Inside the meeting hall reserved for the Shichibukai, things were very different from the tense, orderly preparations for war outside.
Only three Marine Headquarters lieutenant colonels were there to receive the guests and coordinate proceedings.
Around the round table, the three Shichibukai who had answered the summons each struck a different pose.
"Heavenly Yaksha" Donquixote Doflamingo squatted brazenly right on the table, his trademark sinister grin on his face, and broke the silence first.
Unfortunately, he did not open with a question.
Instead, he first turned toward "Gecko" Moria and sneered,
"Fufufufufu... Moria.
I heard that Straw Hat Boy from the East Blue gave you a thorough beating? You really... dragged the Shichibukai's name through the mud!"
Before the grim-faced Moria could respond, he turned his gaze toward the bulky, grinning "Blackbeard," Marshall D. Teach. "And you, Teach... Fufufufu... you've pulled off something truly extraordinary!
First you betrayed that old bastard Whitebeard, and now you've personally delivered his 'son' for execution, forcing him to come here to die... what a perfect script!"
Blackbeard merely laughed, "Zehahaha," without replying.
Neither man paid him any attention, but Doflamingo felt no embarrassment and continued on his own, commenting on a drama that had nothing to do with him.
"It looks like even if the Marines win this time, they'll suffer terrible losses. They might even..."
At that point, the three Marine lieutenant colonels responsible for maintaining order could no longer stomach his brazen remarks.
One of them steeled himself, stepped forward, and saluted before issuing a stern reminder. "Doflamingo! Please mind your words and conduct!
Fleet Admiral Sengoku will arrive shortly. Please observe basic etiquette and decorum!"
"Hmm?" The smile on Doflamingo's face instantly turned cold. He tilted his head, fixed his eyes on the lieutenant colonel, and drawled,
"Etiquette? Decorum? Fufufu... I've