"Pfft—"
On an island in the New World, Shanks and the others were gathered around a newspaper, rolling on the ground with laughter.
"I can't stop laughing! Now I know why Doflamingo agreed to help us – it turns out Big Mom, that old hag, is trying to rob the cradle! Hahahaha!"
Shanks clutched his stomach, tears streaming down his face as he pounded the ground.
Even the always-cold Mihawk couldn't help but crack a smile at the news, struggling to contain his laughter to avoid losing his composure.
No wonder that opportunistic Doflamingo had dared to join them on this adventure against Big Mom – there was more to it than met the eye. But honestly, if they were in his shoes, they would have declared war on Totto Land immediately. Let that old hag know they wouldn't submit!
Enel, who had already returned, saw that Shanks and the others had misunderstood why Doflamingo was helping, but he didn't bother correcting them.
"Though if you ask me, that flamingo is being ungrateful. That's Charlotte Linlin – the Queen of Totto Land, a wealthy woman of that caliber interested in him, and he doesn't even appreciate it!"
"Whether that guy can become the Pirate King, I don't know. But the King of Living Off Women? He's definitely got that title locked down!"
Buggy wished he could mock Doflamingo to his face, almost wanting to make the man call Big Mom "baby."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the sea, Doflamingo stared at the newspapers and Big Mom's messengers over the past few days, furious enough to shatter his own teeth.
His family members watched him with veins bulging all over his body, the newspaper in his hands nearly crushed, and they all felt a bit afraid.
"Damn Big Mom! This time, I'll make sure she dies!"
The reason this had become public knowledge was mainly because of Totto Land. Big Mom had conceived the idea of making Doflamingo her husband, and naturally planned to use this tea party to complete the wedding as well.
When the messenger from Totto Land arrived, Doflamingo considered his own plans and suppressed the urge to kill the man, actually agreeing to the marriage through gritted teeth.
The messenger had been Perospero. Honestly, even he felt this errand was a bit humiliating. Before coming, he had prepared himself for the Donquixote Pirates to turn on him, but he never expected that so-called "Heavenly Yaksha" to actually agree.
This made Perospero shake his head inwardly.
This fallen Celestial Dragon was worse than a dog – willing to do absolutely anything to regain his former glory. He could even accept his own mother's proposal. Unbelievable!
He didn't dare linger. The fury in Doflamingo's eyes was visible even through his glasses, and Perospero didn't want any trouble. After getting the reply, he immediately returned to Totto Land to deliver the good news to Big Mom.
Big Mom was overjoyed upon hearing this and decided to make her tea party even more spectacular. She contacted the World Economic News and published the news of yet another marriage on the front page.
Now the whole world knew that Doflamingo, that pretty boy, was living off Charlotte Linlin.
How could this not make Doflamingo furious?
But the man had some composure – for the sake of his greater plan, he swallowed his current humiliation without a word. However, the look in his eyes that said he wanted to kill someone was impossible to hide.
His only thought now was to use the tea party to kill that old hag Big Mom, no matter the cost!
With that in mind, he picked up the Den Den Mushi and called Buggy and the others.
He had to discuss every detail of the plan with them thoroughly – there could be no mistakes, or his lifelong reputation would be truly finished!
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, Garp had been laughing nonstop for half an hour, nearly dislocating his own jaw.
"Hahahaha!!!"
"Hahahaha!!!"
"Hey, hey, that's enough, Garp!" Sengoku had also been laughing, but he thought of deeper implications that worried him.
"There's no helping it – that pirate, I can't believe he actually did it!" Garp gasped for breath between laughs. After a long while, he finally calmed down and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.
"That Doflamingo – he certainly has good taste! Back in the day, Charlotte Linlin was considered a great beauty of the seas! But now, hahahaha…"
The thought of Big Mom's current four-thousand-odd pounds of flesh crushing Doflamingo made Garp burst out laughing again.
You look at that Doflamingo with his thin arms and legs like some scrawny pretty boy – how could he not think things through?
"You just don't understand the perks of a rich woman, Garp!" Rear Admiral Tsuru, now showing wrinkles, rarely made a joke.
Garp glanced at Tsuru and suddenly felt relieved.
Thank goodness, thank goodness.
Their former Marine beauty, though time had taken its toll, was still a normal elderly woman – she hadn't become as abstract as Charlotte Linlin.
"Don't just look at the surface, Garp!" Kong sighed. This brainless fool of a Garp. This matter only appeared funny on the surface, but in reality, it was an event of grave concern to the World Government!
Charlotte Linlin's power, combined with Doflamingo's identity and the secrets he held – it was hard not to make the World Government worry.
Doflamingo's identity was far too sensitive.
"The World Government and the Celestial Dragons both don't want to see this wedding succeed. This time, the Marines will also take action!" Kong had received orders from the World Government before the meeting.
The World Government feared the leakage of the kingdom's secrets, and even worse – if Big Mom gained access to the Ancient Weapons, the consequences would be catastrophic.
The Celestial Dragons' thinking was simpler.
It was purely because it was too humiliating!
Doflamingo still bore the title of Celestial Dragon descendant. If he truly became the husband of someone like Big Mom, it would be an absolute disgrace to the Celestial Dragons!
Many Celestial Dragons in Mary Geoise were constantly slandering Doflamingo, wishing for his death.
"In that case, why not have Kuzan and the other two work together?" Sengoku suggested. Aokiji and the others already possessed Admiral-level combat power. Three Admirals working together could handle virtually any situation.
Even the Big Mom Pirates wouldn't be impossible to confront.
"Isn't that a bit risky? I heard Big Mom sent an invitation to Inazuma for this matter as well." Tsuru looked worried.
If the Lightning General also got involved and teamed up with Big Mom, Kuzan and the other two combined might not be enough.
[
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