Doflamingo turned to Trebol. "What about that matter I had you investigate? The pirate who severely wounded Blackbeard—what's his situation?"
Doflamingo felt that anyone capable of injuring Blackbeard—whom he considered to have at least some degree of strength—to such an extent was no ordinary character.
Especially since it happened in the first half of the Grand Line.
Could it be another old relic he didn't know about?
Trebol immediately produced a stack of intelligence documents and handed them over. "Nee, Doffy, I've already looked into it. It's a pirate crew that's been making a name for themselves recently. The captain is a man called Straw Hat Luffy—Monkey D. Luffy."
"Straw Hat?" Doflamingo studied Luffy's carefree, grinning face on the wanted poster. It looked somewhat familiar.
He took the documents and began flipping through them.
"A pirate like that—I could take care of the whole lot myself the moment they set foot on land."
A tall, burly man clad in armor spoke in a distinctively high-pitched, reedy voice.
This was Pica, a user of the Ishi Ishi no Mi. When he fully unleashed his power, he could assimilate the very rocks of an entire island, creating a colossal stone giant. In his view, sheer size itself was an unparalleled force.
However, his shrill voice—a stark contrast to his imposing physique—made some of the surrounding underlings cover their mouths, shoulders shaking as they desperately suppressed their laughter.
Pica hated nothing more than people mocking his voice. Anyone who dared laugh aloud would undoubtedly be beaten to death on the spot.
Doflamingo had emphasized more than once that the executives of the Donquixote Family were his most cherished family members, and outsiders were absolutely forbidden from ridiculing them.
Though this statement, coming from a man who had personally killed his own father and brother, was particularly ironic.
Doflamingo stared at the wanted poster, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest. "Monkey D. Luffy... that name sounds a lot like some old man in the Marines."
Trebol reminded him, "Nee, they say he's related to the Marine hero, Garp."
"Fufufufu... That explains it." Doflamingo laughed, though the smile carried an undercurrent of wariness.
Trebol asked, "Should we make a move? Teach that Straw Hat kid a lesson?"
Doflamingo shook his head. "Teaching Straw Hat a lesson is one thing. But if he really is related to that old Marine... that's troublesome. Every Marine from the previous era is difficult to deal with. Touching him would only invite greater trouble."
He recalled the humiliating experience of being chased across the seas by Vice Admiral Tsuru. The memory still unsettled him.
Even setting aside whether he could win, if he actually did something serious to Tsuru, the entire Marine high command would probably go berserk—especially that particular Marine hero, Garp, who was notorious for acting without regard for consequences.
Doflamingo concluded that, given his current power and influence, it was wiser to play it safe. For now, it was best not to actively provoke those old veterans with deep backgrounds.
Marines who had survived to the present day possessed such intricate and tangled networks of connections that even Spider-Man couldn't unravel them. Doflamingo had no intention of testing those waters. Not everyone within the Marines supported the Warlord system, either.
"But this Straw Hat kid has clashed with some of our affiliated external forces in the Grand Line," Diamante spoke up. Dressed in red leather pants and a cape, attired like a bullfighter, he was a user of the Hira Hira no Mi, which allowed him to make objects he touched as light and flowing as fabric, without altering their material properties. It granted him considerable defensive capability, though it seemed somewhat inadequate against a true swordsman capable of cutting steel.
Doflamingo raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What's this?"
Diamante reported the incident—a minor pirate crew affiliated with their family had been taught a lesson by the Straw Hats in Mock Town.
Doflamingo's face twisted into his signature sinister grin. "Fufufu. Since they dared to lay hands on someone from my Donquixote Family—even if it was just an affiliated small fry—we can't simply let it slide.
Keep an eye on this Straw Hat kid's movements."
His "attention," of course, meant that given the opportunity, he wouldn't hesitate to throw obstacles in this rookie pirate's path, or find some amusement at his expense.
He leaned back on his throne, crossing his legs, as if everything was firmly within his grasp.
"Now, we just need to wait patiently. Keep a close watch on Blackbeard and Ace's movements. I'm sure results will come soon."
He turned to his flamboyantly dressed executive. "Diamante, I'll leave this matter in your hands."
Diamante's face showed reluctance. He squirmed uncomfortably. "Wait, Doffy. I'm not really good at this kind of intelligence gathering and surveillance work..."
Doflamingo, well aware of his executives' temperaments, played along. "No, I believe this task requires someone as sharp and perceptive as you."
Diamante suddenly seemed embarrassed by the praise, waving his hands, his voice rising higher. "Don't say that! You make me sound like some kind of genius~"
Doflamingo wore a sincerely earnest expression. "This matter absolutely requires a genius like you."
"Well... since you insist on putting it that way—" Diamante's vanity was thoroughly indulged. His voice shot up dramatically as he pounded his chest in assurance. "I have no choice but to admit that I AM a genius! Leave it to me, Doffy!"
Several days later.
The Going Merry of the Straw Hat crew had arrived at the next island indicated by the Log Pose.
Long Ring Long Land.
This was a peculiar archipelago consisting of twelve slender, elongated islands arranged in a ring formation. The island they were about to land on was one of them.
From a distance, endless emerald meadows stretched out before them. The entire island was flat, dotted only with a few spindly, unusually tall trees.
The verdant grasslands and the towering, slender trees grew clearer in their view.
Their ship had not yet docked, but the sea breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and damp soil from the island.
On the deck, little Merry was contentedly sipping a cup of Sanji's special nutrient-fortified milk, gulping it down noisily.
Ever since Sanji had implemented the crew health plan, Chopper, Merry, and Nika's unwavering daily morning task was to finish this cup of vitamin-rich milk.
Nika often grumbled about it, feeling it interfered with her alcohol intake schedule. However, she inevitably surrendered when faced with Merry's sparkling eyes and Chopper's earnest persuasions about its health benefits.
Nami stretched, walked to the gunwale, and gazed at the approaching island.
Ever since their sudden wealth on Skypiea, she had generously subscribed to the World Economic Times' VIP service. Every day, a News Coo would punctually deliver the latest newspaper, allowing her to stay instantly informed of all major developments on the seas.
In this world of limited information flow, News Coos were the best way to stay updated.
Today was no exception. A familiar News Coo fluttered down, wings flapping. Nami paid the Berries and took the newspaper, still carrying the scent of fresh ink.
Her eyes swept rapidly across the front page. Her expression shifted slightly.
***
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