Doflamingo, so high-profile, announced that he would join Marco and become Marco's subordinate. This news, which shook the entire New World, left Akainu extremely shocked.
As a Marshal of the Navy Headquarters, he looked far more long-term and considered more factors than others.
This news officially confirmed that Marco intended to establish a supreme force—a super force centered around a pirate of Doflamingo's caliber, or even a pirate group.
This is not good news for Navy Headquarters.
Originally, in Akainu's plan, he intended to let the pirates of the New World fight each other, with the Navy Headquarters, under his command, being the last to reap the benefits.
But now it seems that Marco's move has completely disrupted his previous plans.
He couldn't just sit idly by.
Otherwise, once Marco establishes a force, it will continue to grow, becoming a larger and larger power, and there will once again be an extremely tricky force, like the 'Whitebeard Pirates.'
Moreover, based on the current analysis of Marco's actions, if his power continues to grow, what awaits the Navy Headquarters is a restless 'Whitebeard Pirates,' far more dangerous than any other pirate group.
"Get ready to round up Marco!"
A command from Akainu clearly expressed the Navy Headquarters' stance.
They were finally shifting from watching the pirates fight from afar to taking matters into their own hands and confronting Marco.
"Start now, keep an eye on Marco's whereabouts. The soldiers involved in the operation, even those scouting Marco's movements, are required to be at least Vice-Admirals."
"If Marco spots you, retreat immediately; do not engage him directly. With your current strength, anyone who confronts Marco alone will only be tortured and killed."
"..."
Following this, one order after another was issued under Akainu's direction, to be executed.
The calmness Akainu displayed was far beyond what he had shown during the war at Marineford. The plan was so meticulous—link after link—that the entire Navy Headquarters couldn't help but be impressed. Even the Vice-Admirals were confident that such a plan could definitely deal with Marco!
In his short time as Fleet Admiral, Akainu had become more sophisticated and ruthless.
The Navy Headquarters, led by Akainu, was finally about to take action.
...
New World.
Whole Cake Island.
After the news that Doflamingo announced he had become Marco's subordinate reached the Big Mom Pirates, countless pirates within the Four Emperors' Big Mom Pirates were also shocked.
"How could Doflamingo suddenly announce that he will join Marco?!"
"Marco is really becoming a problem."
"It seems like we need to speed up and eliminate Marco."
Several of the top ministers of the Charlotte family commented this way, clearly viewing Marco's move as a thorn in their side that had to be removed quickly.
"By the way, which ministers were sent to deal with Katakuri?"
Suddenly, someone asked.
"Cante and the other two."
"Contact them. Tell them they don't need to torture Katakuri—just kill him, and return to the family as soon as possible. Mom may have a new plan."
At this time, the Charlotte family was completely unaware that the three people sent to deal with Katakuri had been killed and would not return.
But soon, the news came back.
The three, including Cante, had all disappeared without a trace and could not be contacted!
Immediately after, there was official news that the three sent to hunt down Katakuri were all dead.
"How is that possible?! Katakuri, already on the verge of death, managed to kill all three of them?!"
Clearly, the news that all three assassins were dead left the entire Charlotte family in disbelief.
"The information indicates that the three, including Cante, were seemingly manipulated, instantly turning on each other and dying on the spot."
Such information surprised many ministers of the Charlotte family once again.
"Doflamingo's ability with the String-String Fruit?!"
Almost instinctively, they thought of the String-String Fruit's power.
The entire Charlotte family was furious.
"Doflamingo is so brazen... Daring to attack our Charlotte family—he's courting death!"
"He's already courting death, or he wouldn't dare join Marco so audaciously!"
"Does his alliance with Marco imply something about Katakuri...?"
The group was stunned.
Marco, once again!!!
Almost at the same time, all the pirate groups in the New World learned that Doflamingo had joined Marco.
For a while, the entire New World, with countless large and small pirate groups, was in shock.
Similarly, in the New World, on a large island, another Four Emperors' pirate group—the base of the Beasts Pirates—was equally stunned by the news.
"Joker... He has a death wish."
While shocked, the entire Beasts Pirates were seething with rage.
Marco was their primary target; he had killed Drought Jack—a true enemy to them.
Doflamingo, who had rejected a cooperative relationship with them, chose instead to join Marco, their adversary.
"Prepare to go all out against Marco!"
"There's no way we'll give him the slightest chance to resist!"
The Navy understood the gravity of the situation, and the pirates understood it too—Marco was attempting to establish a new pirate group, aiming to form a superpower. Therefore, what the Beasts Pirates had to do was eliminate this threat while it was still in its infancy.
And the simplest, most direct, and most effective way to stop him was to kill Marco!!!
...
Time passed, and a few days went by.
New World.
On a certain island.
Marco received a call from Stussy.
"Any new information?"
Marco wanted to tell Stussy that there was no need to investigate several of the Four Emperors' pirate groups.
First, Stussy's original intelligence network had been dismantled.
Second, Doflamingo had taken over the task of intelligence gathering.
Third, this was not like other times—this was the most dangerous period, and Marco didn't want to see Stussy put in danger by the Four Emperors' pirate groups or risk falling into a crisis.
But after considering it, Marco remained silent; how could someone as clever as Stussy not already understand these things?
"There is indeed very important new information."
Judging from Stussy's tone, this was far more serious than ever before.
Marco couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Very important news…?"