New World, Dressrosa.
The royal palace stood proudly atop a towering rocky plateau, overlooking the entire country.
Deep inside the palace.
"..."
Doflamingo stared at the disconnected Den Den Mushi, a rare hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.
That Marine on the other end… not only was he unafraid of him, but he even claimed he was going to send him a "gift"?
"Fuffuffuffu… fuffuffuffuffu!"
After a brief moment of surprise, he let out his signature eerie laugh.
"Interesting… this is really interesting!"
It had been so many years since anyone dared to speak to him like that.
He strode forward, entering a hidden room.
On the floor of the room, hundreds of sleeping Den Den Mushi were neatly arranged in rows.
Each Den Den Mushi represented one of Doflamingo's underground network connections, threading into the darkest corners of the world.
He reached for one of the Den Den Mushi at the very back — one he hadn't used in a very long time — and dialed.
"Burururu~"
Click.
The Den Den Mushi opened its eyes, mimicking the expression of the person on the other end. A piece of leftover burger meat even stuck to the corner of its mouth.
A deep, calm voice came through.
"Doffy?"
"Vergo, it's me."
""Demon Bamboo" Vergo"
On the other side, Vergo's tone carried mild surprise.
"You haven't used this line in ages. What happened?"
"Fuffuffu, nothing major."
Doflamingo briefly retold what had just happened, treating it like a joke.
"There's some clueless Marine brat… wiped out Bellamy's crew and even dared to provoke me."
"Find out who he is."
"Got it."
Vergo agreed immediately, but then his tone shifted, growing solemn.
"Doffy, you'd better be careful."
"A newcomer in the Marines has recently risen to fame… he's making a lot of noise."
"Oh? Who?"
"Rayne Hawke."
Vergo's voice sank.
"A newly promoted Commodore. All three Admirals hold him in high regard, and even Fleet Admiral Sengoku personally endorsed him. He's a complete monster."
"A newly promoted Commodore?"
Doflamingo's laugh was filled with disdain and arrogance.
"Fuffuffuffu! Vergo, have you been stuck in the Marines so long that you've grown timid?"
Before Vergo could respond, he hung up the call.
Click—
Doflamingo strolled toward the massive floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the "peaceful" nation he had built with his own hands.
"Fuffuffuffu!"
He spread his arms wide, as if to embrace the entire world.
"Marines…"
"Just wait. I'll find you…"
"And then, I'll slice your head clean off with my own hands!"
...
Boooooom—
A massive fleet sailed steadily toward Mock Town.
On the largest battleship in the center, Hawke was briefing Dane on the situation:
"The details are as follows..."
"On the outskirts of the G-3 Branch, we eliminated Doflamingo's peripheral force — the Bellamy Pirates."
"On Bellamy's ship, we recovered classified intelligence."
"The intel indicates that one of the Shichibukai, Donquixote Doflamingo — codename: Joker —"
"Has his highest-ranking officer, the original "Heart," currently infiltrating Marine Headquarters."
"Confirmed identity: G-5 Branch Base Commander, Vice Admiral "Demon Bamboo" Vergo."
"Additionally, records suggest Vergo is directly linked to the death of former Marine Headquarters Commander, Donquixote Rosinante, years ago."
"Based on my personal deductions, Vergo was likely the one who exposed Rosinante's undercover identity back then."
"This…"
Dane's hand trembled slightly as he recorded everything.
At that moment, he finally understood what Hawke meant earlier when he told Doflamingo over the Den Den Mushi that he was "sending him a gift."
This wasn't a gift.
This was a poisoned dagger, aimed straight and mercilessly at Doflamingo's heart!
Given how highly Marine Headquarters valued Hawke, plus the fact that this information touched Sengoku's deepest scar…
This intel would absolutely be investigated at the highest priority, with utmost scrutiny.
And if Vergo really was a mole...
Then he was as good as dead!
"That's all. Get it done immediately."
Hawke waved his hand.
"Yes, sir!"
Dane didn't dare delay even for a second and rushed to carry out the order.
"..."
Hawke stood at the bow of the massive battleship, gazing toward the distant horizon.
With a thought, a faint blue light curtain slowly unfolded before his eyes.
His Justice Points, which had remained stagnant for a while, finally surged after the annihilation of the Bellamy Pirates.
[Ding! Eliminated "Hyena" Bellamy — Bounty: 55,000,000 Belly — earned 5500 Justice Points.]
[Ding! Annihilated the Bellamy Pirates — earned 4500 Justice Points.]
[Total Justice Points gained: 10,000.]
[Rayne Hawke]
[G-3 Branch Commander, Commodore of Marine Headquarters, wielder of Four Buster Calls.]
[Observation Haki: Intermediate (Rear Admiral-level)]
[Armament Haki: Intermediate (Rear Admiral-level)]
[Physique: Intermediate (Rear Admiral-level)]
[Martial Arts (Fist): Intermediate (Rear Admiral-level)]
[Conqueror's Haki: Not Awakened]
[Current Justice Points: 13,012.]
[Remaining Survival Days: 3650 days.]
Ten thousand Justice Points…
So this was the true weight of the Grand Line.
Just wiping out a small pirate crew like Bellamy's… was worth five Arlong Pirates combined.
To upgrade any single ability from Intermediate to Advanced — reaching Vice Admiral level — required exactly 10,000 points.
With an upgrade now, his strength would immediately leap to a whole new tier.
But no rush...
Mock Town was just ahead.
That "lawless zone," a pirate paradise… the amount of evil festering there far surpassed Bellamy's little crew.
Cleansing Mock Town first, then upgrading everything all at once, was the optimal strategy.
Besides… it was about time to start working toward unlocking Conqueror's Haki.
That was the real ticket into the realm of true powerhouses.
"Justice Points…"
"Still far too few."
"..."
Hawke's gaze pierced through the sea mist, as though he could already see that sinful town reeking of alcohol and blood.
"Pirates of Mock Town…"
"You'd better not disappoint me."
...
Marine Headquarters.
A top-level encrypted intelligence report landed on Fleet Admiral Sengoku's desk.
Sengoku glanced at the unique seal on the document and casually picked it up.
"Hmm…"
"This one's from that kid, Hawke?!"
Sitting opposite him, Vice Admiral Tsuru lifted her head, setting aside her teacup, curiosity piqued.
"Oh? What could he have found that required top-level encryption?"
"…"
Sengoku tore open the seal and unfolded the papers inside.
At first, he scanned the document calmly, his expression composed.
But very quickly, his face darkened at an alarming rate.
The atmosphere in the office instantly grew oppressive, violent, suffocating.
"Sengoku?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru immediately sensed something was wrong.
"…"
Sengoku said nothing.
His breathing grew heavier, his grip on the papers tightening so hard that his knuckles turned white, crumpling the thin sheet in his palm.
His bloodshot eyes blazed with fury, veins bulging at his temples, ready to burst.
"Vergo…"
That single name slipped between his clenched teeth, laced with a killing intent that chilled the air.
"!!!"
Tsuru's heart sank sharply.
Without waiting, she shot to her feet, stepping quickly around the desk, and snatched the document from Sengoku's trembling hand.
Her sharp gaze swept down the page.
Donquixote Doflamingo…
Original "Heart"… G-5 Branch Base Commander, Vice Admiral "Demon Bamboo" Vergo…
Donquixote Rosinante…
Her pupils constricted as she sucked in a sharp breath.
"This…!!!"
...
(This chapter was posted for your review, thank you so much for all your reviews. I really appreciate it. For each review I post +1 chapter)