"I am DIO's son," Johnson Joffrey stated unequivocally.
Johnson Joffrey knew that if he pretended to be a member of the Joestar Family, using his most skilled lies to cover himself, and fabricating a story of a long-lost Joestar child, he might quickly obtain the arrow.
But Johnson Joffrey gave up on that idea.
Because he didn't want to deceive Polnareff. He admired Polnareff greatly and truly didn't want to trick this warrior whose only hope was the arrow. Using unscrupulous means was something even I, an ordinary person, would find shameful.
I am just an ordinary transmigrator, a regular office worker who accidentally transmigrated into this world. My original goal was to go home, but if achieving that meant doing something that disgusted even myself...
I would feel guilty for the rest of my life. And after obtaining the arrow through lies, Polnareff would surely be very sad, realizing that his credulity had led him to give the arrow to a guy reeking of evil.
I've already experienced your despair once in the manga. If I came here and still left you in such despair, then I would have come here in vain—
I came, I saw, I changed—
Before, I didn't treat this place as a truly existing world. But after seeing you, it made me want to punch Araki's head and ensure that your life doesn't end with you crying alone in your heart—
I want to overcome myself, change my destiny as the best villain, and also change the destiny of this world, creating a world where no one cries.
I've decided. I, Johnson Joffrey, will definitely accomplish it.
"Polnareff, please let me be your friend."
"..."
Polnareff looked at him, startled, feeling that this sentence sounded very familiar.
"You are DIO?!"
"No, no, no," Johnson quickly waved his hand and said, "I am DIO's son, not DIO!!"
What's going on?! Why suddenly say I'm DIO?!
Why does that line just now feel a bit off? It seems DIO also said a similar line...
Wait a minute, this villainous charm I have now, isn't it exactly the same as DIO's lines when he lured Kakyoin?
And Polnareff has met DIO, even served under him...
Could it be that in others' eyes, I'm already as slimy as DIO?
"No, let me explain..." Johnson said hastily.
"Get down!" Polnareff suddenly noticed Johnson Joffrey had gone up a few more steps.
Johnson turned back in surprise, realizing he had indeed gone up a few more steps!
"Eh, why am I going up the stairs again? This isn't right..."
To avoid provoking Polnareff, Johnson quickly descended a few steps, but he watched everything with wide, disbelieving eyes...
Just now, time was... erased...
Only when close to King Crimson could one more easily perceive the disappearance of time!
Was the process of going up the stairs just now erased?!
"Hmph hmph..." A suppressed yet deep laugh came from the bottom of the dark staircase...
Gradually unable to contain himself, he began to laugh loudly:
"Hahahahaha... I've truly witnessed a magnificent performance."
"Da da da—"
The sound of leather shoes echoed in the stairwell, and Johnson quickly retreated several steps, leaning against the wall...
"...You've truly surprised me."
As the voice grew closer, Johnson and Polnareff couldn't help but widen their eyes...
Diavolo's body gradually emerged into the sunlight, his vibrant pink hair fluttering in the sea breeze—
"This is a trial.
I've always believed that people must experience trials from the past to truly grow."
"Do you also believe this, J.P. Polnareff?"
Diavolo's heterochromatic double pupils gazed at Polnareff, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turning upward.
"It seems fate is on my side."
"Diavolo!!" Polnareff shouted loudly, then his gaze fell on Johnson.
"Did this guy bring Diavolo?!"
Recalling Diavolo's brutality and power, Polnareff quickly had Silver Chariot block in front of him, the metal wheelchair making a mechanical friction sound.
"Hmph hmph..." Diavolo couldn't help but want to laugh, his shoulders trembling slightly, "Fate, it's on my side."
"Fate told me to come and kill the last person of the Assassination Team, that's why I followed you, that's how I could see you again, Polnareff."
"I heard everything you two just said!" Diavolo said expressionlessly.
Johnson retreated several steps, pressing tightly against the wall; he was still too far from being able to deal with Diavolo.
Diavolo was secretly delighted; he was truly too happy.
Indeed, Johnson Joffrey was the true mastermind behind the Assassination Team he had been searching for.
Although the Assassination Team had always been suppressed by him, in reality, every move of the Assassination Team was within his grasp; when they would betray him and to what extent they could succeed were all under his control.
But ever since Johnson Joffrey appeared, this guy with no blood relation to Risotto, the Assassination Team began to exceed his expectations.
All of this was his scheme, whether it was betraying Polpo, coming to Sardinia, or knowing his daughter was Trish and accurately recognizing her.
If the first two could be overlooked, then astonishingly being able to find Trish and recognize her—that was something even Diavolo himself couldn't do.
Because even he only learned about Trish from Persephone.
Could it be that Johnson is Persephone?! All my current actions are within his plan.
Impossible! So far, almost everything has been to my advantage. If Johnson were Persephone, he could have easily led me into a much more disadvantageous situation.
At least his current expression of surprise is truly delightful.
"Johnson Joffrey, I never expected you to go to such lengths; it's truly astonishing," Diavolo sighed. "If I hadn't followed fate's guidance to come here and kill you, I probably wouldn't have heard so much information."
"You're quite the actor, aren't you? After using the entire Assassination Team, you come here to find Polnareff and deceive him."
Polnareff's eyes widened in disbelief at everything happening, and Johnson didn't notice anything unusual for a moment.
"I never would have thought that my true enemy is indeed you. Everything is just as Heaven's Whisper said. I had some doubts before, but now I completely understand."