As the game began, everyone moved to the surface.
The underground trading post was now empty, and Koala cautiously snuck onto the incoming ships. The entire ship was deserted, with only the sound of Koala's footsteps echoing through it.
"Good thing I came back to check. Now I can investigate without anyone interfering."
Koala carefully opened one of the boxes.
She instantly froze (๑°⌓°๑).
What is this??? Koala carefully pulled out an opened box—54 suits of playing cards... and they were new??
Incredulous, Koala opened one after another, feeling as if her world was collapsing. She frantically scratched her head.
Koala continued to search the ship, but every box she opened contained nothing but playing cards.
She stubbornly checked again, and after confirming there was nothing else, her inner breakdown was about to spill out.
"Playing cards! All playing cards! Is Joker selling playing cards????"
Unbelieving, Koala still comforted herself: "Impossible, these can't just be ordinary playing cards.
Joker is so cautious, they must have another use.
With so many playing cards, Joker wouldn't try to rule the world with these, would they?
Do these playing cards have some special mechanism?"
Koala muttered to herself, picking up a playing card and holding it up to the light, examining it repeatedly. She then bent it forcefully, but aside from a slight deformation, the card showed no abnormalities.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up, as if she had thought of a crucial clue: "That's it! They must be used with a special technique to unleash their power!
This must be a new type of weapon that explodes when thrown! It must be!"
With that, she picked up the playing cards from the ground, her hands moving rapidly, throwing them like projectiles at her surroundings.
However, the playing cards just weakly arced through the air before falling to the ground, as if in silent mockery.
"(‧̣̥̇꒪່⍢꒪່) I know, I must infuse them with Haki!"
Koala pondered, then a flash of inspiration struck her. She concentrated, injecting Armament Haki into a playing card, then sharply shot it towards a large box in the distance.
The playing card spun rapidly, like a sharp dart, and with a "thud," it deeply embedded itself into the box.
"Hahaha, I knew that's how it's used!"
Koala excitedly ran over to check, but inside the box, there was nothing but more playing cards.
Koala stood frozen, her eyes vacant. After a long while, she slowly squatted down, clutching her head and muttering softly:
"Impossible, absolutely impossible..."
A moment later, Koala screamed in despair, her voice echoing through the empty ship.
"What in the world is going on?!"
In the New Royal Palace Highland, amidst the "Sunflower Field" that resembled a golden ocean, a gentle breeze rustled, making the flowers sway gracefully.
Trebol frowned slightly, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes as he looked at Doflamingo beside him, his tone tinged with unease:
"Hey, Doffy, do we really not need to protect the SMILE Factory anymore?
Isn't Law and his Crewmates' target our SMILE Factory?
And those Marines and Revolutionary Army are also investigating the underground port. It's quite dangerous, you know."
Doflamingo's lips curled into an indifferent smile. He gently swirled the red wine glass in his hand, which bore the Donquixote Family's emblem. The red liquid swirled in the glass, reflecting a captivating luster.
"They can't open it. That lock is made of Sea Stone."
Doflamingo's voice was low and confident, as if everything was under his control.
"I actually look forward to them opening it. When they do, they'll find it empty.
After all, we can't leave even a glimmer of hope for the enemy.
Especially the underground trading post, I'm eager to see their expressions when they discover that batch of goods."
Doflamingo smiled, a hint of malice in his gaze, as he slowly swept his eyes over the remaining Executives.
The ordinary members, long before the Birdcage descended, had already been moved and dispersed to various islands under his name, according to his orders.
Lao G squinted at Sugar, who was lying on the dining table, a look of displeasure in his eyes. He turned to Trebol and couldn't help but complain:
"Trebol, speaking of which, you're really useless. You couldn't even protect a little girl."
Trebol immediately flared up, glaring fiercely at Lao G:
"You shut your mouth, you old geezer! Don't think that just because you've gotten a little younger, you have the right to complain about me.
Sugar's real age is no longer that of a young girl. To faint just because of a few words, she's truly useless. Just as Orochimaru-sama said, she's a real good-for-nothing."
Trebol was so angry that his slime trembled.
"Besides, who would have known that so-called King of Snipers would carry a Sea Stone net? I didn't do it on purpose!"
Diamante quickly chimed in, waving his arms dramatically as he said, "That's right, that's right! Who would have thought that the arena would be crushed by that Straw Hat? It must have been old and in disrepair, not good quality at all!"
"Hmph, don't make excuses here. The more you explain, the more embarrassing it is, you idiots."
Lao G mercilessly mocked Trebol, while deliberately striking what he considered a handsome "G" pose.
"You should be grateful that he's Orochimaru-sensei's Companion; otherwise, the consequences would probably be much worse than this. It's truly a shameful G!"
Trebol's face flushed red with anger, his fists clenched tightly, yet he had no retort.
Doflamingo tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling on the gently swirling wine glass in his hand. The red wine in the glass rippled like blood. His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.
"The matter is over. Blaming you is useless; time won't flow backward."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately fell silent, though various emotions flickered in their eyes.
Doflamingo narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sweeping over each of their faces before he slowly spoke.
"However, no matter how this farce in Dressrosa ends, we can't stay here much longer.
Prepare to move to a new stronghold. Speaking of which, Orochimaru still hasn't come out?"
As he spoke, he subtly gestured towards the room in the corner.
Baby5 helplessly spread her hands and said, "Orochimaru-sama is sound asleep and has set up a barrier around him. It seems he doesn't want to be disturbed by us."
Doflamingo sighed softly, a trace of helplessness flashing across his face. He then raised the wine glass in his hand and drank it all in one gulp.
Seeing this, the other members all implicitly raised their glasses and drank them dry.
Beside the unconscious Sugar, and at the entrance of Orochimaru's room,
A glass of red wine, bearing the Donquixote Family crest, was also placed, gleaming in the faint light.
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