Just as Doflamingo and Enel were resolving their conflict, Diamante and his three comrades were already leading their respective teams into Birka city. Birka, a Sky Island, wasn't vast but wasn't tiny either, so teams of three to five people were sufficient. Diamante and his three officers were set to converge on the island's center—the Upper Yard temple—from four directions: east, south, west, and north.
The moment the Donquixote Pirates set foot on Birka's soil, they instantly drew everyone's attention. The stark difference between them and the locals caused an immediate stir.
"What's going on? Why are there so many people without wings?"
"Yeah! Look, they're so weird, just like Enel!"
"Are they? They really are! Could they be that Enel guy's relatives, haha?"
The residents of Birka showed no fear, chatting and laughing freely in the market, not bothering to take the Donquixote Pirates seriously.
In the eastern part of Birka, Diamante was leading his team in their search.
"Enel!" Diamante's sharp ears immediately picked up the name of the person his Young Master needed. He quickly stepped forward, grabbed the wrist of a male Sky Islander who was watching the commotion, and demanded loudly, "Tell me, where's Enel?!"
The Birka resident, a man named Fyodor, stared at Diamante, whose eyes were fierce, as if he intended to devour the person he had grabbed whole. Fyodor felt a pang of fear, but with so many people around, he wasn't about to back down. So, he retorted loudly, "You're hurting me! Why should I tell you anything just because you want to know? I won't tell you!"
Fyodor's defiance caught Diamante by surprise. However, Diamante was no rookie; he knew plenty of ways to make such a stubborn person talk.
"Is that so? My patience is limited. The Young Master is waiting for my report," Diamante said, his expression stern. The incident on Jaya Island was still fresh in Diamante's mind. Disappointing the Young Master again wouldn't end well. Diamante dared not show any slack when it came to Doflamingo's orders.
"Bastard, my patience has limits too! Are you looking for death? You don't even know where you are, daring to cause trouble here, you low-class scum from who knows where! Let go of me right now and kneel down to apologize, or else, when the White Berets arrive, you'll be sorry!" Fyodor's attitude was incredibly arrogant, completely disregarding Diamante's words. A hothouse flower, he had seen too little, experienced too little, and been protected too well. When danger came, he wouldn't even know what hit him.
Diamante listened to Fyodor's incessant ranting, growing increasingly impatient. His grip tightened like a vice, holding the man firmly. He then looked at the surrounding residents and demanded again, "I'll say it one more time: tell me where Enel is!"
"Ah! Bastard, you animal, you low-class—" Fyodor screamed in pain, but before he could finish his curses, Diamante's patience snapped. He drew the long sword from his left hip and, with a single strike, cleaved Fyodor in two. Tear! As fragile as paper, blood splattered everywhere, showering the faces of the surrounding residents.
The surrounding residents could almost still see the look of horror on Fyodor's face just before he died. Feeling the hot blood splattering on their faces, terror instantly consumed their hearts.
"Ah, devils, they're devils!"
"Fyodor's been killed! Go report to the White Berets, tell the God!" Some quick-witted individuals, seeing the dire situation, immediately rushed towards the temple to report the seriousness of the matter to the God.
Diamante paid them no mind. Let them go; the more people who came, the better. Whatever God or High Priest, it didn't matter. Anyone who dared to stand in the way of him completing the Young Master's mission would die. Diamante flicked away the remaining half of the corpse from his hand, stuck out his tongue to lick the blood from his face, his excitement clearly visible.
"Diamante-sama, please wipe the blood from your face," a quick-thinking subordinate, seeing the blood on Diamante's face, immediately offered a handkerchief snatched from a nearby female Sky Islander.
While Diamante was questioning Fyodor, his subordinates had prevented the Sky Islanders from escaping. Only a few clever ones had managed to slip away when they saw things going south.
"Damn, why didn't I think of that way to butter him up? What a waste, Walid got ahead of me this time. Diamante-sama will definitely take notice of him!" Other subordinates, seeing Walid's action, exchanged glances, understanding each other's thoughts.
Diamante, after taking the handkerchief and wiping his face, actually looked at Walid properly and said, "You brat, you've got some good eyes. What's your name?"
"Diamante-sama, my humble name is Walid," Walid replied respectfully, knowing his place. After all, for a powerless weakling to survive in this terrible world, no means were too low—deceit, disguise, what could be better than relying on the strong? After all, a big tree provides good shade.
"Hmm, you're not bad," Diamante said nonchalantly. He wasn't in the mood to think about anything else right now. If he messed up again, how much more would the Young Master look down on him? Moreover, with four people leading teams this time, it was clearly a test of the family members' abilities. Future positions within the family wouldn't be so simply decided. Who wouldn't want to climb higher? Human ambition is never satisfied.
The Young Master had many little tricks up his sleeve; being careless would lead to trouble. Diamante had figured that out.
If Doflamingo knew Diamante's thoughts, he would surely cry out, "Hold on, I don't have that many schemes! Don't slander me!"
Diamante surveyed the trembling Sky Islanders squatting on the ground with their heads in their hands and shouted again, "My patience is limited. Someone didn't know their place, so I killed him. Now, tell me, where is Enel?"
"It's all that Enel's fault, that jinx, that monster, he brought these thugs here!"
"Yeah, that Enel really should die! How are we supposed to know where he is?"
"These people kill without blinking an eye, what do we do?"
"What can we do? Just patiently wait for the White Berets to arrive."
The squatting residents muttered endlessly. Hearing Diamante's renewed demand, they grew even more resentful of Enel, but still hesitated, daring not to reply.
"Hurry up, tell me, where is Enel? I'll count to ten, or else I'll kill another person!"
"Ten!"
"Nine!"
"Three!"
Like demonic whispers from hell, the merciless countdown spread panic and terror among the squatting residents.
"Damn it, why isn't the White Berets here yet?"
"No, please, I don't want to die!"
"Damn Enel, how are we supposed to know where he is?!"
"Two!"
Finally, as the count neared one, someone couldn't hold it in any longer. They had hoped the White Berets would deal with these thugs, but their continued absence filled them with despair.
"S-sir, t-that, that, I know!" A female Sky Islander tremblingly stood up. Her tight clothing accentuated her graceful curves, and her alluring chest sparked countless fantasies. With her pure white wings and beautiful face, it wouldn't be wrong to call her an angel.
"Oh, then hurry up!" Diamante wasn't interested in these bird-people. He suppressed the ripples in his heart and spoke plainly.
"Damn, she's big!"
Although this female bird-person was very beautiful, causing him to glance at her a few times, he was already a pervert, what was he trying to hide?
Diamante's fierce gaze assessing Ibis seemed to quite frighten her.
"E-E-Enel, we're not entirely sure where he is," Ibis stammered, her chest heaving slightly with fear, further drawing everyone's attention.
"What?! Are you playing games with me?!" Diamante glared fiercely at Ibis again, while secretly thinking: "Damn, she's really big! If I send her to the Young Master, he'll definitely like her, and my standing will... hehe."
"No, absolutely not! Although I don't know, I know someone who does know where Enel is!" Ibis was almost in tears, her delicate appearance making her seem like a little lamb encountering a big bad wolf.
"Then what are you waiting for? Take us there immediately!" Diamante was incredibly anxious, fearing he'd be a step behind the others.
"Walid, quick, take her. We're off!"
"Yes, Diamante-sama!"
With that, he intended to take Ibis and have her lead the way.
"Ibis, no! They're not good people!" Some residents, finally unable to bear it, felt ashamed that so many strong people were letting a weak woman stand up for them. They erupted in indignation.
"We might as well fight them!"
"Damn thugs, who do you think you are?!"
"How dare you cause trouble on our turf?! Let Ibis go right now!"
Diamante was genuinely exasperated now, his face a mix of impatience and fury. "You say I, Diamante-sama, spared your lives, and now you insist on rushing to your deaths?"
"Very well then, come on! Let me see what you can do! Die, you flies!"
His subordinates, seeing Diamante's anger, dared not cross him.
Diamante swiftly drew the long sword from his left hip, and a powerful sword slash flew rapidly towards the enraged crowd.
"Crescent Moon Funeral!"
The civilians, seeing the two- or three-meter-long flying slash, were dumbfounded, frozen in place. Their anger dissipated, replaced by shock as they stared at the incoming sword energy.
"No, everyone!" Ibis cried out in pain, then half-knelt on the ground, tears streaming from her vacant eyes, smearing her delicate face. She looked like a weeping pear blossom, beautiful and moving, though no one appreciated it.
Ibis's pitiful and charming appearance made it seem as if someone had abandoned her! Speaking of which, dear readers, didn't you want this beautiful angel?
(End of Chapter)