Chapter 109: May the Moonlit Night Last Forever

Doflamingo had been in an excellent mood lately. Not only had his recent breakthroughs significantly boosted his power, but he'd also received some welcome news: the Ark Maxim was finally complete. After all, a formidable pirate crew like the Donquixote Family needed a proper flagship, didn't they? Anything less wouldn't be fitting for someone of Doflamingo's stature!

Within the Family base, inside Robin's study—a room Doflamingo had specifically set aside to indulge her love of books and encourage her learning—Doflamingo and Robin were relaxing.

Doflamingo hung up the Den Den Mushi beside him, a smile playing on his lips.

Seeing his expression, Robin guessed something good must have happened. Playing along, she asked, "Onii-chan, did something wonderful happen?"

"Robin, how would you like to see the beautiful Sky Island?" Doflamingo shared his joy, simultaneously aiming to pique her curiosity.

"Sky Island?" Robin blinked, momentarily stunned by his words. Then, she scrambled over to his side, eyes wide, hands clasped together in excitement. "Really? Can I really go to Sky Island?"

Doflamingo found her surprised reaction rather amusing. If only you knew there was also a Poneglyph on Sky Island, he thought wryly, I wonder how much more ecstatic you'd be.

To carefully manage Robin's deep-seated wariness, Doflamingo had intentionally never mentioned the Poneglyphs around her. He knew the subject was practically taboo for her, deeply tied to her trauma. If he had brought it up brazenly early on, there was no guarantee Robin wouldn't have become distrustful and distanced herself from him. Crocodile, from the original timeline, served as the perfect cautionary tale – his obsession with Pluton led only to a miserable end. Doflamingo wouldn't make such a foolish mistake. His approach was to subtly influence Robin, guiding her until she wanted to share information about the Void Century and the Ancient Weapons with him, willingly and actively. While Doflamingo himself didn't particularly care about the history of the 'Void Century' recorded on the Poneglyphs, the Ancient Weapons mentioned on other stones certainly held his interest. After all, who wouldn't want weapons that could make them even more powerful?

"Of course," Doflamingo confirmed, affectionately ruffling Robin's hair. "Besides, that place is our home."

"Home? Our home?" Robin repeated, intrigued.

"Mm! That's right. Sky Island belongs to us," Doflamingo stated with certainty.

"That's wonderful!" Robin beamed, practically dancing with joy. "So, when do we leave?" She was clearly eager for this trip to Sky Island and wanted to depart as soon as possible.

"Relax. We'll set out tomorrow," Doflamingo gave her a firm answer.

"But..." Robin trailed off, her gaze drifting as something else came to mind. She spoke hesitantly, her voice barely a whisper.

Doflamingo understood immediately what she was thinking. He gently patted her head again but said nothing.

Seeing Doflamingo's silence, Robin quieted down as well. They remained like that for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts, yet sharing an unspoken understanding.

Doflamingo knew, of course, that Robin was thinking about Rosinante. Having such a prominent spy within the Family created an undeniable tension. Although those who knew the truth maintained a facade of harmony, there was bound to be underlying discomfort. Doflamingo understood their unease; if not for his overwhelming authority as the Young Master, some might have already voiced their complaints. However, the time wasn't right to deal with Rosinante. Not only was Vergo still deep undercover within the Marines, but Rosinante himself hadn't given Doflamingo a clear pretext. For now, his brother was behaving himself. And deep down, Doflamingo still held a place for Rosinante. Unless absolutely forced, he truly didn't want to kill him.

Although Doflamingo readily admitted he wasn't a 'good person,' he possessed his own kind of tenderness. Family would always be his inescapable shackle—or perhaps, his anchor. Just like the Doflamingo of the original timeline, this Doflamingo considered the members of his crew his family. The difference lay in his refusal to endlessly forgive their mistakes, unlike his canon counterpart. If family members erred, necessary consequences would follow. He intended to master the balance between kindness and authority, employing both grace and power.

Ultimately, Doflamingo was human, flesh and blood. His ruthlessness was primarily directed towards those unconnected to him. Achieving everything he desired required necessary sacrifices. Everyone is selfish, after all – especially concerning those who mean nothing to oneself.

That evening, the Family executives gathered around the dinner table. Each ate quietly, preoccupied with their own thoughts.

After a while, Doflamingo finished his meal. (Damn, he mused idly, my stomach still can't compete with a Sun God's appetite.) He cleaned his mouth meticulously and then, unusually, waited patiently for the others to finish their dinner.

Normally, Doflamingo would leave the table as soon as he was done, without specifically waiting for anyone. The others never took issue with this; they often did the same, having their own matters to attend to. There was no need to linger until everyone was finished. However, they would only leave after Doflamingo departed first. He was the leader, after all; showing the Young Master proper respect was paramount.

Noticing that Doflamingo had finished eating but hadn't left, the executives quickly understood he had something to announce. They promptly finished their own meals, awaiting his orders.

"Doffy, is there something you wanted to tell us?" Diamante finally broke the dining room's silence, posing the question directly.

Rosinante, who had been sitting silently nearby, suddenly straightened up, ears pricked, listening intently to the conversation.

"Mm! That's right," Doflamingo confirmed. "I have some good news to share with everyone today. Our ship... is finally ready."

"The Ark Maxim?" Upon hearing Doflamingo, Enel's expression turned nostalgic. This was the vessel Enel had always dreamed of, the ship meant to carry him to the endless Vearth.

"Exactly. The Ark Maxim," Doflamingo affirmed, clearly reading the history in Enel's eyes.

"Doffy, does that mean we..." Diamante began, starting to probe about their plans.

"Diamante, Trebol," Doflamingo cut in smoothly, "I'm leaving the Family's affairs in your hands for now. I'm taking Enel, Ibes, and Robin to retrieve our ship."

"Rest assured, Doffy! Leave the Family to me and Trebol!" Diamante immediately pledged, understanding the directive.

"Neh, neh, Doffy, you can count on us!" Trebol chimed in his agreement.

Only Pica remained silent, knowing Doflamingo always had his reasons for such decisions.

Hearing this, Rosinante couldn't contain himself any longer. He began gesturing frantically.

Doflamingo watched his brother's wild signing and easily grasped his meaning: 'Brother, how can you go without me? I want to come with you!'

With feigned gravity, Doflamingo patted Rosinante's shoulder. "We're just going to pick up our ship this time, Rosinante. You've wandered for so many years, suffered so much hardship... How could I possibly bear to watch you drift aimlessly with me again?"

Rosinante opened his mouth, ready to gesture more, but Doflamingo gave him no chance, his expression turning stern. "Relax, I'll be back before you know it. What's this, Rosinante? Can't bear to be apart from your big brother for a little while? You're an adult now; don't be so willful. Big brother is only thinking of what's best for you."

That final line—'Big brother is only thinking of what's best for you'—effectively silenced Rosinante. Defeated, he had no choice but to reluctantly accept Doflamingo's decision, though a nagging feeling told him this trip wasn't as simple as claimed. Still, he couldn't pinpoint any specific flaw in the excuse given.

(Are you kidding me?) Doflamingo scoffed internally. (Sky Island is my ultimate stronghold. There's no way I'm letting a spy infiltrate the place and learn all my secrets. No matter what excuse Rosinante came up with, I would never have taken him.)

Having concluded the matter, Doflamingo gave Ibes a subtle, meaningful glance, then stood and left the dining hall alone. The moonlight was perfect. Far better to spend it doing... what young people ought to be doing, than wasting time arguing or feigning camaraderie with these rough men.

Tonight was another unforgettable night. May the moonlit night last forever!