Chương 959: Chapter 959: Volume 4 – Chapter 478: Easier Than I Expected

Watching Doflamingo stride up the Celestial Stairway with his arrogant, sneering demeanor, Stussy's alluring eyes beneath her mask narrowed into dangerous slits. 1

The taste of power was undeniable. Even battle-hardened warriors with iron wills could be weakened by its corruption, let alone a madman like Doflamingo, who was inherently obsessed with authority and status.

After all, what the Five Elders could offer Doflamingo… was simply too much.

The position of Vice Commander of the God's Knights wasn't limited to the power that came with the title itself. It also meant Doflamingo's reinstatement as a member of the Celestial Dragons, with even greater authority and status than most of his peers.

And what about that Daren guy?

Compared to the Five Elders, what could he possibly offer Doflamingo?

Back in the North Blue, Daren could still suppress Doflamingo with his status in the Marines; later, he could leverage the Navy's influence to provide resources and support for Doflamingo's ambitions to expand his pirate crew and underground empire.

But now?

Perhaps Daren still had overwhelming strength, but so what?

Doflamingo could simply settle in Mary Geoise, and then Daren wouldn't be able to do much about it.

So, beyond sheer force and threats, what else could Daren use to maintain his "cooperation" with Doflamingo?

Stussy couldn't fathom it.

As for that so-called "godfather-godson" bond? In her eyes, it held no real power.

A man like Doflamingo wouldn't be restrained by such mundane ties.

But…

'Hmph. Even if Doflamingo really betrayed him, what does that have to do with me?'

Stussy silently sneered to herself.

And just as her thoughts churned, under the gaze of the entire world, the defiant Flamingo had already slowly made his way through the dense crowd, arriving before the Celestial Stairway.

At that moment, gazing upon the Five Elders beaming encouraging smiles at him, feeling the warm breeze and brilliant sunlight, and the gaze of everyone present—more intense than the very sun itself...

Even with his heart and will now transformed, Doflamingo couldn't help but feel a dizzying sensation. Behind his sunglasses, his eyes flickered momentarily.

Not long ago, he had stood upon the Celestial Stairway like a dog, his hands stained with blood, despised and spat upon by his former comrades.

Now, clad in an opulent ceremonial robe, he stood in the same place, resplendent and radiant like a deity, basking in the supreme glory and splendor of the entire world.

A dreamlike shock and sense of contradiction flooded through Doflamingo's mind like a torrent.

Yet this intense impact lasted only an instant before abruptly ceasing.

His fingers curled slightly, veins bulging on his forehead, while the smile at the corners of his mouth grew ever more pronounced.

"Well, Doflamingo... Is this the feeling you've always dreamed of?"

Saint Saturn looked down at Doflamingo from above, smiling as he spoke.

"The feeling of standing above everyone else—it must be quite nice, right?"

Doflamingo grinned.

"Fufufufu... I haven't surpassed everyone yet. Aren't you still looking down on me, old man Saturn?"

Saint Saturn paused, giving him a deep look before laughing.

"If you wish to replace us, you still have much to strive for."

"But before that, the one you should be chasing is Figarland Garling."

Doflamingo's smile grew even broader. Their hushed "whispering" went unheard by the others present. To all other onlookers, they merely exchanged a few smiling words.

"Hmm..."

Saint Saturn raised his hand slightly, and immediately, an administrative officer approached cautiously, presenting a medal on a tray.

The emblem of authority, shaped like a cross, symbolized the World Government's rule and the peace of the world. Encircling the emblem was a majestic, solemn dragon.

"This is the insignia of the God's Knights, and your identity marker."

Saint Saturn said calmly to Doflamingo. His hoarse voice rose, resonating with deep authority as he proclaimed:

"I, Saturn Saint, Supreme Authority of the World Government, Warrior God of Science and Defense, Jaygarcia Saturn..."

As he spoke, the other four Five Elders echoed in succession:

"I, the Supreme Authority of the World Government, Warrior God of Finance, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro..."

"I, the Supreme Authority of the World Government, Agricultural God of War, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter..."

"I, the Supreme Authority of the World Government, Warrior God of Justice, Saint Topman Warcury..."

"I, the Supreme Authority of the World Government, Warrior God of the Environment, Saint Marcus Mars..."

The five declared in unison. Their voices echoed across the vast plaza, commanding solemn respect from all attendees, and were broadcast worldwide through the Den Den Mushi network.

"...In the name of the Five Elders, we hereby formally appoint Donquixote Doflamingo, Saint, as the new Vice Commander of the God's Knights!"

With that, Saint Saturn solemnly lifted the gilded medal from the tray and pinned it to Doflamingo's chest under the curious and envious gazes of countless onlookers.

"Fufufufu, this really feels a bit strange..."

Doflamingo glanced at the medal on his chest and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Immediately after, the sound of clapping filled the air.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

The crowd in the square began to applaud, the applause quickly growing enthusiastic.

...

Yet what no one knew was, at the very moment the world's gaze was fixed on the investiture ceremony before the Celestial Stairway, another scene was unfolding.

In the Hall of Power in Pangaea Castle, a figure appeared silently. Black hair stirred lightly, and blue arcs of electricity danced between the fingers of a hand with distinct knuckles.

"Though I anticipated most of the garrison strength would be deployed at the ceremony site, still..."

Daren lifted his head slightly, began walking, and casually picked up a cigar from the marble coffee table beside him. He placed it between his lips and lit it.

Smoke curled around him as a hint of amusement touched his lips.

"This infiltration was easier than I anticipated..." 1

Exhaling a smoke ring, he chuckled upon hearing the thunderous applause echoing from the distant plaza. Turning, he gazed into the depths of the Hall of Power, where an unfathomably deep passageway led to an unknown destination.

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Chương 960: Chapter 960: Volume 4 – Chapter 479: It's Been a While, Fleet Admiral Kong 1

At the same time…

Grand Line, waters near Alabasta.

Jaya.

The tavern, normally filled with the boisterous chatter of pirates, was now unnervingly silent. Everyone stood frozen in place, their eyes locked on the two figures in the corner, expressions a mixture of disbelief and unease. No one dared make a sound. Even the image of the defiant, golden-haired youth on the Den Den Mushi screen went unnoticed.

"Those two..."

"H-how did they end up here?"

"This isn't the New World!"

"How could monsters like them show up in a place like this?"

A sleek, shiny pompadour, a mafia-style waistcoat, a black fur coat, and the unmistakable severed arm with a golden hook… A black top hat, a lone arm, a long black trench coat, and that exaggeratedly large broken black sword strapped to his back…

"Shichibukai!"

"Crocodile!" 1

"And 'Hawk Eyes' Dracule Mihawk!" 1

Watching the two sit face-to-face, occasionally lifting their glasses to drink, the pirates felt their legs go weak. But none of them dared to move, terrified of disturbing the two Shichibukai as they calmly drank. They had all heard the terrifying stories of Crocodile and Mihawk!

The former had challenged the legendary pirate of the New World, Whitebeard, just a month ago. The entire event had caused a massive stir, even alarming Marine Headquarters, who had mobilized forces in preparation for a potential war with the Whitebeard Pirates. However, in the end, both sides showed restraint, and the details of that confrontation were shrouded in mystery. What was known, though, was that Crocodile left the New World afterward with a new, gruesome scar across his face.

And compared to Crocodile, who dared to challenge Whitebeard one-on-one, "Hawk Eyes" Mihawk was even more terrifying in the eyes of pirates.

It was said that in the New World, Mihawk had relentlessly hunted down a pirate crew for several days and nights, simply because their captain had insulted him. In the end, Mihawk single-handedly sliced through the crew's entire fleet of pirate ships, cutting them in half.

Now, the two Shichibukai—both infamous for their power and terrifying personalities—appeared on a small island like Jaya. It was enough to send a wave of fear through anyone nearby.

"Those two... they wouldn't be here to challenge someone on Jaya, would they?"

"Impossible. Didn't Crocodile just finish challenging Whitebeard?"

"Maybe he wants to get revenge on Mihawk?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Are you trying to get us all killed?!"

"No… I need to get off this island immediately..."

"I feel like this place is way too dangerous."

Pirates exchanged anxious glances. Many, their legs trembling, subtly began to step backward, trying to hide behind others. They were ready to bolt from the tavern at any moment.

"Damn it, we've been played. Who would've thought that brat Doflamingo was a Celestial Dragon?"

Ignoring the nervous chatter around him, Crocodile took a long drag from his cigar, slowly exhaling a cloud of smoke. His gaze flickered to the screen, where the smirking Celestial Dragon youth was laughing maniacally. A cold smile tugged at Crocodile's lips. He shook his head and then turned his attention back to Mihawk, who was quietly drinking his wine.

"But seriously," Crocodile said with a sigh, "why exactly did you come back from the New World to find me?"

Mihawk lifted his eyes. His piercing gaze locked onto Crocodile's, and for a brief moment, Crocodile felt a sudden rush of disorientation.

"Have you heard anything about Daren-san?" Mihawk asked calmly.

"..."

Crocodile snorted in disbelief. "Is that all you came here for?"

Mihawk nodded. "My recent sword training has hit a plateau. I was hoping Daren-san could offer some guidance."

"Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!!" Crocodile began coughing violently, nearly choking himself. He stared at Mihawk with an expression reserved for madmen, incredulity thick in his voice. "You actually believe he knows swordsmanship?"

Mihawk frowned. "You seem to doubt Daren-san's abilities."

Crocodile retorted irritably, "That guy doesn't know a damn thing about swordsmanship! He just relies on…"

"—Can you block a single strike from Daren-san?" Mihawk suddenly cut him off. 2

Crocodile's mouth twitched. He opened his mouth, his face flushing slightly before the color quickly faded. He was confident in himself. So much time had passed since his last "encounter" with Daren, and he had grown considerably stronger.

But the newspaper reports of Daren "tearing apart" the Five Elders and "single-handedly overwhelming" the Marine Headquarters instantly drained his confidence. Most crucially, his recent clash with Whitebeard had driven home the terrifying might of the ocean's ultimate combatant. Even a full month later, even with the scars on his face healed, Crocodile still felt a lingering ache. That overwhelming, unstoppable, despair-inducing power.

And without a doubt, that Daren fellow... had undoubtedly ascended to that level of existence. The only question was how far he still stood from Whitebeard.

"...Anyway, that guy's moves definitely aren't swordsmanship!" Crocodile declared stubbornly.

But at that moment, Mihawk suddenly narrowed his eyes. "I don't want to hear such words again. If you do, I won't let you off."

Crocodile froze. He glanced at Mihawk's expression, his own eye twitching. That guy's face... terrifying.

"Wait..." Suddenly remembering something, he widened his eyes and demanded, "Don't tell me... you wiped out that pirate crew because their captain said…"

Mihawk didn't deny it, merely lifting his glass for a sip.

Crocodile: "..."

The Holy Land, Mary Geoise.

Thunderous applause still echoed faintly from beyond the windows, originating from the plaza below the Celestial Stairway. As if fulfilling the rulers' desires, Pangaea Castle, perched atop the Celestial Stairway, soared into the clouds like a natural sanctuary. Looking up from below the stairway, one could only see a pristine staircase gradually disappearing into the Sea Clouds. The city of Pangu remained utterly indistinguishable to the naked eye.

Instead, from the Hall of Power within Pangaea Castle, one could look down upon the entire Holy Land of Mary Geoise, taking in all its splendid scenery and vistas.

Yet Daren, standing within the Hall of Power at that moment, had little mind to appreciate the magnificent view before him. Cigar smoke curled around his cheeks as his gaze fell upon the passageway at the deepest recess of the Hall of Power.

From that direction, a faint, refreshing floral fragrance wafted through the air, evoking an irresistible sense of serenity. Without a doubt, it led to the Flower Chamber. 2

Yet Daren did not step forward, remaining still where he stood. A hint of an amused smile gradually lifted the corners of his mouth.

"It's been a while, Fleet Admiral Kong."

...

NEW NARUTO FIC: Parallel Ninja World: Which Naruto Will Leap Through Time Today?