Chapter 175
### **Chapter 175**
In a **town in the North Blue**, the streets bustled with life. Vendors called out their wares, carts rolled along the cobbled roads, and people moved about their daily routines.
Then—
The **atmosphere shifted**.
At one end of the street, a group of **men in suits** emerged, their strides confident and purposeful.
At the opposite end, a **different group arrived**—their attire **bizarre** and their presence **imposing**.
A **middle-aged man** with a **large belly**, **golden rings glinting** on his fingers, stood at the head of the suited men.
He **glared ahead**—
At the **young man draped in a pink feathered coat**, his expression a mask of **arrogant amusement**.
The **young man's red sunglasses gleamed**, hiding his eyes—
And then, a **peculiar laugh** echoed.
**"Fufufufu~"**
The **middle-aged man's face darkened**.
His **anger flared**.
**"Doflamingo! This is NOT your family's territory! Leave now!"**
---
Doflamingo **grinned**, tilting his head slightly.
Beside him, **Trebol**, his tall, hunched companion, let out a **wet sniffle**.
Doflamingo turned to him lazily.
**"Trebol, what did that fool just say?"**
Trebol **wiped his nose**, his voice **sly**.
**"He said he'd hand over his territory to us, fufufu~."**
Doflamingo's grin **widened**.
**"Oh? Then let's not disappoint him."**
He turned his gaze back to the middle-aged man, his **patience wearing thin**.
**"This is my territory now. Get lost."**
The middle-aged man's **face twisted in fury**.
His **chubby hand** shot forward.
**"He's begging for it! MEN, TAKE HIM DOWN!"**
---
In an instant—
The **suited men drew their guns**.
**Gunfire erupted**—
Bullets **rushed toward Doflamingo**—
Yet he **stood still**, the same **smile on his face**.
Then—
Trebol **stepped forward**.
The bullets **sank into the air around him**, dissolving as if hitting **a swamp**.
Trebol **laughed**, stepping aside.
Doflamingo **raised a hand**—
Thin, transparent **wires** shot forward.
**"Bullet String!"**
---
A **flash of silver**—
And the middle-aged man's body **jerked**.
A **spray of crimson** bloomed across his suit.
His men **collapsed**, clutching their wounds.
Panic **spread** among them.
Doflamingo took another step—
But before he could speak—
A **firm voice called out from behind him**.
**"Doflamingo."**
---
Doflamingo **paused**, then nodded without looking back.
**"Go ahead, Vergo. Focus your attacks."**
A man with a **flat-top haircut**, clad in a **dark suit**, stepped forward.
A **bamboo staff rested in his grip**.
Vergo **charged forward**.
Like a **wolf among sheep**, he **cut through the panicked men** with swift, **merciless strikes**.
Within moments—
Only the **middle-aged man remained**, writhing **in agony**.
Vergo stepped back.
Doflamingo **crouched down**, smirking at his defeated opponent.
The **man's wide eyes filled with terror**—snot and tears **mixing** as he **stammered**.
**"P-Please, don't kill me! I-I'll give you everything!"**
Doflamingo's fingers **tightened** around the man's face.
**"What are you talking about? It's already mine."**
The man **nodded frantically**.
**"Yes! Yes! It's yours!"**
**SNAP.**
With a **casual flick of his fingers**, Doflamingo **ended him**.
As the **head rolled away**, he sighed, **disappointed**.
**"Tch. I thought he'd be tougher. So dull."**
Then—
His gaze **swept over the town**.
The **frightened townsfolk** peeked from their doorways, their faces pale.
Doflamingo **chuckled darkly**.
**"Why hide? Am I that scary?"**
Silence **hung heavy in the air**.
Doflamingo's **expression darkened**.
**"I'll count to three. If no one comes out—"**
His **fingers stretched forward**.
**"One..."**
No one moved.
**"Two..."**
Those hidden indoors **shrank back further**.
**"Thr—"**
---
**A hand clasped his shoulder.**
Doflamingo **froze**.
An **indifferent voice** spoke from behind him.
**"Quite the show you're putting on."**
Doflamingo **spun around**.
His **face twisted in shock**.
**"Saint Carl?!"**
---
Standing before him—
Dressed in **black casual wear**, his expression **unreadable**—
Was **Saint Carl**.
Behind him—
Vergo and the others **had collapsed**, unconscious.
Doflamingo **broke into a cold sweat**.
Carl **strolled forward**, stepping over the unconscious bodies.
Then, as if completely at ease, he **seated himself on Pica's back**—now lying **flat on the ground**.
The townsfolk **watched in stunned silence**.
Doflamingo, the **devil himself**, had been **unshaken moments ago**.
Yet now—
He **bowed his head**.
**"Saint Carl, forgive my arrogance!"**
His voice held **undeniable dread**.
Carl **regarded him with cold eyes**.
**"Is that all?"**
Doflamingo's **face paled further**.
**"Saint Carl, please, I've been working hard!"**
He **spoke quickly**, desperation creeping into his tone.
**"Just a bit more time, and I'll accomplish something grand!"**
Carl's **piercing gaze** held Doflamingo **captive**.
For a long moment—
No one spoke.
Then—
Carl **rose** from Pica's back.
His tone was **calm, yet absolute**.
**"Wake up your men."**
Doflamingo **watched in silence**—
Then **swiftly moved to obey**.
The townsfolk **remained frozen**.
No longer in fear of **Doflamingo**—
But of the **man who had just humbled him**.
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**+115 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg**