Riding on a string of verifiable battle records, especially the conquest of Beehive Island being widely broadcast, the Donquixote Pirates' reputation in the New World was now faintly on par with the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates.
Because of this, Doflamingo also gained a new title: the "Immortal Thunder Emperor."
On the defensive side, Vergo wasn't just supervising construction. He also integrated original Beehive Island pirates who were willing to stay with combatants from the North Blue and Skypiea.
From them, he formed a 3,000-man Donquixote Pirates combat corps and a 1,000-man New Beehive Island garrison. North Blue and Skypiea fighters served as squad captains. From the day they were formed, these forces underwent brainwashing drills and daily combat training in West Town of the new Beehive Island.
Just as everything on the new Beehive Island was thriving, Doflamingo had Trebol and Diamante leave behind a portion of their forces, then ordered the two of them to lead the rest back separately to the North Blue and Skypiea.
As for why he had Trebol return so soon, the answer was simple: the North Blue's Esmongon Judge was making far too much trouble.
Kenra, as a high-end combatant in the North Blue, could handle Judge in a fight, but underground trade work and the recruitment and management of family reserves were far beyond what Kenra alone could manage.
Stussy, who had already been in the North Blue for quite some time, had been transferred to the New World by Doflamingo not long ago. She was to take charge of the entertainment district in East Town on Beehive Island, as well as the New World's intelligence network.
Conditions on Skypiea were relatively stable, but with Doflamingo away for so long, even a deputy commander as loyal as Sofrun couldn't absolutely guarantee that the skyfolk would never develop second thoughts.
Add to that a troublemaker like Caesar, and Doflamingo decided that Diamante should take Corolla and Was back to Skypiea as well.
Caesar was to research how Devil Fruits transferred after the host's death, especially the Door-Door Fruit and other special Devil Fruits, which had to be handled with extreme caution.
The Paramecia-type Wax-Wax Fruit wasn't particularly powerful in terms of raw combat, but used properly, its applications were anything but small.
Because of that, Doflamingo also had Diamante bring Was back.
He gave Diamante clear instructions: Caesar could do whatever he wanted. As long as the Devil Fruit abilities transferred properly, nothing else mattered.
It wasn't that Doflamingo didn't want to return to Skypiea with Diamante. The problem was that Doflamingo had even more urgent matters to deal with.
In three months, the territory once held by the Flying Pirates had been completely carved up. The Big Mom Pirates and the World Pirates held the most land. The Whitebeard Pirates, who didn't care much about territory, and the Beasts Pirates, who had their own plans, had fought tooth and nail for what they did claim.
As the great four pirate crews' battles gradually stabilized, the New World slipped into a brief period of peace once more.
Precisely because of that, the four major pirate crews now had the leeway to deal with other business.
For example, in the Beasts Pirates' case, after Kaido heard of Doflamingo's battle achievements, he transformed into his azure dragon form and came straight to Beehive Island.
He challenged Doflamingo to a fight. Because they were near the new Beehive Island, Doflamingo couldn't fully unleash himself in battle. Even so, with his power held back, he was still able to faintly suppress Kaido.
For Kaido, who currently placed great emphasis on developing his physical strength, this was delightful. He wanted to fight Doflamingo day and night without stopping.
Not wanting the surrounding environment to be destroyed, Doflamingo shut down Kaido's idea of dragging the fight on. However, he did make a promise with Kaido to battle on an uninhabited island not far from Wano Country.
Today was the very day they had agreed upon.
So Doflamingo planned to finish his battle with Kaido first, then return to Skypiea to handle the affairs there.
As for matters on the new Beehive Island, minor issues would be handled by Stussy, major ones would be decided by Barrett, and security would be in the hands of Vergo and Pica.
After giving all necessary instructions regarding New Beehive Island, Doflamingo turned into lightning. A few streaks of light flickered across the sky, and he was gone.
…
In the New World, aboard the Moby Dick of the Whitebeard Pirates.
It was another day of joyous feasting. After several months of war, the Whitebeard Pirates were exhausted in both body and mind.
Now that the fighting was over, Whitebeard had ordered his "sons" to relax completely. The banquet had already gone on for five days straight.
Whitebeard sat in the main seat at the center of the deck, raising his rum and downing it in a single huge gulp. Around him sat several of his core sons, chatting about interesting happenings on the seas of late.
"Gurararara! Marco, you'd better step it up!"
"These brats are rising way too fast. Even that guy Wang Zhi has been knocked off his great pirate throne. Looks like you all need some much harsher training!"
Being the one who had followed Oyaji the longest, Marco understood that Whitebeard was thinking for their future.
Right now, Oyaji was still in his prime. The hidden damage the Gura Gura no Mi (Quake-Quake Fruit) had done to his body was being held back by his overwhelming physical strength, but there would come a day when Oyaji grew old.
The rapid rise of someone as young as Doflamingo did indeed put some pressure on Marco and the others. Otherwise, Oyaji wouldn't be saying this.
"Oyaji, under your protection, who would dare pick a fight with us? Newcomers are always just a flash in the pan. They can't compare to us!"
Diamond Jozu spoke up before Marco could, not realizing what Oyaji really meant.
He meant to flatter Whitebeard, but Whitebeard's brows knit slightly. His sons really had been sheltered by him too well. They had lost their hunger for strength.
The future was long. Decades from now, would his sons have the strength to support the Whitebeard Pirates' banner?
Whitebeard didn't know.
But he did know that it was time to do something about it.
After following Whitebeard for so many years, Marco understood him very well. The moment Oyaji's brows tightened, Marco stepped up to his side with a smile and said:
…
"Oyaji, I'll keep a close eye on Jozu and the others from now on. They've indeed gotten a bit lax lately.
Also, the rookies these days are far too active, far beyond the Marines' new blood.
Take Gecko Moria, for example. He had barely entered the New World before getting into a full-scale battle with the Happo Navy.
Although neither side has made the outcome public, judging from the way Gecko Moria is getting more and more arrogant, it's very likely the Moria Pirates got the upper hand.
But the most eye-catching is the Donquixote Pirates. Their rise has been outrageously fast.
In just a few short months, they defeated the Beehive Pirates and even killed Wang Zhi, firmly securing territory in the New World. Their captain, Doflamingo, might already be stronger than Big Mom was back in the day.
Unreliable rumors say their vice captain, Barrett, is no weaker than the captain himself. The other officers' strength is also nothing to scoff at.
And the key point is that almost all their top officers are under sixteen. Their captain Doflamingo might not even be fourteen yet this year.
To be that powerful at such a young age… the seas might be about to give birth to another Rocks.
If that happens, who knows what the ocean will look like."
Whitebeard spread his arms and pulled several sons into his embrace, laughing boldly.
"Gurararara! Marco, you're absolutely right. But don't worry. As long as I'm here, you don't need to fear anyone!
As long as I'm alive, I won't let any of you suffer even the slightest harm. I am Whitebeard! Gurararara!"
"Oyaji!"
Marco and the others spoke in unison, moved to tears by Whitebeard's words.
(End of Chapter)
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