(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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Anyone who could give Kakuzu money was a good person in his book.
After seeing Doflamingo's sincere gesture, his attitude warmed visibly.
By that, it meant he didn't try to kill him anymore.
"Do you need to discuss some sort of business with me? As long as you bring enough money, I don't mind."
"However, I won't do illegal things, as otherwise, I can't collect bounties from pirates anymore..."
Kakuzu spoke up seriously.
And Doflamingo replied with a laugh.
"Fufufu... Kakuzu-san, you're truly interesting. So powerful, yet so focused on money."
"It's not 'just money'; that's literally my life."
Kakuzu retorted seriously, unaware that he was long dead and now in a weird state in between.
But for him, as long as he could make money, life or death made no difference.
Doflamingo merely chuckled, opting not to argue further.
He, too, was a pirate who valued money and power, though perhaps not to the point of being obsessed like Kakuzu.
Then Doflamingo got to the point.
"I only need an answer to a question of mine from you today, Kakuzu-san. If it satisfies me, there's plenty of money in it."
Doflamingo fidgeted with his fingers, thin threads barely visible to the naked eye filling the space around them.
His tone suddenly turned serious.
"I heard that whenever you hunt pirates, their hearts disappear. It reminds me of a Devil Fruit I once lost…"
"Kakuzu-san, did you eat the Op-Op Fruit? And, do you happen to know about a man named Corazon?"
Doflamingo's voice deepened and his expression grew dark, as if recalling unpleasant memories.
"No problem, I can tell you. But how much are you willing to pay?" Kakuzu replied bluntly.
"One hundred million Berry," Doflamingo's eyes glinted coldly from behind his glasses.
If Kakuzu didn't have the Op-Op Fruit, it was fine; but if he did... then he'd die first before he would even get to count the money.
Brrr brrr brrr!
At that moment…
A Den-Den Mushi began to ring.
Kakuzu looked down at the snail, motioning Doflamingo to be quiet, and answered.
"I'm busy. It's not convenient right now."
"Ehhh…" Doflamingo noticed Kakuzu took the call reluctantly, implying some fear of the caller.
"What's going on with you?" came Colt's voice, sounding displeased.
"The Shichibukai Doflamingo came to buy some information from… more specifically about the Op-Op Fruit," Kakuzu explained about noticing Colt's displeasure.
Colt paused briefly.
"Hand him the Den-Den Mushi."
"Don't ruin my business…" Though he protested, Kakuzu still passed over the Den-Den Mushi.
'Sigh…' Kakuzu had a bad feeling.
Doflamingo took it with amusement.
"Well, well... who do we have here? Fufu-"
"Shut up."
A cold voice cut through his laughter.
"I don't want to hear that ugly laugh of yours." Colt wasn't in the mood for that.
Actually, he would never be in the mood for that.
"Interesting... No one's spoken to me like this in such a long time—" Doflamingo kept his composure, opting to figure out who he was talking to first.
But Colt, had woken up and chose violence today.
"Stop pretending, Doflamingo."
"Aren't you acting superior just because you're a lackey of Kaido?"
"Also, did you forget back then when you went begging on your knees to become a Celestial Dragon trash once again...? What gives such trash like you the right to act superior?"
Doflamingo's smile froze, a vein throbbing on his forehead.
Colt's words were like knives, reopening painful, shameful wounds.
"Who the hell are you?
His voice couldn't hide his murderous intent anymore.
But he was still focused on knowing who he was talking to. This guy knew he worked under Kaido. And he even knew that he was a former celestial dragon… the keyword being: 'begging on your knees to become a Celestial Dragon trash once again'.
"That's not your main concern for now," Colt replied casually.
"First, Kakuzu's abilities aren't your business. When we're done, you'll leave as quickly as you came. Second, you'll give him 100, wait, no, make it 200 million Berries. That's what you should do now"
He started to give him orders as if he was already working under him.
Naturally, Doflamingo wouldn't just do as he said…
"Fufufu… truly amusing. You think you can command me just because you know a few secrets about me?"
"Whoever you are… you can go fuck yourself! I'll die before I'd do as you said," Doflamingo snorted, and tossed the Den-Den Mushi back to Kakuzu.
At that moment, Kakuzu knew that his hunch was correct.
Kakuzu glanced at Doflamingo with pity…
But he was eager to collect his due money before things went further south.
He just needed Colt to finish and hang up.
"You don't need to know who I am, but you'll soon learn that you shouldn't have insulted me and instead done as you were asked. For now, you can back to Dressrosa and wait for your fate," Colt's voice echoed, and he then hung up.
The bar returned to silence, but Doflamingo's expression was still dark.
Doflamingo thought himself an arrogant man, but Colt's audacity was something else.
"In regards to your questions: No, I have not eaten a devil fruit at all, much less the one you spoke up about, I don't know it, and I don't know anyone named Corazon"
"Now, where is my pay?" Kakuzu reminded him, keen to finish the deal and get away.
Boom!
The bar's counter splintered, revealing a small box.
Doflamingo, grumbling, handed it to Kakuzu with a silk thread.
"I'll give you the money as agreed, but I want information on the man talking through that Den-Den Mushi," he said, eyes darkening.
Kakuzu opened the box and counted.
"Only 100 million? You should have somehow gathered the 200 as he told you… But I suppose this will do."
Kakuzu already had been expecting 100 million so he wasn't too disappointed.
"For the sake of the money you handed me, I would give you an advice worth the amount."
"Go back and enjoy a very fancy dinner while you still can."
Although he hadn't lived for long in the ninja world and didn't know about what happened after he died, Kakuzu still recognized that crossing Colt was a foolish risk.
Doflamingo froze, then scoffed.
"You think I'm a dead man walking? Ridiculous."
In the entire ocean, who besides the Four Emperors dared to look down on him?
"Interesting… very interesting, Fuffuffuffuffu"
Doflamingo got up, and stepped past Kakuzu with a cocky stride.
"Go back and tell him I'll be waiting in Dressrosa for this so-called 'fate.'"
With that, Doflamingo left without a backward glance.
"Such a shame," Kakuzu murmured, pocketing the money.
"A Shichibukai can't be turned in for bounty… what a waste."
As he watched Doflamingo's retreat, he resumed contact with Colt.
"Everything's done on my end... Anything else you need?"