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"Conqueror's Haki?"
Monet asked in surprise.
Beside her, Pink also narrowed his eyes, unable to stop himself from saying, "I didn't sense it from him just now?"
Merlin pursed his lips slightly. "Perhaps because he just awakened it, he doesn't seem to be able to control it freely yet. I only sensed it at close range."
Through tempering his mind with Demon God Visualization, Merlin was extremely sensitive to this kind of mental fluctuation of will.
A thoughtful look appeared in Monet's eyes.
Several kilometers away, Mihawk had already sat back in the only seat in the center of the small boat, drinking the fine wine. The corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up. "I heard from Tsuru long ago that the White Demon Merlin is a decent swordsman. I didn't expect this accidental encounter to give me such a pleasant surprise!
"A young opponent not inferior to Shanks, and that faint spiritual intimidation lingering around him. You have that power too, don't you... the power of Conqueror's Haki?"
With no one around, Mihawk couldn't help but let out a pleasant chuckle. "Hahahaha..."
After the small interlude, Merlin continued to increase the ship's speed. Sun rose and set; in the blink of an eye, two days passed. At 9:00 AM, the ship's speed slowly decreased on the sea surface. Looking at a gray-white island appearing in the distance, a look of nostalgia appeared in Merlin's eyes. Counting fully, it had been two years since he left this place.
A moment later, he saw the Numancia Flamingo docked at a spot in this dilapidated port.
Soon, Merlin's ship stopped steadily in the port beside it.
The weather was gloomy today. Crystal snowflakes were already drifting in the sky. Raising his head to look at the sky, cold snowflakes melted on his face. Standing here, sensing the surrounding environment, a strange sense of silence filled Merlin's heart.
This familiar land held some differences in Merlin's heart after all.
Soon, he gathered his thoughts.
Merlin looked at Monet walking over and said softly, "Pack some wine for me. I'll need it later."
Monet's eyelashes fluttered. She nodded gently and said in a gentle tone, "Okay!"
At this time, Merlin looked at Doflamingo, who had come to the deck on the neighboring ship.
Seeing Merlin look over, a smile appeared on Doflamingo's lips. "Didn't disturb you, did I?"
Merlin shook his head, took two steps, jumped over, and landed in front of him. Immediately after, without a word, his right hand burning with black flames landed on Doflamingo's shoulder. Whoosh—black flames rose from his body surface. Wisps of fire burned in Merlin's eyes as his gaze focused on Doflamingo's lower back. In a breath, Doflamingo felt incredibly comfortable physically and mentally.
Merlin withdrew his hand and waved; the black flames vanished into thin air.
"No matter how many times I see it, your ability is truly comprehensive!"
Doflamingo said. A smile appeared on Merlin's lips. "That guy turned into Rosinante to sneak attack you. Did you beat up Rosinante afterward?"
The corner of Doflamingo's mouth twitched slightly. "This has nothing to do with Rossi."
At this moment, Rosinante walked out of the cabin. Hearing this, he looked at Doflamingo with extremely complex eyes.
After this incident, although no one in the family said anything, he could tell they were wary of him every time he appeared.
It was a stress response.
However, only Doflamingo treated him the same as always. This reminded him of when he was six years old; even when scavenging for food in trash heaps, Doflamingo would give the better portions to him.
Even after he went "missing" at eight years old and returned 14 years later, Doflamingo still maintained trust in him.
On one side was his disgust for his brother's evil, his own justice.
On the other side was his only remaining familial love, being cared for.
For a moment, mixed feelings surged in his heart, his gaze incredibly complex.
At this time, Doflamingo noticed Rosinante approaching and smiled helplessly. "Do you need me for something?"
Rosinante was silent for a few seconds. "Sorry, it's all my fault."
Doflamingo looked at him in surprise, then stepped forward and patted his shoulder, smiling. "You are my brother."
Rosinante was stunned. Various complex flavors surged in his heart. He suddenly wanted to step forward, grab Doflamingo by the collar, and ask:
Why did you have to kill our father?!
But he held back.
He lowered his head, a sorrowful look in his eyes, and repeated, "Sorry."
Doflamingo looked helpless, reaching out to rub his head. "You're still the same as when you were little, still so sentimental. You just bottle things up inside. You can talk to me; I'll help you."
Rosinante's lips trembled slightly.
Merlin watched with narrowed eyes. This guy's mood wasn't right... but it had nothing to do with him.
At this moment, Merlin looked at Law walking towards him. Seeing his complex gaze, Merlin smiled. "Want to take a walk with me?"
Law nodded.
The two walked through the ruins of Flevance. Before long, Merlin took Law to a wooded area on the outskirts of the hospital, where there was an earthen mound.
"This is your parents' grave. I'll share a bottle of wine with you. After you finish paying respects, go back to the port yourself."
"What about you?" Law looked at Merlin and asked.
Merlin smiled. "None of your business."
But in the next second.
Merlin in front of Law had already turned into a pitch-black shadow arrow.
Positions swapped.
Controlling his shadow to swap positions with himself—with the Awakening specialty boost, even a part of his shadow, arguably one-tenth, was enough to support swapping his entire self.
In the blink of an eye, Law saw the shadow arrow in front of him suddenly float up from the ground, turn around, and fly straight towards the outside of the city.
Envy flashed in his eyes.
Not long after, a faint whistling sound came. With the connection between shadow and main body, the shadow tracked back on its own.
Outskirts of the city.
In a cemetery.
Kneeling on the ground, Merlin poured the wine in his hand onto the earth in front of him.
This world didn't practice burning paper money, so Merlin didn't do that.
At this moment, he looked at the photos of the two people on the tombstone with nostalgia in his eyes.
A moment later, Merlin left.
Walking on the shore, the shadow in Merlin's hand condensed. A two-meter-long hard bow appeared in his left hand. Immediately after, his right hand grabbed a shadow arrow, nocking it on the bowstring.
Merlin used Observation Haki to sense the ship by the shore a kilometer away. Twang! The bow sounded like a thunderclap, and a black arrow light vanished instantly.
In a blink, Merlin sensed the arrow land not far from the ship on the shore.
Immediately after, sensing the symbiotic connection with the shadow—Swish! Merlin suddenly appeared on the shore.
A few seconds later, the shadow arrow returned.
"Lord Merlin, you're back! Lunch is ready!"
At this time, Perona shouted to Merlin from the ship. Seeing this, Merlin nodded with a smile. "Okay, coming."
The shadow bow in his hand dissolved into the shadow on the ground. Merlin jumped onto the ship. Returning to the dining room, he found only Monet, Perona, and Baby 5 there. No need to guess, Pink had gone back to his family's ship.
Looking at the sumptuous food on the table, Merlin sat down, talking and laughing with them as they ate heartily.
Meanwhile, unlike the laughter and joy on Merlin's side, the atmosphere on Doflamingo's side was somewhat subtle.
"Pink, didn't Baby 5 come back with you?"
Hearing Doflamingo's question and knowing he had already figured something out, Pink smiled helplessly and could only say, "Everyone knows that girl's condition. Her brain isn't normal. No one can predict what she might do."
Doflamingo's eyelids lowered unconsciously, making it impossible to sense what he was thinking. But after a few seconds, he suddenly spoke. "Speaking of which, Baby 5 isn't a family executive yet! She can only be called a formal member of the family."
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere in the dining room instantly froze. At this time, Gladius spoke softly, "Those who betray the family must execute the Blood Family Law."
With these words, the atmosphere became even heavier. At this time, Doflamingo narrowed his eyes behind his orange sunglasses, looking at Pink. "What do you think Baby 5 will choose?"
The corner of Pink's eye twitched under his sunglasses. He sighed helplessly. "Children are ignorant. It's understandable to play well with more peers. Besides, Merlin treats her very well.
"It's normal for her to like him.
"Baby 5 has always longed to be needed, and now she is constantly needed by Merlin and the others.
"They train, play, and fight together...
"And the subjective will of mental patients cannot be predicted."
No need to say more. Pink's words were clear: Baby 5 already had a change of heart. Doflamingo chuckled lightly. "Let's eat first. I'll go talk to Merlin later."
With these words, the atmosphere here became peaceful again.
Law, at the end of the table, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, though he was still worried.
Beside him, a strange look flashed in Rosinante's eyes.
After lunch.
On the rooftop deck of the cabin.
Merlin and Doflamingo came here, each holding a bottle of wine. Suddenly, Doflamingo laughed lightly. "Unknowingly, we've been cooperating for more than a year. During this time, I feel I get along with you quite well.
"We can be considered a win-win."
"I already have some leads on those royal family members who escaped from Flevance. I can give you confirmation in about half a year."
"Even if it's just cooperation, I consider myself to have treated you fairly well. But you?
"You actually poached my corner?"
Veins bulged on Doflamingo's forehead. He turned his head, looking at Merlin with unkind eyes. He hooked a finger, and instantly threads connected to Merlin's joints.
Just as he planned to make a move, he discovered that his shadow was stepped on by Merlin, and his body was also imprisoned.
Without using Haki, even exerting full strength, he couldn't break free. Doflamingo couldn't help but think to himself:
I've become stronger, but this guy has also become stronger.
Merlin's mouth curled up. "Doffy, meaningless nonsense is pointless. State your specific purpose!
"Let me state beforehand, although there is a suspicion of poaching your corner, the problem is—she is not your executive yet. And not being an executive means she is not your true family.
"After all, like Pink, I didn't try to poach him."
Doflamingo was surprised by Merlin's frankness, but mostly he was angry. His eyes were unkind as he gritted his teeth. "You bastard!!!"
But in an instant, his emotions calmed down. He said lightly, "I understand Pink's character. Perhaps you have a good relationship.
"But he will never choose to betray me.
"He won't do it even if he dies."
"Mmh! He is that kind of person. So I only mentioned it once and didn't mention it again after that."
"Tell me, how do you plan to resolve Baby 5's matter?"
Merlin asked softly.
Doflamingo's mouth curled up. "Since she entered the door of the Donquixote Family, she is a member of the Donquixote Family. This label will follow her for life.
"I will not allow my family to betray me."
However, reaching this point, Doflamingo looked at Merlin, whose face remained calm, and clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Let's form an alliance! An alliance between the Donquixote Family and you, Merlin."
"Subsequently, to consolidate our alliance relationship, Baby 5 will be stationed on your ship."
Merlin narrowed his eyes. "Station Pink too! Baby 5 is too young; she can't do many things well."
A gleam flashed in Doflamingo's eyes. "So, you agree to ally with me?"
Merlin smiled. "To be honest, I don't hate you. Just as you said, our cooperation is okay, so I don't intend to tear faces and fight you to the death."
"By the way, since this matter is resolved, forget about the Devil Fruit you promised me earlier!
"After all, can't let you lose too much."
Doflamingo's gaze instantly became unkind. "Baby 5's Weapon-Weapon Fruit was given by me. She is my family member.
"The fruit I promised you, I will give you."
Trying to settle this favor with a mere Devil Fruit? You wish! Where would such a good thing come from?
Hearing this, helplessness appeared in Merlin's eyes. This guy reacts so fast? He really is cunning!
"In that case, give me Law as well while you're at it. He won't live long. It's useless for you to keep him."
Merlin said.
Doflamingo fell silent, then gritted his teeth. "Don't push your luck!"
"Do you think I'm easy to talk to? Should I just give you the entire Donquixote Family?"
"Can't afford it. Even if I took it, in the end, they would only listen to you.
"Trying to trick me into joining your family?"
Doflamingo's mouth curled up slightly. Merlin's praise was very well received.
Doflamingo left expressionlessly.
Not long after, under Buffalo's call, Baby 5 went to their ship.
Before long, Baby 5 returned to Merlin's ship with a blank face. Coming to Merlin on the rooftop, she asked in surprise, "You allied with Lord Doffy? I heard him say I'll be stationed on your ship permanently from now on? Is it because of me?"
Baby 5 wasn't stupid; rather, she was quite smart. She could guess this matter might be related to her.
Merlin looked at her and laughed. "There are some reasons, but mostly it's my strength. He doesn't want to fight to the death with me, so we can only take a step back each.
"Calling it an alliance, actually, I owe him a favor, and then you can come with me. After all, I'm in the wrong on this matter.
"Besides, cooperation leads to mutual benefit."
Joy appeared in Baby 5's eyes. "In other words, I can stay with you, Big Brother Merlin, forever? And I don't have to worry about being separated from Pepe and the others?"
Merlin nodded and said frankly, "Although verbally you still belong to Doflamingo, in reality, you are already my person.
"Are you willing?"
A brilliant smile appeared on Baby 5's face. She nodded heavily. "I am willing."
But in an instant, her eyes lit up, and she asked Merlin, "Since I nominally still belong to the Donquixote Family, can I still get a monthly allowance from them?"
Hearing this genius idea, Merlin's eye corner twitched. He said speechlessly, "Up to you! But I think it's better not to, because Doflamingo will definitely mock me for it."
Baby 5 sighed but nodded repeatedly. "Then I won't ask for it! I don't want you to be mocked by them because of this."