"Fufufufu, so which of you is going to make contact with this Goa Emperor?"
Doflamingo laughed carelessly, edging away from Trebol, who was flinging snot everywhere.
A war had broken out between the Flower Kingdom and the Mulberry Kingdom, the pirate kingdoms of the West Blue. The Donquixote Family had secretly gotten involved, supplying underground arms to the Mulberry Kingdom and raking in a fortune.
If they could now develop another major client in the East Blue, an aggressive empire, they would surely make a lot of money every year.
"I want to go to the East Blue!"
"I heard the Goa Empire is the most beautiful country in the East Blue. Even the Celestial Dragons say it's wonderful. I want to see how it compares with our Dressrosa!"
"Of course, most importantly, I want to see the war between the Goa Empire and Germa 66!"
Diamante was the first to volunteer, his face brimming with excitement.
He would represent Dressrosa, an Affiliated Nation; Joker, the underground emperor; and the Donquixote Family, one of the Shichibukai, and make contact with that King of Exile.
It would be even better if he could negotiate an arms deal.
And even if he couldn't, he could still watch a battle between Judge and Wang Shi.
"Now that you mention it, I want to go to the East Blue too!"
Lao G and Machvise immediately chimed in. Those who had joined the Donquixote Family early on knew just how domineering Germa 66, the Overlord of the North Blue, could be.
By the time members like Gladius, Baby 5, and Buffalo had joined, the Donquixote Family was already thriving and preparing to enter the Grand Line.
"Young master, I want to go sightseeing in the East Blue too!"
Hearing the name of the most beautiful country in the East Blue, the weapon maid Baby 5's eyes lit up.
She could take advantage of this mission and visit the Goa Empire.
Maybe she could even find her "true love."
Without the young master getting in her way, her fiancé wouldn't just drop dead for no reason.
The portly Buffalo's eyes were full of longing too. Like a little kid, he wanted to go have fun.
"..."
Doflamingo's face darkened. Every one of them was thinking about sightseeing and watching the excitement.
If that many officers left, who would keep order in Dressrosa?
Still, with him holding down the fort in Dressrosa, there was no need to worry about anything going wrong.
"Go on, all of you!"
Doflamingo approved the five men's mission and departure.
Trebol wanted to speak up too, but Doflamingo turned him down, saying he had to protect Sugar.
Pica, Gladius, Senor Pink, and the other dependable, steady officers stayed behind in Dressrosa.
Before long, a Flamingo Pirate Ship left Dressrosa at speed, bound for the East Blue via the World Government's safe sea route.
Outside a casino on Twin Snake Island in the West Blue.
A blind bodyguard listened as the other bodyguards and gamblers talked, and heard about the Goa Empire's wars.
He also heard that the evil army of Germa 66 from the North Blue was heading to the East Blue to cause trouble for the Goa Empire.
"War is ultimately the wrong path..."
Issho, who loved gambling, had lost all his money and sold himself to the casino as a bodyguard. Hearing about the Goa Empire's wars of expansion, he let out a sigh.
Once war began, it was impossible to stop.
Today, the Goa Empire had conquered those kingdoms. Who knew if the people of the fallen nations were constantly plotting to restore their kingdoms, throwing themselves into battle to avenge themselves on Wang Shi and sinking into a dark spiral of endless revenge?
Even if no one from the fallen nations sought revenge, a stronger kingdom would eventually defeat you.
Look at the newly established Goa Empire: an old powerhouse from the North Blue had already set its sights on it.
Who would win this war?
Win or lose, there would surely be heavy casualties on both sides.
Back in the day, Issho's homeland, the Cang Kingdom in the Grand Line, had also been a kingdom at war, constantly fighting to pay the Heavenly Tribute.
But in the end, his kingdom fell.
And he, its Guard Army captain, fled to the West Blue as a criminal from a fallen nation, living quietly under an assumed name.
After wandering the West Blue for many years, he was fortunate enough to gain the powers of the Paramecia Press-Press Fruit. With his formidable strength, he also obtained the Supreme Grade Sword: Extreme Path Fireline, a famed blade also known as the Gambler Fireline.
Issho's strength kept growing, but he still couldn't find his path.
He had even blinded himself because he couldn't bear to see the chaotic world and its many tragedies.
But after he went blind, his Observation Haki grew stronger and stronger. He could still "see" the tragedies people suffered.
Now he was making a living at the casino, another misguided choice from a criminal of a fallen nation who had lost his way.
With his strength, it would be easy to put out to sea and become a pirate.
But he didn't want to become a pirate feared by ordinary people.
And his status as a criminal from a fallen nation meant he couldn't become a Marine.
Unless the World Government erased his crimes and specially recruited him into the Marines.
But that was practically impossible.
He was lost. His sense of righteousness simply had nowhere to lead him...
So he could only indulge his little hobby, gamble a few times each day, and sell himself as a casino bodyguard, muddling through this helpless, damnable life.
South Blue · Taya Kingdom.
Aramaki, a senior officer in the kingdom's Guard Army, had recently accepted a protection assignment: guarding a noblewoman of distinguished status.
"This Goa Empire is something else. It's wiped out six Affiliated Nations. If only our king had that kind of ambition and resolve."
Aramaki read the newspaper, his eyes filled with a yearning for power and battle.
The position of an officer wasn't enough for him.
He wanted to become a lofty kingdom commander, or even a high-ranking official in the World Government.
Only at the highest levels of power could he feel safe.
To climb higher and become a more elevated kind of human, he fought relentlessly.
In Aramaki's view, humans had survived by trampling species beneath them.
Non-Affiliated Nations and animals were the same as food: inferior. Only when those who paid the Heavenly Tribute trampled the non-Affiliated Nations underfoot could they live in peace.
This "discrimination" was the same as "security."
The people of non-Affiliated Nations who didn't pay the Heavenly Tribute shouldn't get to live happy, peaceful lives.
Otherwise, what would be the point of the Affiliated Nations paying the Heavenly Tribute?
That was the "normal" worldview of this world!
A twisted worldview, unlike that of any other world.
On another level, Aramaki was simply a believer in the rule of the strong!
The World Government was the most powerful force in the world, and the Celestial Dragons held the highest status and power. They were the embodiment of justice and law.
"How nice it would be to fight and earn merit under an emperor as 'ambitious and enterprising' as Wang Shi."
Aramaki wasn't very happy with King Taya, who was so content to "keep to himself." If he had been born in the Goa Empire, he wouldn't just be an officer now.
With enough merit in battle, he might already have become an earl, or even a grand duke of the empire.
He could have raised his status and standing all the way to the top.
But Aramaki, still dreaming of a promotion, had no idea that the distinguished woman he was protecting would become the biggest pitfall of his life.
Because of her, he would end up in prison for several years, and even sink so low that he had no food to eat, relying on the Woods-Woods Fruit to feed himself and replenish his nutrients.
In the end, he would even get used to not eating.
Because all his enemies were his "food"!