OP: My Aircraft Carrier Evolves#148+149: The First Rule of Beam Struggles! Doflamingo's Surrender, and the Shock of the World!

BOOOOOOOOM!

BOOOOOOOOM!

Explosions rocked the sky above Jaya—a maelstrom of light and lightning.

The sound was deafening, the flashes of light so brilliant they eclipsed the setting sun.

Theoretically, Borsalino’s Glint-Glint Fruit could reach the speed of light. But that was just it—a theory. The moment he attacked, he had to drop out of his light-speed state. Otherwise, his own physical form couldn’t withstand the sheer force of the impact.

If he could attack at the speed of light, this would be a very different world.

He would be its one and only king.

No one could touch him. No one could stop him. At that speed, he could circle the planet several times in a single second. Give him a target, and he could be on any island in an instant, delivering thousands of punches before his opponent even realized they’d been turned to dust.

But Devil Fruit abilities require energy. They are limited by the user's stamina. Borsalino was still human; he couldn’t generate that kind of power. Not unless he was willing to burn his own life force for a single, final attack.

Because of this, even though the natural speed of lightning is slower than light, there was no real gap between them in this clash.

And they weren't just clashing with their fruit abilities.

They were clashing with their Observation Haki.

Each one was precisely predicting the other's every move, locking on, and countering. That was how they were able to create the unending barrage of light bullets and lightning bolts colliding in mid-air.

This wasn't a contest of who could land a hit. It was a contest of who would be the first to miss.

Jin glanced at his own position.

Okay, right side. The winning side.

He was good.

The power the carrier derived from a Devil Fruit was directly related to its previous user. The more developed the fruit was, the more powerful the carrier's version would be.

The Hell’s Red Serpent had been in an awakened state, and so the carrier had inherited its awakened power. Foxy, on the other hand, had a weak mastery of the Slow-Slow Fruit, and so the carrier's version was also weak.

And for fruits that were acquired directly, he had to develop their powers from scratch.

Enel's mastery of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was on par with an Admiral's. Jin had inherited almost all of his techniques. And with his own superior physical stats, he could use them even more effectively than Enel had.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Borsalino and Jin were locked in a stalemate, a relentless, five-minute-long barrage of attacks with no end in sight.

Buru buru buru…

Right in the middle of their clash, a Den Den Mushi on Kizaru's person began to ring.

Kizaru was distracted.

It was only for an instant.

But an instant was all Jin needed. A single arc of lightning slipped through the dense barrage of light and struck Kizaru.

A faint crackle of static.

Kizaru froze, looking down. He wasn't hurt—just a small, blackened scorch mark on the collar of his suit.

He ceased his attack. His body dissolved into light, the remaining lightning bolts passing harmlessly through him before he materialized on the ground below.

Jin, in a silent understanding, stopped as well.

"Ooooh, how terrifying," Kizaru drawled, his tone as nonchalant as ever. "These young people today..."

Jin shrugged. "In battle, accidents happen. Countless powerful warriors have fallen because of a single, unexpected moment. Luck is a part of strength, after all."

Kizaru just sighed and pulled out the Den Den Mushi. "Moshi moshi."

The snail's face morphed into the stern visage of Sengoku. "Admiral Kizaru! Have you reached Mock Town? What is the situation?"

"I arrived a little while ago," Kizaru replied.

"And?" Sengoku pressed. "What's the situation?"

"Doflamingo?" Kizaru said lazily. "Oh, he's taking a little nap."

'A nap?' Sengoku was stunned for a moment, then the implication hit him. He was defeated, too?

"I had a little chat with the King," Kizaru continued. "He wants two Devil Fruits for the release. I suggested we forward the call to the Donquixote Family. They have a big operation. I'm sure they can spare two Devil Fruits."

Sengoku's brow furrowed.

"And a hundred million Berries in cash," Jin added, "as compensation for the reconstruction of Mock Town."

"I will contact the Donquixote Family," Sengoku said. "Until we receive their reply, you are to ensure Doflamingo's safety."

"Of course," Jin replied cheerfully. "He's not going to die. But if they take too long... well, I can't guarantee he'll still have all his arms and legs."

—————————

After hanging up, Sengoku's face was a mask of disbelief.

He thought of Garp's assessment of Jin.

A monster.

"Tsuru," he said, turning to the Vice Admiral, "the Donquixote Family is based in Dressrosa. Have the nearest base inform them."

—————————

Dressrosa.

The "Kingdom of Love, Passion, and Toys."

Fiery women.

Passionate tropical romances.

And "living" toys everywhere...

In the royal palace, Trebol, Diamante, and the other executives were enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea, waiting for news.

Machvise's death had enraged them, but with Doflamingo himself on the scene, victory was assured.

They were certain of it.

Until the call from the G-14 Marine base came in.

"WHAT??" Trebol shrieked, his eyes bulging. "Doffy was defeated?? They want a ransom??"

He was furious. "Hey! Doffy is the king of Dressrosa! You Marines are obligated to protect him!"

The G-14 branch base, located in the New World, was responsible for the waters around Punk Hazard and Dressrosa. Its commander was Vice Admiral Doll.

"Ah, my apologies," she replied calmly, unfazed by Trebol's outburst. "But the other party is also the king of a member nation. A conflict of this nature is outside the jurisdiction of the Marines. Furthermore, Admiral Kizaru is already on the scene, negotiating with the king. He has agreed to guarantee Doflamingo's safety until you have responded. After that... we cannot say. I suggest you come to a decision quickly. The last Warlord who crossed that king ended up with a shattered arm."

The subtle threat hung in the air as she disconnected.

In the palace, the leisurely atmosphere had vanished. The executives were in a panic.

Doflamingo was the heart of the Family. He was the one they had all pinned their hopes on, the man who would be "King."

"It must have been a trick!" Diamante declared. "Doffy would never lose!"

He was a man of great authority within the family's inner circle, fiercely loyal to Doflamingo. He would not allow the slightest hint of doubt or hesitation.

His words rallied the others. Doflamingo's strength... they had all seen it. How could he lose to some unknown king from Paradise?

But for now, the priority was to get him back.

"The hundred million Berries is easy," Trebol said, his voice regaining some composure. "But two Devil Fruits..."

"Doffy bought one from the black market for the Corrida Colosseum finals," Diamante said. "A Paramecia: the Swim-Swim Fruit."

"That still leaves one..." Trebol said.

"Contact Monet at the Sabaody Archipelago auction house," Diamante ordered. "See if she has anything in stock."

The reply came quickly. "There's one. A Zoan, Cat-Cat Fruit model. But it's been reserved by Cipher Pol."

"We don't have a choice," Diamante said. "We'll 'borrow' it and get Doffy back. We still have some pull with Spandam of CP9."

The Donquixote Family's influence in the underworld was vast. They dealt in weapons, slaves, and drugs. It was only natural that they would have dealings with Cipher Pol.

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"As expected of a long-established power," Jin mused. "Their network is impressive. They've already gathered the two Devil Fruits."

He soon received a reply from Sengoku: The Donquixote Family had agreed to pay the ransom.

But they had a condition. They would transfer the goods to Vice Admiral Vergo, the commander of the G-5 base. He would act as the escort.

Only after Doflamingo was released would the goods be handed over.

'Vergo?' Jin thought. Isn't he Doflamingo's man on the inside? Still trying to pull a fast one?

He chuckled. "No, no, no. My terms are simple: cash on delivery. I get the goods, you get the man. Five days. If I don't see the ransom in Mock Town in five days, I'm taking one of Doflamingo's arms. Another five days, the other one. Actually... it seems Doffy is waking up. I'll let him talk to his family himself. It'll save you the trouble."

Doflamingo awoke from the darkness, his body screaming in pain. A profound sense of weakness washed over him.

Seastone?

He immediately understood. He had been captured, bound in Seastone cuffs and shackles.

He heard Jin's voice and looked up.

The sight that greeted him was one of absolute, infuriating calm.

Under the lamplight, Jin, that sniper of his, and the Marine Admiral Kizaru were all sitting around a table, playing cards.

Jin set his cards down, picked up a Den Den Mushi, and walked over. "You know the drill," he said, his voice gentle as he handed the snail to Doflamingo. "Call home. Tell them you're safe. Then have them send what I want, and you can go."

A vein throbbed on Doflamingo's forehead. "Are you threatening me?"

"No," Jin replied. "I'm informing you."

Doflamingo looked at Kizaru. "Admiral! Are you just going to stand there and do nothing?"

"I'd do what the kid says," Kizaru drawled. "He's terrifying. I might be able to get you out of here. But whether you'd be alive or dead when I do... oooh, I couldn't guarantee that. Does it matter to you?"

Of course it matters, you bastard!

Kizaru's meaning was clear: he wasn't confident he could rescue him without him getting hurt. Or killed.

How could there be a monster like this in Paradise?

Doflamingo cursed inwardly. That one punch... it had given him a flash of what it felt like to face Kaido's club. The memory still sent a shiver down his spine.

And even an Admiral was helpless?

The fight went out of him.

He contacted his family and told Trebol and Diamante not to try anything clever. Just bring the goods.

"Now see, wasn't that easy?" Jin said, patting Doflamingo on the shoulder. "A wise man knows when to yield. The first time I saw you, I knew you were a reasonable man."

"Come on," he said with a grin. "Augur, go get some drinks and snacks for Doflamingo. He's joining our game."

Van Augur got up and headed for the tavern.

Robin wasn't there. Jin had sent her back to the ship. He didn't want her to be under too much stress, in case Kizaru sensed something was off.

Jin helped Doflamingo to the table.

The String-String Fruit was a good one, but now wasn't the time to kill him. It would cause too much trouble. His role as "Joker" was tied to too many powerful players—Kaido, the underworld, the Celestial Dragons...

Jin wasn't afraid, but it wasn't worth the hassle. The time wasn't right.

No, it was better to build his walls high, store his grain, and bide his time.

And when the time came... he would sweep the board.

—————————

With Doflamingo's direct order, Trebol and Diamante didn't dare to try anything else.

Diamante led a small team consisting of Gladius, Buffalo, Lao G, and Baby 5. They traveled through Mary Geoise to the Sabaody Archipelago, where they picked up a ship and the fruits from Monet.

They sailed without stopping and arrived in Mock Town.

Jin took a look.

Well, well. Four walking Devil Fruits.

But he wasn't a monster. He kept his word. After receiving the ransom, he released Doflamingo.

The fight wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Would Doflamingo let this humiliation slide?

Of course not.

From the look in Diamante's and the others' eyes, they wanted to skin him alive.

'Good, That's the spirit.' Jin thought.

There would be other opportunities. He would devour them, piece by piece.

Doflamingo and his executives left, thoroughly humiliated. The ownership of Mock Town was no longer up for debate. He was in no position to argue.

"It was a pleasure playing with you," Kizaru said. "We should do it again sometime."

The Admiral was an avid card player. This had been a nice little vacation for him. He boarded the warship that had come to pick him up and returned to Marine Headquarters.

Jin let out a sigh of relief. He sent the Devil Fruits back to the carrier and left fifty million Berries with Van Augur.

"You're in charge of the town's reconstruction and security for now," he said. "And I want you to keep a record of every pirate crew that tries to ride the Knock Up Stream to Skypiea. I'll send someone to take over in a while."

Jin had originally wanted to ask Cricket and his crew, but they were determined to go to the sky island themselves.

"Oh, and by the way," he said, "you should try this."

He handed Van Augur a custom 98k rifle with a scope, along with some specially made bullets.

It was different from the standard version, a weapon designed specifically for a master sniper. It could be loaded with a variety of special ammunition: tungsten armor-piercing, hollow-point, dum-dum, incendiary...

Its power was far greater than any of the other firearms in the pirate world.

After a few test shots, Van Augur saw its potential. The rifled barrel gave the bullets greater accuracy, speed, and range. It was even better than his "Senriku," a sniper's dream rifle.

The only problem was that the ammunition had to be supplied by Jin. He couldn't just craft it himself like he could with flintlock rounds.

—————————

Leaving Van Augur to guard Mock Town, Jin set sail.

In the meantime, the news of his victory over Doflamingo had been reported by the World Economic Journal, sending shockwaves around the world.

[ONE-SHOT! THE KING OF PARADISE CRUSHES A WARLORD! WHO CAN STOP HIM? A FUTURE EMPEROR??]

Morgans' headline was a masterclass in journalism: truthful, but with just the right amount of exaggeration to grab the reader's attention.

"WUHAHAHAHA! YES!"

The person who was happiest about this news was not Jin, but Hanafuda. He took a long swig of ale, a feeling of pure satisfaction washing over him.

Finally, he was no longer the only Warlord to be defeated by Jin.

Seeing someone else fail is sometimes more satisfying than succeeding yourself.

And Doflamingo had been taken out in a single blow!

Sure, the guy had gotten stronger.

But so what?

He, Hanafuda, had at least put up a fight...

He felt vindicated.

"Once I capture Ace," he declared, "I will once again be the King of Lizards!"

—————————

Whole Cake Island.

"The King of Paradise? Mamamama..." Charlotte Linlin laughed, holding the newspaper. "He might just be my last husband. And this Ace... every time I see him, I'm reminded of a certain face. Could it be a coincidence? Smoothie! Oven!"

"Yes, Mama!"

"Take an invitation. I want them both at this year's tea party."

"Yes, Mama!"

—————————

Hannabal.

Jinbe listened to the cheers of the people celebrating their king's victory over Doflamingo. It was unbelievable.

"Wilson," he said, "please, tell me more about this king of yours."

"Boss Jinbe... I'm sorry," Wilson said, looking conflicted. "It's not that I don't want to. But the kingdom has strict rules about confidentiality."

He never would have expected Jinbe to seek him out. For the Fish-Man pirates, Jinbe was a legend.

"Then just tell me what you can," Jinbe said, his voice earnest. "It's very important... for the future of the Fish-Man race."