After returning to the Room of Authority, the Five Elders sank into the couches and immediately began their own private meeting.
"Regarding Lord Imu's transportation, does anyone have any ideas?" asked Warcury.
"That's a tough one… A large space is doable, but the real challenge is making it capable of flight," Saturn muttered, stroking his beard.
Mars thought for a moment and offered, "Why not ask Dr. Vegapunk? Maybe the Science Division can build a flying ship?"
"Even if they have the capability, the Reverie is less than three months away. Would there be enough time?" countered Nusjuro.
"Good point…"
"Then how about using a Devil Fruit with a flying ability?" suggested Ju Peter after a pause. "Isn't Shiki still locked up in 'Eternal Hell'? If we find a way to make him obedient, the problem's solved!"
"Lord Imu already said he has other plans for Shiki. Apart from drawing blood to provide research material to the Science Division, he's not to be touched," said Warcury, shaking his head.
"Then what other options do we have?" Ju Peter asked in frustration.
At that moment, Saturn chimed in, "Devil Fruits are still a good idea. Even if we can't use Shiki's, there are others. There's a mountain of Devil Fruits in the treasury—we've practically got a whole hill of them. Let's have the subordinates search properly; there's bound to be one that fits!"
Just a few days earlier, they had followed Imu's orders and confiscated all the Devil Fruits in the hands of other Celestial Dragons—better that than letting those idiots waste them. They also had personnel cataloging and organizing them based on the illustrated index.
At this point, describing the Five Elders' stockpile of Devil Fruits as a 'small mountain' was no exaggeration.
"Alright then, let's proceed with that. Start searching!"
...
North Blue.
The island of Spider Miles was still shrouded in thick industrial smoke, and from time to time, the mechanical rumble of factory equipment could still be heard.
Every month, hundreds of thousands of firearms were manufactured here. They were loaded onto cargo ships and sold across the North Blue—and even to other seas.
Because of this, the island had three large docks. Ships came and went constantly, day and night. Few ever remained moored for long.
On this particular day, Doflamingo stepped off his family's sea vessel with Pica in tow. Watching the hustle and bustle of loading and unloading cargo, he felt significantly more cheerful.
"Fufufufufu… Business is as good as ever~~"
He knew full well that these crates of weapons would bring chaos, war, and death to countries across the world. In his view, they were creating trouble for the world—a prospect he thoroughly enjoyed.
This sea, ruled by those lofty Celestial Dragons, would one day be destroyed by his own hands.
If Doflamingo couldn't become one of the Celestial Dragons, then those pompous nobles had no right to live comfortably either!
At that thought, a glint of madness and killing intent flickered in Doflamingo's eyes—but all of it was completely hidden behind his sunglasses.
"Doffy, I heard that guy Bullet got caught by the Navy. The one who did it was that Garp."
The towering Pica, standing 4.3 meters tall, followed behind Doflamingo with a pleased expression. But his voice was piercingly shrill—when contrasted with his gladiator armor and rugged, muscular frame, the mismatch created a jarring sense of dissonance.
"Fufufufufu, that guy was clearly a brainless idiot. People like him never last long—his end was bound to be miserable~"
With an arrogant swagger that didn't recognize friend or foe, Doflamingo chuckled coldly as he strolled leisurely along the piles of industrial scrap that had been stacked into hills, heading toward his family's base.
"Sometimes I really wonder—why are there so many fools in this world who only know how to throw punches, without ever thinking? No matter how strong a person is, how many enemies can he fight at once?"
"Strategy, influence, military force, financial power… even reputation and identity—these are all forms of strength too."
Behind him, Pica listened intently to Doflamingo's words. He genuinely admired his young master's confident demeanor. This was exactly what the leader of the Donquixote Family should be like: brilliant and capable!
The fact that their Donquixote Family had grown to such a scale was inseparable from Doflamingo's planning and leadership.
"Hmm?"
But just as the two approached their seaside villa, they immediately sensed that something was wrong.
Doflamingo had long understood the value of raising loyal followers from childhood. That's why he had adopted many young orphans over the years—if they showed potential, he brought them here to raise by his side.
Normally, upon reaching this area, he'd hear the lively voices of young kids laughing and playing together.
But now—silence. An unnerving, complete silence.
Aside from the crashing of waves and the cries of seagulls overhead, not a single human sound could be heard.
Soon, the villa came into view—only to reveal a scene of utter chaos.
"Trebol! Diamante!"
Pica cried out in shock.
All the officers and children of the Donquixote Family lay sprawled across the floor. It was unclear whether they were unconscious—or dead.
Doflamingo's pupils contracted to pinpoints, and an aura of danger began radiating from his body.
Anyone who knew him could tell—Doflamingo was furious!
He was someone who placed tremendous value on 'family'. To him, the first four people who had joined him—Vergo, Trebol, Diamante, and Pica—were his true family.
He wouldn't tolerate anyone hurting them. Even a simple insult would be enough for him to strike back with deadly force.
Pica vanished from where he stood in an instant and reappeared next to Trebol at lightning speed, crouching to check on him.
The oversized coat Trebol always wore—more like a blanket than clothing—had melted into a puddle of blue slime, leaving his skinny upper body exposed as he lay unconscious on the ground. Nearby lay his golden cane, snapped cleanly in two.
Not far away, Diamante looked even worse. His abdomen was dark purple, obviously having taken a heavy blow. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Whew—he's not dead. Still breathing. Thank goodness!" Pica let out a sigh of relief—then immediately erupted in fury, his already shrill voice becoming even sharper and more piercing.
"Who did this?! Who the hell did this!!?"
"They're inside."
Doflamingo stepped up beside Pica and spoke coldly, eyes locked on the small villa.
Just as he finished, the door on the first floor creaked open from within. A figure emerged—a tall and thin man, dressed entirely in white: white mask, white suit, white coat.
"Who are you?"
Doflamingo pulled his hands out of his pockets. Normally, with his temper, he would have attacked without a word. But his Observation Haki had already sensed a dangerous, overwhelming presence—which made him hesitate.
The white-clad man gave no reply. Instead, he tilted his head and glanced at Pica.
In the next instant—whoosh!—he vanished from sight, only to reappear directly in front of Pica.
Doflamingo and Pica's expressions changed immediately. Pica, in particular, responded by instantly coating his entire body in Armament Haki, turning his skin pitch black.
But the white-suited man was simply too fast. Before Pica could react any further, he took a brutal punch straight to the abdomen—and his massive body shot backward like a giant cannonball.
[DANG!!!]
At the same moment, Doflamingo's Five Color Strings lashed out—but the man's left hand caught them with ease. These razor-thin threads were as sharp and resilient as piano wire, easily capable of slicing through a ship's hull—yet they couldn't even scratch his palm.
Doflamingo's heart sank.
"Donquixote Doflamingo. What I have to say is meant for your ears only. Oh—and I'm with the World Government."
Just as Doflamingo prepared to launch another attack, the white-clad man spoke, halting him. And with that, he released the Five Color Strings.
"…"
Doflamingo watched as the man stepped back a few meters. After a brief hesitation, he withdrew his attack and suppressed the rage and violence boiling inside him.
This was the first time Doflamingo had ever encountered CP0.
"What do you want to say?"
The white-clad man replied coldly, "The elders wish to see you. Come with me."
"Mary Geoise?"
Doflamingo's eyes widened behind his sunglasses. "You were sent by the Five Elders?"
"Yes."
Hearing that, Doflamingo's expression darkened even more. He clenched his teeth and let out a bitter laugh.
"When I wanted to go back before, you rejected me. Now you expect me to come crawling back? What do you take me for?"
"And you knocked them unconscious just to deliver that message?"
The white-clad man remained unfazed by the questioning. His voice was still cold and mechanical—completely devoid of emotion.
"They attacked first. As for what just happened—I found knocking people out to be… efficient. Now, what's your decision? Come willingly—or refuse?"
Doflamingo let out a cold laugh.
"And what if I say no?"
"Then I knock you out and take you anyway."
"…"