While the family was stockpiling supplies, before their departure for the North Blue, a piece of news spread that once again stirred the world, which was about to enter its third year of the Great Pirate Era, a period where the pirate frenzy had gradually transitioned from a fever pitch to relative calm.
"Warlord of the Sea 'Desert King' Crocodile Challenges Four Emperors 'Whitebeard' — Crushing Defeat!!!"
The newspaper's headline was specially bolded and blackened, and the words "crushing defeat" were stained in a bloody color. It also included an arrogant, domineering photo of Whitebeard and a pathetic photo of Crocodile's utter defeat. More importantly, the content of the newspaper was filled with considerable doubts about the Warlords of the Sea.
"World Economy News Paper, written by Morgans? This guy's writing style is sharp! And he took so many exclusive photos. 'Desert King' even lost an arm. It looks like 'Whitebeard' was quite enraged, probably by his technique of absorbing human moisture. He acted ruthlessly, fufufufu~ It's pretty tragic, tsk~~~" Doflamingo clicked his tongue.
Diamante grinned. "Uh... Doffy? You're missing the point, aren't you? The result of 'Desert King' challenging an Emperor and suffering a crushing defeat impacts the entire Warlord of the Sea system."
"It's rare for you to use your brain," Doflamingo said, half-praising, half-mocking Diamante playfully. He casually picked up a Den Den Mushi and dialed. After a moment, he said, "This is Doflamingo! Fufufufu~ Hello, hello, Gorosei, I hear you have some trouble?"
"What trouble?" the Gorosei responded calmly.
Doflamingo chuckled. "Even my subordinates know that the result of 'Desert King' challenging an Emperor and suffering a crushing defeat impacts the entire Warlord of the Sea system! His crushing defeat has damaged the prestige of the Warlords of the Sea, indirectly making people doubt their strength, and consequently criticizing whether your forcibly implemented Warlord of the Sea plan is correct... Don't you have trouble?"
"Oh," the Gorosei's response this time was even calmer and briefer.
Doflamingo's eyes swiveled. "Fufufufu~ I can help you out a little, for example, by removing 'Desert King' from the Warlord of the Sea lineup. How about it?"
"So you'd have a chance to take him under your wing and strengthen your forces? Or at the very least, take advantage of his weakness to force him into cooperation?" A different voice on the other end of the Den Den Mushi sneered sarcastically. "Cut it out, Doflamingo! I thought your offer to help us meant you'd challenge Whitebeard yourself."
Doflamingo was thick-skinned, even roguish. "My intelligence tells me that challenging the world's strongest pirate right now would be an irrational act, fufufufu~ If I had the power to kick Whitebeard out of his Emperor position, I wouldn't be a Warlord of the Sea."
"Indeed, that's the position of a Warlord of the Sea! A silver medalist with a certain level of strength," the Gorosei said mercilessly. "So, 'Desert King' failing to challenge Whitebeard isn't a big deal. At most, it's just the news media trying to grab attention. As long as 'Desert King' isn't dead, he'll prove himself and quash those baseless doubts."
Doflamingo was also annoyed, but his smile never faltered. "Fufufufu~ Hahahaha... In that case, forget it! I've bothered you enough."
Click.
The Den Den Mushi hung up.
"As expected of the great figures who control the world, their minds are sharp. It's hard to deceive them without going around in circles," Doflamingo sighed regretfully. "What a shame! I actually thought quite highly of 'Desert King,' if he hadn't been scared witless by 'Whitebeard,' leading him astray..."
He mumbled a few more words, his voice becoming increasingly faint.
"Doffy? Mama agreed to send someone over and asked who you want? Besides Katakuri, Cracker, and Snack," Smoothie's Den Den Mushi had just rung.
Doflamingo said concisely, "Daifuku."
"Doffy wants Daifuku-nii to help," Smoothie chatted with the Den Den Mushi for a bit longer, then hung up and said lazily, "Mama is really looking forward to that Three-Eyed Tribe person. I don't get what she's thinking."
Doflamingo's lips curled upwards. "There's a certain legend that people of the Three-Eyed Tribe possess some kind of special power, fufufufu~ Who knows? Anyway, the Three-Eyed Tribe is almost extinct. The one Trebol has was found after years of searching, a half-dead survivor caught in a shipwreck."
"Young Master, Oh~ hohoho~~ How are we going to the North Blue this time? Through the Calm Belt? Over Mariejois? Or will we reverse the Grand Line?" Giolla asked, circling him.
Doflamingo said decisively, "Reverse the Grand Line! That's also why I didn't bring Lao G and Pica back with me; we're going to pick them up."
He leaned back on the sofa and said, "Reversing the Grand Line is the best way to train. I hope all of you, including myself, will enhance your combat abilities! Just like my conversation with the Gorosei, if I had the power to kick Whitebeard out of his Emperor position, I wouldn't be a Warlord of the Sea! What's there to be proud of about being a silver medalist? I want to be the gold medalist, the only one! Fufufufu~"
"Wiiihahaha! I'll do my best, Young Master!" Burgess flexed his brawny arms.
Doflamingo nodded, encouraging him. "Work hard, Burgess, get a fighting championship, no! Turn 'Fighting Champion' into your epithet for me to see! I'll also keep an eye out for a suitable Devil Fruit for you to boost your talent!" He glanced sideways at Tesoro and the others sweating on the deck. "The Gold-Gold Fruit isn't suitable for you; it belongs exclusively to Tesoro. The Pop-Pop Fruit isn't suitable for you either..."
The Pop-Pop Fruit was given to Gladius by Doflamingo not long ago, and he also imparted many concepts to Gladius.
"Wiiihahaha! I'm not in a hurry," Burgess said optimistically. "Wait for my good news, Young Master! I will definitely dominate the fighting arena!"
Doflamingo smiled faintly, but also couldn't help but frown, pondering what Devil Fruit would be good for Burgess, and also for Weevil.
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