Drought Jack?
Orin froze for a moment, then recalled the infamous pirate.
That guy with a bounty of one billion Belly and ivory worth nine hundred million?
Orin's mouth twitched.
This kind of guy… if Doflamingo, after mastering Ryuo and Awakening, couldn't deal with him, there'd be something seriously wrong. Why would he need to step in?
Wouldn't that be like using a cannon to kill a mosquito?
But to be fair, the young Doflamingo at this point didn't yet have particularly refined mastery over his two types of Haki, and Awakening was still nowhere in sight.
In that case, facing one of Kaido's Beast Pirates officers, there was indeed a real chance Doflamingo might lose.
Feeling a bit bored, Orin's excitement for battle faded.
Taking the glass of orange juice from the young maid, he reclined comfortably on the sofa, enjoying the maid's massage service.
At this moment, he stared blankly at the blue sky and drifting white clouds above.
Doflamingo didn't disturb him, tightening his cloak around himself as he silently read the newspaper in his hand.
Then suddenly, as though something came to mind,
Orin's expression turned contemplative. He remembered something about the future—a certain organization called Cross Guild.
In his previous life, he had always felt like something was missing.
Now, he finally realized what that missing piece was.
"I want to ask you something, Doffy."
Hearing this, Doflamingo paused mid-reading, slightly startled, but still replied respectfully:
"Please, go ahead."
Orin asked a question that made Doflamingo's scalp tingle and his heart pound—but his tone was as casual as if he were simply asking about dinner plans:
"Tell me… who do you think will become the Pirate King in the future?"
Doflamingo pondered for a moment, just about to respond, but Orin, whose eyes glimmered with a faint crimson light, interrupted him:
"You don't need to mention my name. I'm not taking that throne."
Doflamingo froze.
He couldn't believe what he just heard. Until this moment, he had always assumed it was a foregone conclusion—the Black Emperor Orin would inevitably become the Pirate King.
Ever since Orin appeared, the mystery around the One Piece treasure had vanished completely.
But now, Orin was telling him that he had no interest in the One Piece and would never become Pirate King.
That vacant throne… was once again shrouded in mystery.
Doflamingo fell deep into thought.
If Orin wanted to become Pirate King, there'd be no competition whatsoever.
But if Orin didn't… then without the Black Emperor suppressing everyone else, who would eventually claim the throne?
Among the vast seas, who else could truly stand at the very top?
Was it one of the other Emperors of the Sea, ruling the New World?
Or would it be one of them—the so-called Seven Warlords of the Sea, handpicked by Orin himself, those elites considered the smartest pirates alive?
Or perhaps it would be the rising pirates of the new era?
No… Doflamingo was thinking on a much broader scale.
Simply weighing those factors wasn't enough.
There was also the Navy, the mighty military force of Justice itself…
The Revolutionary Army, rapidly growing in strength…
The World Government, controlled by those ancient Elders…
Who would support whom?
Who would betray whom?
One thing was indisputable—if Orin wanted the throne, every single faction would step aside. They'd have no choice but to yield.
The so-called "struggle of a new era" would become a complete joke.
But since Orin refused the throne, the future was bound to spiral out of control.
An unprecedented clash for supremacy was inevitable.
The greatest power struggle in the history of piracy… was destined to come!
"Fufufufufu…"
Thinking about the chaotic, world-shaking conflicts of the future, Doflamingo grew excited, but he didn't lose his composure.
"The throne of Pirate King will be contested by countless monsters in the future, but…"
"If you ask me who has the highest chance of claiming it, there's only one answer: the person you, Orin-sama, choose to support!"
Doflamingo saw the truth clearly.
If Orin wanted someone to become Pirate King, he wouldn't guarantee their success—but if Orin didn't want someone to sit on that throne, then that person would never succeed.
That much was undeniably accurate.
But what Doflamingo didn't know was that if Orin truly wanted someone to become Pirate King, he could make it happen.
However, unless absolutely necessary, Orin would never break his promise to Captain Roger—never using the Eternal Pose to forcefully crown someone king.
"So… if I wanted someone to become Pirate King, Doffy, you'd support them, right?"
"Of course~"
Doflamingo didn't expect Orin to ever choose him for the throne, but from a pragmatic perspective,
if he could automatically join the future Pirate King's camp, that was an incredible opportunity.
Hearing his reply, Orin nodded in satisfaction.
Unlike Crocodile's rebellious nature or Mihawk's unpredictable aloofness, at least Doflamingo was someone willing to actively participate in the upcoming struggle.
Orin had been meticulously preparing for Buggy's future as well.
But this was a mutual exchange.
Just like how Buggy had been scheming right under the Navy's nose to secure the best territories, Orin was more than happy to help him find allies for his path to kingship.
Of course, Orin could personally intervene.
But if he could avoid direct involvement, that would be even better.
...
After some time sailing, the sky gradually darkened.
In the New World, weather was wildly unpredictable. Orin, feeling a little sleepy, didn't bother dispersing the gathering storm clouds.
Accompanied by one of the ship's maids, Orin entered the most luxurious cabin aboard, preparing for a good night's rest.
...
Except for a few lookouts and navigators, everyone else had already returned below deck.
Night crept deeper.
But this stormy night was destined to be anything but peaceful.
Crack—!
Thunder roared as lightning split the sky. Amid the torrential downpour, a massive pirate ship slowly emerged from behind the rain curtain.
It was a brand-new warship, freshly built—a colossal vessel with a mammoth's head carved into its prow.
Braving the raging storm, a small underling dressed like a primitive Viking stood on deck, shouting anxiously toward the towering figure at the bow:
"Jack-sama!!! The storm is too intense! The fleet under Commander King-sama hasn't caught up yet! Shouldn't we wait for them?"
"After all, that's Doflamingo's ship—the Black Emperor's subordinate we're talking about!"
The young Jack, barely into his teens, already stood several meters tall.
Having eaten the Ancient Zoan: Mammoth-Mammoth Fruit, he had begun making a name for himself within the Beast Pirates.
Recognized for his immense talent, Kaido himself had promoted him directly to the rank of officer.
This was Jack's first mission, and he was desperate to prove his worth to his Kaido.
Even though Commander King's fleet had temporarily fallen behind, Jack showed no hesitation whatsoever.
Instead, his fighting spirit burned even hotter.
Young and reckless, with little experience at sea and blinded by his fanatical worship of Kaido,
his bloodshot eyes locked on the distant Flamingo ship and the dark flag bearing the Blood Moon Emblem fluttering high above it.
"Just the Black Emperor, huh? Do you know who I am?! Bring the ship over!!!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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