One Piece: Marine Luffy, Garp regrets it

"I know! You don't have to remind me!" Kaido roared, cutting off Queen's next words. He glared, his face twisted in irritation. Queen was brilliant when it came to scientific research, but his tact was sorely lacking. Didn't he understand that Kaido's mind was already made up?

"What are you, my conscience? I'm going in person. Do you think I need you to lecture me?" Kaido snarled, narrowing his gaze at the behemoth scientist. "Believe me, Queen, if you don't watch yourself, I'll drag you along to see just how many admirals the Marines can send after us." His voice dripped with contempt, and his scowl deepened as he added, "Do me a favor—stay out of trouble. Guard Onigashima and keep an eye on Wano. And if you dare set foot in the red-light district while I'm gone, I'll break your legs myself!"

Queen's mouth opened to object, but Kaido's shout cut him off.

"Get out!" Kaido's club crashed into the ground with a thunderous bang, causing the walls to shudder. Queen flinched, mumbling a meek acknowledgment before shuffling away, his head ducked in submission.

Across the sea, in the Dressrosa Kingdom, Doflamingo, also known as "Doffy" to his inner circle, slammed the receiver down after his call with King. His face contorted with anger, frustration pulsing in his veins. This disaster was the last thing he needed.

That brat, Luffy, and that fool, Jack! he fumed silently, the names bitter on his tongue. They had dragged him into their chaos, exposing him to Kaido's fury and jeopardizing his position. He clenched his fists, the veins on his forehead throbbing. The consequences of Jack's carelessness, coupled with Luffy's unexpected strength, were spreading like a plague through his carefully woven plans.

The room was quiet as the Donquixote Family officers, watching their young master's obvious frustration, exchanged wary glances. Finally, Trebol, Doflamingo's longtime advisor, braved the tense silence. He hobbled forward, his voice a low whisper.

"Young Master, should we… should we accept Kaido's demand?" he asked cautiously, his hunched figure bending further, as if trying to make himself as small as possible.

Doflamingo's face twisted with fury, and he gritted his teeth so hard his jaw ached. Accepting Kaido's terms was a bitter pill to swallow, but what choice did he have?

"Yes, we'll agree," he spat, his voice laced with venom. "What other choice do we have? Kaido's made it clear he'll take his compensation one way or another. If we don't give him what he wants, he'll come for us." He could already picture Kaido storming through Dressrosa, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. "Damn him," Doflamingo muttered, seething. "He's using this as an excuse to push me into a corner."

At that moment, Pica, the massive officer clad in a suit of armor, his face obscured by a visor, spoke up in his distinctive, high-pitched voice that always seemed out of place for a man of his size. "But, Young Master… where are we supposed to get that many Devil Fruits?"

The room fell silent, and Doflamingo's face darkened even more as Pica's words sank in. He slammed his fist onto the arm of his chair, his anger flaring anew. "Then go find them! Steal them, buy them, raid merchant ships—I don't care! Just get me the Devil Fruits before Kaido arrives!"

The officers flinched at his outburst, exchanging uneasy glances before nodding in silent agreement. No one dared question him further. They knew Doflamingo's wrath could be as terrifying as Kaido's.

Sensing their apprehension, Doflamingo took a slow breath, forcing his temper to subside. He straightened, adopting a more measured tone as he addressed them.

"Fufufu~ Don't look so defeated," he said, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. "It's just a handful of Devil Fruits. With a little effort, we can find them. This time, I made the mistake of underestimating that Marine brat. But it won't happen again. His luck won't hold forever."

Reassured by Doflamingo's words, the officers nodded, visibly relaxing as they absorbed his confidence. Seeing them steady, Doflamingo leaned back, momentarily soothed by his regained control. As long as his men remained loyal, his territories intact, and his black-market trade thriving, he could endure this setback and rebuild his strength. But deep down, the resentment simmered, fueled by the humiliation of yielding to Kaido's demands.

Curse that Marine brat, that electric demon… he thought, seething silently. I won't forgive him for this. One day, he'll regret ever crossing me.

As he vowed revenge in his heart, the phone beside him rang again. Irritated, he snatched up the receiver, a sharp edge in his voice.

"Who is this?"

The voice on the other end was cold and commanding.

"Doflamingo," Admiral Sengoku's tone was filled with authority. "It has come to my attention that you orchestrated an attack on a rear admiral at the G-2 branch. That was a bold move—too bold, perhaps. Are you planning on keeping your status as one of the Seven Warlords, or have you decided you don't need it?"

Doflamingo's eyes widened, his mind racing. How had Sengoku found out about his ties to Jack's mission? Had someone leaked the information? He clenched the phone, struggling to stay composed as he glanced suspiciously around the room. Was there a spy among his inner circle?

But a moment's thought calmed him; he realized the issue wasn't his own ranks. The cause was Jack, whose brash actions had left him exposed. Damn that oaf, Jack. He ground his teeth, struggling to maintain a neutral tone as he addressed Sengoku.

"I assure you, Sengoku, this is a misunderstanding," he replied, masking his irritation. "I have no intention of defying the Marines or my position as a Warlord. You'll find I'm quite cooperative."

Meanwhile, back at the G-2 branch, the sun was shining, and the crew had just finished a hearty breakfast when Luffy appeared, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He gestured for the girls to follow him, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"Come on, everyone! I've got a surprise for you!" he said enthusiastically, practically bouncing on his heels.

The girls exchanged wary looks but followed him, curious despite themselves. But when Luffy revealed that the "surprise" was a photo session to help with Marine recruitment, their expressions turned sour. A collective groan echoed through the group, and some shot him daggers with their eyes.

"You dragged us here for… a photo op?" Hancock muttered, looking like she was moments away from strangling him.

Kalifa crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. "Really, Luffy? And here we thought it was something… meaningful."

Luffy laughed, unfazed by their protests. "Hey, it is meaningful! We've gotta look our best if we want to attract new recruits! It's for the good of the Marines!"

Despite their irritation, the girls grudgingly took their places, unable to resist Luffy's earnest enthusiasm. He struck a heroic pose and launched into a passionate speech about justice, grinning widely at their exasperated expressions. One by one, they relented, grumbling but eventually smiling for the camera.

The Marine photographer, thrilled beyond measure, clicked away excitedly, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. If these photos came out as planned, he thought, the Marines might not need any more recruitment efforts for the rest of the year. A few choice images of these heroic—and attractive—Marines would surely have young men and women across the seas lining up to enlist.

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