Chapter 9: It's Not Easy to Stand Behind a King

The bustling street fell silent once more, as if nothing had happened. Pedestrians once again crowded the thoroughfare.

Doflamingo and his crew headed towards a hotel. After such an interesting encounter, it was only natural to seek out some amusement and relaxation. And what better place to unwind than a tavern? A melting pot of shady characters and tangled allegiances, it was the perfect spot for both gathering information and indulging in expensive pleasures.

Though Doflamingo was still young, a mere youth, he held no reservations about drinking. What mature man didn't appreciate fine wine and beautiful women? Unless, of course, there was something wrong with him. As a hot-blooded young man, certain desires were perfectly natural.

As for women, Doflamingo wasn't overly concerned. He still had a few years before he could truly indulge in that particular pleasure. He was still developing, after all, and had room to grow stronger.

"Nene, Doffy, those words of yours were really impressive!" Trebol gushed sincerely.

"Indeed! I have unwavering faith in Doffy!" Diamante, Doflamingo's number one fan, declared, his gaze fixed on the young man leading the way.

Even Vergo, a man of few words, and Pica, who preferred to remain silent, offered a word of praise.

"Fuffuffuffu… Because I know I never want to experience that life of hardship, humiliation, and insignificance again. That despair is etched into my very bones. Now, no matter what stands in my way, I'll crush it," Doflamingo declared confidently. "Besides, I have all of you, don't I? With your help, no obstacle can stop us. My ambitions are vast. Did such a small display really excite you so much? I need you to support those ambitions. Remember, don't fall behind!"

"Hahaha, Doffy, rest assured! We won't fall behind! We'll stand with you at the very peak, taking in the view!" Diamante said earnestly, and the others nodded in fervent agreement.

"Alright, let's relax for now and wait for the ship to be built. We have serious business to attend to after this. This is only our first stop; no one can afford to let their guard down," Doflamingo finished, pushing open the tavern door and stepping inside.

"Creak…"

The sound of the opening door did little to disturb the uproar within the tavern.

No matter where you went, taverns were always among the liveliest places. Where there was alcohol, there was bound to be a bit of the underworld.

The tavern was packed, a riot of activity.

Doflamingo surveyed the scene, taking in the common rabble – the dirtiness, the vulgarity. Groups of burly men were slung over each other, roaring drunk. There were women present, of course, but elegant female pirates like the future Nami or Robin were a rare sight. Naturally, beautiful women were always the center of attention. And so were handsome men. Doflamingo, an elegant and noble young man, stood at the entrance, observing everything. He was completely out of place, the dissonance jarring.

None of this escaped the eyes of those inside. Most of the men took one look and, finding him uninteresting, returned to their boisterous drinking. Only a few women stared at Doflamingo with a predatory gleam in their eyes, as if they wanted to devour the pretty boy whole.

On the Grand Line, nothing was truly surprising. There were plenty of people with… unique tastes. Especially in this rotten world, where the slave trade flourished and human life was cheap – something the former Celestial Dragon, Doflamingo, knew all too well. But wasn't that what made this world so interesting? As for being a savior… anyone who wanted that role could have it!

Doflamingo coolly scanned the room, saying nothing. He found an empty spot and moved towards it, settling down quietly without causing a ripple.

"Bartender, bring us your best!" Diamante called out to the tavern owner behind the counter.

"Right away, esteemed guests! It'll just be a moment!" The owner, a man, replied with a welcoming smile.

Soon enough, the owner brought their drinks.

Doflamingo looked at the owner with a flicker of curiosity. Indeed, beautiful tavern owners like Makino were rare; male owners were the norm. He took a quick glance, then dismissed him. Opening a bottle of red wine, he tilted his head back and guzzled it down. Excess wine spilled from the corners of his mouth, flowing down his broad chest, highlighting his clearly defined abs.

Trebol and the others drank their wine quietly, in a much more refined manner than Doflamingo. It was a rare moment of leisure.

Meanwhile, the gang members who had been intimidated by Doflamingo's aura were helping their boss, Kapac Usman, back to their hideout, his body supported by a quick-witted underling.

The excruciating pain made Kapac Usman shudder. His recent, crushing defeat had left him reeling. In his thirty years in the underworld, he had been in countless fights and suffered numerous injuries, but he had never experienced such an overwhelming gap in power. He couldn't even land a blow on Doflamingo's subordinate, let alone the man himself. Just how terrifying must he be? The thought sent a shiver down Kapac Usman's spine. He was lucky the man had viewed him as an ant; after all, an elephant wouldn't bother with an ant.

But every time he recalled that man's words, his heart burned. A thorn was lodged in his chest, constantly prodding and irritating him. It hurt a hundred times more than his physical injuries. Because that man's attitude, his words… they had completely disregarded him. His dignity… was gone.

"Hahaha… So my thirty years of struggle and fighting are nothing in their eyes? So pathetic? They didn't even bother to kill me. What a complete disregard!"

Inside his office, Kapac Usman laughed maniacally. He looked wretched, but his spirit was slowly recovering.

The two underlings guarding the door exchanged glances and whispered, "Do you think the boss has lost it? After all, those guys are monsters from the Grand Line."

"Hmph, what are you two brats whispering about? Do you think your boss is so weak? I haven't been broken yet! Since my dignity has been trampled on, I'll just have to get it back! Besides, losing to a strong man like that… is no shame," Kapac Usman's voice suddenly came from behind the door, startling the two underlings.

Hearing their boss's words, the two underlings panicked. "Boss, do you mean you still want revenge? We can't possibly take revenge on monsters like that! And they're so young!"

Kapac Usman didn't scold them for their caution. Instead, he fell silent for a moment before sighing.

"You're right. My dignity was trampled today. I was truly a frog at the bottom of a well, thinking I was someone important in this small corner of the world. Today, I finally saw how insignificant I am. Compared to this vast ocean, we are truly nothing. Revenge? Heh, we were overreaching from the start. But now… there's something more important than revenge. So…"

Kapac Usman took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, everyone. I want to follow that man's footsteps. I want to see the wider world. I want to see if that man can truly become a king!"

When Kapac Usman finished speaking, his underlings didn't mock him. Instead, they looked at their boss with admiration. Who wouldn't want their life to be more brilliant?

A man's dreams never end.

In the North Blue, survival was everything.

To survive, people resorted to anything: extortion, blackmail, deception, betrayal. These were commonplace. You couldn't trust anyone! And you couldn't let anyone see through you! Hiding in the shadows, gazing into the abyss of evil, walking on the edge of hell… that was the North Blue!

Kapac Usman, having lived in the North Blue for over thirty years, understood the hardships and difficulties of life there. He, who trusted no one, was now ready to place his dreams on that man. Because on that day, he had seen a king.

Having said his piece, Kapac Usman immediately rushed towards the location of Doflamingo and his crew.

As dusk approached, Doflamingo and his group, having just finished their drinks, stepped out of the tavern, only to see the "ant" they had spared kneeling at the entrance. However, Doflamingo's expression remained unchanged. He walked past him with an air of indifference.

Seeing this, Kapac Usman lunged forward again, prostrating himself before Doflamingo.

Doflamingo still said nothing. It was Diamante who spoke, mocking him.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't you know you're blocking the way?"

Kapac Usman spoke, "I want to join your crew, sir!"

"Pfft! Did you hear that? We don't just take in any stray cat or dog!" Diamante continued his ruthless mockery.

"What gives you the right? The weak have no right to choose. A mere rabble?" Doflamingo finally spoke, his voice laced with indolence.

Kapac Usman looked behind him and saw a group of black-clad men kneeling in supplication. He instantly understood Doflamingo's words.

"It's not easy to stand behind a king. And I have no need for a rabble like you," Doflamingo said, unmoved.

"I don't want to stand behind the king. I want to stand before him, to contribute to his grand ambition. Even if I die, at least my life will have been brilliant. At least I won't have any regrets, unlike my previous, aimless existence. And you are the king I wish to follow!" Kapac Usman declared his heartfelt desire respectfully.

"You, who have lost your dignity, have nothing left to lose. You, who are weak… Let's see if you have what it takes." With that, Doflamingo unleashed a torrent of powerful Conqueror's Haki. Dark red lightning crackled, illuminating the entire street. Bystanders who were enjoying the spectacle were knocked unconscious by the overwhelming Haki. The once-bustling street was now silent, with only a few people still standing.

To Doflamingo's surprise, Kapac Usman managed to withstand the Conqueror's Haki.

"This pain is nothing!" Kapac Usman's hands and feet were covered in blood, using the pain to keep himself conscious.

"He's got guts," Doflamingo thought to himself. He gave Kapac Usman a faint glance, then gave Diamante a nod before walking away without a word.

Understanding Doflamingo's meaning, Diamante said cruelly, "You can still keep up, right? We don't take in useless trash."

"I can still keep up!"