One Piece: Investing In Whitebeard At The Start.

Doflamingo had lived in the New World for many years, and he understood better than most that it was far from simple. He wasn't one of those reckless rookies who thought they could defeat the Four Emperors and become Pirate King just by talking big and keeping their mouths shut.

If it were that easy, the Navy would have dismantled the Four Emperors' power long ago.

Did these fools think the struggle for supremacy in the New World was child's play? For a pirate to even set foot here was already remarkable luck.

In the early days of the Great Pirate Era, countless legendary pirates fought for dominance, but in the end, only Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom remained standing. The rest were either dead or crippled.

"Your power is truly frightening," Doflamingo said, his sharp eyes on Vane. Thanks to Vane's comparatively easygoing manner, Doflamingo could actually smile in his presence — something he had never once done with Kaido.

Kaido of the Hundred Beasts was a terrifying force. Doflamingo had no doubt that Kaido could cripple him with a single blow or two. And yet… Vane had made Kaido submit? It was a high possibility, though there was always the chance it was merely cooperation.

Doflamingo didn't press further. Some questions were simply inappropriate for someone at his level to ask.

Soon, Violet arrived, accompanied by two women.

They carried trays laden with fruit, desserts, and Dressrosa's most famous wines, setting them on the table between Vane and Doflamingo.

This was Violet's first time seeing Vane up close. She hadn't known who was visiting Doflamingo earlier, but she hadn't expected it to be the youngest and one of the most formidable Yonko in the world.

Some still believed Whitebeard held the title of the world's strongest man — and for many, his position was irreplaceable. In the minds of most pirates, defeating Whitebeard was equivalent to becoming Pirate King. Whitebeard was undoubtedly the man closest to that throne.

And yet, Doflamingo… seemed to fear Vane?

Dressrosa might look like a land of prosperity and peace, but beneath its bright façade, it was firmly under Doflamingo's oppressive rule. The harmony was nothing more than an illusion built on shadows.

After the women left, silence returned to the hall.

Vane broke it with a sudden question.

"What do you know about the World Government's background? As a former Celestial Dragon, you should have some answers."

"Celestial Dragon?"

Doflamingo's expression stiffened. Very few people knew of his lineage, and yet Vane had uncovered it. Even though Doflamingo had left the Holy Land of Mariejois, the Five Elders had allowed him to retain his Celestial Dragon privileges. He'd always taken great pride in his "noble" bloodline, ruling Dressrosa under the belief that mortals existed to obey the will of gods.

The entire world knew that Vane had no respect for Celestial Dragons. In fact, he had slaughtered them without hesitation. Not long ago, he had caused a massive incident in Mariejois, killing over a hundred Celestial Dragons — most of them by his own hand.

Was it conceivable that such a man would take their status seriously?

"I don't have any ill will toward you, for now," Vane said calmly. "We'll have plenty of chances to work together in the future."

The wording was important. Vane wasn't saying Doflamingo had "uses" to him — he was treating him as a near-equal. This was already far more respect than Kaido had ever shown Doflamingo.

"The Celestial Dragons have deep roots," Doflamingo continued. "When you were in Mariejois that day… you saw that woman, didn't you? Im."

"I did."

Doflamingo's tone grew serious.

"She's said to be incredibly powerful. I don't know the full extent of her strength, but rumors say she's been around since the founding of Mariejois."

"So she's at least 800 years old?" Vane asked.

"Most likely. The Celestial Dragons call her Im-sama. Very few even know she exists. She wields the power of the ancient weapon, Uranus — though what exactly Uranus can do, I don't know. You've fought her, so you know better than I do.

"Also, deep within Mariejois, it's said there's another great weapon — a national treasure. I have no idea what form it takes."

Doflamingo leaned forward slightly.

"The World Government is powerful, but in the New World, only Im truly stands out. The Five Elders? They're not on the level of the Yonko. They're just old men clinging to life, terrified of death, and they've barely left Mariejois in their lifetimes. Even if Im came to the New World and killed a Yonko, she couldn't control the territory for long. One old ruler falls, another rises. The New World is vast — even larger than all Four Seas combined. It's beyond their control, so they maintain balance instead.

"To keep the Yonko's power in check, the Five Elders created the Shichibukai system. But it's a sham. The Shichibukai could never truly contain the Four Emperors."

Doflamingo smiled darkly. His Shichibukai title was his shield, allowing him to rule Dressrosa as a "legal" pirate.

"Go on," Vane prompted.

"Originally, the world's balance was delicate," Doflamingo said. "But with your rise, that balance is broken. The world is moving in a direction the Government can't control.

"It's said Im avoids the New World. A hundred years after the 'Great Disappearance,' both the King of Heaven and the Sea King appeared in the same era. The Sea King — the one who can command all Sea Kings — could dominate the New World. Even Im doesn't dare enter those waters lightly.

"That's why the World Government leaves the New World to itself. One Yonko dies, another takes their place. They simply don't have the power to claim it outright.

"But make no mistake — the Government still has strong individuals. If Im ever enters the New World, you can be certain she'll cause you trouble."

In truth, when Im had witnessed the massive Sea King blocking the meteorite that day, she'd realized something — Poseidon was awakening. Poseidon could sense Uranus, and Uranus could sense Poseidon.

The New World's seas were deep, more than 15,000 meters below the surface. In that crushing darkness where humans could not survive, countless colossal Sea Kings lay dormant. At Poseidon's command, they could rise as an unstoppable army, blotting out the sky and shaking the world itself.

---