At this moment, Doflamingo felt utterly helpless. Fighting was not an option. Just the Marine named Hailan was enough to keep him occupied, and with a Vice Admiral from Marine Headquarters who had a troublesome ability, there was no chance of winning. Even his "Parasite String" trump card had been neutralised, leaving him without any negotiation leverage.
However, Doflamingo was not one to readily admit defeat. Since he couldn't resolve this peacefully, he decided to go on a killing spree. As an ex-Celestial Dragon, Doflamingo knew that the World Government and the Celestial Dragons had a policy of "favouring prisoners." As long as he didn't attack the soldiers around Pica and Trebol, they wouldn't be in danger.
"Buru Buru Buru..."
Just as Doflamingo was about to make a desperate last stand, the small Den Den Mushi in his pocket rang. It was Diamante on the other end.
"Doffy, where are you now?"
"I'm on the northern island. Things are a bit tricky here, so don't come over. If there's nothing important, I'll hang up."
Doflamingo thought Diamante was planning to help, so he warned him.
"No, Doffy, I have important information to report."
"What could be more important than Pica and..." Doflamingo's expression turned grim as the Den Den Mushi, mimicking Diamante's face and tone, relayed some terrible news: "Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, 'Hero of the Marines' Garp is in Dressrosa. I just saw him!"
While Doflamingo was arrogant, he was not stupid. Garp was the "Marine Hero" who had cornered the Pirate King Gol D. Roger multiple times. Doflamingo knew he had no chance against him.
This was a losing battle.
"Understood," Doflamingo replied.
After hanging up, Doflamingo scanned the people on the ground as if the call had been a minor interruption.
"Trebol, Pica, I'm going to get you out soon," Doflamingo declared before using his strings to ascend into the clouds, quickly escaping from the forest of Green Bit.
Hailan was puzzled, "Are we just letting him go?"
Tsuru patiently explained, "This pirate's identity might be special. Let's see what Fleet Admiral Kong and Admiral Sengoku decide."
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, in the office of "Buddha" Sengoku, a handsome, fair-haired young man stood before him. His name was Donquixote Rosinante, the younger brother of Donquixote Doflamingo. After Doflamingo killed their father, Rosinante fled in fear and confusion. Unlike his brother, who had a dark, royal demeanour, Rosinante was naturally kind-hearted, much like their father.
After leaving Doflamingo, Rosinante met Sengoku by chance. He adopted him and treated him as his son. Apart from Fleet Admiral Kong, Garp and Tsuru were unaware of his Celestial Dragon heritage.
Unfortunately, Rosinante lacked the combat talent of someone like Hailan. At twenty years old, his strength was only at the level of a Marine Headquarters Lieutenant Commander. As a result, Sengoku rarely sent him on missions, fearing he might get hurt in battle.
However, for this mission, no one else could do the job except Rosinante.
"From now on, when communicating by phone, call me 'Great Senbei,'" Sengoku instructed.
"Then you can call me 'Little Rice Cake,' Rosinante responded with a faint smile, seemingly unfazed by the dangerous task ahead.
Seeing Rosinante's calm demeanour, Sengoku couldn't help but worry, "Aren't you nervous? This is a ruthless pirate we're dealing with!"
"But he's also my brother," Rosinante replied, shaking his head to dispel the negative thoughts about Doflamingo. "I'm his only blood relative. He won't harm me."
"Of course, I also know that first and foremost, I'm a Marine. I won't betray my sense of justice."
Doflamingo wouldn't harm Rosinante, and Rosinante didn't want to harm Doflamingo either. He just wanted to prevent his brother from sinking further into darkness.
According to the plan, Rosinante would use the captured Pica and Diamante as leverage to return to the Donquixote family and become an undercover Marine within the Donquixote Pirates. Despite being stripped of his Celestial Dragon status, Doflamingo still had that heritage. To arrest him, the Marines needed substantial evidence of him opposing the World Government, such as attacking Marine bases or assaulting allied countries.
Rosinante's mission was to gather this evidence. Additionally, because pirates' guerrilla tactics were a constant headache for the Marines, having an undercover agent like Rosinante was essential.
"I should start preparing," Rosinante said, turning to leave.
"Rosinante..." Sengoku called out, knowing it might be months or even years before they met again.
With wrinkles slowly forming on his forehead, Sengoku's voice softened, losing its authoritative tone, "...Make sure you don't die!"
Rosinante didn't turn back, "Don't worry, Great Senbei. How could Little Rice Cake die before you? I'm still young!"
"Ouch!"
Rosinante tripped and rolled out of Sengoku's office, making an awkward exit. Sengoku sighed, staring at the empty doorway, "That guy is still as careless as ever. Hopefully, he won't make any rookie mistakes in his undercover mission."
Meanwhile, back in Dressrosa, Doflamingo was in a foul mood, looking at his remaining top officers, Vergo and Diamante.
"It seems we need more allies, or we'll be too passive when facing enemies."
"Let's return to the North Blue and develop further," he decided.
Having been outmanoeuvred by a Vice Admiral and a Marine soldier, Doflamingo couldn't imagine the strength of the New World rulers on the same level as Garp.
"Vergo, you weren't exposed when Hailan chased you, right? If so, I can't assign you to infiltrate the Marines."
With a piece of lemon stuck to his left cheek, Vergo confidently replied, "Absolutely not. That Marine never got close to me. I kept nearly a hundred meters between us. Just changing clothes and hairstyle will suffice."
"Good," Doflamingo nodded, planning the rescue of Pica and Trebol.
Meanwhile, Hailan returned to the spot where he first encountered Vergo.
"Such a hard collision should have left some clues."
Focusing on his enhanced senses, Hailan meticulously searched the nearby bushes. His strengthened perception and brain power gave him a clear advantage, and he barely felt any fatigue.
"Hmm? A biscuit?"
He found a half-eaten biscuit.
"I don't remember buying this snack..."
—---
Volume 1: Genius Recruit
Hailan's Bizarre Adventure complete.
Next volume: Path of a Marine
To win in battle without needless deaths is the true mark of a great commander!