One Piece: Crown of Darkness

With the relationships of these global financial magnates in Arinland as a springboard, and Big Mom's imposing flag providing armed support, the name "Joker" rapidly rose to prominence and established itself in the underground brokerage business.

Everything proceeded smoothly, steadily, and according to Doflamingo's unhurried plan, though he hardly managed anything personally.

Doflamingo had no passion for wealth, let alone being lost in its allure. His broad vision and foresight offered him fertile ground for nurturing immense ambition...

Therefore, he fully entrusted the tedious tasks of accumulating wealth or assisting those from whom wealth was accumulated to Charlotte Daifuku, effectively transferring them to the Big Mom Pirates.

This was because Big Mom, having returned to the New World, was impatient to build her envisioned dream kingdom. The entire Big Mom Pirates crew had to strive to satisfy her, otherwise, they would face her baseless wrath. And the transactions he spearheaded were their largest, most stable source of income, so how could they dare not manage it carefully?

Likewise, he assigned the task of weaving the social network to Trebol and Diamante. He understood that they were not very ambitious individuals! But they were at least loyal to their family. By making the best use of their abilities, he also ensured they wouldn't bother the more ambitious ones.

As for Peclo, Doflamingo elevated him to the position of Arinland's king of the underworld, tasked with establishing Arinland's defensive forces.

Doflamingo himself was remarkably well-behaved, day after day, year after year, monotonously leading Vergo, Pica, and Smoothie in training. At most, he would occasionally stroll with Smoothie, watch a sunrise or sunset, create a bit of romance, and have heart-to-heart talks—though often he was instilling ideas into Smoothie, describing a captivating future.

During this long period, Doflamingo also used money to bribe and support Spandine's rise to power, thereby obtaining comprehensive, real-time global information. In truth, his main focus was singularly on the Roger Pirates.

For nearly three years, the world's attention had been fixed on Roger and the Roger Pirates. Starting with their recruitment of Kozuki Oden, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, they left the Grand Line to travel the North Blue and East Blue. Then, they plunged into the Grand Line, powerfully breaking through several meticulously laid encirclement operations by the Marines and Cipher Pol, heading towards the New World.

News that the Roger Pirates possessed Ancient Weapons and the method to reach Laugh Tale also spread like wildfire. Countless individuals targeted them, making their voyage exceedingly difficult. Especially upon their arrival in the New World, they were ambushed in the Edd War by the mightiest pirate, the 'Golden Lion,' leading the formidable Golden Lion Grand Fleet, who had been waiting for them.

When the 'Golden Lion' proposed an alliance and Roger refused, war was inevitable.

That battle shook the world!

The 'Golden Lion,' then at his peak, wielded incomparably formidable power, almost completely annihilating the Roger Pirates with overwhelming superiority.

However, an unprecedented, terrifying storm suddenly struck, saving the collapsing Roger Pirates and simultaneously sweeping away the 'Golden Lion''s life's work.

The sheer reversal of fortune, the dramatic turnaround, and the immense disparity of the outcome left the world speechless.

Even after winning the Edd War, the Roger Pirates were in a bad state. Most of their officers and crew had died, and everyone was injured. Even the First Mate, 'Dark King' Silvers Rayleigh, was missing and presumed dead for over eight months before his return.

Despite such dire circumstances, they still had to contend with the World Government's planned expeditionary force, angered by their pursuit of historical truth.

'Hero' Monkey D. Garp repeatedly drove the Roger Pirates into desperate situations, making their journey incredibly arduous.

Late in the year 1496, Sea Calendar.

Doflamingo's quiet life was shattered.

Click.

Tap, tap, tap...

Hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Doflamingo's fingers haphazardly tapped the desk.

He had just received intelligence from Spandine: the World Government's planned expeditionary force had withdrawn from the latter half of the New World, signifying their admission of failure in capturing the Roger Pirates.

The reason for the World Government's failure was Whitebeard's intervention. He feigned conflict with the Roger Pirates, but in reality, he obstructed the expeditionary force.

If no further unexpected events occurred, the Roger Pirates now had a clear path, with only the journey to Laugh Tale left to uncover its secrets.

"The 'Pirate King' will be born soon, fufufufu~ Hahahaha..." Doflamingo pressed his hand to his forehead, chuckling, then burst into maniacal laughter. "The main act is about to begin! Move fast! Get fully prepared! A world where only true pirates can survive is coming! Those without power, run away quickly! Along with the unstoppable tidal waves, a new era of heroes is approaching! Fufufuhahahaha!!!"

"Do... Doffy?" Pica was startled by Doflamingo's sudden outburst and called out softly.

Vergo, however, seemed unfazed by Doflamingo's erratic behavior.

Doflamingo licked his lips, said nothing, and walked straight to the bedroom to retrieve a small box. He handed it to Pica: "This is the Paramecia-type Stone-Stone Fruit. I didn't give it to you before because I was afraid you'd become dependent on Devil Fruit abilities like Trebol and Diamante. Develop it well, Pica! Fufufufu~ Vergo, you shouldn't eat a Devil Fruit for now. We can't have everyone on the ship be a Devil Fruit user; if we accidentally fall into the sea, no one would be able to save us."

"Understood!" Vergo stood at attention, his usual serious demeanor intact.

"What's wrong, Doffy?" A sleepy-eyed Smoothie poked her head out from the ship's cabin.

Doflamingo smiled. "Nothing, Smoothie... It's just that our time together, I'm afraid, won't be much longer."

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