"What's this?! You little brat actually became a dog for the World Government? Jihahahaha~"
After the immense blow of reality from the "Battle of Edd War" and the devastating spiritual blow from the fall of the "Pirate King," time seems to have healed all wounds. The "Golden Lion" who once roared across the seas with boundless spirit also seems to have returned, which could be somewhat inferred from his voice.
Doflamingo held the Den Den Mushi to his ear with one hand and browsed the newspaper with the headline "BIG MOVE! The Birth of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!" with the other. He chuckled, "Say what you will, 'Golden Lion,' I didn't call you to be mocked, fufufufu~ In our previous deals, don't you owe me some debt? At least settle a portion of it, otherwise how can we continue with 'the next deal'?"
"Jihahahaha, collecting debts? No problem! I've already gathered some Devil Fruits." Shiki agreed readily. Then, his tone shifted, and he said somewhat unhappily, "You probably know already, 'Dyna Rocks.' I did indeed scout its storage location, and even... I was so close to getting it! That damn Garp, he ruined my plan."
Doflamingo said calmly, "That's none of my business! I'm only responsible for providing information. Whether you succeed or not is not within the scope of the transaction's guarantee. Of course, I also didn't include whether I actually succeeded in obtaining it within the transaction's guarantee."
"I'm not trying to blame you for anything, 'Sea Scourge,' Jihahahaha! An interesting nickname, you really are quite the scourge!" Shiki seemed to be in good spirits, playfully mocking Doflamingo off-topic.
Doflamingo mused, "You failed on the other piece of information I provided too, didn't you?"
"Don't joke around! Dr. Vegapunk has long been a key focus of the World Government's restrictions. He's even more important to the World Government than 'Dyna Rocks.' The moment I even hinted at going after him, the World Government didn't hesitate to dispatch a large army to move him to Mariejois for protection!" Shiki laughed, also mocking himself. "Jihahahaha... I'm really unlucky!"
Doflamingo pondered for a bit. "I actually have backup information that could realize your ambition, with a higher success rate than 'Dyna Rocks' and Dr. Vegapunk. But it's a long process and requires extreme patience. Interested?"
"What do you want this time?" Shiki asked cautiously, inquiring about the price first.
Doflamingo said, "I want you to fulfill the promise you made to me, and do me a favor."
"Oh? What kind of favor?" Shiki pressed, he was quite a spirited fellow. "Jihahahaha... Don't tell me you just entered the New World and you're already planning to challenge the New World order, going after one of the so-called 'Four Emperors'? Of course! If your backup information is worth it, I'll even give you my title, if you can hold on to it."
Doflamingo twisted his lips into a smile. "It is indeed about one of the 'Four Emperors,' but I'm not planning to challenge the New World order!" His eyes flickered, and he spoke vaguely. "It's like this! Big Mom. I recently went to her territory to discuss some business. You also know what an unreasonable barbarian she is. If she goes berserk, I'm afraid I won't be able to contend with her, so I want to borrow the 'Golden Lion' himself to deter her. If everything goes smoothly, that would be for the best."
"No problem! Jihahahaha, when?" Shiki laughed.
Doflamingo thought for a moment. "In half a month."
"Then your backup information..." Shiki said.
Doflamingo shook his head. "We'll talk after you settle the debt from our previous transaction, my esteemed major client. You're no honest man! Fufufufu~ Me, a scourge? I'm just a small-time thug, but you're a renowned big-time thug!"
"Jihahahaha, hey, hey, is it okay to criticize me like that?" Shiki didn't pursue the matter. "I have other things to do. See you in half a month!"
Click.
The call ended.
Doflamingo put the Den Den Mushi receiver down and continued to focus on the newspaper. "Fufufufufu~ The World Government's integrity is really going downhill! I always thought the Seven Warlords of the Sea was something they created due to the surging pirate situation, a product to both weaken enemies and strengthen themselves. But the result... Tsk tsk~~ What a brilliant scheme! Truly the wisdom of great figures."
"Behehehe~ Nyeh, nyeh, what do you mean, Doffy?" Trebol's curiosity was piqued.
Doflamingo pointed to the section of the newspaper describing the rights and obligations of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. "This clause about 'legal privateering' allows the Seven Warlords of the Sea to legally privateer against non-World Government affiliated nations. This implicitly threatens all non-World Government affiliated nations, forcing them into the World Government's embrace! At the same time, it drives lawbreakers from the 'outer' Four Blues towards the 'inner' Grand Line. The crowded Grand Line will instantly become a battlefield for survival, and dwindling resources will inevitably be the fuse for pirates to kill each other!"
"The World Government doesn't need to pay a huge price. By announcing a new member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea every so often, they can achieve their true goals: overcoming their current predicament, accumulating strength, and consolidating, expanding, and centralizing their control! Plus, it weakens their enemies and strengthens themselves, killing multiple birds with one stone!" Doflamingo couldn't help but praise. "No wonder the Gorosei forced the implementation of the Seven Warlords of the Sea despite strong opposition from the Marines and many World Government affiliated nations... It's a masterful political maneuver."
Trebol: "..."
"What's the current number of World Government affiliated nations? One hundred-something? Fufufufu~" Doflamingo threw down the newspaper. "But they forgot, every advantage has a disadvantage! This almost lenient attitude will lead to the pirate trend enduring indefinitely, becoming too big to control! An even wilder era will be born from this! Fufufufu..."
Family members: "..."
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