One Piece: Crown of Darkness

"Behehehehe~ Nyeh, nyeh!" With Doflamingo absent, Trebol, presuming his self-proclaimed, though unrecognized, position as the Donquixote Family's second-in-command, was utterly delighted. "I truly don't understand what Doffy's thinking. He didn't stay at the rich Drum Kingdom, our last stop, but now he's decided to temporarily stay at this barren Alabasta Kingdom. Does he just hate the cold and love warmth?"

Giolla, ever the dutiful mother, wiped Weevil's snot and groomed his thick, golden mane that covered his back. "Young Master has his reasons for doing what he does. Shut your mouth, you sloppy old man! You're making too much noise!"

Weevil tilted his head, seeing Giolla seemed displeased, and then casually asked, "Should I kill him, Momma Giolla?"

Trebol, who had been about to retort to Giolla, instantly backed down, chuckling apologetically. "Nyeh, nyeh, alright, behehehe~"

"Don't mind him, Weevil, he's just an idiot," Giolla couldn't be bothered with Trebol. She patted Weevil's broad shoulders, making him stand, and examined her work with satisfaction. "Oh~ hohoho, much cleaner! Good boy, as Young Master ordered, it's time for your training, hoho!"

Weevil bit his finger. He wasn't concerned about whether training would be hard. Drooling, he said, "After training, can I, can I still have delicious food?"

"Of course! How about pizza today? Oh~ hohoho~~~" Giolla tempted.

Weevil didn't doubt for a moment that Giolla would lie to him. He unhesitatingly began the training Doflamingo had arranged for him. In these past few days, Giolla had built a trusting relationship with him. Giolla never tricked him; she always delivered on her promises. To his simple mind, she was the best person.

The family members each went about their tasks.

Dusk.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~~~

Click.

Doflamingo, who had been acting alone for several days, returned, holding a rolled-up, large piece of paper.

"Depart," Doflamingo said, settling into a beach chair, his face thoughtful, clearly pondering something.

Trebol, forgetting his past scolding, impishly spoke up. "Behehehe~ Nyeh, nyeh, Doffy? What did you go do, nyeh?"

"Grave robbing," Doflamingo replied.

Trebol: "..."

Doflamingo had indeed gone grave robbing, specifically the royal tombs of the Alabasta Kingdom. However, he couldn't move the Poneglyph recording the ancient weapon "Pluton," which the Nefertari Family had guarded for eight centuries. It was too massive and heavy. Any attempt to move it would surely alert the Alabasta Kingdom's army.

He wasn't afraid of ordinary armies, but the problem was it would expose his whereabouts. So, he had to settle for a compromise: making a rubbing of the text recorded on the Poneglyph.

Trebol choked, unable to discern the truth of Doflamingo's words.

"Den Den Mushi," Doflamingo beckoned.

Diamante, with his long, slender legs, swiftly served him.

Pere pere pere~~~

Click.

"This is Spandine." The Den Den Mushi connected.

"It's me, my friend," Doflamingo said directly. "Has the World Government convened the Reverie? And is it being held early due to the current situation?"

Spandine paused slightly, then collected his thoughts and replied, "Yes! This year is the Reverie year. It was originally scheduled for the end of the year, but the 'Pirate King's' dying words had an astonishing impact. The seas are filled with pirates."

"What's the theme of the Reverie?" Doflamingo tapped his forehead, secretly thinking that it was no wonder the ruling Nefertari Family of Alabasta wasn't present, and neither was the king of the previous Drum Kingdom. He asked again, "Is there a plan, something like... the surge in pirates has disrupted the established balance of world power, and the Marines' forces, undergoing a generational change, are severely lacking? So, certain individuals are turning their attention to pirates, planning to recruit pirates with both power and fame?"

"Uh..." Spandine was speechless, likely terrified by Doflamingo. He lowered his voice, speaking urgently. "This is absolute top secret. How could you possibly know...?"

Doflamingo licked his lips. "How could I know? Fufufufu~ don't worry about it! Is it true? Or not?"

"Yes! The Seven Warlords of the Sea! The Seven Warlords of the Sea plan, it's the Gorosei's intention," Spandine forced himself to suppress his shock, gritting his teeth. "The details of what rights and privileges will be granted to the recruited pirates are to be discussed at the Reverie, but regardless, they are determined to push this plan through."

Doflamingo mused, "There's a team of archaeologists. Don't tell me there isn't one. Cipher Pol should have been watching them for a long time. Give me their exact location."

"You'll be the death of me eventually!" Spandine cried exasperatedly, yet he had no choice but to obediently give Doflamingo the precise location of that archaeological team.

Click.

The Den Den Mushi disconnected, then reconnected.

"This is 'Joker.' Peclo, issue a comprehensive bounty order to the Underworld in my name... No! Never mind."

Click.

Hanging up the Den Den Mushi receiver, Doflamingo's expression shifted continuously.

For a moment, Doflamingo considered using his own channels to abduct a few archaeologists from that archaeological team originating from Ohara in the West Blue, to have them translate the rubbing of the Poneglyph detailing the whereabouts of the ancient weapon "Pluton" that he possessed.

He abandoned the idea, however, because, as he well knew, "Cipher Pol should have been watching them for a long time."

A rash move would expose his years-long network of interests in the Underworld to Cipher Pol. Following the clues, combined with his sensitive identity, the World Government would undoubtedly pursue him relentlessly like sharks smelling blood.

With his current capital, it wasn't enough to make the World Government hesitate to act. It was better to wait patiently and more securely.

Abandoning the search for "Pluton's" whereabouts, Doflamingo shifted his focus to the World Government's Seven Warlords of the Sea plan...

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