Sanji was busy in the kitchen, preparing a lavish afternoon tea—the first meal after their descent. Tantalizing aromas wafted across the entire deck.
"Cook, a flask of sake."
"Nika, Nami-san has placed you under a drinking ban."
Nika's eyes bulged as if she couldn't accept this reality.
Wasn't this basically a death sentence?
Wasn't Nami afraid she'd burn the whole thing down and spill all her secrets?!
"Nika, come over here and help with something."
Nami beckoned to her.
"Coming, coming!"
Nika scampered over obediently, her eyes clear and innocent.
It seemed her training had been quite successful.
The title of "Devil Ship Tyrant" was well-earned indeed.
[Warning: Scheduled time for Vivi's Devil Fruit development training has arrived. Please locate Vivi within one minute to begin training... Countdown: 59, 58.]
Luffy had just finished an intense sparring session with Zoro. Without a moment's pause, he immediately went to find Vivi to guide her in developing and mastering the abilities of the Fūfū no Mi.
When it came to Devil Fruits, he had accumulated a considerable amount of valuable development experience.
"Watch closely, Vivi. The best thing about Logia-types is elemental intangibility. Ordinary physical attacks—bullets, swords, things like that—will have a hard time harming you."
As he spoke, Luffy casually picked up a small pebble and tossed it at her.
Vivi focused her mind, and her body instantly transformed into elemental form, becoming an intangible, clear breeze. The pebble passed straight through the swirl of wind and struck the gunwale behind her.
"But you absolutely cannot let your guard down."
Luffy's expression turned serious. "Armament Haki is the natural enemy of Devil Fruit users. Someone like me, or powerful swordsmen and gunners, can coat their weapons in Haki to attack you. That's why predicting attacks with Observation Haki and your own evasive ability are just as important!"
He guided Vivi to try creating different forms of attack and defense using wind.
Wind could take many forms—blades of air, whirlwind shields. Imagination was the key to developing a Devil Fruit's potential. Luffy had made plenty of funny mistakes in this area when he was younger.
But there was no denying it.
Sometimes, things that looked ridiculous turned out to be incredibly useful.
Vivi nodded seriously. She closed her eyes, focusing intently on the ever-present currents of air around her, attempting to shape them into the forms she envisioned.
For a time, the deck was swept by alternating gentle breezes and strong gusts. Occasionally, a faint, transparent blade of wind would flash by.
Just then, Robin approached, holding a newspaper she had just purchased from a News Coo. Her brow was slightly furrowed.
"Big news, Robin?" Luffy and Vivi paused their training and came over. They always paid close attention to the World Economy News Paper; it often signaled shifts and storms on the seas.
Robin unfolded the paper and pointed to the front-page headline.
"A few days ago, the World Government and the Seven Warlords of the Sea held an emergency meeting."
Typically, the Warlords and the World Government did not interact frequently. A meeting of this level usually meant a major event had occurred—something significant enough to shake the balance of the seas.
Meanwhile, in distant Dressrosa.
On the royal plateau.
Doflamingo, his body still bearing wounds not yet fully healed, returned to his kingdom with a dark expression.
He was in a rather foul mood.
He had initially thought it would be an interesting diversion—accompanying Lafitte, that subordinate of Blackbeard's, to discuss some business and perhaps enjoy the spectacle.
He never expected to be dragged into the thick of it, ending up in a direct clash with Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander, "Fire Fist" Ace—and even getting injured.
Doflamingo was, of course, familiar with the intelligence on Ace.
This young man, during the early days of the Warlord system, had once defeated an invited candidate for the position, earning himself an invitation. Yet he had refused it, choosing instead to join the Whitebeard Pirates.
His talent and strength were undeniable.
"Fufufufu... I have to admit, that Blackbeard, Teach—his plan is insane enough," Doflamingo let out a low chuckle from his throne.
Stirring up an all-out war between the Emperors and the Marines?
Even he found such audacity slightly chilling. And yet, it also stirred a morbid excitement within him.
"Nee, nee, Doffy... Are we just letting Blackbeard off the hook like that?"
Towering over him, wrapped in a coat resembling a feather duvet, a long string of mucus dangling from his nose, Trebol abruptly thrust his unpleasant face close to Doflamingo's and asked.
When Trebol first learned that Blackbeard intended to capture Ace, using him as a bargaining chip to become a Warlord and trigger a war between the Emperors and the Marines, even he thought Blackbeard had completely lost his mind.
The man they would be provoking was Edward Newgate—Whitebeard—the man hailed as the Strongest in the World!
Doflamingo replied, "We'll just watch how things develop for now."
Doflamingo had, to a certain extent, assisted Blackbeard this time—occupying Ace and buying Blackbeard several days to recover his strength and finalize his arrangements.
Of course, he hadn't gone all out. It was merely a casual favor, and a chance to observe how the situation would unfold.
He had no intention of getting too deeply entangled in these muddy waters.
According to Blackbeard, all he needed was a few days' delay. He had previously been severely wounded in the first half of the Grand Line by some bastard called Straw Hat Luffy and needed time to recover.
Doflamingo found this rather contemptible.
Blackbeard had ambition enough, but his strength seemed inadequate for his aspirations. To be gravely injured in the first half by some rookie pirate?
Still, fighting Ace wasn't much of an issue for Doflamingo, so he had agreed.
Who knew the fight would escalate into genuine hostility? The main reason was Doflamingo's loose tongue—during the battle, he had taunted his opponent, casually making a disparaging remark about Whitebeard.
The result was instantaneous. Ace, like a rabid dog protecting its pup, launched into a frenzied, violent assault. Doflamingo was forced to take the fight seriously and ended up injured. The thought still infuriated him.
"Nee, nee, Doffy—"
Doflamingo frowned in distaste. "Too close, Trebol."
"Nee, nee... too close. And then?" Trebol, utterly lacking self-awareness, leaned in even closer.
"Sit in that chair." Doflamingo pointed to a seat nearby. Only after Trebol had slowly, reluctantly shuffled over did he continue.
"I think there's something to be gained here. If that man Blackbeard truly has the ability and luck to deliver Ace to the World Government, the consequences will be enormous.
The World Government will surely make a huge spectacle of it. When that happens, it'll be impossible to keep these seas calm!"
Doflamingo's ultimate goal was to overthrow the world. Blackbeard's mad scheme, to some extent, aligned with his own interests.
The more chaotic the world became, the more room to maneuver there would be for him—Joker—lurking in the shadows.
Hadn't he become a Warlord, a nominally of the World Government, precisely to wait for and exploit opportunities like this?
The dark underworld thrived on chaos. It was in turmoil that his many less-than-legal businesses turned the greatest profit.
***
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