Compared to William, Donquixote Doflamingo's life seemed more like that of a protagonist from a classic hero's journey.
Born into the privileged ranks of the Celestial Dragons, Doflamingo was cast down through a series of fateful events to live among commoners. There, he witnessed firsthand the class hatred between the impoverished masses and their rulers, experiencing hardships that transformed him. Rather than becoming lost in the decadent, hedonistic lifestyle typical of his birth class, these trials forged in him extraordinary ambition and drive.
Even as a child, Doflamingo manifested Conqueror's Haki—that rarest form of spiritual power. Shortly thereafter, individuals like Trebol, who surpassed him in strength, experience, and age, knelt before him in allegiance. They recognized the child with Conqueror's Haki as a born king, even presenting him with a Devil Fruit as tribute.
As he matured, Doflamingo vindicated the faith of Trebol and the others who had sworn loyalty to him. Unlike his contemporaries—pirates who wandered aimlessly, relying solely on brute strength—Doflamingo began methodically building his power base from an early age. He gathered followers, cultivated talent, and expanded his influence with the patient precision of a spider weaving its web, calmly awaiting the true advent of the new era.
Doflamingo moved a few steps away from Trebol and opened the document. As he read through its contents, the gravity that had initially settled on his features gradually gave way to a relaxed expression. Soon, his trademark maniacal laughter filled the room.
"What did Vergo report, Doffy?" Trebol asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
"Golden Lion Shiki is dead," Doflamingo announced, lifting his gaze from the document. He couldn't suppress another burst of laughter. "According to the latest intelligence from Marine Headquarters, Golden Lion Shiki was killed by some unknown upstart from the East Blue!"
Trebol's jaw dropped in astonishment. He took the intelligence report—secretly transmitted by Vergo—from Doflamingo's hands and began reading it intently.
The name Golden Lion Shiki carried immense weight in the pirate world. He was the legendary figure who had once cornered the Pirate King Roger, nearly bringing him to defeat. He was also the only prisoner in history to escape from Impel Down, the supposedly inescapable underwater fortress. Either achievement alone would have been considered miraculous. Yet this titan had fallen in the East Blue—widely regarded as the weakest of all seas—at the hands of someone completely unknown?
Meanwhile, Doflamingo had made his way to the liquor cabinet. As he poured himself a drink, he hummed a cheerful tune, his mood visibly elevated.
Trebol frantically searched his memory for any information about "Morgan Stolt William," but came up empty.
Sniffling as was his habit, Trebol muttered while re-examining the report, "Even the Marines lack detailed intelligence on him..."
"That means he's a newcomer," Doflamingo explained, returning with two glasses and offering one to Trebol. "A rookie who's achieved instant fame through one audacious act."
"Why are you so pleased about this?" Trebol asked, confused by Doflamingo's reaction. He was certain that if he himself had no knowledge of this East Blue upstart, then Doflamingo wouldn't either.
"Don't you understand? This is a harbinger of the new era's arrival!" Doflamingo exclaimed with another burst of laughter.
Was the dawn of the Great Pirate Era not already the beginning of a new age?
No—at least not in Doflamingo's estimation.
Roger's final words may have prompted pirates to flood the Grand Line and inspired countless adventurers to take to the seas, but the fundamental power balance between the World Government, the Marines, and the pirates hadn't undergone a revolutionary shift at that time.
With Roger's execution, the Great Pirate Era had merely begun to lift the curtain on what was to come. The true arrival of the new era would require another decade or more.
Why? Because only then would those born into the Great Pirate Era come of age.
The Great Pirate Era represented a time when the authority of the World Government and Marines gradually eroded. Under the relentless assault of countless pirates, these institutions remained dominant in name, but their control at the grassroots level had already collapsed. Their effective power was increasingly confined to the Grand Line.
In such an environment, what choices would young people make after growing up witnessing pirates' unchecked brutality and the apparent impotence of the Marines and World Government?
Certainly, some would join the Marines or Government out of hatred for pirates, likely becoming hardliners within those organizations. But many more—disillusioned by the Government's failures and perhaps even inspired by the pirates' freedom—would join the ranks of outlaws. Even those who didn't become criminals would hold significantly diminished respect for governmental authority.
During their formative years, the influence of pirates far outweighed that of the Marines and World Government.
Moreover, children raised in peaceful stability develop fundamentally different mindsets from those raised amid conflict. The latter tend to place greater faith in violence and physical strength as solutions.
According to the original timeline, seven years from now, the so-called Worst Generation—including Straw Hat Luffy and other super rookies—would emerge as products of this era. By then, the Great Pirate Era would have been underway for twenty-two years. These newcomers, who grew up during this tumultuous period, might not yet match the established powers of the sea in raw strength, but their complete disregard for the order painstakingly maintained by the World Government and Marines—their willingness to trample established norms—would earn them their infamous title.
This outcome had been foreseen by many perceptive individuals. Figures like Red-Haired Shanks frequently spoke of the "new era" or "next era," referring to precisely this phenomenon. However, what Shanks valued was the spirit he saw in Luffy's generation—their yearning for freedom and refusal to submit to the World Government's control.
Doflamingo, by contrast, anticipated with relish the chaos that the new generation would unleash upon the world.
"The old guard will inevitably exit the stage of history. Those who resist their natural departure will eventually fall at the hands of the newcomers. Golden Lion Shiki exemplifies this perfectly. The Great Pirate Era has been underway for over a decade now, and the rookies have finally matured." Had Doflamingo been a scholar from William's previous life, he might have raised his glass and exclaimed, "Let us drink to this momentous occasion!"
"Over the years, the number of hardline officers within the Marines has steadily increased," Doflamingo continued. "Those who witnessed firsthand the pirates' unchecked rampage and the Marines' ineffectual response during the Great Pirate Era have now, after more than a decade, begun to ascend to leadership positions. Their aggressive attitudes will soon become the dominant philosophy within the Marines."
"The current semblance of stability will inevitably shatter under the combined pressure of these militant Marines and the new generation of pirates who hold the Government in contempt. The age of chaos approaches," Doflamingo declared, moving to the window. He gazed at the carefree people frolicking by the pool below, his smile widening. "Look at these fools. Even when they eventually read about this in the newspapers, they'll fail to grasp its significance. They have no concept that an era filled with both danger and unprecedented opportunity is dawning! Instead of preparing, they squander their time on trivial pleasures."
Trebol gazed at Doflamingo with reverence. The sunlight streaming through the window bathed his silhouette in golden light, creating an almost divine aura around his form.
This, Trebol thought, was the vision of a true king—a man with the insight to perceive the currents of history. Only such individuals deserved to upend the world dominated by Celestial Dragons and the World Government, seizing the reins of power for themselves.
"Morgan Stolt William..." Doflamingo murmured the name thoughtfully before draining his glass in a single swallow. With a sardonic smile, he added, "I must admit to a twinge of envy. The head of Golden Lion Shiki—claimed by some complete unknown! What a magnificent 'joke' fate has played on the world!" ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
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