilling duel with another Shichibukai — Gecko Moria. Now, he was about to face Doflamingo head-on. If he could successfully defeat and eliminate Doflamingo this time, nearly half of the Shichibukai would have perished at Moke's hands. In that case, the title of "Shichibukai Killer" would undoubtedly belong to him.

Thinking of this, Robin couldn't help but twitch her lips, thinking to herself, "This guy really is a troublemaker, always picking on such powerful opponents. But then again, being able to defeat these terrifying enemies repeatedly is enough to prove his strength. I just wonder if he can create another miracle when facing Doflamingo this time?"

Just after the Den Den Mushi used to communicate with Robin ended, something unexpected happened—the Den Den Mushi rang again as if by magic.

Moke picked up the Den Den Mushi, and a familiar, urgent voice came from the other end. "Captain, it's Ata! I have great news for you! We've arrived at Champion Island safely! Have you arrived yet?" Hearing this, Moke smiled with relief and replied, "Haha, I've been here for ages!" Then, he glanced at Baboon King Burns and Gizzas Jesus Burgess standing beside him and added with a laugh, "Not only that, but I've also found two truly outstanding companions this time!"

Ata on the other end of the phone was clearly surprised and raised his voice to ask, "What? There are two such powerful figures? Besides the famous Gizzas Jesus Burgess, who is the other one?"

At this moment, Gizzas Jesus Burgess, standing to the side, also looked on with astonishment, staring wide-eyed at Moke and saying incredulously, "Captain, did you really come here specifically for me?" Facing Gizzas Jesus Burgess's question, Moke made no attempt to hide his admiration, patting his broad shoulder forcefully and laughing as he replied, "Haha, that only proves your fame is widespread! A master of your caliber naturally attracts my attention!" After saying this, Moke narrowed his eyes slightly, paused for a moment, seemingly considering what to say next. Then, he took a deep breath and shouted again to the cute Den Den Mushi in his hand, "Alright, Ata, stop rambling! We're standing right here in the island's fighting arena waiting for you. Hurry up and get over here!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Moke seemed to suddenly remember something important. He abruptly turned his head, his gaze falling directly on the tall and imposing Baboon King, Burns, beside him. He frowned, his expression tense, and asked, "By the way, Burns, where exactly is the betting location you told me about? How far is it from where we are now?"

Baboon King, the Burns, stared at Moke with a cold, emotionless expression, his sharp gaze seemingly capable of piercing the soul. He clenched his teeth, forcing out two chilling words. "Gold City."

These brief yet weighty words exploded in Moke's ears like thunder. His body trembled violently, his eyes widening instantly, almost popping out of their sockets. The relaxed smile on his face froze instantly, replaced by utter shock and disbelief. His mouth gaped open, as if frozen in place, he stood there Fudō. Several seconds passed before Moke finally snapped out of his daze, but his tongue seemed tied in knots, and he stammered, "Wh... what? It's... it's Gold City? The legendary Gold City with the world's largest and most luxurious entertainment complex?"

Faced with Moke's persistent questioning, Baboon King Burns nodded slightly in affirmation. His resolute face now appeared even more cold and ruthless, like an unshakeable Iceburg: "That's right, it's that very place. The duel ground that Blind Swordsman Issho and I agreed to is right there. This life-or-death battle will surely become a legend in the martial world!"

Upon hearing this, Moke froze, as if under a spell, standing Fudō. Time ticked by, the air around him seeming to solidify. After a long while, Moke finally snapped out of his daze, slowly turning his stiff neck and staring at Baboon King Burns with an almost blank expression. His voice trembled as he asked again, "You... you just said, who was the person you were betting with?"