Chapter 60: My Godson

Hatred is a strange emotion.

It blends the fury of injustice with the urge to destroy.

Time, place, even the passing of years can't erode it.

The most terrifying part is this—once the seed of hatred is planted, nothing can uproot it.

It takes root deep inside, grows quietly, slowly, until one day it becomes a towering tree that dominates a person's entire life.

It drives them forward, obsessively, recklessly—willing to pay any price to reach their goal.

And now, that seed had been planted.

What kind of twisted bloom would it grow into inside this young Celestial Dragon's heart?

Daren was eager to find out.

"Good. You've finally seen the truth for what it is."

Daren took a step back, eyes locked on Doflamingo, his voice full of approval.

"Now, let's talk about how you're going to achieve that goal."

Doflamingo blinked, briefly stunned—then quickly came to his senses.

"You're going to help me?"

"Of course. Who in the entire North Blue doesn't know Rogers Daren is a helpful Marine?"

Daren grinned as he lit a cigar.

Doflamingo watched him settle comfortably back into the worn sofa, then rasped out,

"Give me one."

Daren raised a brow but didn't refuse. He tossed him a cigar.

Doflamingo caught it, clipped the end clean with a thread from the Ito Ito no Mi, bit it between his teeth, lit it, and took a long drag.

The way he moved—so practiced, so natural—made the corner of Daren's mouth twitch.

This kid... already a veteran smoker.

Still, seeing a twelve-year-old puffing a cigar like a jaded adult was a jarring sight.

"Why are you helping me?"

After a few slow draws, Doflamingo's breathing evened out. His voice was calmer now, his gaze cold behind the lenses of his sunglasses.

"You're a Marine... and the Marine's job is to uphold the rule of the World Government."

Impressive. To pull himself together so quickly after a complete breakdown—this kid really had potential.

Daren chuckled and shrugged.

"I told you. I'm not your typical Marine."

"If I had to give you a reason... it's because I can't stand the way the World Government and those Celestial Dragons act."

"Sure, maybe the Marines are the government's face, or their loyal guard dogs... but I don't want to be a dog."

"Those Celestial Dragons think they're gods. Born superior. But here's the thing—I'm not playing puppet for anyone."

Doflamingo narrowed his eyes, staring long and hard at Daren. Then suddenly, he let out a sneer.

"Fufufufufu... I get it now."

"You want to use me. Make me your weapon to go after the World Government. And you think I'd trust you that easily?"

Daren flashed a wide grin.

"Trust isn't the foundation of cooperation. Interest is."

"We have a common enemy, don't we?"

Doflamingo let out a burst of laughter.

"Fufufufufu... Common enemy? Daren, that's hilarious."

"If the World Government—no, if the Celestial Dragons—are really your enemies, then why not go after them yourself?"

"What I see in front of me is a coward. A little man hiding in the dark, trying to stir up hatred in others while keeping his own hands clean."

"You want me to cooperate? No, what you really want is to make me your obedient tool. But you haven't shown me a damn thing worth convincing me."

He exhaled a puff of smoke, lips curled in arrogance.

"My demands aren't much. If you really have the guts, then kill a Celestial Dragon. Not someone like me, who's been stripped of everything—I mean a real Celestial Dragon."

He smirked, full of certainty.

"Do that, and I'll admit your worth. Hell, I'll even name you my godfather, North Blue style."

"Oh?"

Daren raised an eyebrow, his expression turning oddly amused.

"You sure you want to make that bet?"

Seeing that curious glint in Daren's eyes, Doflamingo felt a sudden jolt of unease—but still, he grit his teeth and declared:

"Yeah. I'm sure."

There was no way this guy would actually go through with it.

Doflamingo wasn't stupid. He'd done his homework on the so-called North Blue Admiral.

Greedy, lustful, full of flattery, always scheming for more power...

Someone like that would never dare to strike at the Celestial Dragons—the very nobles of the world.

Thinking that, Doflamingo straightened with confidence, a sly grin creeping onto his face.

And besides, even if Daren did make a move against them, the World Government would retaliate instantly and viciously.

In that case, their little "agreement" wouldn't mean a thing anymore.

"You're the one who said it..."

Daren shook his head with a sigh.

"Honestly, being your godfather seems like a dangerously high-risk job."

"But as luck would have it..."

He shifted tone mid-sentence, smiling playfully.

"I happen to like danger."

As he spoke, he reached into his coat and casually tossed a fingernail-sized object in front of Doflamingo.

The moment he saw it, Doflamingo's pupils shrank to pinpricks. Every hair on his body stood on end.

A chilling sensation surged from the soles of his feet, shot up his spine, and exploded in his skull, sending a wave of prickling numbness across his scalp.

That thing...

That was...

That was a chip!

The identification chip of the Celestial Dragons—the World Nobles!

Doflamingo swore there was no way he could be mistaken.

Every Celestial Dragon family possessed one of these chips as proof of their status. When a Celestial Dragon chose to renounce their rights and leave the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, they were required to surrender it.

His father had done just that.

When they abandoned their titles and left the Holy Land, the officials demanded they return the family's chip.

And Doflamingo had returned—carrying his father's severed head—for the sole purpose of reclaiming it.

These chips couldn't be forged or duplicated. Their existence alone was proof of a Celestial Dragon's noble identity. Every one of them carried it on their person—it was their most important possession.

And now... Daren had one in his hand.

How was that possible...?

Could it be...

As Doflamingo's thoughts raced, drowning in shock, a low, steady voice echoed through the shadowy hall:

"A few days ago, Celestial Dragon Saint Xildes met an unfortunate end here in the North Blue. According to the investigation team, his official vessel was obliterated in an instant—no survivors, no clues. Not even the surveillance Den Den Mushi caught anything."

"The official conclusion: Saint Xildes died in an accidental Sea King attack."

Daren blinked, then smiled.

"Well... that's what the report submitted to the government says, anyway."

Naturally, the chip had been "retrieved" from Saint Xildes' corpse.

Doflamingo stood frozen.

A rush of information flooded his brain. Cold sweat broke across his forehead, and the look in his eyes shifted—from shock, to fear.

This lunatic... this absolute lunatic... actually dared to kill a Celestial Dragon.

And he got away clean.

He could really kill him too.

Doflamingo's mind went blank. His ears buzzed with static.

Daren sat upright, his body leaning forward with casual menace.

That ever-smirking face crept closer, and instinctively, Doflamingo took a step back. His throat bobbed with a hard swallow.

"Now do you understand, Doflamingo?"

"I can give you everything you want."

"Power, status, territory, military backing, business, influence..."

"But there's one thing you need to understand. The North Blue is my territory. And here, my rules apply."

"No one gets to act out without my say-so. Not even the Celestial Dragons."

Daren exhaled a long, curling stream of smoke right into Doflamingo's face.

Then—

Under the boy's stunned gaze—

The black-haired Marine reached out and tousled his short blond hair.

The flickering wall lamp cast shifting, eerie shadows across his face.

Daren smiled.

"Welcome to the North Blue, my godson."

(40 Chapters Ahead)

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