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Atop the Red Line, the Holy Land, Mariejois.
Today, a special eting was convened.
Summoned by the World Governnt, presided over by Fleet Admiral Sengoku of Marine Headquarters—a joint conference between two of the sea's Three Great Powers: Marine HQ and the Seven Warlords of the Sea!
(Both Marine HQ and the Warlords were, nominally, under the World Governnt's authority—
—Thus, The eting could only be held at the World Governnt's center of power, Mariejois.)
The agenda: Discussing a replacent for the Warlord vacancy left after 'Sky Sovereign' Rowen killed Crocodile—and how to deal with this sa 'Sky Sovereign' Rowen, now deed an "Extrely Vicious" pirate by the World Governnt.
As the Warlords began to arrive, Mariejois's broadcast system announced their presence, a customary show of 'face' for these great pirates whom the World Governnt used to intimidate other pirates on the seas.
"Warlord of the Sea Bartholow Kuma—and Warlord of the Sea Donquixote Doflamingo have arrived! Welco, gentlen."
Accompanied by the announcent, a man with an arrogant, swaggering gait, clad in an ostentatious pink feathered coat, a signature evil smirk plastered on his face—entered Mariejois.
—One of the Seven Warlords! Before becoming a governnt-sanctioned pirate, forr bounty: 340,000,000 Beri! 'Heavenly Yaksha' Donquixote Doflamingo!
The other, an imnsely tall and imposing figure, dressed like a bear, wearing gloves and carrying a book in one hand, entered Mariejois with an impassive expression.
—One of the Seven Warlords! Before becoming a governnt-sanctioned pirate, forr bounty: 296,000,000 Beri! 'Tyrant' Bartholow Kuma!
"Gulp!"
Watching these two great pirates—tools of the World Governnt used to intimidate others—and feeling the terrifying pressure they exuded, the Marine soldiers stationed on either side for ceremonial duties swallowed hard.
These were two of the seven most infamous pirates on the seas (excluding the Four Emperors)
The Marines' eyes were filled with awe and apprehension.
(Why still seven, even after Crocodile's demise? Because now, the most infamously notorious pirate on the seas, apart from the Emperors, was the very man who necessitated this eting:
Sky Sovereign Rowen—Killer of Warlord Crocodile, defeater of Admiral Candidate Gion, near-overthrower of the Alabasta Kingdom, bounty 1,135,000,000 Beri!)
Thinking about the eting's agenda, a heavy feeling settled upon The Marines.
The flas of evil on the seas were burning brighter.
After the Four Emperors, another terrifying great pirate like Rowen had now erged!
The Marines silently prayed this eting would find a way to extinguish that evil fla, to deal with the man now called the most vicious pirate on the seas—Sky Sovereign Rowen.
"Fuffuffuffu! Since you've summoned us, get straight to the point. Lay out the business, and let's end this boring gathering quickly."
Inside the conference room designated for the joint Warlord-Marine HQ eting, Doflamingo—the man whom The Marines outside hoped would help extinguish Rowen's 'evil fire'—was currently perched insolently on the conference table like a common thug, his fingers twitching with amusent.
"St-Stop it!"
"I-I can't control my body!"
With Doflamingo's subtle finger movents, two Marine HQ Vice Admirals began fighting each other against their will, their faces contorted in alarm.
"Doflamingo! This is your doing, isn't it!"
One of the Vice Admirals roared, glaring at Doflamingo.
On these seas, only this man could do such a thing.
User of the Paracia String-String Fruit—Donquixote Doflamingo!
"Stop it, Doflamingo!" the other Vice Admiral yelled, equally furious and horrified. Being manipulated like this in Mariejois was a profound humiliation!
"Fuffuffuffu! Then hurry up and explain things! Where's Sengoku?" Doflamingo cackled with his signature laugh.
Most Marine HQ Vice Admirals stationed in Mariejois were primarily for show; their strength couldn't compare to the veteran Vice Admirals who directly confronted Emperor crews in the New World.
While they possessed Haki, unless they were Haki masters like Vergo, Doflamingo's String-String Fruit could easily overwhelm their defenses.
Once their Haki was breached, they were re puppets before his Devil Fruit powers.
Though Doflamingo toyed with the two Vice Admirals, his Observation Haki remained keenly focused on Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Great Staff Officer, who sat quietly to the side.
This seemingly frail old woman had once chased him relentlessly.
Her Wash-Wash Fruit was an incredibly troubleso Paracia power—and a strong counter to his String-String Fruit.
However, seeing Tsuru show no intention of intervening, Doflamingo's wicked grin widened, his actions becoming even more brazen.
CLANG!
Under Doflamingo's control, the two Vice Admirals drew their swords, about to engage in a deadly clash.
"Are you here for a eting, or a brawl?" Just as blood was about to be drawn, a calm but authoritative voice echoed through the room.
Fleet Admiral 'Buddha' Sengoku entered.
"As Warlords, causing such a ruckus here—Have you no sense of decorum?!" A terrifying crimson-black light flashed in Sengoku's eyes.
"Fuffuffuffu! Quite the presence, Sengoku,"
Doflamingo comnted, cold sweat appearing on his brow, though his mocking laugh remained.
Sengoku was far stronger than him, true, but as long as Doflamingo was a Warlord, Sengoku couldn't openly attack him.
Nevertheless, Doflamingo retracted his strings. With Sengoku present, continuing this charade would only lead to his own embarrassnt.
The two freed Vice Admirals shot Sengoku ashad glances, then quickly took their seats.
"Only two of you ca?" Sengoku grunted, looking at Doflamingo and Kuma.
"Forgot to greet you lot properly—YOU SCUM OF THE SEA." Sengoku sneered, showing no courtesy towards the Warlords.
"Fuffuffuffu! Sweet praise indeed, Sengoku," Doflamingo chuckled wickedly.
"Think whatever you like. But having two of the remaining six Warlords show up already exceeds my expectations," Sengoku replied, taking his seat.
In reality, Kuma, for various reasons, was usually the only one who consistently attended Warlord etings, being quite subservient to the Governnt.
These 'scum of the seas'—despite their Warlord titles and nominal allegiance to the World Governnt, all had their own agendas.
The World Governnt, in turn, only cared about using their infamous reputations to intimidate other pirates and didn't much care about their actual loyalty.
This state of affairs deeply displeased Sengoku...
"Fuffuffu, my businesses have been thriving lately. I only ca here out of sheer boredom, looking for so amusent," Doflamingo smirked.
"Is that so? But when your pirate 'businesses' thrive too much, it gives us Marines a headache," Sengoku retorted.
"Enough with the pointless chatter. Aren't we here to discuss Sky Sovereign Rowen? I was beginning to think I'd walked into the wrong eting—" a detached voice interjected.
Mihawk, Yoru strapped to his back, slowly entered the room.
"The one least likely to show up actually ca. Are you interested in that brat too, Hawk-Eyes?" Doflamingo looked at Mihawk with genuine surprise.
"Brat? Doflamingo... Be careful. That 'Brat' is capable of killing you," Mihawk comnted coolly after taking a seat, glancing dismissively at Doflamingo.
Mihawk wasn't surprised Rowen killed Crocodile.
After their Haki clash, Mihawk sensed that man's potential might even surpass Shanks's in terms of Haki. A re Crocodile wouldn't be a stumbling block on that man's path.
"Fuffuffuffu! I rember now—you had contact with that brat too. But kill ? Do you take for a weakling like Crocodile, content to muck about in Paradise, the first half of the Grand Line?"
Doflamingo's wicked smile remained, but veins bulged on his forehead. If he weren't outmatched by Mihawk, he would have already attacked.
Though the seas were currently buzzing with exaggerated tales about that brat, Doflamingo, as one of the kings of the underworld, backed by Emperor Kaido, and possessing connections within the World Governnt due to his forr Celestial Dragon status—he didn't put Rowen in the sa league as himself.
Crocodile being killed by him ant little; Crocodile was trash who relied on external objects to achieve his ambitions.
As for supposedly defeating Pink Rabbit? He'd heard they clashed, but Gion was only suppressed, not truly defeated.
Rowen's strength, while not weak, wasn't enough to kill him...
That so-called 1.1 billion bounty was just the World Governnt scapegoating the brat for Crocodile's attempt to overthrow Alabasta.
"Well then, why don't you go kill Sky Sovereign Rowen, Doflamingo? If you succeed, the Governnt will surely reward you handsoly," Sengoku suggested, glancing at Doflamingo.
"Fuffuffuffu! My businesses keep very busy. Besides, hunting pirates—isn't that your job, Marines?" Doflamingo retorted, directly refusing.
He wasn't afraid of the brat, certainly, but he didn't want unnecessary trouble.
That brat was causing massive headaches for the World Governnt; the long-stagnant seas were beginning to boil because of him.
The era of upheaval was approaching.
Doflamingo's operations—arms dealing, smuggling—thrived in chaos. His backer, Emperor Kaido, constantly aid to incite a massive war.
The more chaotic the situation... the better for him!
Though it irked him that this brat's fa now surpassed his own, from a purely pragmatic standpoint, letting the brat continue rampaging was more beneficial.
"Hmph," Sengoku snorted coldly. He hadn't expected these sea trash to accept the task anyway.
Pirates were pirates—even becoming Warlords nominally loyal to the World Governnt didn't change their fundantal nature.
"Allow to audit this eting as well, esteed sirs," a smooth, light voice suddenly interjected.
Perched on the windowsill of the conference room, Laffitte, navigator of the Blackbeard Pirates, chuckled softly.
"WHO ARE YOU?! How did you get in here?!" one of the Vice Admirals roared.
"You... are you Laffitte?! The infamous Sheriff from West Blue, exiled for excessive violence?" Another Vice Admiral, recognized him.
"That's ancient history now. I am here to recomnd a certain fine gentleman for the position of Warlord of the Sea. Teach—is our captain's na," Laffitte announced with a polite, chilling smile.
"Teach? Never heard of him." Sengoku stated dismissively, not imdiately ejecting Laffitte.
To reach this room, Laffitte wasn't incompetent.
A captain acknowledged by such a man likely wasn't small fry either. Sengoku was curious what bargaining chip this 'Teach' could offer.
"Regarding that, our captain has already made detailed plans. Our captain's target is that man whose fa currently resounds across the seas—The head of Sky Sovereign Rowen," Laffitte revealed with a calm, almost pleasant smile.
"WHAT?" Sengoku's eyes narrowed instantly.
"Fuffuffuffu! Isn't this interesting, Fleet Admiral Sengoku?! Let him try!" Doflamingo, delighted at the prospect of soone targeting the brat who annoyed him, burst into laughter.
The more chaos on the seas, the better for him. Unleashing an era of upheaval was his current goal.
"Buru! Buru! Buru!"
"Buru! Buru! Buru!"
Just then, the Transponder Snail in Doflamingo's coat pocket began to ring.
"Hm?" Doflamingo frowned.
"What's going on? We should have jamd all Transponder Snail signals in this area!" A Vice Admiral exclaid, looking incredulously at the snail Doflamingo produced.
As a eting site for Marine HQ and Warlords, security asures were naturally in place. Special Horned Transponder Snails should have been jamming all external communications...
"This number is... Bellamy's," Doflamingo muttered, his lips turning downwards. He knew the signals here were supposed to be blocked.
Bellamy was just an insignificant pirate under his command—recruited on a whim.
But Bellamy sohow had the ans to bypass the signal jamming here and call him directly?
"To bypass the signal jamming here is no easy feat. Why don't you answer it? Let us also hear what matter is so urgent,"
Tsuru suggested, her hands clasped before her, a wise glint in her eyes.
"Hmph. If you're all curious, fine. It's just an insignificant subordinate of mine anyway," Doflamingo grumbled, looking down at the snail, then answered.
If Bellamy managed to bypass the jamming, it reflected sowhat well on Doflamingo. As for Bellamy revealing any secrets during the call? Doflamingo wasn't worried; Bellamy was small fry, knowing nothing of his true operations.
Doflamingo was also sowhat curious: What ans did Bellamy use to bypass the jamming, and what was so urgent that he'd risk it?
CLICK!
The call connected.
"Hmph." The Transponder Snail's projected face mimicked the caller, revealing—an incredibly powerful, confident smile.
"Connecting to that Snail took so effort. The Holy Land, Mariejois—Warlord eting, correct?" a calm, amused voice drifted from the snail.
"Who—ARE YOU?!" Doflamingo roared, veins bulging on his forehead, his lips pulled down in a snarl.
That voice—was NOT Bellamy!
"What?!" Sengoku and Tsuru both stared intently at Doflamingo. The caller wasn't his subordinate!
And sohow—they knew the situation here! Transponder Snails could only transmit audio; they couldn't see the environnt of the receiving Snail—even the highest-grade Snails used by the Five Elders had this limitation!
"? I am... Rowen."
The na sent a collective shockwave through everyone present. Their pupils constricted.
Sky Sovereign Rowen?!
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