"Keep a close eye on the underworld," Doflamingo instructed.
His expression was relaxed, but there was a sharpness hidden behind his sunglasses.
The most important thing right now was to ensure that the true location and operations of their underworld network remained concealed.
Wealth and influence were useful.
But flaunting either one unnecessarily was nothing more than an invitation for trouble.
The more people who knew where the Donquixote Family conducted its most sensitive business, the greater the possibility that the Marines, rival pirates, or even other forces in the underworld would eventually discover it.
"Yes, Young Master."
"Oh, and that Caesar fellow."
Doflamingo leaned back against the sofa.
"Find him a hiding place that's considerably more discreet than his current one."
"That man has already given me quite a few surprises."
"If possible, bring him closer to the inner circle of the Donquixote Family."
The executives exchanged glances before nodding.
"Understood."
It had been a little over a year since Caesar Clown had joined forces with them.
The relationship had initially been based on mutual cooperation.
Caesar possessed scientific knowledge that was useful to Doflamingo, while Doflamingo could provide Caesar with protection, resources, and access to the criminal underworld.
Naturally, once the two sides began working together, Caesar became someone the Donquixote Family was responsible for protecting.
However, Caesar was not a man who should be underestimated.
His scientific knowledge was extraordinary.
Although calling him equal to Vegapunk in every field would have been an exaggeration, Caesar was nevertheless an exceptionally dangerous scientist whose research could produce weapons and experiments capable of threatening entire populations.
If someone knew how to make proper use of his abilities, his value would be enormous.
"Understood."
One by one, the executives left the room.
When the door finally closed, Doflamingo's expression changed.
He reached for a photograph lying on the table.
The image was slightly blurred.
A man wearing an eyepatch could be seen in the distance.
The photograph had clearly been taken from far away.
Whoever had taken it had deliberately maintained considerable distance from the target, probably because getting any closer would have been too dangerous.
Doflamingo stared at the photograph.
"Admiral Kuzan…"
A faint smile appeared beneath his sunglasses.
"So Sengoku's intentions are becoming increasingly obvious."
"He wants to keep an eye on me."
Doflamingo's fingers lightly tapped against the photograph.
"But let's see whether that old man Sengoku can overcome the obstacles standing in his way."
"Fufufufufufu!"
His laughter echoed through the room.
The situation was becoming increasingly interesting.
The Marines were watching him.
The underworld was watching him.
And somewhere behind the scenes, the World Government was undoubtedly watching everything as well.
Doflamingo knew that the balance between all these forces was extremely delicate.
One wrong move could cause everything to collapse.
That was why he had no intention of acting recklessly.
For now, waiting was the best choice.
…
Meanwhile, on the sea near Dressrosa, an entirely different situation was unfolding.
Kuzan sat lazily atop his bicycle, looking toward the distant island.
"What exactly does Fleet Admiral Sengoku want?"
He scratched his head.
"I've been watching this place for long enough."
Kuzan had been stationed in the area for quite some time.
He had intercepted several pirate crews attempting to pass through the surrounding waters, but Sengoku had repeatedly instructed him not to directly attack Doflamingo.
At the same time, he had also been told not to abandon the area.
It was an unusual order.
Watch Doflamingo.
Don't attack him.
Don't leave.
Kuzan didn't particularly enjoy complicated assignments.
"It's troublesome."
He leaned back slightly.
Then his Den Den Mushi suddenly began ringing.
Pururururururu!
Kuzan glanced down.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"
He casually picked up the receiver.
"Moshi moshi?"
"Aokiji."
Sengoku's voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
"Your mission has changed."
Kuzan raised an eyebrow.
"Has it?"
"Saint Roselith Seraphina will be arriving soon."
"She will become the primary executor of the operation."
"You'll assist her."
Kuzan's expression became slightly more serious.
"I'm assisting Saint Roselith Seraphina?"
He picked at his ear with one finger.
"I know who she is, but that's an unusual arrangement."
"A Marine Vice Admiral being sent into the New World with an Admiral acting as her support?"
Sengoku sighed.
"Don't misunderstand."
"Seraphina isn't being sent there because she needs someone to protect her."
"She needs someone experienced with the New World."
Kuzan understood immediately.
"So I'm supposed to show the rookie around?"
Sengoku's voice became slightly irritated.
"What I mean is, Seraphina needs to familiarize herself with the New World."
"You're a senior officer."
"You've already spent considerable time operating in that sea."
"Wouldn't it be reasonable for you to mentor her?"
"She's practically your junior."
Kuzan stared blankly into the distance.
"So that's what this is about."
"Yes."
"A troublesome assignment."
"Just cooperate with her."
Kuzan sighed.
"Fine, fine."
He ended the call before Sengoku could continue.
The moment the Den Den Mushi was put away, Kuzan sensed someone approaching.
His lazy expression disappeared for an instant.
Someone was coming.
And whoever it was possessed considerable strength.
Kuzan turned his head.
"Admiral Kuzan."
The familiar voice reached him.
Doflamingo stepped into view, his pink feathered coat fluttering lightly in the sea breeze.
Kuzan looked at him.
"Doflamingo."
The former Celestial Dragon smiled.
"You've received a message from the Marines, haven't you?"
Kuzan glanced at him.
"That depends."
"I just saw you finish a call."
Doflamingo's smile widened.
"Whatever the Navy told you, I'm sure it concerned me."
Kuzan didn't bother denying it.
"Yeah."
"I received new orders."
Doflamingo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then why haven't you left?"
Kuzan looked at him as though the question were strange.
"Leave?"
"Yes."
"You were obviously ordered to change your assignment."
Kuzan shrugged.
"No."
"My orders were to stay."
Doflamingo's expression changed.
"To stay?"
Kuzan nodded.
"That's right."
"The Marines told me to freeze this place."
The atmosphere suddenly changed.
Doflamingo's smile disappeared.
"What?"
Kuzan raised one hand.
The air around him became bitterly cold.
Ice rapidly spread across his arm.
In the next instant, the temperature of the surrounding area plummeted.
Doflamingo's instincts screamed.
"Birdcage "
He barely managed to react before the freezing power reached him.
"Ice Time."
Crack!
A layer of ice instantly covered Doflamingo's body.
The former Celestial Dragon was frozen solid.
For a moment, everything became silent.
Then the frozen figure shattered apart.
Ice fragments scattered across the ground.
Doflamingo's body reappeared a short distance away.
He had escaped before the freezing effect could completely immobilize him.
His expression was no longer relaxed.
"Damn it…"
Kuzan had not even given him the opportunity to properly counterattack.
The gap between their movements had been obvious.
Doflamingo understood immediately that Kuzan had never intended to engage him in a prolonged battle.
He had simply demonstrated the difference between an Admiral and an ordinary pirate.
Doflamingo's fingers twitched.
He was ready to retaliate.
But Kuzan was already gone.
Doflamingo looked toward the sea.
Only the frozen trail left behind by Kuzan's bicycle remained.
"What happened?"
He had expected Kuzan to continue watching him.
Instead, the Admiral had attacked without warning and then simply left.
Doflamingo's expression darkened.
"I got tricked."
Kuzan had never intended to fight him.
He had merely wanted to make his position clear.
Doflamingo was a pirate.
Kuzan was a Marine Admiral.
There was no reason for the two of them to exchange pleasantries.
Kuzan had no intention of treating Doflamingo like an old acquaintance simply because the man had once been a Celestial Dragon.
"A pirate is still a pirate."
Kuzan's voice drifted faintly from the distance.
"Even if he used to be a Celestial Dragon."
He continued riding away.
"Forget it."
Kuzan wasn't interested in wasting time.
"I'll find somewhere to wait for Saint Roselith Seraphina."
"If this is supposed to be her training, then I'll let her deal with Doflamingo herself."
Kuzan opened the backpack strapped to his bicycle.
He pulled out a simple folding bicycle.
With a casual movement of his hand, his Devil Fruit power spread across the ocean.
The sea froze.
A long path of ice extended into the distance.
Kuzan placed the bicycle on the frozen surface.
Then he began riding.
His movements were as relaxed as ever.
As though he weren't traveling through one of the most dangerous seas in the world.
As though an Emperor's territory weren't somewhere beyond the horizon.
And as though he hadn't just frozen one of the most dangerous pirates alive.
He simply followed the route marked on his map.
He had another Marine to meet.
Saint Roselith Seraphina.
…
At the edge of the Red Line, a completely different kind of confrontation was taking place.
"This is the clearance document."
Bruce handed the paperwork to the official responsible for managing passage through the authorized route.
"It has already been approved by Mariejois."
The official examined the document carefully.
His expression remained neutral.
Then he pushed it back.
"Isn't something missing?"
Bruce looked at him.
"Missing?"
The official rubbed his fingers together discreetly.
His meaning was obvious.
He was asking for a bribe.
The man's eyes briefly moved toward Bruce's Marine uniform before returning to the document.
Bruce immediately understood.
"Ah."
He smiled.
"A small token of appreciation."
"Nothing worth mentioning."
He reached into his pristine white uniform and pulled out a stack of Berries.
He discreetly placed the money inside the document and handed it back.
The official's expression immediately became more pleasant.
"Yes, everything appears to be in order."
He stamped the document.
"Notify the transport personnel."
"Tell them to expedite the passage."
Bruce nodded.
"Thank you."
He turned around.
But before he could take another step, a clear voice came from behind him.
"Why is it taking so long?"
Bruce stopped.
Saint Roselith Seraphina approached from behind.
She had been exploring the area while waiting for the passage authorization to be processed.
This was her first time entering the New World through the Red Line openly, and naturally, she had been curious about the route.
She looked toward Bruce.
Then she looked at the officials.
"What happened?"
Bruce smiled awkwardly.
"Your Highness, I was merely trying to smooth things over."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed.
"Smooth things over?"
She glanced toward the officials.
"You mean them?"
"Yes."
Bruce didn't bother hiding the truth.
Seraphina immediately understood.
The officials had been asking for a bribe.
She looked at them for several seconds.
The officials also looked at her.
Then they realized exactly who she was.
A young woman.
A Marine Vice Admiral.
And, more importantly, a Celestial Dragon.
Their expressions changed immediately.
They had not expected the person traveling with Bruce to be someone of such extraordinary status.
"Is that Saint Roselith Seraphina?"
One official whispered.
The others immediately became nervous.
Seraphina didn't say anything.
She simply stared at them.
She had already memorized their faces.
The officials suddenly felt a chill run down their spines.
"Forget it."
Seraphina turned away.
"Bruce, let's go."
"I don't want to waste any more time here."
Bruce nodded.
"Yes, Your Highness."
As they walked away, Seraphina's expression remained calm.
She had not forgiven them.
Nor had she overlooked what they had done.
She had simply decided that this was not the time to deal with them.
Their faces had already been etched into her memory.
Their actions had been recorded in her mind.
Sooner or later, their names would appear in the appropriate report.
And when that happened, their positions would probably not last very long.
Seraphina wasn't interested in protecting corrupt officials simply because they worked for the Government.
If the Marines were going to become the foundation of the new order she envisioned, then corruption within their institutions had to be dealt with.
She looked ahead toward the vast sea beyond the Red Line.
The New World.
This time, she wasn't entering it secretly.
She was entering openly, under official Marine authorization.
And waiting somewhere ahead was an Admiral.
A dangerous pirate.
A scientist named Caesar Clown.
And countless enemies she had yet to meet.
Saint Roselith Seraphina's eyes gradually sharpened.
"Let's go."
Bruce followed without hesitation.
The journey into the New World had officially begun.
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