Intensified Preparations

Umit's mobilization of forces couldn't possibly escape the notice of Joker, a local power player.

This wasn't because Pica was tracking him in real time.

Rather, boat after troop transport boat sailed blatantly into the port. If Doflamingo hadn't given orders quickly enough, the Donquixote Family's executives would have already opened fire on Umit's army. Even though no fighting broke out, both sides remained on standby, ready to strike at any moment.

The tense atmosphere spread directly into the streets. The once bustling main road instantly turned desolate, and many people ran to the gates of the Royal Palace, begging His Majesty the King to expel these thugs who clearly weren't anything good.

King's Plateau, a sitting room within the Royal Palace.

"Dofla, that old bastard Umit is way too arrogant. Let me go kill him," Diamante, one of the four top executives and commander of the Block Army, declared loudly. Draped in a red cloak and dressed like a tribal native, he pressed his right hand on his sword hilt, his murderous aura proving he wasn't joking.

"Diamante, don't be hasty. This matter... leave it alone for now."

Doflamingo gently swirled the goblet in his hand, the blood-red wine spinning violently. "Let that old bastard Umit do whatever he wants. But... Senor, go warn that old man. This is Dressrosa, not his ship. My patience has limits. If he dares cross the line... let him weigh the consequences himself."

The glass holding the red wine reflected a terrifying, twisted face full of murderous intent.

Umit's blatant actions in his kingdom had thoroughly enraged him.

But if he lashed out at Umit now, he'd be taking the fall for that never-met Black Prince. Such self-sacrificing behavior wasn't his style, so... he planned to wait until Umit and that Black Prince had their showdown. If Umit lost, there'd be no need for him to intervene.

If Umit won, then he'd settle accounts with Umit later.

"Yes, Young Master, I'm on it."

The burly man, sucking on a pacifier and dressed like an oversized baby, answered boldly. Though he looked like a pervert, his stride carried the air of a hardened man.

And that was exactly the truth.

As the patriarch of the Donquixote Family, Doflamingo knew every family member's personality and abilities. Senor might look like a pervert, but he was truly an iron-blooded tough guy. Many schemes and plots weren't suited for Senor's involvement, but some tasks were better handled by him than anyone else.

Tasks like delivering this message—tough enough to convey his displeasure, yet not enough to tear the skin and start a full-blown fight with Umit.

"Dofla, I say, I say, are we just letting this slide? That's way too easy on that old bastard, isn't it?" Trebol dangled a long string of snot, asserting his presence as one of the family's top executives.

But Trebol's words struck a chord with many.

Several family members present nodded in agreement.

"I hate repeating myself, Trebol. Umit is not my prey right now." Doflamingo took a sip of wine and continued, "We only need to watch the show with Umit's matter. At least until this hunter dies, we're just spectators. Remember that, all of you—we're just spectators now. It's not yet time for us to step in."

Doflamingo emphasized.

He had no intention of taking a bullet for anyone, especially not some brat who'd refused to deal with him.

The coastline of Dressrosa was dotted with massive Mushroom Rocks.

Now, Umit's forces had occupied the area as a temporary camp. Six thousand fully armed elite soldiers were stationed there, sharpening their blades, ready for battle at any moment. And the camp held not just six thousand elite soldiers, but also eleven pirates with bounties over a hundred million.

Getting no useful intel about Sokachio Aleus from Stussy left Umit feeling vaguely uneasy.

After weighing his options, he chose to trust his instincts. Ignoring the risk of offending Joker, he decisively pulled his hidden reserve forces from the sea onto the island, preparing to concentrate all his power and crush the challenger Sokachio Aleus with overwhelming force.

Don't underestimate those six thousand men.

In terms of individual combat power, they were useless. But when they manned a large number of cannons, they had some use. At the very least, they could boost morale and use the crowd to conceal the movements of their own strong fighters.

He was guarding against Joker selling him out!

"Lord Umit, isn't this a bit too much? Joker's going to lose his mind."

A bald man in a baseball cap stood with Umit atop a giant Mushroom Rock, breathing in the salty sea breeze blowing in their faces.

"Marcus, do you think what Venkura said is really true or not?"

"...Lord Umit, true or false doesn't matter anymore. At this point, we can't back down. If we retreat now, we won't be able to survive in the New World." The bald man called Marcus, still in his baseball cap, shrugged.

"True enough! I dug a pit for that little prince myself, and now I'm the one getting nervous... Hah! Am I getting old after all?"

"How could that be? Your fists still hurt more than before when you hit people."

"Do they?"

"This morning during training, the punch you landed on me—I can still feel the pain!"

"That's because you've been slacking off on training lately! Stop playing cards all day, that's a pastime that rots the will! If you want to do great things, you can't let your desires control you."

"Heh heh!"

Marcus scratched his bald head under the baseball cap and grinned without responding.

If he couldn't play cards, he might as well die now.

And do great things? What's better than cards?

"...Get lost! Stop being an eyesore here. Go keep an eye on those bastards below and make sure they don't slack off. Don't just think about playing cards... And watch those idiots—don't let them start a fight with Joker's men. That stingy bastard Joker will actually make a move if he's pushed too far."

"Then why are you doing this? If I were Joker, I'd have already blown my top."

Marcus rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"So you're just my lackey."

"Secretary, not lackey."

"... Get lost now."

Umit couldn't be bothered to waste words on this fool. If not for the fact that the guy was strong enough and utterly loyal, he would never have kept someone who only ever thought about playing cards around to boss around.

Marcus left the Mushroom Rock, leaving Umit standing there alone, gazing out at the sea.

The sea wind howled fiercely, but it couldn't shake Umit's stance in the slightest. His feet seemed to take root, merging with this Mushroom Rock into one, unmoved by wind or rain.