Wano Country's Flower Capital had become a den of chaos since Orochi's death. Kaido, the brute who called himself the world's strongest creature, now occupied the General's Mansion with impunity. His Beasts Pirates swarmed the streets, their presence turning the once-thriving capital into a lawless wasteland. Only the Flower Capital maintained a semblance of commerce—everywhere else in Wano had been reduced to slave-labor camps for weapon production.
From weathered elders to wide-eyed children, no one escaped Kaido's grasp. Each day stretched from dawn to midnight in the factories, the entire population reduced to cogs in his war machine. If there was any mercy to be found, it came from Doflamingo's twisted efficiency. Unlike Orochi's short-sighted exploitation, Doflamingo's system ensured workers weren't worked to death—just to the brink.
"Sustainable utilization," he called it, with a smirk that made the term taste like poison.
The slaves worked fifteen-hour days, seven days a week, with only the annual Fire Festival offering respite. It was brutal, yes, but it kept them fed. Starvation wasn't an option—Kaido needed able bodies for his factories. A full belly was the bare minimum, and dreaming of anything more was a luxury few dared to entertain.
For those desperate enough to claw their way out, there was one path: the Beasts Pirates' recruitment trials. Fight well, impress Kaido's lieutenants, and you might earn a place among the crew. It was a slim chance, but for the millions trapped in Wano's hellscape, it was the only hope of freedom. To join the Beasts Pirates meant escaping the factories, lifting your family out of servitude—a dream worth killing for.
Doflamingo's recruitment scheme was a calculated move. It kept hope alive, just barely, preventing the slaves from collapsing into despair or revolt. A handful of promotions here and there ensured the system remained intact, feeding Kaido's army with fresh blood while placating the masses. It was a cruel, brilliant manipulation, and Doflamingo reveled in its efficiency.
The man himself strode into the General's Mansion, his flamboyant pink coat billowing behind him. His sunglasses gleamed under the light, and the twin horns atop his head added a touch of theatrical menace. In his hand, he clutched a newspaper, its headlines screaming news of the outside world. Inside the council hall, Kaido lounged with a sake gourd, his massive frame slouched in drunken repose.
"Fufufufufu!" Doflamingo's laugh echoed through the hall as he approached. "Boss Kaido, I've got something that might pique your interest."
Kaido raised a bleary eye, belching loudly. "Oh? Spit it out, Doflamingo." He snatched the newspaper, squinting at the bold print. "The Marines are executing Ace, Whitebeard's Second Division Commander, at Marineford next week. Why should I care?"
Doflamingo leaned in, his grin widening. "Don't you want to start a world-shaking war? Whitebeard won't sit back while they kill one of his own. He'll storm Marineford, and when he does... chaos will follow. Isn't that what you live for?"
Kaido's interest stirred, his drunken haze lifting slightly. "You're suggesting I team up with Whitebeard to attack Marineford?"
"Doflamingo's eyes flickered with a strange light as he said, "Not just Whitebeard. We could unite the Four Emperors and turn Marineford into ashes. Imagine the spectacle—the world's greatest powers crashing down on the Marines. Isn't that worth your time?"
The Marines stand as the World Government's most formidable military force, suppressing the Four Emperors' pirate crews in the New World and preventing any further expansion of their power. If we could unite the Four Emperors and ignite a war of unprecedented scale—one that shakes the entire world—it might cripple the Marines' combat strength.
With that, the Grand Line would fall under our control, and the World Government would be forced into a defensive position. We could finally overthrow their tyrannical rule!" Doflamingo's laughter rang out, wild and unrestrained.
"Ororororo! Yes, a world-class war—now that's an idea!" Kaido roared with laughter, his voice booming like thunder.
"Fufufufufu!" Doflamingo joined in, his own laughter mingling with Kaido's.
Doflamingo had his reasons for proposing this plan to Kaido. Years ago, in his battle with Wang Zhi, he had fully mastered Haoshoku Haki, stepping into the realm of the Four Emperors. Yet... he still couldn't defeat Kaido.
In terms of the three types of Haki, the gap between them wasn't vast. Even if Doflamingo was slightly weaker, he could hold his own. But... the difference between the String-String Fruit and the Azure Dragon Fruit was insurmountable.
Doflamingo had honed his String-String Fruit into a versatile weapon, capable of sustaining him in battle and repairing his body gradually. But compared to Kaido's Azure Dragon Fruit—with its unmatched defense, stamina, and rapid healing—his abilities paled in comparison.
It gnawed at him, why his String-String Fruit was a Paramecia and not a Mythical Zoan.
Once, after defeating Wang Zhi, Kaido had "accidentally" beaten him senseless while claiming to be drunk. Kaido wasn't one for subtlety—he swung his spiked club, Hassaikai, with brutal force.
Doflamingo, riding high on his recent victory, had foolishly fought back, trading blows with Kaido's dragon form using his flashy techniques. But when Kaido unleashed the full power of his awakened Azure Dragon Fruit, Doflamingo's head nearly caved in.
That day, Doflamingo realized the true gap between them—a chasm that only time could bridge.
Now, at thirty-nine, with Kaido fifty-seven, Doflamingo bided his time. In twenty years, when Kaido was old and frail, he would repay every humiliation tenfold.
For now, Doflamingo had shifted his strategy. Instead of plotting Kaido's immediate downfall, he focused on gradually separating his forces from the Beasts Pirates. With his current strength, though still inferior to Kaido's, he had the leverage to flip the table if pushed too far.
If Kaido refused to let him go independent, Doflamingo would drag the entire Beasts Pirates into ruin. Mutual destruction was an option he was willing to consider.
He believed Kaido's personality and pragmatism would prevent a complete breakdown. As long as Doflamingo publicly acknowledged Kaido's leadership and maintained a steady flow of profits, their alliance wouldn't collapse entirely.
However, the current problem is that the territory of the entire New World is almost entirely controlled by the Four Emperors. The remaining areas belong to World Government-affiliated nations, making them nearly impossible for Doflamingo to claim, even if he wanted to.
Ace's public execution lit a spark in him—a chance to break free from the Beasts Pirates' grip. If he could exploit this to pit the Four Emperors against the Marines, the world would plunge into chaos. In the ensuing disorder, territories would be up for grabs, ripe for the taking. Doflamingo knew he could carve out his piece of the spoils.
Even if the Marines emerged victorious, the Four Emperors' fall would create openings. He could swoop in, claiming territory in the New World amidst the wreckage. Kaido, impulsive by nature, wouldn't hesitate to seize the opportunity either.
After deciding to join the war between Whitebeard and the Marines, Doflamingo wasted no time. He grabbed the den den mushi and reached out directly to Big Mom Charlotte Linlin in Totto Land, skipping any encryption. When he laid out his plan, Charlotte Linlin didn't hesitate. She agreed instantly, pledging to march with him against Marineford.