One Piece: King of the World

Chapter 220: Betrayal? Furious Doflamingo!

In the New World, within the opulent halls of Doflamingo's palace atop King's Heights in Dressrosa, the flamboyant pirate had returned from his latest endeavor.

After parting ways with Claudius and the others following their mission in Totto Land, Doflamingo had wasted no time and made his way back to Dressrosa.

Seated comfortably on his throne, he lazily asked, "Where's Rosinante?"

Standing beside him was Trebol, his ever-loyal subordinate, leaning on his cane. "Corazon? He left with Law not long ago," Trebol replied, his nasally voice ever-present.

"Left again? He still hasn't given up?" Doflamingo murmured, a flicker of emotion crossing his face.

Rosinante was, without a doubt, a peculiar presence in Doflamingo's life. Despite the cruel and ruthless environment he'd grown up in, Rosinante was a fundamentally kind soul, an embodiment of compassion. Upon learning about Trafalgar Law's terminal illness, Rosinante had devoted himself to finding a cure. He had spent the past two years traveling the seas with the young boy, seeking out renowned doctors to treat his lead poisoning.

But their efforts had borne little fruit so far.

As he spoke, Doflamingo reached out and picked up a stack of documents on the table before him. These were records of various matters that had accumulated during his absence.

Though he was a pirate, Doflamingo took his responsibilities as the ruler of Dressrosa seriously or at least, he managed his affairs with precision. Under his leadership, Dressrosa had become a vital hub for the underground world, functioning as both a transit station and a processing center. The influx of wealth had revitalized the once-impoverished nation, transforming it into a thriving economy.

But Doflamingo's methods were anything but benevolent. Dissenters were ruthlessly silenced, many of them transformed into toys via the power of the Hobi-Hobi Fruit. In the current Dressrosa, the happiness index was extraordinarily high, not because everyone was genuinely content, but because those who weren't could no longer express their dissatisfaction.

With flourishing gladiatorial arenas, picturesque flower fields, and the capital of toys attracting visitors, Dressrosa was a spectacle of prosperity.

As Doflamingo skimmed through one of the documents, he asked casually, "Any updates on the whereabouts of the Gold-Gold Fruit?"

"Not yet," Trebol replied with a smile. "But we've deployed a lot of manpower to search for it. Plus, there's a two-billion-berry bounty out in the underground world for any leads."

"Good. My cousin is eager to get his hands on it," Doflamingo said, leaning back. "Tesoro is a valuable asset—ambitious, talented. I know both Big Mom and Kaido are eyeing him as well. If we can secure the Gold-Gold Fruit for him, it'll be a massive advantage for us."

The document was a request for a transaction in the underground world. As a broker, Doflamingo frequently facilitated such deals, but this one was different. The item in question was the Ope-Ope Fruit.

The request came from a former Marine named Barrels, now a pirate, who sought to sell the Ope-Ope Fruit at a high price in the underground market. The location of the transaction? North Blue.

For most, the Ope-Ope Fruit was known as a powerful Devil Fruit that could transform its user into a world-class doctor. But Doflamingo knew the truth, the fruit's ultimate ability was the power to grant immortality.

He had long coveted the Ope-Ope Fruit, recognizing its unparalleled value.

Now, with Rosinante and Law heading to North Blue, it was clear to Doflamingo that they had discovered this deal and were intent on securing the fruit to cure Law's illness.

To Doflamingo, this wasn't just a betrayal, it was a direct challenge to his plans.

"Doffy, maybe it's just a coincidence? Corazon wouldn't—" Trebol began, attempting to calm him down.

But Doflamingo cut him off. "No! The document was opened. I have my ways of knowing. None of you would dare open my files without permission. Only Rosinante could've done this. Him and that brat!"

His voice was cold, filled with venom. "He's been defying me from the start. I should've dealt with him a long time ago! Brother? He's not even worth a fraction of what my cousin is to me!"

Trebol fell silent, unsure of how to respond.

Doflamingo clenched his fists, his mind racing. He felt utterly betrayed, his trust shattered.

After a moment, Trebol asked cautiously, "What's the plan, Doffy?"

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Doflamingo's rage subsided into a chilling determination.

"Call Rosinante. Tell him to return immediately," he ordered. "And prepare the ship—we're heading to North Blue."