Chapter 164: Conversation with Doflamingo

"Pleasure doing business with you. Looking forward to our next collaboration, JOKER."

Deep within a city, a certain underground tycoon had just finalized a weapons deal with Donquixote Doflamingo.

With the deal settled, both men were in good spirits as they walked out of the parlor.

However, when the tycoon's subordinates saw the sunglasses on Doflamingo's face, they couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The suppressed laughter, barely held back, was especially jarring in the otherwise quiet environment.

The tycoon quickly glanced at Doflamingo, relieved to see that the latter didn't seem angry. He then turned to his subordinates, frowning as he scolded them.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Sorry, boss, we didn't mean to... pfft... hahaha..."

One of the subordinates responded with a mix of fear and amusement, but before he could finish, he burst into laughter again.

"Sorry, I haven't disciplined my men properly."

The tycoon's voice grew colder as he drew a gun from his waist and pointed it at his subordinate's head.

"Boss, we really didn't mean to. It's just because of a recent newspaper."

The subordinate said, pulling a newspaper from his pocket and handing it to his boss.

"A newspaper made you act so rudely? How disgraceful."

The tycoon's voice grew even colder, his expression hardening as murderous intent flickered in his eyes.

He skimmed through the newspaper, but when his gaze landed on the hand-drawn portrait at the end of the article...

Pfft~

He couldn't help but laugh.

However, as soon as the sound escaped, he realized his mistake and quickly coughed, forcing himself to regain composure. He crumpled the newspaper and stuffed it into his pocket.

"You all seem to be having a good laugh. Care to share?"

Beside him, Doflamingo's lips curled into a smile, revealing a row of neat, white teeth. His grin was terrifying.

His eyes were hidden behind his sunglasses, making it impossible to read his expression.

This sent a chill through everyone present, including the tycoon.

"JOKER, it's really not necessary."

The tycoon refused outright, but when his eyes landed on Doflamingo's sunglasses again, his expression turned strange, and he struggled to hold back his laughter.

No! Don't look at his sunglasses!

Otherwise, that image from the newspaper will come back! Forget it, forget it!

The tycoon's strange expression made Doflamingo's veins bulge on his forehead.

What newspaper? What's going on?

Doflamingo's fingers twitched, and a thin, nearly invisible string extended from his fingertips. With a subtle tug, he pulled the crumpled newspaper out of the tycoon's pocket.

The newspaper landed in Doflamingo's hands, and he unfolded it.

Doflamingo's smile froze.

He didn't speak.

The red sunglasses on his face suddenly let out a faint crack, and a fissure appeared.

They had cracked.

..........

Pleasure District, Loguetown.

Sig sat in the editor-in-chief's office, leisurely sipping tea.

In front of him, the middle-aged gentleman who was the editor-in-chief paced back and forth anxiously, unable to calm down.

"Mr. Sig, things have spiraled out of control!"

"Even though that newspaper was published under your name, with Doflamingo's influence, it's only a matter of time before he traces it back to us!"

"Just now, he called to warn our president. Not only does he suspect our newspaper is involved, but he also demanded that we publish a clarification tomorrow, proving that his eyes aren't... bean-shaped."

When he said "bean-shaped," the editor-in-chief, despite his anxiety, almost laughed.

"Moreover, that Tieba Tabloid was published under the name of the Tieba News Agency. Doflamingo might already be onto you, Mr. Sig."

"Don't worry. This is within my expectations."

Sig took a sip of tea and said:

"Give me Doflamingo's phone number. I'll talk to him directly."

"Don't tell me your president doesn't have Doflamingo's number."

A moment later.

Sig sat alone in the room and dialed Doflamingo's number.

"Donquixote Doflamingo, I'm curious about something."

Sig asked:

"Clarifying this matter should be simple. All you need to do is publish a photo of your real face in the newspaper."

"But you didn't..."

Sig glanced at the sample issue of the newspaper on the table.

Doflamingo's clarification article had indeed been written, but it was only a text description, with no photo to back it up.

This couldn't help but make Sig's imagination run wild.

"Could it be... you really do have bean-shaped eyes?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and Doflamingo didn't answer Sig's question.

"You're Sig, aren't you? Is Morgans helping you promote your newspaper? He's the only one in the world who could spread news this quickly."

Doflamingo's voice was icy.

"Donquixote Doflamingo, I advise you not to investigate further."

"If you continue to threaten Morgans, don't blame me for releasing more explosive information."

Sig spoke in a low, ominous tone.

"Are you trying to threaten me, Sig?"

Hearing this sinister voice, even though Sig had mentally prepared himself, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Sig steeled himself and continued with the lines he had prepared:

"Donquixote Doflamingo, I know far more than you think."

"For example, your former identity as a Celestial Dragon, and the matters concerning the Dressrosa Kingdom..."

"If you try to interfere with the publication of my Tieba Tabloid, I'll reveal everything."

The few words Sig casually mentioned made Doflamingo's expression change drastically.

"Who exactly are you? What do you want?"

His mind raced with possibilities.

From the secrets of the Celestial Dragons' national treasure that Sig had mentioned in Loguetown, to the things Sig was now revealing—each one was a taboo...

How did Sig know so much?

"I am the true master of the Pleasure District on this island—Sig!"

Thump thump thump...

Even though they were only speaking through a Den Den Mushi and not face-to-face, Sig couldn't help but feel nervous.

Sig's cold, solemn voice, accompanied by the rhythmic thumping of the Emperor's Engine, rang out:

"What I want, you can't afford to give."

"You're not qualified to negotiate with me."

"Donquixote Doflamingo, come to the Pleasure District... and meet your death."

After saying these words, Sig hung up the phone, his heart still pounding.

He wasn't sure if this diversion tactic would work.

The day before, Sig had declared to the world through the newspaper that he was the true master of the Pleasure District.

At the time, he had quietly left a trap for Stussy.

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