"Fufufufu!"
Doflamingo laughed darkly, his voice dripping with mockery.
"A pirate who's only been at sea for a single year can't possibly take on two Admirals alone. This is clearly a powerhouse whose strength is second only to the Four Emperors!"
On the other end of the Dragon Horn Transponder Snail, Kaido leaned back on his throne, draining another massive jug of sake. With a booming laugh, he slammed it down.
"Ayehahaha! Two Admirals? Even three wouldn't matter! I'd fight ten of them without a scratch!"
Doflamingo rubbed his forehead, watching the snail's exaggerated expression twist.
"Kaido, are you drunk again?"
The snail's features hardened, and Kaido's furious voice shook the line.
"Huh? Joker, who do you think I am?! Do you really think a little sake can get me drunk?!"
Before Doflamingo could respond, the snail's expression softened and Kaido's tone turned suddenly playful.
"You're so annoying… hehehe."
Doflamingo scowled at the shifting mood swings.
"So, your plan to lure this newcomer to me has probably failed."
For a moment, silence. Then Kaido's deafening laugh boomed through.
"Worororo! It doesn't matter! That kid will eventually join me, the strongest of the Four Emperors! Because I am the strongest in the world!"
"Heh."
From the side, Pica of the Spades chuckled softly, his voice sharp and low.
"So that's how it is."
"Hm?"
Doflamingo narrowed his eyes, glaring at him.
"Pica, what did you just say?"
"Huh?"
Holding the Transponder Snail, Pica blinked in confusion.
"Young Master, what are you talking about?"
"…Nothing."
Doflamingo studied him closely, saying no more.
"I knew it."
Far away, Shirogai Yamikuro retracted the [Abyss Whisperer] that had parasitically slipped into Pica's emotions. Looking toward the chaos erupting in Mock Town, he smiled faintly.
"No wonder Doflamingo was so determined. This was Kaido's intention all along. It seems 'The Plunderer' has already entered the sights of the Four Emperors."
The Gorosei probably hadn't expected this either. Their attempt to bury the truth had failed—the World Government leaked like a sieve.
Despite its grand image, the organization was riddled with cracks, as disorganized as Big Mom's Totto Land.
"Interesting," Shirogai mused. "Since the big shots of the sea have noticed me already… then when the time comes, I'll give them a proper shock."
He leapt high into the night air, six black wings spreading wide. The wind howled around him.
"Four Emperors? Hahaha… I wonder if all four together could even stand against me."
Meanwhile, the streets of Mock Town erupted in chaos.
"What?! Straw Hat just dropped Bellamy with a single punch! Bellamy, the pirate with a fifty-five million berry bounty!"
Children watching from the street gawked, their eyes wide as the ground shook beneath them.
Buildings were smashed apart. In the middle of the rubble, Luffy stood firm, his straw hat tilted as his bloodied fist trembled with fury.
"You bastard!" he shouted at Bellamy's unconscious form. "You ambushed Cricket and the others, didn't you?!"
He turned toward the frozen Bellamy Pirates, eyes blazing.
"Give me back my friends! And Uncle's gold!"
The crew stared blankly at their captain's limp body.
"Bellamy! Get up! You're worth fifty-five million berries—you can't lose to him!"
"Oh no… Oh no… They really are monsters worth over a hundred million berries each!"
Krika, the drunken pirate, trembled in panic. Dropping the wanted poster in his hand, he stumbled away, only to trip and nearly smash his face on the ground.
"Damn it—!"
But before he hit the street, a firm hand caught him and pulled him upright.
"Heh, tough to move after so much drinking."
Blinking, Krika steadied himself and stammered, "Thank you…"
The man smiled warmly.
"It's nothing. Be careful."
Krika, still shaken, urged him frantically, "Hey buddy! Run with me! This town's about to be destroyed by two monsters!"
Shirogai smiled faintly, watching the terrified man.
"Really? Thanks for the warning. I'll call my comrades, and we'll leave right away."
"Run fast! Two pirates worth over a hundred million berries are here for revenge!"
Krika staggered forward, but halfway to the docks, his body froze in horror.
Wait.
That face. That smile.
He turned back, trembling.
"You… you're the same as the one on that wanted poster… Shirogai Yamikuro! The Plunderer!"
Shirogai tilted his head and smiled amiably.
"Hmm? Something wrong?"
Krika's breath caught. His entire body shook as he lowered his head, unable to meet Shirogai's gaze.
This was a pirate with a bounty of two hundred million berries!
Swallowing hard, Krika forced a trembling smile.
"Heh… nothing at all."
"Good," Shirogai said lightly, turning and slipping into the crowd. People parted instinctively, clearing a path for him without realizing.
Within moments, he was gone, blending among the onlookers without touching a single soul.
Krika's face went pale as he stumbled away.
"Two pirates worth over three hundred million berries… both here in Mock Town! I need to get out of here—now!"
He bolted toward the docks, heart hammering in his chest.
_____
Thanks for the Power stones.