"North Sea King?"
"Just the king of a small pond."
"Still, I have to admit one thing — although Doflamingo was audacious, he made a brilliant move."
When speaking of the King of the North Sea, Sengoku scoffed at first, but then conceded that Doflamingo's Hijacking the gold of a Celestial Dragon was no simple feat:
"Some time ago, I saw Doflamingo causing more and more trouble in the North Sea, so I sent Tsuru to make a trip and planned to imprison him."
"I don't know where he got the news, but before Tsuru even reached the North Sea, he had already taken the lead in seizing the Heavenly Tribute Gold."
"Doflamingo also knows that a Celestial Dragon who has lost their proof of status can no longer protect themselves fully, so he set his sights on the title of Shichibukai."
He reached out and knocked on the desk.
"With the title of Shichibukai, Doflamingo's reputation in the world will be further elevated."
"Then, no longer wanted by the navy, he can openly enter the Grand Line — or even head to the New World."
"Whether he joins one of the Four Emperors or chooses to establish his own kingdom and territory, the Donquixote Pirates will grow rapidly."
Kuzan now understood why Donquixote Doflamingo dared risk offending both Marine Headquarters and the World Government to plunder the Heavenly Tribute Gold.
First — Sengoku had sent Tsuru after him.
Second — the title of Shichibukai would greatly boost Doflamingo's influence and power.
The Donquixote Family was unlike most pirate crews; it was a pirate organization that prioritized business power.
Without the Shichibukai title, the Donquixote Family's various illicit trades across the world — arms, human trafficking, drugs — would constantly face suppression from both the navy and the World Government.
This was why Doflamingo had been reluctant to leave the North Sea for the Grand Line.
His business empire in the North Sea depended on his control there.
But with the Shichibukai title, it would be different.
As long as he paid his 'taxes' to the World Government, Doflamingo could engage in arms trafficking, slavery, narcotics — even looting — without fear. His territory could expand without restraint.
"Once he gets the title of Shichibukai, Doflamingo will no longer be a small-time ruler of the North Sea, but a real force to be reckoned with."
"Among the Four Emperors, he may not have a place — but in the New World, becoming one of the Dark Emperors would be more than enough."
Sengoku's judgment of people was always precise.
After all, aside from the codename "Buddha" and his rank as Fleet Admiral, he was also called:
The Wise General.
From Doflamingo's early request for the Shichibukai title alone, Sengoku had already seen through his next plan.
"Alalalalalala…"
"Mr. Sengoku, since we know Doflamingo's plan, we mustn't give him the Shichibukai title."
When speaking of the Shichibukai system, Kuzan's tone carried a trace of disgust.
In truth, no marine with a sense of justice held any fondness for the Shichibukai.
Because the very existence of the system was a humiliation and insult to the navy.
But… this was a system created by the Five Elders.
Even if Kuzan became an admiral, he could not abolish it.
"You must give it!"
Sengoku rubbed his temples.
"Why?"
"We know the tiger cub will eat people when it grows, yet we still feed it? I don't understand."
Kuzan frowned deeply.
"The balance and stability of the world depend on the Shichibukai system. Giving Doflamingo the title will indeed lead to the rise of a Dark Emperor — but it will also help maintain the balance among the three great powers."
"Even if I refused, the Five Elders would approve it."
Sengoku could see Kuzan's reluctance.
Frankly, aside from lacking Conqueror's Haki, Kuzan was his most promising successor as Fleet Admiral.
Borsalino was too laid-back.
Sakazuki was too extreme.
Only Kuzan had both compassion and ruthlessness.
"Without Doflamingo, someone else will fill the Shichibukai seat."
Sengoku sighed.
He was the Fleet Admiral — but first and foremost, a marine.
He too despised the Shichibukai system from the bottom of his heart. But the higher one stood, the more one had to consider.
He could not pursue justice as freely as Kuzan could.
"Is there truly nothing we can do?"
"First, they trample on Marine Headquarters' justice by creating the Shichibukai. Now, they allow a pirate from the North Sea to threaten the Headquarters itself."
"The World Government may be willing to lose face, but the navy cannot afford such disgrace."
After the O'Hara incident, Kuzan had begun to question the "burning justice" he once followed, but he had not yet adopted the "lazy justice" he would later embrace.
At this time, though not extreme like Sakazuki, he still burned with passion.
"There's nothing we can do."
Seeing Kuzan so agitated, Sengoku knew the O'Hara incident had left a deep mark on him.
He even regretted sending Kuzan on that mission.
Buru buru buru…
Just as Sengoku was about to explain his plan, the Den Den Mushi on his desk rang urgently.
"Doflamingo again?"
Sengoku frowned, but quickly composed himself and answered.
"Sengoku speaking."
"It's me, Zephyr."
The voice from the Den Den Mushi startled him.
"Aren't you giving Rosen practical training in Impel Down? How do you have time to call me? Wait — don't tell me there's been a prisoner escape?!"
Hearing the solemn tone in Zephyr's voice, Sengoku's heart tightened. His first thought was that a prisoner had escaped from Level 6 — Infinite Hell.
After all, Zephyr had been using Level 6 monsters as training opponents for Rosen.
Such a method carried immense risk.
"Quite the opposite."
"In fact… there may be no such thing as Infinite Hell anymore."
Zephyr's words left Sengoku both shocked and confused.
"Why?"
Sengoku and Kuzan exchanged looks, seeing the same bafflement in each other's eyes.
"Except for Aloof Red and the Demon's Heir, whom you ordered not to release… Rosen has emptied Infinite Hell."
Zephyr hesitated before delivering the earth-shattering news.
"What?!"
"Didn't you make a list? Wasn't Rosen only supposed to kill thirty prisoners at most?!"
Sengoku shot to his feet, stunned.
Kuzan's eyes also widened.
He killed all of Level 6?!
What in the world had Rosen and Zephyr unleashed inside Impel Down?
"His growth rate has exceeded all my expectations. I tried sending in the end-of-list prisoners early — it didn't work. I tried letting him fight two prisoners at once — it didn't work either."
"Later, Rosen proposed: release one more prisoner each day than the day before, until only Douglas Bullet and Patrick Redfield — the two you forbade — remained."
In just a few sentences, Zephyr made Sengoku and Kuzan realize one thing —
Rosen's growth inside Impel Down was terrifying.
...
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