HST: Chapter 176: You Fooled Me!

With Doflamingo's final act of resistance crushed, the Donquixote Family was officially declared defeated.

The dock where both sides had clashed was now a ruined battlefield—scorched earth, bloodstains, and crumbling debris.

The Marines of the G-5 branch, along with Gecko Moria’s zombie army, took charge of detaining the defeated Donquixote officers. As for Doflamingo, he was being personally guarded by Moria.

The victor takes all. The loser eats dust.

From this day on, the Donquixote Family that Doflamingo had painstakingly built would vanish from the world.

And in its place, something new would blossom.

“It’s over.”

Violet exhaled deeply, feeling the weight she had carried for years suddenly lift.

She had lived under the shadow of her family’s enemy for eight years, her body constantly desired by that same enemy. The pressure had been unbearable.

She was not the type of person who would ever fall for someone who destroyed her family.

Now, with Doflamingo defeated by Caelan, the Donquixote Family was finished—nothing but history.

Violet’s mood brightened, a smile blooming on her face.

She turned her eyes to the man who had saved her entire world, gratitude gleaming in her gaze.

To give herself to Caelan… that made far more sense than ever submitting to Doflamingo.

Then she wrapped her arms around Caelan’s neck and kissed him—awkward, yet fiery and full of passion.

The mysterious and melancholic Violet, once burdened by despair, now burned hotter than a rose in bloom.

She wanted to melt into Caelan, to give him everything.

Caelan didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He returned the kiss with warmth and certainty.

The two embraced amid the destruction, passion igniting even on a ruined battlefield.

From broken earth, beautiful flowers still bloomed.

“Woohoo! Long live Caelan-sama!”

Over 2,000 G-5 Marines erupted into cheers, sincerely offering their blessings to their commander.

Meanwhile…

“It’s over… It’s really over… Sis, what do we do now?”

Sugar sobbed to Monet, tears streaking down her delicate little face.

The Donquixote Family was defeated across the board. The two sisters had been captured. What was left?

“I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Monet was at a loss. The future was completely uncertain.

Most likely, a total defeat scenario awaited them.

She felt bitter—not for herself, but for her twenty-year-old sister, trapped in a nightmare of fate.

Elsewhere, Doflamingo, who had been restrained and handed over to Moria, twitched at the corner of his mouth in frustration.

“Hey, cheer up, bro! My daughter got taken by Caelan too!”

“Hahaha!”

Moria clapped Doflamingo on the shoulder and laughed heartily.

For some reason, Moria had always held a bit of resentment toward Doflamingo and loved seeing him in agony.

As for Perona? She’d been captured by Caelan too, and now she was living her best life.

Even Moria himself had benefited greatly from the connection.

Everyone wins—except Doflamingo.

Moria was beyond smug.

Doflamingo’s face sank deeper into gloom, slipping into complete emotional shutdown.

“Bwahahaha!”

Moria laughed even harder, holding onto Doflamingo’s slumped body and roaring with joy.

…

On a distant rooftop.

After the recording was complete, Kizaru and Morgans began chatting casually.

“I didn’t expect Doflamingo to be so helpless against Caelan…”

Morgans sighed as he organized his footage.

Doflamingo wasn’t just a Warlord of the Sea. He was a major underworld broker. Morgans had even worked with him before.

He had expected Doflamingo to last at least a bit longer.

After all, Caelan hadn’t used any of the terrifying moves from the East Blue. He’d only relied on swordsmanship.

“That’s what real dominance looks like. Caelan was already showing him mercy.”

Kizaru stowed the video Den Den Mushi away with a lazy grin.

“Morgans froze, then asked hesitantly,
“You mean that purple-black lightning on his sword just now?”

“Exactly. He’s not fully there yet, but he’s getting close.”

Even Kizaru seemed impressed when discussing—the advanced Conqueror’s Haki coating.

When the three admirals had fought Caelan at Sabaody, he hadn’t even touched the basics of Conqueror’s Haki.

Now, less than a month later, he had nearly mastered coating it.

Kizaru also noticed that Caelan’s swordsmanship had grown dramatically, more refined than when he used that oversized sword.

It had the same raw strength, but now carried an added elegance, making him even more dangerous.

Kizaru sighed inwardly, his already unpleasant face growing even more so.

“He really is a tyrant. This’ll make the news explode!”

Morgans was ecstatic.

Conqueror’s Haki coating was an ability that only the strongest could use, and it was nearly exclusive to the Yonko.

With this, he could write bolder headlines than ever.

For example: “God Slayer Caelan – So Dominant, He Could One-Shot the Seven Warlords!”

Morgans could already see the sales numbers soaring.

Just as he was dreaming of headlines, Kizaru noticed Caelan looking up at them and froze.

He didn’t want to be the next one Caelan locked onto. No one else was around to share the spotlight.

Unless…

Kizaru’s eyes landed on Morgans beside him.

Perfect scapegoat.

“Hey, you’ve been profiting off Caelan’s name nonstop. Ever thought about whether he’s cool with that?”

Kizaru jabbed Morgans lightly, voice full of fake concern.

“Pfft, that’s the money I made. Why would I give him any?”

Morgans scoffed, not even looking up.

“Haha, I suggest you give him a cut.”

“Well, good luck to you!” Kizaru patted Morgans on the shoulder with a sly smile.

Before Morgans could react—

Kizaru instantly activated his Light-Light Fruit powers and vanished in a golden flash into the sky.

“…Huh!?”

Morgans blinked, utterly confused.

When he turned around…

Caelan was already behind him, smiling.

“Caelan! I—I have no ill intent!”

Morgans panicked, nearly dropping his camera. He raised it above his head like a peace offering.

“I heard you’ve made a fortune using my name… but you don’t plan to share any of it?”

Caelan asked with a grin, though his tone carried weight.

“No no no! I’d be honored to share! Gladly! Freely!”

Morgans was drenched in cold sweat, frantically pledging his loyalty.

In that moment, he fully understood Kizaru’s plan.

That bastard totally set him up!

Kizaru… you %@#$ing screwed me!

(To be continued.)