The "Diamond"-pattern-painted Diamante followed up with another jab:
"Besides that, Davy Jones even laid hands on our people… Hmm, I remember that kid's name was Bellamy, right? Even if he's just a fringe member, that kind of behavior shows he doesn't put us in his eyes at all."
"Stop provoking Young Master Doffy into going to war." Trebol snorted up a line of mucus. "Right now, the 'Deep Sea King' is simply too massive. To make an enemy of him would be nothing but an egg striking a rock."
Even as he spoke, Trebol found himself a little amazed.
Because the rise of the "Deep Sea King" had barely reached a full year—yet he had already completely surpassed what the Donquixote Family had built over more than twenty years in the New World.
If someone had said in the past that Davy Jones would reach this point, he would have sneered in disbelief—yet now the facts were right in front of him.
Diamante widened his eyes in dissatisfaction.
"All our major investments have failed because of Davy Jones. Over and over again. If this keeps going, how the hell are we supposed to survive?"
"That's why we must choose our new investment targets with caution. That's the reason the Donquixote Family has been able to remain standing in the whirlpool of the New World." Trebol said calmly.
Diamante spread his hands and pouted.
"Who can we even invest in now? We've already offended 'Beasts' Kaido, and 'Red-Hair' Shanks is always aloof and disdainful of any dealings with us…"
"You're not seriously suggesting that Doffy invest in our enemy, the 'Deep Sea King,' right?"
"When necessary, it's not out of the question." Trebol proposed.
Pica, silent until now, nodded in agreement, his sharp, shrill voice chiming in.
"The most important thing is the Donquixote Family's interests. We profit from war—there are no real enemies. As long as Davy Jones has a need, he can be our business partner."
With that, two of the three top executives had made it clear they didn't want conflict with Davy Jones right now.
Diamante shook his head and sneered:
"I can't swallow this humiliation. If we keep tucking our tails, sooner or later we'll get swallowed whole by Davy Jones."
"Don't act on emotion—" Trebol was still trying to argue.
At that moment, Doflamingo had already calmed down. He tapped the table a few times, and the room instantly fell silent.
All three of his top executives turned toward the young master they had followed for more than twenty years.
Doflamingo, draped in his flamingo-feather coat, leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. In just a moment, he had worked out his plans for the future.
"Now, I want you to accomplish four tasks for me.
First, swallow up Big Mom's remaining assets—but avoid conflict with Kaido or Davy Jones."
"Second, help me repair our relationship with Kaido. We still have the 'poison gas bullets' and some of the 'artificial Devil Fruits.' He's our best customer."
"Third, the 'Heart Seat' has been vacant for far too long. You must find a suitable successor."
"Fourth… reach out to our new investment target—that man, Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach."
"If my guess is right, he's very likely to rise and become one of the new Yonko."
The three top executives had been nodding along—until they heard the fourth point. At the mention of "Blackbeard," they all stiffened and exchanged uneasy looks.
"He's an ambitious man—he's practically driven the remnants of Whitebeard into a dead end."
Doflamingo's scheming smile returned, the smile of a man who had already calculated everything.
"Invest in him now, and once he rises in value, it'll be a profit of several times—perhaps even ten-fold."
"If it's your will, Doffy…" Diamante stood up from his seat. "I'll go to Blackbeard's territory personally and make sure the arrangement goes through."
Doflamingo nodded.
"Good. You will go. Remember, we need him as an ally. If necessary, lend him some help to show our sincerity."
Diamante bowed deeply, promising to complete the task.
Half a month had passed since the "Charlotte Silent War." According to Crocodile's reports from the front, their expansion had reached its limit—they could go no further.
Davy Jones never intended to bite off more than he could chew, so he instructed Crocodile and the others to shift their focus from expansion to consolidation.
From Fish-Man Island all the way to the outer borders of Big Mom's former Totto Land, the vast territory was more than enough for the Davy Jones Pirates to run, integrate, and refine for a long while.
Crocodile had settled on one of the islands, handling front-line affairs.
Following the naming traditions of the Davy Jones Pirates, he named the island "Baroque Gustav Island," after his former pirate ship.
Thus, from Fish-Man Island to Thriller Ghost Island, and then to Baroque Gustav Island, the connected territory now encompassed twenty-four islands.
The number was fewer than Big Mom's original thirty-four, but including the surrounding seas, their actual domain was even larger.
Both Paradox and Curse were almost each managing one or two islands.
Only "The Living Dead" Drake remained partnered with Hawkins, continuing to accompany him.
While the division of Big Mom's territory settled down, news arrived from another front.
Kuro and Buggy, following Marco, had traveled to "Whitebeard's homeland" to negotiate the remnants' possible alliance with Davy Jones. The results were now essentially finalized.
The "Whitebeard Pirates Remnants" had surrendered a great deal in exchange for Davy Jones' military support.
However, their bottom line was that the main force must remain stationed near Whitebeard's homeland—this territory was absolutely non-negotiable.
They also expressed their desire for Hachinosu (Beehive Island), and their hatred toward Blackbeard, Weevil, Marine Headquarters, Kaido… all kinds of details far outside what Kuro was authorized to finalize.
Kuro sought Davy Jones' decision.
Davy Jones decided directly—he would personally sail to Whitebeard's homeland and finalize the final terms.
He handed over Thriller Ghost Island's affairs to Alvida, Shark-Star, and Vinsmoke Reiju, then boarded the Thriller Ghost and set off.
Davy Jones had always delegated heavily, only stepping in for major strategic decisions. Thus, his absence did not hinder operations on Thriller Ghost Island.
During this time, many fishermen saw a ship that looked straight out of a horror tale—a true "ghost ship."
As Davy Jones often played eerie, spectral organ music in his cabin, and the Terror Ghost sailed shrouded in mist, countless strange legends spread along its path.
A few foolish pirates even tried to board it out of curiosity—none ever returned.
The Terror Ghost remained well-fed.
Finally, the ship crossed into the disputed borders of the Whitebeard Remnants' territory.
In truth, the borders here were extremely blurry.
Because the three-way war between the Whitebeard Remnants, the Blackbeard Pirates, and the "pseudo-Whitebeard II" was still ongoing, the front lines shifted constantly.
The Blackbeard Pirates had devoured much of the territory Whitebeard left behind—their domain had grown enough to shame even some Shichibukai with long-established empires.
"Whitebeard II," Weevil, seemed to have realized that operating alone was too disadvantageous. Under the persuasion of his mother, Miss Bakkin, he founded a pirate crew—
Naturally named the Whitebeard II Pirates.
With that name and his Gura-Gura no Mi, Weevil had carved out a fierce reputation in the region.
But the Terror Ghost cared nothing for such matters, sailing straight into the war-torn zone.
There was no need for Kuro, Buggy, Ace, or Marco to receive him.
Armed with "Edward Newgate's Compass" and "Charlotte Linlin's Sea Chart," Davy Jones could easily find the correct route.
Soon, the Terror Ghost was spotted by the Whitebeard Remnants' scouts and reported upward.
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