After deciding to steal the Ope Ope no Mi to save Law, Corazon knew he was stepping into dangerous territory. Wood's plan, while risky, seemed more feasible than going it alone.
A day had passed since the plan was set in motion. Diez Barrels, who initially agreed to meet the World Government at a different location, suddenly contacted the Donquixote family, stating that the deal would now take place on Minion Island.
Changing the trade location at the last minute was a major inconvenience for the Donquixote family. All the preparations they had made on the original island were now useless.
"Diez Barrels, you're making things difficult for me. I've already coordinated everything with the World Government. Changing the location now is only going to raise suspicions," Doflamingo said, his voice carrying an edge as he spoke into the Den Den Mushi.
Behind his sunglasses, Doflamingo's eyes gleamed dangerously. It was clear that Diez Barrels' sudden decision to change the trade location had not only irritated him but also sparked his suspicion.
Could Diez Barrels have somehow caught wind of Doflamingo's plan to double-cross him? Otherwise, why would he suddenly change the location?
"The ones I'm dealing with are the World Government. With the small-time pirate crew I've got, we wouldn't stand a chance if they tried anything. By choosing the location, I'm ensuring the trade goes smoothly. If the World Government can't accommodate this simple request, then maybe this deal isn't worth it," Diez Barrels replied before abruptly hanging up, not giving Doflamingo a chance to respond.
Doflamingo stared at the now silent Den Den Mushi, anger boiling up inside him as he crushed the receiver in his hand. "Get Diamante and Trebol back here immediately. The trade's location has changed to Minion Island. Tell them to get there as fast as they can."
In the Donquixote family, ranks were represented by playing cards. As the captain, Doflamingo was the "Joker," the wild card. His top officers were the four suits: Pica as Spades, Corazon as Hearts, Trebol as Clubs, and Diamante as Diamonds.
After finalizing the trade details with Diez Barrels, Doflamingo had sent Trebol and Diamante to the original island to make preparations. Even for the Donquixote family, taking on the World Government's operatives wasn't a simple task.
To avoid any mishaps, preparations were essential. Currently, Doflamingo was accompanied by the quiet Pica and his seemingly mute brother, Corazon.
Diez Barrels' sudden decision to change the location and push up the timeline wasn't just about avoiding the World Government's tricks. Doflamingo could see that Diez Barrels was really trying to avoid him.
Changing the location was one thing, but moving up the timeline as well? That was clearly an attempt to prevent Doflamingo from setting up any preparations on Minion Island.
So, what was it? Had Diez Barrels suddenly gotten smart, or was there a leak within Doflamingo's own ranks?
The thought of a traitor sent a surge of anger through Doflamingo. Those who knew him well would recognize that he was on the verge of an outburst.
His anger wasn't just about Diez Barrels' last-minute changes; it was the possibility that someone within his ranks had betrayed him.
Doflamingo's plan to double-cross both the World Government and Diez Barrels was a closely guarded secret, known only to a few of his most trusted officers. To him, these people were either family or as close as family.
Doflamingo had zero tolerance for betrayal. Anyone who dared to betray him, even those he held dear, would face the harshest consequences.
Trebol and Diamante hadn't had any direct contact with Diez Barrels and were already on the other island before Minion Island even came into play. They couldn't possibly be the traitors.
As for Pica and Corazon… Doflamingo's gaze flicked over them both. He quickly dismissed the idea. Pica had been by his side since they arrived on Minion Island, and if Corazon were the traitor, he would have needed to meet with Diez Barrels in person. But Diez Barrels had been under surveillance the entire time, and Doflamingo's informants would have reported any such meeting.
After some hesitation, Doflamingo concluded that it was more likely Diez Barrels had simply gotten wise. The people around him had either risen through the ranks with him or were his blood relatives. None of them would betray him to help a complete stranger like Diez Barrels.
Diez Barrels had clearly sensed danger and decided to change the trade location and time. But Doflamingo wasn't worried in the slightest. After determining that his officers weren't traitors, his confidence returned.
So what if Diez Barrels had detected something amiss? If Doflamingo hadn't come to Minion Island himself, Diez Barrels might have had a chance to escape. But now that they were on the same island, did Diez Barrels seriously think he could escape Doflamingo's grasp?
The thought made Doflamingo smirk. He had been wise to personally oversee the situation on Minion Island, ensuring that neither Diez Barrels nor the Ope Ope no Mi could slip away.
Doflamingo hadn't killed Diez Barrels outright for the same reason as Wood: to avoid alerting the World Government prematurely.
Even with this unexpected change in plans, Doflamingo remained confident that he could secure both the Ope Ope no Mi and the five billion Berries. The only real challenge was dealing with the World Government's agents. As for Diez Barrels? Doflamingo didn't even consider him a threat. His top officers alone were more than capable of crushing a third-rate pirate crew like Diez Barrels'.
When the day of the trade finally arrived, the World Government's fleet appeared on schedule near Minion Island. Despite the last-minute changes to the trade location and time, the World Government didn't show any signs of displeasure as Doflamingo had anticipated.
On the contrary, the World Government was eager to proceed with the trade as soon as possible. The lure of immortality was a temptation few could resist, especially those in positions of power. The higher-ups in the World Government had already been pressing for the deal to go through as quickly as possible.
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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 330+ at p@treon.com/Betek and change @ to a