"The Shichibukai system was established by the World Government to combat pirates. Neither the Marines nor the World Government wants to see the Shichibukai killing one another."
Before Gion could finish, Karn interrupted her with a smile. "Vice Admiral Gion, this is Alabasta. Surely the Marines and the World Government don't expect me to stand still and let an enemy kill me? If you really want to prevent a war, the person you should be persuading isn't me, but..."
At that, Karn shook Doflamingo, whom he held in one hand. By now, he had taken over all the bioelectricity in Doflamingo's body. His mouth kept moving without producing words because Karn was experimenting with using that bioelectricity to control his actions.
"I know this is unfair to you, Mr. Pent, but Doflamingo has a special status. If possible, Marine Headquarters would like the conflict between you two to end here."
Gion felt rather embarrassed as she spoke to Karn. She hadn't appeared before the fighting started, yet now that one side had already won, the Marines were stepping forward to mediate. It certainly looked like they were taking sides.
And the one being targeted was a Shichibukai who had started as a merchant, someone whose organization had refused a license to plunder legally. Those at Headquarters who still held justice in their hearts were relatively accepting of a Shichibukai like Karn.
"Darling, the young master..."
Baby 5 came to Karn's side with tears in her eyes. Although she had always wanted to kill Doflamingo, that had mostly been anger over her fiancé being killed. Now that she actually saw Doflamingo's life hanging by a thread, she couldn't quite bear it.
"Don't be like that. I wasn't planning to kill him."
With something of a headache, Karn comforted Baby 5, then