In the New World, the kingdom of Dressrosa stood proud, its palace perched atop a towering plateau of stone, overlooking the entire nation like a monarch surveying his realm.
Deep within the palace halls, silence lingered in the aftermath of a call.
Donquixote Doflamingo lowered the receiver of the Den Den Mushi. For the briefest moment, a flicker of confusion passed across his usually composed face. The voice on the other end hadn't trembled, hadn't pleaded. That Marine, rather than showing fear, had offered him a gift.
His lips curled. The sound that followed was his infamous, jarring laugh.
"Fufufu… Fufufufufu!"
The haze of surprise evaporated quickly, replaced with amusement. It had been far too long since anyone dared speak to him in such a manner.
With deliberate steps, Doflamingo entered a concealed chamber. Inside, the floor was lined with rows of dormant Den Den Mushi, each representing a vein of his vast underground empire. Every one of them stretched into a shadowed corner of the world, a strand in his web of influence that ensnared both pirates and nobles alike.
From the deepest recess, he picked up a Den Den Mushi he had not touched in years and dialed.
"Buru buru… kacha."
The snail's features shifted, mimicking the person on the other end: half-closed eyes, a calm expression, and even a bit of hamburger meat stuck to its lip.
A voice, low and steady, resonated through.
"Doffy?"
"Vergo, it's me."
On the other end was Vergo, known in the underworld as "Demon Bamboo." His tone carried faint surprise. "You rarely use this line. Something happen?"
"Fufufu… nothing major," Doflamingo replied casually, retelling what had just transpired as if it were nothing more than a trivial anecdote.
"A cocky Marine eliminated Bellamy's crew, then had the audacity to provoke me. Look into him. Find out who he is."
Vergo's answer was immediate. "Understood." But then his voice deepened, becoming more serious.
"Doffy, tread carefully. The Navy has produced a troublesome new figure. His name is Renn Hawk."
"Hm? Who's that?"
Vergo's words carried weight. "A newly promoted Rear Admiral from Marine Headquarters. He has caught the attention of all three Admirals, and even Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself has personally vouched for him. He's not just strong. He's a monster."
Doflamingo's laugh split the air, dripping with disdain.
"A new Rear Admiral? Fufufufu! Vergo, you've been in the Navy too long. Your courage is shrinking."
Before Vergo could respond, the line clicked dead.
Doflamingo stepped toward the massive floor-to-ceiling window of his palace, gazing over the peaceful illusion he had built in Dressrosa. His arms stretched outward as if to embrace the world.
"Fufufufu!"
"Navy… Just wait. I'll find you. And when I do, I'll sever your head myself."
Far from Dressrosa, an imposing fleet cut through the seas toward Magic Valley Town.
On the flagship, Renn Hawk stood at the prow, his figure steady against the rolling waves. He turned slightly to Dane, who waited with pen and paper in hand.
"Write this down. The record is as follows."
His tone was calm, but each word carried the weight of thunder.
"In the waters near G-3, we annihilated Bellamy's pirate crew. On their ship, we discovered intelligence that exposes a truth long hidden. It confirms that Donquixote Doflamingo, Warlord of the Sea, operates under the codename Joker. More importantly, the information points to one of his highest-ranking officers the first 'Heart Seat' currently embedded within the Navy itself."
Renn's eyes sharpened. "The mole is Vergo, Vice Admiral and current head of the G-5 branch."
Dane's hand faltered, his pen scratching against the page.
Renn continued, voice cold and precise. "Furthermore, records indicate Vergo's involvement in the death of Marine Headquarters Lieutenant Commander Donquixote Rosinante years ago. Based on my judgment, it was Vergo who betrayed Rosinante, exposing his undercover identity and ensuring his demise."
The pen slipped for a moment, nearly falling from Dane's trembling fingers.
Now he understood. The "gift" Renn promised to Doflamingo wasn't a peace offering. It was a poisoned dagger driven straight into the Warlord's heart.
With Hawk's current reputation within Marine Headquarters and Sengoku's personal backing, this intelligence would be investigated swiftly and with utmost scrutiny. If Vergo truly was a traitor…
Then his fate was already sealed.
"Submit this immediately," Renn ordered.
"Yes, sir!" Dane saluted sharply, suppressing the tremor in his hand. He hurried off to transmit the report.
Renn remained at the prow, gazing across the endless horizon.
At his will, a pale blue screen shimmered into existence before his eyes the interface of the Justice System. Numbers shifted and tallied, reflecting the results of his most recent victory.
[Ding. Defeated the pirate Bellamy, bounty 55 million berries. Gained 5,500 Justice Points.]
[Ding. Destroyed the Bellamy Pirates. Gained 4,500 Justice Points.]
[Total gained: 10,000 Justice Points.]
Renn reviewed his current status:
Renn Hawk
Navy Grand Line G-3 Branch Commander, Rear Admiral, bearer of the Four Demon-Slaying Orders
Observation Haki: Intermediate (Vice Admiral level)
Armament Haki: Intermediate (Vice Admiral level)
Physique: Intermediate (Vice Admiral level)
Martial Arts (Fist): Intermediate (Vice Admiral level)
Conqueror's Haki: Unawakened
Remaining Justice Points: 13,012
Remaining Survival Time: 3,650 days
Ten thousand points from a single pirate crew. The Grand Line's weight was on full display.
Compared to the likes of Arlong, Bellamy's men provided quintuple the value. With those points, he could immediately elevate one ability to the "Advanced" tier the level of a full Vice Admiral.
But Renn's gaze remained steady. He would not rush.
Magic Valley Town lay just ahead a cesspool of pirates, smugglers, and criminals where debauchery and bloodshed ruled unchecked. A paradise for those without law. For Renn, it was a treasure trove of Justice Points waiting to be harvested.
Why settle for one step forward when an ocean of power lay within reach?
Besides, there was another horizon to pursue. The awakening of Conqueror's Haki. The true mark of those who stood at the pinnacle.
His eyes narrowed, cutting through the mist like blades.
"Justice Points… always too few," he muttered.
"Pirates of Magic Valley Town, do not disappoint me."
Meanwhile, within Marineford, a sealed document arrived on Fleet Admiral Sengoku's desk. The wax bore Hawk's mark, signifying the highest level of encryption.
Sengoku raised an eyebrow. "From that boy, Hawk?"
Across from him, Vice Admiral Tsuru set her teacup aside, curiosity alight in her gaze. "Oh? What has him so cautious that he'd use maximum encryption?"
Sengoku broke the seal. At first his eyes scanned with casual authority, but the deeper he read, the more his expression contorted.
Lines hardened across his face. His hand gripped the paper so tightly the thin sheet crumpled under the force. His breath grew ragged, shoulders trembling with a fury that shook the room.
"Vergo…" The name escaped his teeth, saturated with venom.
The killing intent radiating from him was suffocating.
Tsuru reacted instantly, stepping forward and snatching the paper from his grip. Her sharp gaze raced across the text.
Donquixote Doflamingo. Joker. Vergo. Rosinante.
Her pupils contracted violently.
"This… impossible…"
For the first time in decades, her voice carried the weight of disbelief.
And Sengoku's eyes, bloodshot and blazing, promised only one thing.
Vengeance.
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