Chapter 258
Future chapters at patreon.com/FFAddict.
Additionally, I have many new works readers may be interested in. Go look, if you wish!
"Ohohoho~ Isn't this little Abel? Have you taken care of the enemies you were responsible for?"
"Ah, I took out a Marine Vice Admiral, the rest of the scrubs have all been controlled by Captain Doflamingo, they're killing each other right now."
Abel bluntly replied, no longer dwelling on the nickname he was given.
After all, compared to 'little Roronoa,' 'little Abel' was more acceptable.
At least he didn't have to undergo daily dress-up like three-year-old Dellinger, who Miss Jora treated like a Barbie doll.
He could never accept that kind of perverse pleasure in his lifetime.
"As expected of the young master's favored little Abel, joining the family for just over two years and you've already grown so strong."
Jora couldn't help but praise.
Such talent, even within the entire Donquixote family, would rank among the top three.
The most remarkable, of course, was undoubtedly the young master Doflamingo.
"It's all thanks to everyone's teaching, otherwise I wouldn't have progressed so quickly."
Abel wasn't lying; his rapid growth, while largely due to his cheat-like system, was also partially due to the family's guidance and resource allocation.
Without Diamante teaching him swordsmanship, Lao G teaching him physical skills and Battle Command Fist, Gladius teaching him artillery, and Doflamingo teaching him many seafaring skills as well as Observation Haki and Armament Haki, he would probably be a waste who could do nothing without the system.
This was the advantage of 'walking on two legs,' ensuring a solid foundation while having the opportunity for rapid growth, not hindering either.
Jora was quite pleased with Abel's remarks.
No help for it, Corazon's betrayal and Law's escape cast a shadow on the trust within the family.
Among them, Abel, who joined the family at the same time as Law, was the most scrutinized.
Had Doflamingo's attitude toward Abel changed, it is likely he would have faced serious ostracism.
However, as time passed and Abel's contributions to the family grew, this crisis of trust and prejudice would eventually dissipate.
"Is there anything good on the ship?"
Hearing Abel's candid question made Jora roll her eyes.
"I've already checked. Apart from money, it's just money. I've never seen so much money in my life."
"No Devil Fruits?"
Jora paused, then realizing what he meant by his earlier question, her tone softened with a hint of regret, "No Devil Fruits were found. Little Abel, don't worry, the young master has already ordered a thorough search for Devil Fruits. We will definitely find one that can treat your illness."
"Uh, I know. I was just asking. If there aren't any, it's fine."
Abel knew Jora had misunderstood, but he didn't bother to explain.
His Lead Performer disease was still of value to utilize; at least before he found a cure, the family would prioritize any Devil Fruits for his choosing.
Besides himself, among the family officers, only Lao G and the young Dellinger had not consumed a Devil Fruit.
Moreover, Lao G explicitly stated he did not need the power of a Devil Fruit and would never eat one in his lifetime.
Dellinger, being a half fish-man from the Fighting Fish race, would lose his underwater combat advantage if he consumed a Devil Fruit, so Doflamingo also preferred that Dellinger not eat a Devil Fruit.Regarding the undercover navy officer Vergo, there's no need to say more.
Otherwise, Doflamingo in the original story wouldn't have repeatedly aided the enemy by giving away Devil Fruits that were already in his grasp!
To think that he used powerful Devil Fruits like the Gold-Gold Fruit and the Flare-Flare Fruit as bait makes me furious!
If he doesn't care about them, he might as well give them to me.
Abel had always thought this way.
He could use them to strengthen his subordinates or exchange them for trading points to enhance himself, or even barter with them.
Anything's better than giving them away for free!
After some idle chatter, the battle finally approached its end.
Once Doflamingo joined the fight, the scene, which had been evenly matched, instantly became unbalanced.
The admirals Onigumo and Momonga from the Marine Headquarters were both captured.
The remaining marines suffered heavy casualties with few survivors.
Had Doflamingo not considered the negotiations to follow, he would not have spared any lives and would have killed them all.
"Donquixote Doflamingo, I've seen your wanted poster; I know you're bold, but I didn't expect you to be audacious enough to target the 'Heavenly Gold'!"
"Do you realize what you're doing? You're courting death! Angering the Celestial Dragons means death for us all!"
"Even if you steal this 'Heavenly Gold', an admiral will soon come with an extermination order to hunt you down, and then you'll regret everything you've done today!"
The tied-up marine admirals glared at the Donquixote family members, issuing their final warnings.
Though the chances of making the enemies have a sudden change of heart were extremely low, this was the only thing they could do at the moment.
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Of course, I know what I'm doing, but there's one thing you got wrong."
"By seizing the 'Heavenly Gold', not only will I not be hunted down by the marines and the World Government, but I will also obtain everything I desire!"
"If you don't believe it, just wait and see."
After striking a pose, Doflamingo signaled Buffalo with his eyes, who immediately searched the captives for the transponder snails used to contact their superiors.
Doflamingo, satisfied, took them, then ordered Giolla to release the artistically altered transport ship and to blow up all the marine ships.
The Flamingo then quickly vanished from the area with the transport ship carrying 600 billion Berries worth of 'Heavenly Gold'.
When marine reinforcements arrived, they only found shipwrecks and a large number of floating marine corpses.
Marshal Sengoku and the World Government were instantly enraged upon receiving the news!
It had been so many years since anyone dared to think of stealing 'Heavenly Gold'—these thieves must die!
Moreover, they needed to be wiped out and the 'Heavenly Gold' reclaimed before the Celestial Dragons found out to avoid unnecessary collateral damage.
That was a result no one wanted to see.
At that moment, Marshal Sengoku received a transponder snail call, which was originally from the three admirals guarding the 'Heavenly Gold' transport.
"This is Sengoku."
"Fuffuffuffuffu, hello, Marshal Sengoku. Let me introduce myself, I am Donquixote Doflamingo, I believe you're familiar with the name. Oh, almost forgot to get to the point—the 'Heavenly Gold' is in my possession."
"What do you want?"
Sengoku, keeping his emotions in check, asked in a calm voice.
"I'd like to make a deal with the marines, no, with the World Government—a deal worth 600 billion Berries!"