Chapter 1: I Am Doflamingo?!

"Ow, ow, ow! What the hell? My head is killing me... Where am I?" Doflamingo clutched his head as he sat up in bed, trying to sort through the jumble in his mind. "Celestial Dragons... Doflamingo... Pirate King... Roger... Luffy... One Piece... What? What is this?! Am I in the world of One Piece? Fuffuffuffu... Is that really how it is? How interesting! Celestial Dragons, the D. clan, Imu... Fuffuffuffu! In that case, I'll make this world even more exciting! But I won't fail again. I'm not the Doflamingo I used to be."

Having sorted through his thoughts, Doflamingo was now keenly aware of the wonders of this world, his heart filled with a burning ambition.

"Since I've come to this world, how can I not live a spectacular life? It's what Heaven owes me, fuffuffuffu!" From outside the door, Donquixote Homing and Rosinante heard the laughter and rushed in, concern etched on their faces. "Doffy, are you alright? It's all Father's fault. I've made you two suffer," Homing said. Hearing his father's words, Doflamingo immediately fell silent. The veins on his forehead bulged, a clear sign that he was recalling unpleasant memories. Rosinante, seeing his brother's terrifying expression, fearfully clutched his father's leg, hiding and not daring to look at his older brother.

The current Doflamingo was still a young boy, but he was no longer the ignorant child he once was. Experiencing such horrifying and hateful things had made Doflamingo realize that without strength, one didn't even have the power to choose how they died.

Just a day before, the commoners, who had long been oppressed by the Celestial Dragons, had rioted. The father and his two sons had been tightly bound and hung on the city walls, nearly killed by the mob. If Doflamingo hadn't awakened his Conqueror's Haki, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The thought of those disgusting events soured Doflamingo's mood completely. Ignoring his father and brother's expressions, he simply muttered, "I'm fine. Everything's fine. Just leave me alone for a while." He got out of bed, gave his brother and father a complicated look, and walked away without a shred of lingering attachment.

Strolling down a sun-drenched street, Doflamingo began to delve into his newly acquired memories. According to the suddenly unlocked memories, Doflamingo realized that his previous life was that of an ordinary office worker on "Blue Star." The hectic 9-to-9, 6-days-a-week work life left him with no time for hobbies, except for occasionally watching anime. As a corporate drone, he certainly had a deep impression of One Piece.

Monkey D. Luffy? Who didn't know him?! He just never expected that he, a perfectly good, albeit older, young man, would be killed by a falling star while walking home from work one day. Seriously, who would believe that? Even he didn't believe it. He, Ling, had never done anything evil in his life, had done plenty of good deeds, and always helped old ladies cross the street. He never expected to meet such a fate. Shouldn't that falling star have hit some evildoer instead?! Damn it! Doflamingo shook his head, clearing his mind of the clutter. The past was in the past, and dwelling on it was pointless. Since Heaven had given him a second chance, he, Ling – no, he was Doflamingo now – a real man should establish a great undertaking. He would leave a bold mark on this world! "Fuffuffuffu!" As his laughter echoed further and further away, the pigeons in the sky flew higher and higher.

"System, are you there? Since I've encountered something so outrageous, shouldn't I have a system to help me dominate?" The surrounding area was eerily quiet, with only Doflamingo's voice breaking the silence. He was starting to get a little frantic. "Damn, I knew it wouldn't be that easy. I'm so jealous of those guys who start with a system. They're all liars! If I really had a system, what would I have to fear? I'd be stomping on Kaido and crushing Big Mom. Looks like I can only rely on myself to seize the future. The future is mine, and I have time."

"Look! That Celestial Dragon bastard is over there! Get him! We can't let him live this time!" A chorus of malicious voices interrupted Doflamingo's thoughts. Seeing that it was the same group of commoners from before, Doflamingo immediately made a run for it.

"Damn those lowlifes! I won't let a single one of them get away with this. But right now, I'm still too young. I don't have any real strength," Doflamingo muttered, panting and wheezing, after he'd escaped their line of sight.

The priority was to increase his strength. This ten-year-old body was terrifyingly young. While he might not be as monstrous as those naturally gifted freaks of the sea, he didn't want to live in such a pitiful and humble state as before, where even his existence was resented by others. That was absolutely not what he wanted. He just wanted to live a good life!

"I just want to live a good life, and even that you won't allow? Fuffuffuffu... Alright then, let's turn this world upside down!" Doflamingo whispered. It seemed that only one path remained. Although he looked down on those people, cooperating with them was the only way he could gradually obtain everything he desired. He would have to follow the same path as in the anime, for now. He had to find those four. With that in mind, he headed towards the location where he remembered them being.

Along the way, Doflamingo walked faster and faster, his steps becoming more and more determined. Because ahead lay the path to becoming a king. A king is solitary, and there can only be one king – and that would be him, Donquixote Doflamingo.