Various Parties Pay Attention

Tiger Shark Island

Central Commercial District

"These things you're selling are way too expensive!"

Nia stepped onto a crate, looking down at the shop owner in an attempt to psychologically pressure him into selling things cheaper.

"It's a small business, no room for negotiation."

Despite Nia's pressure, the shop owner remained unfazed, his expression and gaze unchanging. He even issued a subtle warning to Nia.

"You should consider this: this is Tiger Shark Island. No matter who you are, you have to follow the rules once you're on the island."

"Tch—"

Considering the potential repercussions of causing trouble here, Nia pouted in dissatisfaction.

If she weren't worried about attracting unnecessary trouble by making too much noise, she would never have caved to such a greedy merchant.

"Forget it, I'll take these."

Nia gritted her teeth and paid, refusing the owner's offer of an exorbitantly priced handcart. She, Pekoms, and Shakky then hoisted the crates and walked towards the coast.

As for Grey, his small frame wouldn't be able to handle it.

After Nia and her companions left, the shop owner took out a Den Den Mushi from his drawer. He looked at the photo he had taken with satisfaction before using another Den Den Mushi to make a call.

"I have information on the cat-woman Nia, complete with photos. It's the usual arrangement."

"No problem, as long as the information is accurate."

"Of course. My reputation depends on it."

"Mine too."

A smile flickered across the owner's face. He quickly described the general situation and sent the secretly taken photos to the other party.

Far out at sea, two warships were sailing.

"Lord Cooler, we've received intel from Tiger Shark Island that the cat-woman Nia has appeared there."

"Is the information reliable?"

"It should be. We have photos."

A man with short purple hair took the photo handed to him by his subordinate. The person in the photo was unmistakably Nia.

"She seems to have matured a bit."

Staring blankly at the familiar face in the photo, the man named Cooler's eyes flashed with a hint of imperceptible warmth.

Bang—

Suddenly, he kicked the subordinate in front of him away. His body flickered, and he instantly appeared before the subordinate, coldly ordering him:

"Remember, you should address her as Lady Nia!"

"Yes!"

"Go contact the warship ahead. The plan has changed. The target is no longer in Horgus Town. Change course, we're heading to Tiger Shark Island."

Watching his subordinate hurry off to contact the other warship, Cooler turned to another subordinate standing by the door and commanded:

"Have Neo come see me."

After both subordinates had left, Cooler looked at the photo in his hand and murmured:

"Your pirate make-believe game should be over now, Nia!"

The two warships circled on the sea and then turned towards Tiger Shark Town.

Horgus Town

North Port

As a pink sailboat themed after a flamingo docked, several figures disembarked.

The person in the lead wore a pink feather coat and red sunglasses, striding arrogantly towards the town center.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, am I seeing things..."

"Why would someone of that stature come here..."

"Is something big about to happen again?"

"..."

Seeing the group disembark from the ship, everyone at the port stopped what they were doing. Some looked terrified, some were at a loss, and others wore expressions of fervent admiration.

"Shichibukai, Doflamingo! Why are you here?"

Upon hearing the news, Captain Greys, the Marine Headquarters officer stationed in Horgus Town, rushed over. He looked at Doflamingo not far away, sweat involuntarily trickling down his temple.

Doflamingo didn't even glance at the Marine and walked past him, heading directly towards the town center, where the Donquixote Family also had businesses.

"Our actions don't need to be reported to the Marines, right?"

Baby-5, following behind Doflamingo, spoke up. Then, along with Buffalo, she followed Doflamingo towards the town center.

Watching the group completely ignore him, Captain Gries's face flushed with anger and then paled. He finally lowered his arm powerlessly and ordered his adjutant:

"Keep an eye on their movements. Report any abnormalities to me immediately."

"Yes!"

The adjutant quickly left with several Marines, leaving Captain Gries to silently ponder the reason for Doflamingo's appearance.

People of Shichibukai level usually only operate in the Grand Line and rarely come to the Four Blues.

Could it be because of that incident a while ago!

As a Marine stationed in the North Blue, Captain Gries was naturally aware of what had happened recently: a cadre of the Donquixote Family had been killed by a rookie pirate crew from the North Blue!

In fact, as the base commander of Horgus Town, the closest island in the North Blue to the Grand Line, he had also received orders from Marine Headquarters, demanding that he ensure this pirate crew was buried in the North Blue.

However, relying on himself alone, even if the Rod Pirates came, he wouldn't be able to defeat them.

Captain Gries was self-aware in this regard; after all, Rear Admiral Bastille had also been defeated by them.

He wondered when the reinforcements from Marine Headquarters would arrive.

Captain Gries muttered to himself.

Whether it was the newly emerged rookie pirate crew or the Shichibukai Doflamingo, neither was someone he could handle.

"Young Master, we just received some news!"

As soon as Doflamingo entered his own establishment and sat down, before he could even open a wine bottle, a member rushed over to report.

"What is it?"

Doflamingo calmly opened a bottle of Red Wine and slowly poured it into a glass.

Next, he just needed to wait here, and then when Law appeared, he would defeat him and bring him back to the New World.

"The Rod Pirates have appeared on Tiger Shark Island!"

"Tiger Shark Island!?"

Doflamingo's pouring motion suddenly stopped.

If he remembered correctly, that was a small island west of Horgus Town, very close to the Calm Belt. When they traveled back to the North Blue from the New World through the Calm Belt, they seemed to have passed by that island.

Moreover, that island was not on the route from Spiders Mill Town to Horgus Town.

Could it be that they had no intention of entering the Grand Line through Horgus Town!

Doflamingo instantly grasped the Rod Pirates' plan, and a surge of anger rose in his heart.

"They really have some ideas, those damned brats!"

It would take even the fastest ship a day to get to Tiger Shark Island from here. It was obvious that the other party wouldn't be lingering on the island for that long.

"Buffalo!"

Doflamingo called out to Buffalo, who had just sat on the sofa, preparing to reward himself with a large tub of ice cream.

"Take me to Tiger Shark Island!"

"Huh?"

Buffalo, holding the ice cream tub and about to dig in, was stunned.

"Didn't we just pass by that island yesterday?"