Under Lucas's orders, the Golden City cruise ship veered off its original course from Marine Headquarters and set sail toward Dressrosa.
Donquixote Doflamingo had orchestrated an alliance of forces to topple Lucas's territories, and Lucas wasn't one to let such an offense go unanswered. It was time to settle the score.
When Tesoro learned of Lucas's plan to confront Doflamingo, he eagerly stepped forward. "Lord Lucas, you're heading to deal with Doflamingo? When the time comes, will you let me lead the charge?"
Lucas chuckled. "From what I know, Doflamingo is one of your most important business partners. You planning to stab him in the back?"
Tesoro waved dismissively. "Lord Lucas, my partnership with Doflamingo was purely out of necessity. We were both involved in the same black-market dealings, but neither of us had the upper hand to dominate the other. Cooperation was our only option."
Lucas nodded thoughtfully. "I can believe that. After all, Doflamingo harbors a pretty deep grudge against you, doesn't he? Wasn't it you who snatched the Gold-Gold Fruit from his auction house?"
Tesoro's eyes widened in surprise. "Lord Lucas, your intelligence network is terrifying! You even know about that?" He let out a bitter laugh. "That's right. I did steal the Gold-Gold Fruit from his auction house."
A sneer crept across Tesoro's face as he continued. "I still don't know what Doflamingo was thinking, putting such a valuable Devil Fruit up for auction. Of course, he never intended to actually sell it—he planned to auction it off and steal it back. But unfortunately for him, he crossed paths with me. I swiped it before he had the chance."
"After I ate the fruit, I went into hiding and trained for years. By the time Doflamingo found me, I had already established myself as his rival. He couldn't do a thing about me."
Tesoro's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "We both feared each other's strength. Neither of us was confident enough to guarantee a win in a fight, so we cooperated out of mutual interest. But trust me, we never stopped plotting each other's downfall."
Lucas laughed heartily. "So, you've been waiting for the perfect moment to settle the score?"
Tesoro's expression turned mysterious. "It's not just about settling a grudge. I've come across some… interesting information about him. But it's so outrageous, I didn't believe it at first."
Lucas's eyes glinted with amusement. "Outrageous? As far as I know, the only news that can be called outrageous is that Doflamingo was once a Celestial Dragon."
Tesoro's jaw dropped. "How do you know everything?!"
Lucas smirked. "I know more than you could ever imagine. Not only do I know Doflamingo used to be a Celestial Dragon, but I also know exactly how he lost that status."
Tesoro leaned in, curiosity burning in his eyes. "Tell me. What could a Celestial Dragon possibly do to lose such a privileged position?"
Lucas's smile grew wider, tinged with mockery. "It's quite simple, really. A Celestial Dragon can lose their status if they willingly give it up."
Tesoro froze. "You're kidding, right? Who would ever give up that kind of power?"
Lucas chuckled darkly. "Doflamingo's parents did. They were two incredibly naive nobles. They believed Celestial Dragons should live like ordinary people, valuing humanity over their so-called divine status. So, they took their two children and voluntarily relinquished their titles, choosing to live as commoners."
In the Chat Group
The entire Chat Group of the Dead went silent, shocked by the revelation.
Whitebeard finally broke the silence.
Whitebeard: "I thought learning Doflamingo was a Celestial Dragon was shocking enough. But his parents? They're on a whole different level of crazy."
Golden Lion Shiki: They gave up the status of Celestial Dragons? Do they know how many people dream of having that kind of power? And they just gave it away?"
Pirate King Roger: So, what happened to them?"
Fire Fist Ace: "Yeah, I want to know too."
Outside World
Tesoro, equally intrigued, asked the same question. "What happened to Doflamingo's parents after they gave up their titles?"
Lucas's expression darkened. "After they renounced their Celestial Dragon status, the World Government escorted them to an Unaffiliated Nation. With a fortune that could last multiple lifetimes, they tried to live as wealthy commoners."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "But Doflamingo's father was an absolute fool. He went around telling people he used to be a Celestial Dragon."
Tesoro's eyes widened. He already sensed where this was going.
Lucas continued coldly. "You know how much the world despises the Celestial Dragons. There are countless people who've suffered under their tyranny but are too afraid to take revenge. So, when they found out about Doflamingo's family, they saw an opportunity."
"The angry mob destroyed their home, forcing them to flee, scavenge, and live like beggars. Doflamingo's mother eventually fell ill and died under those miserable conditions."
"Doflamingo blamed it all on his father. So, he killed him with his own hands and returned to Mariejois, carrying his father's severed head, hoping to reclaim his Celestial Dragon status."
Lucas let out a hollow laugh. "But the Celestial Dragons rejected him. After that, he became a pirate."
Tesoro was stunned, his mind struggling to process the twisted tale. He never imagined that Doflamingo's life had been shaped by such a brutal and ironic chain of events.
In the Chat Group
The conversation in the Chat Group of the Dead heated up as everyone weighed in on Doflamingo's twisted family history.
Fisher Tiger: "As much as I hate the Celestial Dragons, I think Doflamingo's parents were innocent. Not only do I not hate them, but I actually admire them a little."
Golden Lion Shiki: "What's there to admire? They were just two naive fools. Trying to live like commoners after having everything handed to them? They paid the price for their stupidity."
Gold Thief Woonan: "I get that the common people were oppressed by the Celestial Dragons, but those who took out their anger on the Doflamingo family? I think they're the ones who deserved to die!"
Senju Tobirama: You're being too idealistic, Woonan. The people oppressed by the Celestial Dragons had years of pent-up rage. When that kind of anger has no outlet, it's understandable they'd lash out at the nearest target—Doflamingo's family."
Gold Thief Woonan: "But Doflamingo's parents were innocent!"
Senju Tobirama: "Innocent? They lived off the blood and sweat of ordinary people. Their food, their clothes, their wealth—it all came from exploitation. Maybe they had good hearts, but they still benefited from the suffering of others."
Golden Lion Shiki : "Exactly. Whether Doflamingo's parents had good intentions or not doesn't matter. They lived as Celestial Dragons, and that means they should bear the consequences of the Celestial Dragons' crimes."
Gold Thief Woonan : "If that's how you see it, then shouldn't we credit the ancestors of the Celestial Dragons for creating the World Government? Even Garp uses his reputation to protect his grandson from consequences. So what's wrong with the Celestial Dragons charging people for their power?"
Whitebeard : "Gurararara….That's rich coming from you, Woonan! I always thought you had a soft spot for the common people."
Gold Thief Woonan : "I did. But I've realized something—there are wicked people among the common folk too."
Lucas: "There's a flaw in your thinking, Woonan. Who said ordinary people are always good people?"
Fire Fist Ace : "Most of the ordinary people I meet are kind-hearted. They've been nothing but good to me."
Lucas : "That's because you're strong, Ace. Even if you stiff them for food, they won't dare fight back. But if you didn't have that strength, you'd have been beaten to death for pulling something like that."
Fire Fist Ace: "... Is that really true?"
Golden Lion Shiki : "Shihahahah…..Well said! In front of me, even pirates with bounties over 100 million look friendly. Why? Because they're scared of me!"
Lucas : "Exactly. If people seem kind, it's often because they're too afraid to show their true nature in front of someone stronger. They try to appear harmless, but that doesn't mean they are."
Golden Lion Shiki : "That's the way it is! Everyone's the same bastard deep down. Most people don't do bad things because they don't have the guts or the power to get away with it."
Lucas : "I can't fully agree with that. There are plenty of strong people who still have principles and a sense of morality. Of course, no one's perfectly fair or selfless, but that doesn't mean everyone's inherently bad."
Gold Thief Woonan : "We're getting off-topic. Weren't we talking about Doflamingo's parents?"
Senju Tobirama : "I think Doflamingo's parents had good intentions, but that doesn't mean they didn't deserve the consequences. Like I said before, they still benefited from the system that oppressed others. It's like eating food bought with blood money. Even if you feel guilty, you're still complicit."
Gold Thief Woonan : "Group Leader, what do you think?"
Lucas shrugged, : "Why are you looking at me? None of us are saints. Who are we to judge who's good or bad?"
The chat fell silent.
Whitebeard : "Gurararara! Lucas is right. There's no absolute good or evil in this world—it all comes down to perspective and interests. But one thing's for sure… Doflamingo killing his own father really surprised me."
Golden Lion Shiki : "What's so surprising about that? You were killed by your own son, Teach!"
Whitebeard: "Teach was never my son!"
Lucas :"Don't compare Teach to Doflamingo. They're not the same."
Pirate King Roger: "Because Whitebeard wasn't Blackbeard's biological father?"
Lucas : "No, that's not it. Doflamingo didn't just kill his father—he killed his younger brother too. Teach isn't even in the same league when it comes to betrayal."
Whitebeard : "Doflamingo killed his brother too? Is he insane?"
Fire Fist Ace : "Why would he kill his own brother?"
Lucas : "Because his younger brother joined the Marines and went undercover in Doflamingo's crew. He secretly sent information to the Marines to get Doflamingo arrested. But the final straw? His brother caused him to lose the Op-Op Fruit—and with it, his chance at immortality."
The chat went silent again.
Golden Lion Shiki : "Then his brother's death wasn't unjust."
The infamous pirate's words hung heavy in the air.
Golden Lion Shiki : "Anyone who betrays pirates like that deserves what they get. Doflamingo did the right thing. If he'd hesitated because it was his brother, he'd have been a weak leader."
Neither Fire Fist Ace nor Whitebeard replied.
Even though both valued their family bonds deeply, they couldn't deny that, in this case, Doflamingo's actions were… understandable.
The silence stretched as everyone reflected on the twisted morality of the pirate world.
Lucas, however, remained unfazed. "It doesn't matter whether you think it was right or wrong. What's done is done. Judging it won't change a thing."
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