Is the Admiral Going to Sink Marineford?

"Gran Tesoro?"

It sounded vaguely familiar, yet he couldn't quite place it.

What kind of place was that again?

Doflamingo explained, "That is the territory of the Golden Emperor, Tesoro. It is a cruise ship built entirely of gold and simultaneously the largest entertainment city in the world. It is said that they even have female staff members who have consumed Zoan-type Devil Fruits, fufufu~"

As he spoke, a suggestive smile spread across Doflamingo's face.

Zhu Mang: ? Do you really take me for some kind of lecher?

However, he had to admit that Doflamingo was truly worthy of being one of the most cunning and calculating masterminds in the original story.

Over the past two days, he had set aside almost all of his own affairs.

Even though he didn't personally care for such things, he had insisted on accompanying him here.

All of this was just so he could respond to Zhu Mang's requests at a moment's notice and keep him in high spirits.

In this way, even though Zhu Mang had read the original plot and knew this guy was the type who wouldn't move without profit, one couldn't strike a smiling face. Not to mention, the man had been meticulous, taking care of him in every possible way.

From food and clothing to emotional needs, he had handled every aspect to his satisfaction.

Even a beast would be moved by such treatment.

How could a living, breathing man like Zhu Mang be any different?

What cadre could withstand such a test?

"Enough, we'll talk about the future later. Don't forget the main business," Zhu Mang remarked. He had been indulging too much these past few days and was honestly getting a bit sick of it.

While the luxury was nice—he didn't hate the feeling, as people lived to enjoy themselves—perhaps it was because this body possessed Saiyan blood, but after a few days without a fight, he felt restless.

He really wanted to fight right now.

If that wasn't an option, watching others fight would suffice!

The look he gave Doflamingo began to turn dangerous.

Doflamingo felt his skin crawl under Zhu Mang's gaze.

He hurriedly said, "I received word from the Navy early this morning asking when I plan to arrive. It seems they have finished their pre-war preparations."

The so-called pre-war preparations included a very important step: evacuating all the families of the Navy personnel who had lived on Marineford for years.

It was said that this task had been ongoing for over a month. The Navy had mobilized many warships from the headquarters and nearby branches, and even borrowed numerous merchant ships from various guilds, only just managing to complete it recently.

There was no helping it; with a permanent population of nearly a million on Marineford, even after excluding the soldiers, there were still hundreds of thousands of civilians to evacuate.

Beyond that, there was the construction of defensive fortifications and the reinforcement of the coastline.

In short, even the common people outside knew that the Navy was currently bracing for a major battle.

On the other side, however, the Whitebeard Pirates were making significant moves as well.

More than a week ago, all the pirate crews under the Whitebeard Pirates had already gathered on an island near the Red Line within Whitebeard's territory in the New World.

Afterward, these pirate crews and their ships had vanished one by one.

Doflamingo's informants on Fish-Man Island told him that many Whitebeard Pirates flags had been spotted near the island a few days ago.

Clearly, they had already passed through Fish-Man Island, moved from the New World into the vicinity, and were likely gathering on some island right now.

The Navy was obviously aware of this news as well.

But the Navy made no attempt to stop them.

Because from the very beginning, this was a calculated move by the Navy against the Whitebeard Pirates.

They intended to use the destruction of the Whitebeard Pirates to put a full stop to this increasingly chaotic Great Pirate Era, to let those lawless pirates know who truly ruled this world!

Admittedly, there was much darkness in this world.

For instance, the greatest darkness of all was the so-called Celestial Dragons.

Even within the Navy, there was plenty of corruption.

But that did not diminish the sense of justice held by the majority of those within the Navy.

"In that case, let's set off. I still want to tour the island of Marine Headquarters. After all, I might not be able to see it again later; every look is one less chance..."

Doflamingo was left bewildered.

What did he mean by "one less chance" and "might not be able to see it again"?

Wait...

Could it be that this man intended to take action and sink Marineford?!!

Watching Zhu Mang turn and walk out the door first, a trace of horror appeared on Doflamingo's face.

The bay swallowed one steel behemoth after another in the twilight, their towering masts rising into the sky, nearly piercing the lead-gray clouds.

The portholes of every warship gleamed with a cold light, and the sea breeze whistled against the bronze-rimmed main turrets.

Marine soldiers were repeatedly wiping down the gun barrels with rags soaked in tung oil, striving to ensure they would function at their peak during tomorrow's battle.

Just then, as a medium-sized warship sailed into the harbor, the tall figure standing on the deck wearing a pink feather coat caught the attention of every Marine.

"Look, it's the Shichibukai—the Heavenly Yaksha Doflamingo!"

"Pah, damn Shichibukai."

"Shh—they're here to provide reinforcements."

"I don't trust pirates! If you ask me, we should bury them right alongside Whitebeard in this sea!" This was clearly a radical, likely one of Akainu's subordinates.

"It seems your reputation isn't very good," Zhu Mang remarked, lounging comfortably on a deck chair.

"Fufufu~ I don't need these guys to acknowledge any good reputation," Doflamingo laughed, finally showing a bit of the arrogance expected of a Shichibukai.

Hmm, it seems he's loosened up a bit after getting slightly more familiar with Zhu Mang, reverting to that unruly, defiant demeanor he had before.

Standing on a distant deck, a Marine Rear Admiral watched Doflamingo with a gloomy face, saying nothing.

He was one of the Rear Admirals stationed at the Sabaody Archipelago.

Doflamingo had sought him out early this morning, and after receiving orders, he had been forced to transport this pirate he loathed to Marine Headquarters.

However, at the same time, he was also feeling somewhat puzzled.

Throughout the better part of the day's voyage, he had discovered an interesting fact.

He had initially assumed the person who boarded the ship with Doflamingo was a member of the Donquixote Family, a subordinate of Doflamingo.

But in reality, that did not seem to be the case at all.

On the contrary, Doflamingo acted more like this man's subordinate!

It was completely upside down!

This was the lawless Shichibukai!

The "Heavenly Yaksha," who possessed quite a reputation across the entire world!

In the past, he had never heard of him being anyone's subordinate.

Yet now, when Doflamingo spoke with this man, he truly lowered his posture, appearing to respect him immensely.

He even used the power of his String-String Fruit to help this man slice a watermelon!

Who on earth was this person?

To be able to make the famous Heavenly Yaksha go to such lengths?

Did the Heavenly Yaksha have no pride?

The Marine Rear Admiral silently committed this information to memory, preparing to report it to Admiral Sakazuki the very moment he stepped off the ship!