Doflamingo was momentarily stunned, then calmly responded, "I don't know what you're talking about. Kaido and I have nothing to do with each other."
Had it not been for Ron's evident strength, Doflamingo might have been tempted to unleash a slaughter. If all transactions were halted now, Kaido might not immediately initiate a war upon arriving at Sabaody Archipelago. Instead, he might opt to beat Doflamingo to death with his stick first.
"It's understandable if you don't believe me. Take a look at these two fruits first, and then decide whether to agree," Ron suggested with a smile, lighting up a cigarette and casually waving his right hand on the bar.
In the next moment, two fruits adorned with intricate patterns materialized on the bar—Logia-type Devil Fruits: the Lava-Lava Fruit and the mythical Zoan-type Buddha-Buddha Fruit.
Doflamingo's pupils contracted, and he unconsciously found it harder to breathe. Having perused the Devil Fruit illustrated book, he was familiar with the fruits before him. But weren't these fruits consumed by Sengoku and Akainu? Why were they here?
It was perplexing.
If news of this leaked, the entire sea would be thrown into chaos.
Doflamingo refrained from probing further, instead remarking, "This doesn't impress me. Your stakes are too low to warrant me to antagonizing Kaido."
"You're right; we should present something more intriguing," Ron mused, touching his chin before tossing the Lava-Lava Fruit to Rem. "You can consume this fruit."
Rem received the fruit with a sweet smile, expressing her gratitude. With a slight opening of her teeth, she took a bite.
In an instant, Rem began to undergo elementalization, and the dripping lava caused the tavern's temperature to surge rapidly. Witnessing this, Doflamingo and Diamante could not help but feel a wild fluttering in their eyelids.
A Logia Devil Fruit, considered the most potent, given to a maid? It seemed like not only a waste but a squandering of invaluable resources.
"In this way, if you take four artificial Devil Fruits now, you can exchange them for a real ancient zoan Devil Fruit," Ron explained with a smile.
The cost of four man-made Devil Fruits was 1,200 points, while a single ancient zoan Devil Fruit was only 700 points. The profit margin was a substantial 500 points.
This was the rationale behind Ron's proposal for Doflamingo to abandon his dealings with Kaido—a mutually advantageous proposition.
Ron would earn the surplus, and Doflamingo would amass strength for his undisclosed plans.
"Fufufufu... Okay, I agree!" Doflamingo promptly consented, his excitement palpable.
He then turned to Diamante and instructed, "Go get three artificial Devil Fruits."
For Doflamingo, this had the potential to be his most lucrative deal to date. Artificial Devil Fruits were inexpensive to produce, and there was a certain probability of failure after consumption.
If the transaction succeeded, he would sever all ties with Kaido and cease communication. The prospect of this deal left him unfamiliarly elated.
Shortly after, Diamante hurried back to the tavern with a box containing the artificial Devil Fruits.
"Everyone, leave and ensure no one approaches the tavern," Doflamingo declared seriously.
This matter must remain confidential; if the information leaked, Ron's safety couldn't be guaranteed. Not only would there be no survivors from the Donquixote family, but even the remnants would be eradicated by the Marines.
"Alright, Boss."
Nodding, Diamante exited, closing the door and standing guard at the entrance to ensure the secrecy of the transaction.
Ron opened the box, ensuring its contents were correct, and placed it under the bar. He then instructed the system, "Exchange all man-made Devil Fruits for points."
"Then exchange the points for an Ancient zoan Devil Fruit."
[Ding, in exchange, the remaining host points: five hundred! ]
With the completion of the exchange, a Devil Fruit materialized in Ron's palm as if conjured from thin air.
"The deal is done," Ron said, passing the Devil Fruit to Doflamingo.
"Fufufufu... I didn't expect this to be true," Doflamingo tried to suppress the joy in his heart, yet his outstretched hand trembled slightly. He examined the Devil Fruit, confirming it as the promised ancient species: the Tyrannosaurus rex form.
"Then your deal with Kaido..." Ron hesitated.
Doflamingo raised his head, bursting into laughter. "Ehhhhh... Kaido?"
"Sorry, I don't know this person. I only know that I will only trade with you in the future."
Ron: "..."
The act was convincing.
The thought of Kaido's reaction to this revelation amused Ron.
Doflamingo's laughter continued, and he stood up, walked to the window, and opened his arms as if embracing the entire world. His heart swelled with pride. With a few more years of persistent trading, the Donquixote family would boast a cohort of ancient zoan fruit users. The plan overthrow of the World Government was just a matter of time.
"Oh, by the way, exchange two artificial Devil Fruits for one Zoan Devil Fruit, and exchange ten artificial Devil Fruits for one Logia or Mythical zoan Devil Fruit," Ron reminded with a smile.
Doflamingo's laughter came to an abrupt halt, and his heart raced uncontrollably.
But suddenly... a deep fear surged in his heart.
Who is the owner of the tavern in front of him?
Why, why does he have so many Devil Fruits?
Doflamingo turned silently and looked around.
I saw Ron exhale a mouthful of smoke, and his whole face was shrouded in the thin smoke.
Can't see through...
Even Doflamingo, who has an extremely tortuous life, can't see through Ron, who is much younger than him.
Immediately, Doflamingo stopped thinking about it.
No matter who Ron is, as long as he can keep the deal until the World Government is overthrown, it will cost himself whatever it takes!
"Turn the world ruled by those bastards upside down!" Doflamingo took a sip of his drink and smiled sullenly.
He wants revenge, revenge on this world!
To the group of Celestial Dragons who only know how to enjoy themselves, letting them shed the last drop of blood is the highest respect for Celestial Dragons to Doflamingo.
Doflamingo will overthrew the majestic building standing at a height of 10,000 meters and wrote his own justice.
"No matter what you do, remember not to affect the business of the tavern," Ron reminded softly.
"Fufufufu..." Doflamingo laughed, "Of course, you are my partner."
The voice just fell.
The tavern buzzed with the phone snail.
Puru puru puru...
Doflamingo pulled out a phone snail with two horns from his pocket.
As soon as it was opened, a dull voice sounded: "Doffy, is the artificial Devil Fruit ready?"
"Your efficiency is too slow these days."
"Kaido, don't contact me in the future, I'm afraid Ron will misunderstand." While Doflamingo hung up the phone bug, he stomped it to pieces.
Kaido: "???"