"Vergo, are you trying to annoy me? I owe you tens of billions of Berries, and you remind me every single day. If you keep this up, I might never pay it back!" Jack the Drought grumbled, clearly irritated.
Jack had never intended to repay that enormous debt. Tens of billions of Berries was no small sum, and if he could avoid it, he certainly would. He wasn't particularly fond of Doflamingo's artificial Devil Fruits, especially now that he'd learned Chiba could produce authentic ones—even rare Logia types. Chiba's Devil Fruits were exactly what the Beasts Pirates wanted.
The problem was they hadn't yet located Chiba's group. The sea was vast, and tracking down a fleet was like searching for a needle in a haystack. For now, they had to maintain a friendly relationship with Doflamingo. Besides, with their captain Kaido currently captured by the Marines, the Beasts Pirates couldn't risk severing ties.
However, Jack suspected that Kaido wouldn't be held for long and would likely return soon. Once that happened, negotiations with Chiba would be up to Kaido, who, knowing him, would probably just try to seize what he wanted by force.
The Beasts Pirates hadn't forcefully taken Doflamingo's artificial Devil Fruits because Kaido didn't value them highly, although he hadn't stopped his crew from using them if they wanted. Thus, the uneasy alliance between Doflamingo and the Beasts Pirates continued.
"Jack, you misunderstand," Vergo replied. "I'm calling to ask for your help with a problem. If you handle it, we'll consider your entire debt paid off."
Jack perked up at this and couldn't help but ask, "Who's worth that much?"
"Rebecca. I believe you're already familiar with her name," Vergo said.
"Rebecca—the one with the Mera-Mera Fruit in the Golden Crow form?" Jack asked, intrigued.
"Exactly. If you take her down, the debt of three billion Berries is wiped clean."
Jack chuckled, "That Rebecca's impressive. She beat Burgess and even scorched Blackbeard. Among the younger generation, she's quite something. But that Mera-Mera Fruit—didn't Chiba make that? If she's a problem, why did you let her get it?"
"That's not your concern, Mr. Jack. All you need to know is that taking her out clears your debt."
"Heh, Vergo, it's not that I doubt you, but I'm not sure you have the authority to cancel a three-billion-Berry debt. Where's Doflamingo?"
Vergo turned to Doflamingo, who nodded and took the receiver with a wide grin. "Kishishishi! Mr. Jack, I heard everything. If you kill Rebecca, your debt is gone."
"Dover, why do you need me to kill Rebecca? She shouldn't be difficult for you to handle," Jack asked suspiciously.
Jack's caution irritated Doflamingo, but he maintained his smile. "Kishishishi! Killing her is well within my ability, but the girl got her Devil Fruit through my tournament. If I kill her to reclaim it, it would harm my reputation and hurt my business."
Jack the Drought chuckled. "Fair point. But I'm still curious why you're so eager to get rid of her. Did she destroy one of your factories?"
"Let's just say it's complicated," Doflamingo replied vaguely. "The important thing is, if you handle this, your debt is gone."
"Alright. I'll deliver her head to you," Jack agreed.
"Excellent. I look forward to it," Doflamingo said, but Jack had already hung up before he could finish.
Doflamingo's smile faded, replaced by a dark scowl. "These scumbags are all the same. I'll let them fight it out, and then I'll be the one reaping the rewards."
He laughed, envisioning a fierce battle between the Beasts Pirates and Chiba's crew. With Kaido and Chiba both injured, he'd swoop in, secure his power, and rise as king of the seas.
Several days later, Doflamingo's top commanders assembled in Dressrosa.
Torrepol, with his characteristic runny nose, asked, "Dover, why the sudden summons?"
Señor Pink, a burly man with an unexpectedly thin voice, chimed in, "I heard our factory was destroyed. Is it true?"
Diamante's face was grim. "It's true. And it was that damned Rebecca's doing. I should have finished her off when I had the chance."
Machvise, the Paramecia user with the power to increase his body weight, looked furious. "If I see her, I'll crush her with my full weight!"
Delinger, the half-fishman martial artist, scoffed, "If she crosses my path, I'll rip her to shreds."
He grinned, showing off his shark-like fangs.
Old G, one of the senior members, muttered, "If she destroyed the factory, she must be formidable. I heard even Master Vergo struggled against her. Is that true?"
"Impossible," Doflamingo replied confidently. "That's just a rumor. Rebecca's only a girl, after all. Even with the Mera-Mera Fruit, she's no match for Vergo."
Hearing this, the commanders seemed reassured. If Vergo couldn't handle her, they'd have no chance either.
Baby 5, holding a cigarette between her lips, scoffed, "I knew it. That brat could never beat Vergo. When she shows up, I'll make sure she pays."
Señor Pink, sucking on his pacifier, added, "She may have fire, but I'll show her how easily I can douse it."
[•———•——•———•]
𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧
✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.