Doflamingo had mastered Conqueror's Haki since childhood, and his Haki prowess was unrivaled among Conqueror's Haki users.
However, facing Arthur was a different story. Arthur's Conqueror's Haki was now potent enough to influence the surroundings.
Seeing Doflamingo's grim expression and sensing his dangerous aura, Arthur smirked disdainfully. He casually drank his wine, surprising everyone.
"Conqueror's Haki... interesting, isn't it?" Arthur teased Doflamingo, raising an eyebrow in slight surprise.
"This isn't exclusive to you," Arthur remarked playfully, unleashing his Conqueror's Haki, easily countering Doflamingo's.
"Huh~" Doflamingo retracted his Haki, grinning wildly. "You have it too, and it's strong."
"I'm curious about your origins and intentions," Doflamingo said, intrigued.
Arthur leaned back, relaxed, and withdrew his Conqueror's Haki.
Meanwhile, Doflamingo's family officials observed Arthur in shock.
In truth, Arthur was puzzled. In the original story, Green Pepper mentioned many New World individuals possessing Conqueror's Haki.
But why did Luffy and others, who wielded the red Conqueror's Haki, surprise Trebol so much?
Just like now, Trebol exclaimed, "Hey, you have the same aura as Dover," annoying Arthur.
Arthur frowned as Trebol got too close, demanding him to back off.
Ignoring Arthur's discomfort, Trebol inspected him closely, irritating Arthur further.
"I'm here for business. I come from Sky Island, where I'm the king of the angel race," Arthur stated.
"King of Angels? From Sky Island? Rare indeed!" a seasoned pirate like Doflamingo understood Sky Island well.
"What kind of deal are you proposing? You seem well-informed about my JOKER persona," Doflamingo grinned.
Arthur pointed at Baby-5 and Violet, former princesses of Dress Rosa, saying, "I can't trust these two."
Violet remained calm, but Baby-5 reacted explosively.
Before Baby-5 could act, Doflamingo intervened, stating they were his family and under his protection.
Arthur remained unfazed. "If they betray, I won't hesitate to act."
Tension filled the air, with Doflamingo's anger palpable. "Killing my family in front of me? Thunder Fruit has made you bold."
Doflamingo's Conqueror's Haki surged again, but Arthur stood his ground, unafraid. A year ago, the situation might have been different, but now Arthur was no less formidable than Doflamingo.
Now, Arthur's Devil Fruit abilities have surged to 450 million volts, and he's fearless in showcasing them.
In a swift move, Arthur materialized next to Doflamingo, whispered in his ear, "I'm just reminding you, I prefer not being attacked. Defense is crucial."
With that, Arthur returned to his spot, refilled his bottle, and took a sip.
"Hmm, interesting," Doflamingo chuckled. "You're quite confident."
"Strength often breeds confidence," Arthur remarked.
"Hmph, I like your attitude," Doflamingo's demeanor shifted back to normal.
An hour passed, Doflamingo pondered over Arthur's proposal.
"You want to leverage my intelligence network to establish your own in the New World. That's not feasible. However, I can prioritize Devil Fruit information or actual Devil Fruits for you. As for your high-end shells, they come at a steep price."
"My high-end shells are top-notch, far superior to common factory-made ones. They're not cheap and require considerable effort to produce," Arthur countered.
"Huh?" Doflamingo was intrigued. "How do you know about the underground factory?"
Arthur smirked, "I can overhear conversations within range."
Impressed, Doflamingo nodded. "Observation Haki, it seems. I have no doubts about your strength."
Doflamingo emphasized the importance of various shell types like Impact Shells, Burning Shells, Electric Shells, and Wind Shells.
After weighing the options, Arthur agreed to some increases but noted Sky Island's limited production capacity.
He also highlighted the need for Row Shells, Laser Shells, Lightning Shells, and Wind Shells annually, which were strategic resources with unique functions.
Arthur was serious about the trade due to recent discoveries making certain extinct shell types reproducible.
"These are rare even in Sky Island. Without these breakthroughs, I wouldn't agree to this trade annually," Arthur insisted.
Satisfied with the arrangements, Doflamingo concluded the deal.
Afterward, Arthur and Doflamingo discussed more matters, including the location of Sleeping Ancient Town, before Arthur vanished into the Highlands of Kings.
"Can we trust this guy, Dover?" Trebol asked, approaching Doflamingo.
"Maintain some distance," Doflamingo cautioned, gazing at the sea.
"He seems ambitious, perhaps more than me. He could bring significant changes to the world," Doflamingo mused, acknowledging Arthur's potential.
"Such ambitious individuals are always welcome!"
A hearty laugh echoed in the surroundings.
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