"Joker?" Lucci's eyes sharpened slightly.
It was only a codename. Joker's true identity was Donquixote Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
He dealt in human trafficking, SMILE, weapons… a complete and absolute villain.
Blu-bli-bli…
The Den Den Mushi in Maika's arms rang.
Under Lucci's threat, Maika had no choice but to answer.
"Maika, did you get the goods?" A wild and arrogant voice came through.
"Doflamingo!" Lucci's expression turned icy, his voice even colder. "These are the goods of the Holy Spirit Empire. You actually dared to steal them."
"Fufufufu…"
Doflamingo let out a proud, mocking laugh. "Can't help it. Your goods are just too high quality."
His tone made it obvious that he didn't put Oguro or the Holy Spirit Empire in his eyes at all.
"You're looking for death!"
Lucci's temper flared. He was about to smash Maika's skull with one palm.
"Now, now… don't be so hasty."
Doflamingo playfully stopped him.
"How about this? Let me talk to your king. Maybe we can find a solution that works for both sides."
Hearing that, Lucci instantly understood Doflamingo's intention.
"You want to cooperate with His Majesty?" Lucci sneered. "You're not worthy."
"Fufufufu… his men are really arrogant."
Doflamingo's face darkened. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes.
Who was he?
A Warlord of the Sea.
A ruler of the New World.
A man whose background once made even the World Government tread carefully.
And this little errand runner of Oguro dared to bark at him?
Doflamingo's voice turned colder.
"Are you sure you should be acting on your own like this? After all, a lot of people do business with your empire. If they all get targeted, your life won't be very pleasant."
As one of the kings of the underworld, Doflamingo really did have the power to throw Oguro's weapons business into chaos.
He was a Warlord. He had legal plundering rights.
And the Holy Spirit Empire wasn't even a member nation of the World Government.
"You're threatening the Holy Spirit Empire? Doflamingo, you're the one who's courting death."
Lucci had long cultivated the ability to hide his emotions, but this time, hearing Doflamingo provoke both the empire and Oguro, his anger finally broke through.
"Fufufufu…"
Instead of getting angry, Doflamingo laughed even harder.
"Go get Oguro. I'm sure he'll want to talk to me. After all, there are things only I can help him accomplish."
Before Lucci could react, he hung up.
That last line made Lucci calm down instead.
Only he can help His Majesty accomplish something?
Lucci was genuinely surprised.
After all these months, he had a clear understanding of the Holy Spirit Empire's strength.
They had at least two fighters at admiral level.
Even the Yonko crews weren't that extravagant.
It was hard to imagine what Oguro could possibly need from someone like Doflamingo.
But Lucci knew his place.
He was just the head of intelligence. His job was to report, not decide.
As for decisions, that was for His Majesty.
"Lucci, what do we do with these guys?"
Kaku walked over. Maika's entire crew had already been captured and were awaiting judgment.
Lucci glanced at them, his voice cold. "Execute them all. They dared rob the empire's shipment and think they can still live?"
Maika nearly jumped up in panic.
"We're working for Doflam—"
Before he could finish, a bloody hole appeared in his forehead.
Kaku lowered his left index finger. A flying Shigan had shot straight through Maika's skull.
"Idiot." Kaku snorted. "A disposable pawn like you really thinks Doflamingo cares about your life?"
Doflamingo was infamous, that much was true.
But Oguro was also a rising tyrant of the Grand Line.
No matter what kind of cooperation Doflamingo wanted, the theft had to be answered.
And that answer would naturally be the lives of Maika and his men.
That was what sincerity meant.
It was also the basic dignity of a ruler.
Otherwise, why do you think Doflamingo never once mentioned Maika?
The moment they were captured…
Their fate had already been sealed.
Kaku proceeded to clean up the rest, killing the remaining pirates one by one.
Ever since he ate the Zoan-type Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Saber-Toothed Tiger a month ago, his aura had been growing heavier by the day.
Right now, in the entire Shadow Dragon Guard, only he could stand on equal footing with Lucci.
Because of Kaku's pressure, Lucci had pushed his training even harder.
He had finally awakened Armament Haki not long ago, securing his place at the front.
Water 7.
The first water park in Oguro's grand plan had officially opened.
After months of advertising, the place was famous throughout the entire island.
Oguro felt great seeing the crowds flooding in.
Looked like this year's taxes were going to be very generous.
Just then, a servant brought over a Den Den Mushi. Lucci was calling.
Oguro answered. "What's wrong, Lucci? Something happened in the North Blue?"
Lucci respectfully reported Doflamingo's involvement from start to finish.
Not a trace of exaggeration.
"Tch. That flamingo really doesn't know how to be quiet."
Oguro curled his lip, a cold glint flickering in his eyes.
"I'd like to see what he's trying to pull."
Strictly speaking, Oguro and Doflamingo didn't have any direct conflict.
Doflamingo's main business area was the New World.
Oguro wasn't planning to go there yet.
Oguro dialed Doflamingo's Den Den Mushi.
The snail immediately shifted into a wicked, cocky face.
"Oho… the great Soul King of the Holy Spirit Empire. How nice to hear from you."
Oguro shot him a cold look. "Doflamingo, drop the theatrics. Just say what you want."
"Fufufufu… so straightforward. Fine, then I'll be direct. I want to work with you. I want to sell your new guns in the New World."
"You really are afraid the world isn't chaotic enough."
The New World was already a place of madness where even the Navy could only defend territory.
If these new guns were released there… people would be blowing each other to pieces.
"Fufufufu…"
Doflamingo burst out laughing. "Oguro, stop pretending. I know exactly what you're aiming for."
My aim?
Oguro paused. What was this guy talking about?
Doflamingo continued, his voice low and teasing.
"You stormed Enies Lobby. You flattened Impel Down. You built a nation while the World Government watched."
"Power. Influence. Wealth. You've gathered everything."
"Fufufufu… tell me. What kind of man gathers all of that?"
"Oguro… let's work together. Let's make this world more interesting."
***
Read 20 Chapters early on P-atreon.com/Redestro666