Tiger Shark Island
Central Business District
"Your stuff is way too expensive!"
Nia planted one foot on a crate and looked down at the shopkeeper, trying to pressure him into lowering his prices.
"Small business. No bargaining."
The shopkeeper didn't flinch under Nia's pressure. His expression and even his gaze remained unchanged, and he went so far as to give her a slight warning.
"Think carefully. This is Tiger Shark Town. Whoever you are, once you set foot on the island, you have to follow the rules."
"Tch—"
Considering the trouble making a scene here might cause, Nia pursed her lips in annoyance.
If she weren't worried that making too much of a fuss would attract unnecessary trouble, she'd never give in to a crooked merchant like this.
"Fine. I'll take these."
Nia paid with gritted teeth, turning down the shopkeeper's overpriced handcart. Then, along with Pekoms and Shakky, she lifted the crates and headed for the shore.
As for Grey, with his little frame, he could forget about it.
After Nia and the others left, the shopkeeper pulled a Den Den Mushi out of his drawer. He glanced with satisfaction at the photo he'd taken, then used another Den Den Mushi to make a call.
"I've got information on Catwoman Nia, photos included. Same deal as always."
"No problem, as long as the information is accurate."
"Of course. I make my living on my reputation."
"Same here."
A faint smile appeared on the shopkeeper's face. He quickly described the situation and sent over the candid photo.
Far out at sea, two warships sailed across the waves.
"Sir Gula, we've received word from Tiger Shark Island. Catwoman Nia has appeared there."
"Is the information reliable?"
"It should be. We have a photo."
A purple-haired man took the photo from his subordinate. The person in it was unmistakably Nia.
"She looks a little more mature."
Staring at the familiar face in the photo, Gula's eyes briefly held a warmth that was hard to notice.
Thud—
He suddenly kicked the subordinate in front of him flying, then flashed after him and appeared at his side. Gula coldly ordered him:
"Remember, you should address her as Lady Nia!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Contact the warship ahead. The plan has changed. Our target isn't in Horgus Town anymore. Change course. We're heading to Tiger Shark Island."
As he watched his subordinate hurry off to contact the other warship, Gula turned to another subordinate standing by the door.
"Send Neo to see me."
After the subordinates had left, Gula looked at the photo in his hand and spoke quietly.
"Your pirate make-believe game has gone on long enough, Nia!"
The two warships curved around and headed for Tiger Shark Town.
······
Horgus Town
Northern Harbor
A pink sailing ship decorated with flamingo motifs came to a stop, and several figures disembarked.
The man at their head wore a pink feather coat and red sunglasses. With an arrogant stride, he headed straight for the center of town.
"Hey, hey, I'm not seeing things, am I..."
"Why would someone that important come here..."
"Is something big about to happen?"
"······"
Everyone at the harbor stopped what they were doing as they watched the people disembark. Some looked terrified, others were at a loss, and still others gazed at them with fervent admiration.
"Doflamingo, one of the Shichibukai! Why are you here?"
Once he got word, Grellis, the Marine Headquarters colonel stationed in Horgus Town, hurried over. Looking at Doflamingo nearby, he felt sweat trickle down his temple.
Doflamingo didn't even glance at the Marine. He walked right past him and continued toward the center of town, where the Donquixote Family had another business.
"We don't need to report our movements to the Marines, do we?"
Baby 5 spoke from behind Doflamingo. She and Buffalo then followed him toward the center of town.
The colonel's face flushed from one moment to the next as he watched them ignore him. At last, he let his arm fall helplessly and instructed the adjutant beside him:
"Keep an eye on them. Report anything unusual to me immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
The adjutant quickly left with several Marines, leaving Colonel Grellis to silently wonder why Doflamingo had shown up.
People of the Shichibukai's stature usually operated in the Grand Line and rarely came to the four seas.
Could it be because of what happened a while ago?
As a Marine stationed in North Blue, Colonel Grellis naturally knew what had happened recently: a rookie pirate crew from North Blue had taken down an officer of the Donquixote Family!
In fact, as the base commander of Horgus Town—the closest island to the Grand Line in North Blue—he had also received orders from Marine Headquarters to make sure the pirates were buried in North Blue.
But what could he do on his own? Even if the Rod Pirates showed up, he wouldn't be able to defeat them.
Colonel Grellis knew his own limits. After all, Rear Admiral Bastille had lost to them too.
He wondered when support from Marine Headquarters would arrive.
Grellis silently repeated the thought to himself.
Neither the rookie pirate crew that had appeared out of nowhere nor Doflamingo of the Shichibukai was someone he could handle.
······
"Young Master, we've just received word!"
Doflamingo had barely sat down inside one of his own establishments when a member rushed over to report. He hadn't even had a chance to open the wine.
"What is it?"
Doflamingo calmly opened a bottle of red wine and leisurely poured it into a glass.
All he had to do now was wait here. Then, when Luo showed up, he could defeat him and take him back to the New World.
"The Rod Pirates have appeared on Tiger Shark Island!"
"Tiger Shark Island?!"
Doflamingo suddenly stopped pouring.
If he remembered correctly, it was a small island west of Horgus Town, very close to the Calm Belt. When they'd crossed the Calm Belt from the New World to return to North Blue, they'd passed by that island.
Besides, the island wasn't on the route from Spiders Mill to Horgus Town.
Could they have no intention of entering the Grand Line through Horgus Town at all?
Doflamingo immediately figured out what the Rod Pirates were planning. A surge of anger rose in him.
"Those little brats really do have some ideas!"
Even the fastest ship would take a day to reach Tiger Shark Island from here. The other crew obviously wouldn't stay there that long.
"Buffalo!"
Doflamingo called out to Buffalo, who had just sat down on the sofa and was about to reward himself with a giant bucket of ice cream.
"Take me to Tiger Shark Island!"
"Huh?"
Buffalo froze, still clutching the ice cream bucket, ready to dig in.
"Didn't we just pass that island yesterday?"
Before you continue