Rowan was somewhat surprised by the World Government's reaction—or lack thereof.
He had expected them to make things difficult for him in some way. Even if Saint Vasculli, whom he had previously pummeled, didn't have the heart for revenge, hitting a Celestial Dragon was essentially equivalent to slapping the World Government in the face.
But since they didn't bring it up, Rowan wasn't about to go looking for trouble by mentioning it himself. He, Momonga, and the other Marines boarded the warship prepared by the World Government and set sail immediately without any idle chatter.
After Rowan and his men departed, a scene unfolded ten thousand meters above the port, atop the Red Line, within the palaces of the Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
Inside the meeting hall of the Five Elders, the men standing at the pinnacle of world power were gathered—some sitting, some standing. Their collective gaze was fixed on a screen projected by an Image Den Den Mushi.
The screen displayed footage of Rowan's arrival at the Holy Land. At this moment, the Five Elders were scrutinizing him.
"Is he the one? The 'Rowan' who beat Vasculli at Sabaody Archipelago a while back?"
"Looking at him, he seems plain. Nothing special."
"The intelligence indicates he is a hundred years old. He joined the Navy during the same period as Kong. He took Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr, and Tsuru as disciples when they were either new recruits or hadn't even joined yet. Beyond that, he has mentored countless others. Before his retirement, he was known as the 'Marine Godfather' by his followers."
"However, despite his many years in the Navy, he never performed any world-shaking feats. His record of military merit is remarkably flat."
"A man who has lived this long and has the guts to strike a World Noble must have his own source of confidence."
"Did you see Vice Admiral Momonga's attitude toward him? So respectful. There isn't much personal history between Momonga and Rowan."
"To make an elite Headquarters Vice Admiral act like that... this man is not as simple as he appears."
"Agreed. Those who reach the rank of elite Vice Admiral are all proud individuals."
"Let us observe him for a while longer..."
Rowan, currently sailing across the New World, was unaware that he had just been meticulously studied by the Five Elders. He was leisurely sipping wine and enjoying the sea breeze, heading toward the G9 Marine Branch where the mastermind of the Punk Hazard explosion, Caesar Clown, was being held.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the New World.
Inside the magnificent royal palace of the Kingdom of Dressrosa.
The current King of Dressrosa and member of the Shichibukai, Donquixote Doflamingo, held a letter in his hand. His expression was grim, and his brow was twisted with fury.
"That fool Caesar... why would he do something so stupid?!"
Doflamingo's face was as dark as stagnant water, looking utterly terrifying. The news in the letter stated that Caesar had detonated a gas bomb and had been captured by the Marines.
"Doffy, I say, I say! If Caesar is locked up, doesn't that mean our supply of ingredients for the Devil Fruits is gone?" Beside him, Trebol, one of the top officers of the Donquixote Family, leaned in with a trail of snot hanging from his nose, squinting at the letter.
"We have to get him out. Otherwise, there will be no way to explain this to Kaido..." Doflamingo slammed his fist onto the table, his voice low and heavy.
At the thought of Kaido's enraged face, a drop of cold sweat involuntarily trickled down Doflamingo's forehead.
Ever since he led the Donquixote Family to retake Dressrosa and obtained the title of Shichibukai, he had maintained a dual existence. On the surface, he was a King and a Shichibukai; in the shadows, he was the leader of the underworld, known by the codename Joker.
With his power and status, he was a "big shot" who walked both the light and dark paths of the New World. One of his most important illegal trades was his partnership with Kaido—manufacturing and selling Artificial Devil Fruits to help Kaido build an army of a thousand beasts.
The raw material for his "SMILE" fruits, the substance known as "SAD," was produced exclusively by Caesar. If Caesar remained in Marine hands, the supply chain would break. And Kaido's wrath was not something Doflamingo could endure.
His eyes narrowed behind his sunglasses. After a long silence, he spoke.
"He's currently being held in the dungeon of the G9 Marine Branch in the New World. Given the severity of his crimes, Headquarters will definitely send someone to escort him to Impel Down. We must get him out before the people from Headquarters arrive!"
Veins bulged on Doflamingo's forehead, his expression darkening further.
"Ne, Doffy, I say, I say! Who should we send to get him?" Trebol asked.
After a long deliberation, Doflamingo finally answered: "Marine branches in the New World are usually guarded by Branch Vice Admirals at best. Send Diamante. And take Monet. Remember, you must act fast!"
Doflamingo didn't know yet who Headquarters would send to pick up Caesar. To be safe, he dispatched two family officers, including one of the "Top Officers," Diamante.
"Understood, Doffy. I'll get right on it!" Trebol hobbled out of the grand hall with his cane.
Left alone, Doflamingo stood up and walked to the window, looking down upon the Kingdom of Dressrosa with cold, squinted eyes. No one could stop him from becoming the most powerful man in the world. Despite his roles as King, Shichibukai, and Joker, his ultimate dream was the same as every other pirate on the sea: to become the Pirate King.
Shortly after, someone hurried in, knocked, and walked straight up behind him.
"Young Master, latest update. The person sent by Marine Headquarters to take custody of Caesar is the 'Marine Godfather' who recently had his rank restored—Rowan."
"Marine Godfather... Rowan?"
Hearing that name, Doflamingo suddenly and uncontrollably twitched.
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