Chapter 138: A Toast in the Haidongqing Tavern
At the Haidongqing Tavern, the atmosphere was quiet yet intense.
As Mio arrived, Doflamingo picked up a wine glass, poured a drink for him, and slowly sat down with a grin on his face. He raised his own glass, eyes gleaming with amusement. "I have to say, when I saw the news, I was stunned for quite a while. But even now, I'm still curious—what was your real purpose in going to Impel Down, and just what exactly did you gain this past year?"
Of course, the newspaper had no idea of Mio's actual motives for going to Impel Down. They only reported what could be seen or speculated. But Doflamingo wasn't satisfied with surface-level information.
Even though he was shocked to learn Mio was the main culprit behind the chaos at Impel Down, what intrigued him more was Mio's decision to go there willingly.
Mio raised the glass to his lips, took a slow sip, then smiled. "Strength."
"Strength?"
Doflamingo's pupils contracted, and a flicker of genuine shock flashed across his face. His wine glass, mid-motion, paused in the air.
He wasn't an idiot.
The moment Mio said that word—'strength'—Doflamingo instantly understood. He thought of the terrifying monsters imprisoned on Level Six and the chaos that had ensued. Combine that with Mio's own mysterious identity, and the pieces began to fall into place.
After a long silence, Doflamingo finally burst into laughter. "Fufufufufu... What incredible courage!"
"It seems your harvest was quite satisfying."