On the battlefield, now riddled with scars, Sig and Doflamingo stood facing each other, separated by just four or five steps.
Both were silent, with only the rhythmic thumping of the Emperor's Engine echoing in the air.
Dofflamingo's expression was grim.
As the three-minute mark approached, his anxiety grew.
It was somewhat understandable that Sig could block his awakened ability attacks, but to completely evade them while severely injured, relying solely on Observation Haki...
Dofflamingo's heart was filled with doubt.
The scene of the two standing in silence left the onlookers confused.
Just moments ago, Doflamingo had been fighting with overwhelming force, toppling buildings with every move, but now he had suddenly stopped?
"Dofflamingo!"
A shout came from the direction of the port, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Looking up, a large group of people—hundreds of them—had arrived from the port.
At the front were the leaders of various factions on Loguetown.
Leading the group were Umit, the Shipping King, and Stussy, the Queen of the Pleasure District, standing side by side.
"Dofflamingo, are you trying to destroy Loguetown?"
Umit, the Shipping King, spoke up. He glanced at the shattered streets, his expression slightly grave.
Loguetown was nominally Doflamingo's territory, but in reality, it was controlled by various forces of the underworld.
This didn't mean they needed Doflamingo's protection—it was purely business.
In this era, Doflamingo, who had just become a Warlord, didn't yet have the vast network of influence he would later possess. He needed connections with figures like the Shipping King.
And these established underworld rulers, whose roots were in the New World, also needed the title of Warlord to extend their reach into Loguetown, the commercial hub at the entrance of the Grand Line.
The various underworld forces were intertwined, but it was all business.
However, Doflamingo's appearance here, his forceful seizure of the treasure map, and the widespread destruction he caused had already violated the unspoken agreement between these factions.
"Isn't this the Shipping King?"
Dofflamingo's face once again broke into a smile, but his eyes flicked toward Stussy, the Queen of the Pleasure District, standing beside Umit.
Stussy showed no intention of speaking. Instead, her figure flickered, and she appeared at Sig's side.
"Mr. Sig, I'm late."
Stussy said with a slight bow.
According to her agreement with Sig, she was to continue playing the role of his subordinate in public.
But when she saw the wound on Sig's waist, her eyes widened in surprise.
Stussy and Umit had already learned of Sig's actions from their subordinates' reports.
But the wound on his waist was unexpectedly deep... Blood was still slowly seeping out, dripping down his leg.
"Dofflamingo, stand down."
Umit, the Shipping King, said solemnly.
"You've already obtained Sig's treasure map, the key to unlocking the great treasure, Another Piece. And all you've lost is a single servant... Isn't that enough?"
His words were cut off by Sig.
"Enough!"
"Our fight isn't over yet."
Sig said sternly.
But inwardly, he was panicking.
Sig didn't expect that the Shipping King and the others could make the lawless Doflamingo back down.
The duration of his Iruma Possession Card was about to end.
If their interference affected the outcome, this use of the possession card would have been wasted.
"Hit me! Don't stop! Doflamingo, hit me in the face!"
Sig screamed inwardly.
But at that moment, a sweet taste rose in his throat, and he spat out another mouthful of blood. His face grew even paler.
"Fufufufufu..."
Dofflamingo didn't seem to pay any attention to the Shipping King's mediation.
His face wore that same arrogant smile as he stuffed his hands into his pockets and took a step toward Sig.
The two were only four or five steps apart.
As Doflamingo moved, the Emperor's Engine, which had just begun to slow, was reignited.
Sig's heart sank. As Doflamingo took that step, a line of text appeared before his eyes.
"Possession Card: Suzuki Iruma's effect has ended."
It's over? What should I do now? Fight back?
What is Doflamingo planning now?
Sig's mind was a tangled mess. He couldn't help but touch the pistol at his waist—a pistol that one of his subordinates had handed him earlier, though he hadn't had a chance to use it.
The Nobita Card granted him the ability of the "Universe's Best Sharpshooter," allowing Sig, who had little experience with firearms, to quickly master shooting with impressive accuracy.
But even with perfect aim, it likely wouldn't mean much against Doflamingo.
The pistol at Sig's waist was just an ordinary handgun.
For a powerhouse like Doflamingo, who was skilled in Armament Haki, being shot by a handgun was nothing. He could probably take a cannonball to the face without flinching...
Perhaps only by utilizing the other ability of the Nobita Card... Sig had an idea.
Time passed second by second.
Dofflamingo took step after step.
With each step, the sound of the Emperor's Engine grew denser and louder. The terrifying pressure, like a tidal wave, grew more intense, sweeping over everyone.
The faces of Umit, the Shipping King, and the others changed.
"These two have no intention of stopping..."
"What about us? Are we just going to stand by and let these two powerhouses continue fighting? The destruction they've caused is already enough!"
Under the overwhelming pressure, the crowd instinctively stepped back.
In the blink of an eye.
Dofflamingo and Sig were only a step apart.
Dofflamingo's face still wore that arrogant smile as he muttered:
"I don't want to fight you..."
Before he could finish, Doflamingo frowned, his words cutting off abruptly as he turned his head slightly, looking at Sig in surprise.
Sig had... closed his eyes?
His head tilted to the side, and he stood there, his breathing steadying.
It seemed as if he had fallen asleep standing up?
This sudden turn of events left Doflamingo, who had been about to deliver a threat, momentarily stunned.
"Asleep? Or unconscious? Why now?"
"Is he trying to lure me into attacking?"
After experiencing Sig's terrifyingly strong Observation Haki, Doflamingo wasn't taking any chances.
For a powerhouse like Sig, who was skilled in Observation Haki, even in sleep, he would possess the alertness of a wild beast, making it difficult for anyone to get close.
Dofflamingo frowned, standing beside the sleeping Sig, unsure of what to do.
"What's wrong with Mr. Sig?"
"Did he lose too much blood and pass out?"
Amidst the confusion, only Stussy, standing nearby, trembled slightly.Chapter 187: Sleeping Right in Front of Someone
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