Chapter 573

"Because of their slander and rumors…"

"Now, nearly all the pirates in Devil's Town have been stirred up, and deep doubts have arisen toward our Donquixote Family. If we don't act to stop it now, the situation may escalate further."

In response, the three officials present felt furious yet utterly helpless.

"Let Pica handle this matter."

"Clean up those blind fools…"

"Leave not a trace!"

"Leave not a single one behind."

Doflamingo looked at Pica.

"Yes, Young Master."

Pica nodded in assent.

At this moment,

Just as Doflamingo was about to speak again,

Suddenly!

Tap-tap-tap—

A hurried, chaotic rush of footsteps rapidly sounded from outside the door.

It spread swiftly toward them.

Before long,

只见，

A formal member of the Donquixote Family, dressed in a black suit, swiftly ran up to Doflamingo and bowed his head in respectful deference: "Young Master."

"Has the Monster Fist Lu En left yet?"

Doflamingo asked.

This man was precisely the spy he had dispatched to tail Monster Fist Lu En, tasked with determining whether the man had truly departed Devil's Town.

If Monster Fist had not left Devil's Town,

then next,

the Donquixote Family would have to act with greater caution.

Avoid provoking the Monster Fist!

"Yes, Young Master."

"Monster Fist has boarded a warship and departed from Devil's Town's harbor."

"But…"

The black-suited man hesitated, his voice trailing off, visibly uneasy.

"But what?"

Doflamingo exhaled in relief, yet his brow twitched slightly as he pressed further.

Hearing that Monster Fist had boarded a warship and left Devil's Town, the heavy burden that had weighed on his shoulders at last lifted completely.

Thus it was clear.

Just how immense the pressure the five-year-old Lu En had placed upon Doflamingo!

"Young Master, I don't know if it was an illusion of mine."

"I seemed to…"

"See a terrifying admiral-level Marine elder aboard the same warship as Monster Fist Lu En."

The black-suited man replied, voice trembling.

"Hm?!"

"What did you say?!"

"An admiral-level Marine?"

"Who is he?"

Doflamingo's pupils shrank slightly, his face turning pale.

This trip was not undertaken by Monster Fist Lu En alone?

Another admiral-level Marine had come?

The thought sent a chill through him.

This was indeed beyond Doflamingo's expectations.

He dared not imagine.

One Monster Fist Lu En was already enough to plunge the Donquixote Family into utter despair.

If another admiral-level Marine joined him…

then…

What fate would await the Donquixote Family?

The more he thought, the more his heart pounded with dread.

Even someone as composed as he was was deeply shaken by the subordinate's report.

"¨‖That Marine admiral seemed to be…"

"Admiral Tsuru of the Marine Headquarters!"

The black-suited man reported truthfully.

"What?!"

"Tsuru?!"

Doflamingo was deeply shaken.

As one of the Yuhai Army's elder generals, Admiral Crane, he had naturally heard his name thunderously echoed through legend.

He was one of the top-tier warriors of the old era's Yuhai Army.

Even in this turbulent new era, the power of those few Yuhai Army elders remained profoundly unfathomable.

Even Doflamingo lacked the courage to face a Yuhai Army elder like Admiral Crane alone.

He had not expected it.

To deliver a Seven Warlords invitation, not only had the terrifying monster Quan Mo Lu En arrived—but even Admiral Crane, one of the Yuhai Army's elders, had come!

"If I had chosen to refuse back then…"

"Wouldn't that mean…"

"Even if Quan Mo Lu En ceased his attack and no longer moved against me, would that Admiral Crane also move against my Donquixote Family to arrest me?"

Doflamingo felt a chill crawl over his scalp.

At this moment,

he truly understood.

Before he departed,

the true meaning behind the words spoken by the monster Quan Mo Lu En.

"If I had refused to join the Seven Warlords, I would surely have been captured by the Yuhai Army this time!"

"So…."

"At that time, the monster Quan Mo Lu En's confidence did not stem merely from his own formidable power. (The King's) It also stemmed from the Yuhai Army elder, Crane, standing behind him!"

Doflamingo was certain of this.

Even in his prime, he had lacked the strength to stand alone against Admiral Crane.

Moreover…

After fighting Quan Mo Lu En,

he had been utterly exhausted.

At that point,

had he encountered Admiral Crane, his inevitable fate was clear.

"Wan Xing…"

"I did not choose to refuse!"

"Otherwise, today, I would have been doomed."

Doflamingo was still trembling with relief.

He couldn't help silently berating himself in his mind.