"Was it wise letting them go like that, little brother?" Doflamingo’s voice dripped with sarcasm, a sneer etched across his face. His eyes narrowed, watching the retreating forms of the Marine warships and their n. He had wanted to clash with Kaido again, to test his strength against the strongest creature of the sea, and the fact that we had let them go gnawed at him.
"It would’ve sent a clear ssage to the World Governnt..." Doflamingo continued, making his disappointnt known. But I could sense the underlying frustration—Kaido had slipped through his fingers, and it stung him deeply.
"Not yet, Doffy," I replied, my voice steady, betraying none of the tension I felt. "We have no idea what truly happened in the Sorbet Kingdom, and with our current strength, engaging in an all-out fight with Kaido or that Admiral would’ve been reckless. We’d have to put everything on the line to bring them down, and even then, the cost would be too high. We can’t compromise Vergo’s position. We need him in place to lead the Marines when the ti cos."
My plans were ticulous, each move calculated to ensure not just victory, but total dominance. An all-out battle might have satisfied our bloodlust, but it would have jeopardized everything we had worked for. Vergo’s infiltration was key, and I couldn’t risk exposing him just for the sake of a temporary victory.
But there was more to my reasoning, sothing I didn’t share with my brother. I was forced into a defensive stance because I refused to sacrifice my family mbers for the sake of killing our enemies.
That was never a victory in my eyes. Lucci, Reiju, and the others still needed ti to grow—ti that would be stolen from them if I allowed Doffy’s wrath to dictate our actions today.
Doflamingo’s snicker broke the silence. "It just feels like we didn’t do much this ti around compared to what we did in Impel Down. This... this was supposed to be our retaliation for what happened in the North Blue, but it feels so bland."
He was still watching the retreating Marine ships, his gaze intense, his disappointnt palpable.
"There’s more than one way to hurt those bastards, Doffy," I said, a glint of mischief in my eyes.
"If we want to rule this world, brute force alone won’t cut it. This ti, we’ll use a different approach. I just hope little Shyarly will be able to get the information we need."
Shyarly’s prophetic abilities, coupled with her Devil Fruit, made her invaluable in our operations. I had already sent word to Dressrosa, instructing her to scry into what had really happened in the Sorbet Kingdom. The information we had was fragnted, half-baked. We needed the full picture before making our next move.
Doffy’s attention shifted as Lucci approached, carrying a stack of folders. Punk Hazard was now completely under our control. The World Governnt agents, realizing the Marines had abandoned them, had initiated a self-destruct sequence to bury the island and all its secrets. But their plan had failed, and now we were securing all the scientific data left behind.
"Did you get the Devil Fruit you were looking for?" Doffy asked, his gaze flickering to Lucci, who was unusually composed for soone who had just consud a Mythical Zoan Fruit.
"Yes, Master Doffy." Lucci gave a slight bow, the little white pigeon that was always with him fluttering over from the ship to land gracefully on his shoulder. "I apologize for failing to complete the second task assigned to . I didn’t anticipate Kaido’s intervention."
Even after consuming the Mythical Dragon Zoan Fruit, Lucci showed little emotion, his stoicism masking any sense of accomplishnt. His concern was not for himself, but for the failure to secure Caesar. This was the depth of his character—unwavering focus, driven by the mission, not by personal gain.
"Forget it!" Doffy said, surprising both Lucci and . He ruffled Lucci’s hair in an uncharacteristically affectionate gesture. "It was my little brother’s fault for letting Kaido slip past his net. Though we wanted Caesar, he wasn’t soone we needed desperately."
I couldn’t help but smirk at the sight. Doflamingo, who had taken a beating from Kaido, was now complaining that I had let him escape. Yet here he was, showing a side of himself I hadn’t seen in years—one that wasn’t all sharp edges and venom. At least toward those in the family, he had softened, though his ambition and ruthlessness remained intact.
As we discussed the next steps, little Reiju approached, carrying another stack of folders.
"Master, what do we do about the giant’s corpse? We found two—one mostly intact, the other..." She paused, and we all knew what she ant.
Doffy turned to , curious about my plans. He was particularly interested in this project, knowing it delved into the possibility of enhancing one’s physique using giant genes. He also knew that I wanted to build a relationship with Elbaf, especially with Dora now part of our crew.
"Well," I began, a calculated grin spreading across my face, "we might as well give the World Governnt a gift they won’t forget. Make a copy of all the research related to the giants, then send the original docunts and the two corpses back to Elbaf. Let the giants see what the World Governnt has been doing to their kin."
The glint in my eyes grew sharper as I spoke, the plan coming together in my mind. If the giants of Elbaf learned about the atrocities committed against their kind, it would surely ignite a blood feud.
The World Governnt had not worried about the giants for nearly a century, not since a small group had ford a pirate crew. But if Elbaf discovered these experints, the wrath of an entire nation would be unleashed. And by sending them the evidence, we would position ourselves as their allies, paving the way for a future alliance.
Doffy’s grin mirrored my own. He understood the brilliance of the plan. By using the World Governnt’s own sins against them, we would weaken them using borrowed power, turning potential neutral factions into sworn enemies. And all without lifting a single blade.
"Brilliant," Doffy said, his voice filled with admiration. "Fufufufu!! The World Governnt won’t know what hit them."
I turned to Senor, who was overseeing the delegation of tasks to the crew mbers from Doffy’s ship. His usual stoic expression was fixed in concentration, ensuring every order was executed with precision.
"Senor," I called out, drawing his attention. "Punk Hazard is now part of our territory. Its location is strategically valuable, especially with its proximity to Fishman Island. We’re going to convert it into a stronghold. Get in touch with the Fishn on Dressrosa and let them know we’re offering sanctuary for their kind here on Punk Hazard. Also, make it clear—anyone who targets Fishn in our territory without just cause is to be sent to the gallows."
Senor’s eyes flickered with understanding as he nodded, already thinking ahead. He knew the importance of what I was asking. "And what about King Neptune?" he asked, his voice asured.
"Have the Fishn reach out to King Neptune," I continued. "Send him a proposal to develop Punk Hazard together. Make sure he understands this is a genuine offer of partnership."
Doflamingo, who had been listening from a short distance away, couldn’t resist questioning my decision. A smirk played on his lips as he spoke, "You sure are investing a lot in the Fishn, little brother."
I t his gaze, my expression calm yet enigmatic. "In ti, you’ll understand, Doffy. Trust , everything will be worth it in the future."
There was a cryptic edge to my words, one that Doflamingo couldn’t quite decipher. I had my reasons for keeping so things close to the chest. Poseidon was a card I intended to play, but not just yet because I had to wait for the birth of said ancient weapon.
Shirahoshi, the rmaid princess who wielded the power of Poseidon, was soone I wouldn’t let anyone else control. She needed to be part of our family, and I was determined to ensure that outco.
The favor I was showing towards the Fishn wasn’t just an act of goodwill—it was a calculated investnt. By offering them sanctuary and protection, I was laying the groundwork for a future alliance that would be crucial when the inevitable war broke out. Gaining the favor of the Fishn race would be a significant advantage, one that could tip the scales in our favor when the ti ca.
Senor seed to catch a glimpse of the deeper plan. He gave a slight nod, understanding that my actions were part of a broader strategy. Without another word, he turned and began organizing the necessary arrangents, knowing that this was more than just a territorial expansion—it was a move on the chessboard that would have far-reaching consequences.
We had chosen not to engage in an all-out battle this ti around, but our revenge would be no less devastating. The world was a chessboard, and we were setting up the pieces for a checkmate. All we needed now was patience—and the ti to place all our pieces in place.
Just then, my transponder snail rang, and I picked it up, instantly recognizing Giolla’s voice from the other end. However, her tone seed a bit somber, an unusual shift that piqued my concern.
"Giolla-san, is everything alright?" I couldn’t help but ask, anxiety creeping into my voice.
"Yes, Young Master," she replied, though her words lacked their usual cheer. "It’s just that Shyarly seems to have passed out. She did relay the ssage asking to convey it."
Shyarly had received a backlash after scrying into the events that had unfolded in the Sorbet Kingdom. This was one of the drawbacks of her power—the more obscure the information she tried to glean, the greater the toll it took on her body. I had seen her endure this before, but it never got easier.
"Young Master Ross!" Giolla continued, her voice now heavy with gravity. "We have the information that you asked for. I’m afraid your guess was right—the World Governnt deployed an ancient weapon to raze Sorbet Kingdom from the world."
My heart sank at her words. I had feared the worst, and now those fears were confird. Those bastards had resorted to deploying a weapon of mass destruction, an action that spoke volus about their resolve and ruthlessness. The implications of this were catastrophic, not just for the Kingdom but for the entire balance of power in the world.
"I understand, Giolla-san," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside . "Please take care of Shyarly. Doffy and the rest will return to Dressrosa soon enough."
With a heavy heart, I disconnected the call, turning my attention to Doflamingo. He had listened intently to our conversation, and I could see his mood sour drastically. The usually composed and playful deanor of my older brother had been replaced by a storm of anger and frustration.
His eyes narrowed, and I could feel the tension radiating off him like heat from a furnace. Doffy knew the current us had no answer for sothing like an ancient weapon, and if they were willing to deploy it once, they wouldn’t hesitate to deploy it a second ti.
"Damn them," he spat, the venom in his voice unmistakable. "Deploying an ancient weapon... They’re playing with fire. What do they think will happen when the world learns about his?"
"They believe this information can be buried, Doffy," I said, my voice laced with a cold determination. "After all, they control the world’s narrative in the palm of their hands. They’re confident that the truth about this mass genocide will never reach the masses."
I knew exactly what the World Governnt was aiming for. With the Sorbet Kingdom completely erased from existence, there wouldn’t be any witnesses left to tell the tale.
And as long as Morgans’ newspaper spun a fabricated story, the people would swallow it whole, accepting whatever the World Governnt deed fit to print. But this ti, they had overplayed their hand. They were so sure of their control over information that they’d never expect us to turn the tables on them.
This was an opportunity too good to pass up. It was ti for the World Governnt to learn the true power of information. Doing this would also aid Dragon and his Revolutionary Army, striking at the very heart of the World Governnt’s propaganda machine.
The course of action was clear—we would use our own newspaper to expose the governnt’s atrocities and shatter the carefully crafted illusion of their righteousness.
"Doffy," I continued, my eyes narrowing as the plan took shape in my mind. "Get in touch with Morgans. We’re going to print a special edition of the World Tis. It’s ti we showed the entire world what the World Governnt truly represents."
Doffy’s eyes widened with glee as the implications of our plan sank in. For centuries, the World Governnt had painted itself as the righteous faction, the unquestionable authority that kept the world in balance. That belief was so deeply rooted in people’s minds that it had beco the foundation of their reality. But now, we had the chance to shake that belief to its very core.
"Fufufufu!!! Imagine the chaos," Doffy murmured, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "The people have been fed lies for so long that the truth will hit them like a tidal wave. The world will soon burn once again."
I leaned back, contemplating the gravity of our next move. "You expect too much, Doffy," I said, my tone carrying a weight of realism. "I’m not aiming for full-scale chaos—not yet. All I want is to plant a seed of doubt in the minds of the masses about the World Governnt."
Doffy raised an eyebrow, his grin faltering just slightly. "Doubt? You think that’ll be enough?"
I chuckled, a sound tinged with bitterness. "Doffy, most people are content in their ignorance. As long as their own hos aren’t burning, they won’t lift a finger for soone else. The sad truth is that humanity, for all its supposed virtues, is inherently selfish. They turn a blind eye to suffering if it doesn’t directly impact them."
I paused, letting the harsh reality settle between us. "It’s like that old saying, ’The only ti people truly care about a tragedy is when it knocks on their front door.’ They see the headlines, maybe even shed a tear or two, but then they go back to their lives, unaffected and unmoved. The world could be crumbling around them, but as long as their small corner remains untouched, they’ll stay blissfully unaware."
Doffy’s eyes narrowed, a mix of understanding and disdain crossing his features. "So you think planting a seed of doubt will be enough to shake them?"
"Not the masses, no," I admitted. "But it’s not them we’re aiming to shake, not directly. What we’re really doing is creating a rift—between the World Governnt and the Marines. You see, doubt is a powerful tool. It may not cause an imdiate uproar, but it starts to eat away at the foundation, like termites in wood. Over ti, that doubt will spread, infecting those who are already weary of the governnt’s lies. And when that happens, even the most loyal will start to question their allegiance."
Doffy nodded slowly, starting to grasp the intricacies of my plan. "And if we can exploit that rift..."
"Exactly," I said, my voice growing colder. "If we play our cards right, we might even divert the Elders’ attention away from us. They’ll be too busy dealing with the fallout from within to focus on us."
I glanced out over the horizon, my thoughts swirling with the painful truths of this world.
"People like to think they’re good, that they care about others. But in reality, they only care about themselves and those closest to them. The suffering of strangers is just another story, another statistic. It’s easier to look away, to convince themselves that it’s not their problem."
I could see Doffy’s smirk returning, though it was more tempered now, tinged with a new understanding. "So, we hit them where it hurts. We don’t need to bring the whole world crashing down—not yet. Just make them doubt, make them question. And in ti, that doubt will spread like a virus."
"Exactly," I replied. "The first step is making them see the cracks in the facade. Once they start to question the narrative they’ve been fed, the rest will follow. We’re not just playing the long ga, Doffy—we’re playing the smart ga. And in this world, that’s the only ga that matters."
The truth was brutal, but it was also undeniable. People were selfish, more concerned with their own well-being than with the suffering of others. It was a painful reality, but one we could use to our advantage.
By planting that seed of doubt, we could start a chain reaction that would, in ti, bring the whole rotten structure crashing down. And when that day ca, we’d be the ones holding all the cards.
*****
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