What's the most important thing when raising a wild wolf?
Is it fueling its hatred for the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, and nurturing its thirst for blood?
Letting it kill recklessly to keep its savage nature intact?
Or giving it a clear enough goal to sharpen its hunting skills?
All of these—yes, but not entirely.
The most important thing is to completely dominate it. To torment it again and again until submission becomes second nature—an instinct carved deep into its mind like a brand.
So it will never, ever forget who its true master is.
That is what matters most.
...
As the Celestial Dragon boy knelt and kissed the back of his hand, Daren smiled with satisfaction.
"Very good. Truly worthy of being my godson."
He affectionately ruffled Doflamingo's short blond hair, then had him stand by his side, holding his hand as they walked step by step out of the blood-soaked domed hall.
...
Outside the ancient villa.
Watching their once proud and defiant young master being led out like a child by that dark-haired Marine, the once-fearsome members of the Donquixote family froze in place, faces full of shock, as if caught in a waking dream.
"Doffy... are these your men?"
Daren smiled, casually glancing over the thousand mafia members gathered.
Doflamingo lowered his head and replied,
"Yes, Godfather."
Daren nodded with a grin.
"Not bad. In the North Blue, they could be considered elite."
"But there's just one problem..."
Doflamingo asked quietly,
"What do you mean, Godfather?"
Daren's lips curled into a cold smile.
"You're my godson. A king by birth. So remember this..."
His eyes sharpened.
"Anyone who lays eyes on you—other than me—must kneel!"
The moment those words fell, a surge of overwhelming presence erupted from the Marine Captain's body, sweeping out indiscriminately in every direction like a crashing tide.
The world seemed to fall silent. All color drained away, leaving only black and white.
A roaring wind tore through the air, sweeping away everything in its path.
The full force of the Haki struck the Donquixote family like a tidal wave. Trebol, Diamante, Vergo, and Pica—along with every other member—trembled violently under the weight of that monstrous aura.
They felt their strength drain without warning, minds going blank. Their knees buckled. One by one, they collapsed to the ground.
Clatter...
Countless weapons slipped from their hands, crashing to the floor like heavy rain, the sound sharp and continuous.
Trebol and the others knelt on one knee, teeth clenched, faces deathly pale.
They stared in horror at the North Blue Admiral radiating that overwhelming dominance, a single thought flooding their minds in unison—
This can't be real...
…
This intense, soul-piercing pressure felt like facing a roaring sea or a thousand charging soldiers…
This man's presence—was even stronger than last time!
The winds and clouds shifted violently, as if the entire North Blue was about to be swept away.
At that moment, only two people remained standing in the world.
Standing beside Daren, Doflamingo clenched his teeth hard. His bloodshot eyes pulsed with suppressed ferocity, and his expression shifted constantly, as if trying to hold something back.
The Conqueror's Haki within him was stirring, but it was clearly being forced down.
"Doffy, I'll be waiting for you at the Grand Line."
Daren turned and looked at his godson with a smile, narrowing his eyes.
The flawless white cloak behind him billowed wildly, casting a shadow that completely engulfed the blond teenager.
Doflamingo lowered his head. Deep within his bloodshot eyes, ambition and cold determination were being forcefully suppressed.
"Yes, Godfather."
...
In September of Sea Circle Calendar year 1492, under the orders of Rogers Daren, the supreme commander and admiral of the North Blue Marines, the North Blue fleet launched a bloody crackdown and purge against over twenty notorious Mafia families across the region.
This operation brought an end to the chaotic and rampant underground forces that had plagued the North Blue for decades, even centuries.
Within a week, the Donquixote family, led by Doflamingo, effortlessly absorbed the entire underworld of the North Blue. Their power expanded rapidly, and they quickly grew into a formidable giant.
Their reach spanned arms smuggling, brothels, gambling, espionage, intelligence trafficking, and more—stretching not only across the seas but even into the Grand Line.
Since then, a saying began to spread across the North Blue:
"The world is full of color, but in the North Blue, there is only black and white."
From that point on, what the world once called the "chaotic North Blue" entered a new era of stability and order.
...
"You're seriously insane. Letting him off the leash like that... Aren't you worried that one day Doflamingo's ambition will spiral out of control, and he'll stab you in the back?"
North Blue 321 Marine Branch, Base Commander's Office.
Momonga flipped through the intelligence report in his hands with a helpless expression, glancing toward his superior, who was sitting back comfortably, puffing on a cigar.
The report detailed the recent commotion caused by the Donquixote family's takeover of several Mafia industries.
Industry scale, personnel, nations and towns involved... Every detail was laid out clearly.
"He wouldn't dare."
Daren replied casually, his eyes gazing out across the sea through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Momonga frowned.
"You sure? That kid doesn't exactly seem the obedient type."
Daren slowly turned back to face him, smiling.
"It's precisely because I know he's not obedient that I feel at ease."
"The truly dangerous enemies aren't these ambitious brats. It's the ones who hide everything inside, the ones who look harmless."
"Doflamingo's a talented guy. I need him to help stabilize the North Blue. The stronger his influence, the more it benefits us."
"With his 'Celestial Dragons' identity as a shield, not even Marine Headquarters—no, even the World Government would hesitate to meddle in North Blue affairs."
Momonga paused in thought.
"I get that logic, sure. But I've met him, and I can tell by the way he looks at you… it's not right."
"What I'm worried about is once you leave the North Blue, will he..."
Daren cut him off with a wave of his hand and asked an unrelated question instead.
"Do you know what it means to have a king's spirit?"
"The legendary force that only appears once in millions... Conqueror's Haki?"
"Exactly."
Daren smiled.
"Doflamingo is someone who's awakened Conqueror's Haki. That's why I chose him."
There was a hint of deeper meaning in his eyes.
"Strength, speed, power, status... those are all secondary."
"On this sea, what truly decides everything... is spirit."
"As long as my Conqueror's Haki is stronger than his, he'll never dare rebel against me."
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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