Chapter 61: The North Blue Underworld Is Ours Now
Darren stepped out of the dark hall, lighting another cigar and stretching. The neglected courtyard lay before him, with dead ivy clinging to a ruined fountain. Night draped its sorrow over the setting, and the moon cast a chilly glow.
In the shadow of the wall, the figure of Flying Squirrel stood still, blending in with the buildings as if he were part of them. For an hour, he remained motionless, his stance firm, his expression serious. Darren thought he barely even breathed, resembling a statue.
"Thanks for your hard work." A wave of gratitude filled Darren, bringing a smile to his face. The North Blue was treacherous waters. Darren vividly remembered the chaos when he first arrived: mafias clashing in the streets, civilians cowering, and nobles indulging in luxury, oblivious to it all.
Trust was a foreign concept here; deceit and betrayal were the norms. People would smile to your face, shower you with gifts, and then stab you in the back. Climbing the power ladder, Darren couldn't count the blood that had stained his hands. Friends were few, enemies numerous. Even with his grip on the North Blue now, he lived with caution every day.
Having a dependable right-hand man like Flying Squirrel was a stroke of luck in such times. Flying Squirrel emerged from the shadows, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You're ruthless, especially for a 12-year-old."
He had overheard Darren's conversation with Doflamingo in the hall. Darren shrugged. "Even a young wolf can rip open a throat." He added, "Remember, Doflamingo killed his own father at ten and awakened the Conqueror's Haki."
Silence followed as Flying Squirrel glanced at the chip in Darren's hand and peered warily at the darkened hall. "Aren't you worried he'll betray you?"
"He wouldn't dare. Without proof, no one would believe him," Darren replied with confidence. "Besides, I'm his godfather now..."
Flying Squirrel rolled his eyes, knowing too well of Darren's appetite for risk. Darren thrived on the edge, where danger met exhilaration, and life felt most vivid.
"By the way, have we contained the news?" Darren asked abruptly.
Flying Squirrel nodded. "The area was cordoned off, civilians evacuated. Even the North Blue Marines with us didn't know the details, just that we were hunting pirates."
"Good, it's important to keep it quiet," Darren acknowledged with a grin.
"It's time we head back. Don't we have a meeting with Vinsmoke Judge tomorrow?" inquired Flying Squirrel.
"Yes, Germa's new high-tech weapons are ready for their initial testing. We'll set the meeting location once Judge replies."
Nodding, Darren turned to leave, his justice cloak billowing in the wind. "Excellent. With this, our North Blue fleet plan can officially begin."
Under the night sky, his eyes shone brighter than the stars.
In the dark hall, icy moonlight filtered through the dusty glass windows of the dome, casting silver light upon Doflamingo. The wall lamp burned tenaciously, amidst the play of light and shadow. The blond boy sat on a soft sofa, a burnt cigar in his hand. He tilted his head back, his gaze fixed on the high dome, seemingly out of focus.
"Joker..."
"Little Lord..."
It took a while before the four Trebol members slowly emerged from their coma. They glanced around in terror, and upon realizing there was no sign of the Marines, they exhaled a long sigh of relief.
"Joker... I said... how did we get back?" Trebol stood up with difficulty, using his cane for support. Gasping slightly, his face was pale from the severe injuries he had sustained.
"I don't know. When I woke up, we were already here." Doflamingo was still staring straight at the moon on the dome when he suddenly grinned, "It must have been Rogers Darren who sent us back."
Upon hearing this, the four Trebol members gasped, cold sweat beading on their skin. They were on Mignon Island, in a long-abandoned courtyard that served as the Donquixote Family's secret stronghold, known to only a few of them. Yet now, the renowned North Blue Marine's highest officer had sent them all back in a comatose state.
What did that mean?
Their previous activities in North Blue were now under the watchful eye of that formidable and monstrous Marine! The secret stronghold no longer felt safe. Invisible and terrifying monsters seemed to lurk in the dark corridors and gloomy rooms, spying on them.
"Then, young master... what should we do next?" Diamanti asked anxiously. Since setting sail, their journey had always been smooth. They were not accustomed to such devastating setbacks and defeats. They were used to others kneeling before them, begging for mercy, receiving their commands. But now, Marine Rogers Darren stood like an insurmountable wall blocking their path to conquering the North Blue. With his overwhelming strength, he had effortlessly slain more than a thousand of their men.
Against Darren, none of them could stand as equals. The man was as formidable as Shura—frightening and demoralizing.
"What to do..." Doflamingo murmured, his pupils finally regaining focus. He turned to face the worried and terrified gazes of Trebol and the others, falling silent for a moment.
I have lost all my family; all I have left is you, he thought. And with that thought, a wave of unspeakable bitterness washed over him. He understood why Darren had spared Trebol and the others. It was an act of cruelty.
So Darren, you think all of my actions are child's play, don't you?
"Don't worry," Doflamingo sighed inwardly, but his face bore a smile. "The North Blue underworld is now ours."
As the Trebol group watched with growing surprise, the blond boy rose from the sofa, laughing loudly. "From today onwards, Rogers Darren is the godfather of my Don Quixote Doflamingo!!" His laugh became wild and maniacal, reverberating through the gloomy courtyard.