The threat from the organization known as Hueco Mundo came in two forms.
First was their eerie and incomprehensible power to control others.
Second was their absurdly destructive explosive attacks.
What troubled Doflamingo most was that these threats left behind no trace.
How exactly did Hueco Mundo unleash their control? Where were those explosions triggered from?
For the moment, Doflamingo had no way to find answers.
Even his most trusted officers, whom he had always relied upon, were helpless in the face of this invisible menace.
As his subordinates muttered among themselves with endless speculation, Doflamingo suddenly asked:
"Trebol, what exactly are those five Devil Fruits?"
Trebol, well aware of Doflamingo's ruthless and domineering nature, looked at him in shock.
"Doffy… don't tell me you're actually considering handing those Devil Fruits over?"
"Fufufufu…"
Doflamingo chuckled, the sound low and unsettling, before replying:
"Don't you think those Devil Fruits might be the key? For such a mysterious and powerful organization to go to such lengths over five fruits… perhaps they're not ordinary at all. Perhaps one of them is something crucial."
Behind his sunglasses, Doflamingo's eyes gleamed with a flicker of excitement.
That legendary fruit—the "Ope Ope no Mi/Operation Fruit," the Ultimate Devil Fruit said to grant eternal life—had once been rumored to appear in the North Blue.
That was the very reason Doflamingo had invested so much effort in building his influence in that sea, secretly hunting for the "Ope Ope no Mi."
Now, seeing Hueco Mundo's reaction, he began to suspect that the fruit might already be in his hands—hidden among those five.
"Bring them out. All five." Doflamingo ordered.
Trebol, his sticky body oozing as he produced the key to the vault, left to retrieve the fruits.
Before long, he returned together with Baby-5, who was carefully carrying four of them in her arms.
"Doffy, here they are." Trebol gestured toward Baby-5.
Doflamingo stepped forward and inspected them one by one: one Paramecia, three Zoans.
But none were the one he longed for. The single Paramecia turned out to be nothing more than the "Glass-Glass Fruit."
"Useless junk."
His brow furrowed. Then, a sudden thought struck him.
"Wait. Where's the fifth one? Don't tell me it's been stolen."
"N-no, Doffy…" Trebol hurriedly waved his hands, seeing Doflamingo's irritation rising.
"One of the fruits has already been eaten—by Baby-5. That's why I brought her along."
"Baby-5?"
Doflamingo's eyes slid toward the young girl in a maid outfit, a familiar but unproven recruit.
"What fruit did you eat?" he asked.
"The… the Arms-Arms Fruit," Baby-5 answered nervously.
"Show me." Doflamingo commanded.
Flustered but obedient, Baby-5 activated her power. Her arm morphed into the form of a gun, and she fired a shot into the distance.
The bullet struck its mark—hitting a bird mid-flight.
Clang!
The sharp, metallic ring of bullet striking steel echoed unexpectedly.
Startled, Doflamingo turned his head toward where the bird had fallen. Yet, by the time his gaze landed there, the space was empty.
---
"Idiot, how could you let yourself get hit like that?" Yahn scolded under his breath.
Above, Little Gold flapped his wings uneasily, his head drooping.
The moment the bullet struck Little Gold, Yahn knew trouble was coming.
Though the canary's outward appearance was ordinary, its body was as tough as fortress walls. Any bullet striking it was bound to make a suspicious sound.
Fortunately, Yahn had prepared escape routes in advance. Little Goldquickly slipped into one of three hiding places, narrowly avoiding Doflamingo's attention.
Even so, Yahn dared not continue eavesdropping. The risk of being discovered was too great. If Doflamingo truly found him, Yahn wasn't certain he could escape unscathed.
After all, chaotic melee was his greatest weakness.
Others could afford mistakes in such battles. But Yahn, frail in body, only had one chance.
And against the Donquixote officers—with their variety of Devil Fruits and formidable strength—one mistake could mean death or crippling defeat.
Every time Yahn imagined such a scenario, he knew one thing clearly: he desperately needed someone at his side, someone strong enough to shield him from danger.
The world's strongest woman… I really do need to find her. Someone like that, right at my side. Even if I can't win her over, I'll have to train one myself.
Yahn thought bitterly.
Though he hadn't been able to hear Doflamingo's full conspiracy, it didn't matter. He had another plan.
---
That night, on a deserted island north of the port city of Spider Miles, a bright-feathered canary perched on a branch, head tilted as moonlight shone across its plumage.
Inside a grand fortress, Yahn lounged lazily on a sofa. The warm light of lamps filled the room.
Across from him, Robin sat quietly, legs tucked neatly together, absorbed in a book.
"Ahhh~" Yahn yawned, rubbing his eyes. The cozy stillness made him drowsy.
"Brother Yahn," Robin asked softly, "are you sure this 'Corazon' will contact you himself?"
"Of course. That fool's a gentle man. I hung up on him too suddenly earlier—he'll definitely check in tonight, if only to put me at ease."
Yahn chuckled at his own words.
Robin, who had seen only betrayal and deception on the seas, could hardly believe it.
"Is that so? I never thought there were truly kind people out here."
Yahn's eyes softened with memory, and his voice grew wistful.
"The seas are vast, Robin. And in that vastness, there will always be fools like him. Perhaps that's just the sea's foolish, romantic charm."
Robin nodded faintly. In her dark-blue eyes, Yahn's reflection gleamed clear as moonlight.