Behind the Scenes

Snap! Hiss...

This wasn't the sound of a Den Den Mushi being hung up, but the sound of the Den Den Mushi's monitor and speaker being crushed, causing the signal to be lost.

The image on the monitor finally froze on Linley's enraged expression.

Makino had never seen Linley like that before.

His tone was calm, yet filled with an uncontainable anger!

The pirate beside him began to tremble uncontrollably at Linley's words.

He stammered to Kuro, "Cap... Captain, he's a Wanted Criminal with a bounty of 100 Million Beli..."

Swish!

Before the pirate could finish, five cold glints flashed, and a sharp blade sliced across his chest.

Blood splattered, and the pirate's body collapsed powerlessly.

Kuro, who had donned his Ten-Blade Cat Claws at some point, had blood dripping from the sharp blades.

Makino watched the scene in horror; this man showed no mercy even to his own crewmates!

"Tsk, useless trash!"

Kuro stared at Linley's face on the monitor, and after a brief silence, he suddenly burst into maniacal laughter.

"Interesting, Linley Barek, don't you dare bore me!"

He, Kuro the "Hundred Schemes," was fully prepared for this operation. Even if his opponent was a monster with a bounty of 100 Million Beli, Kuro was confident he could defeat him!

Meanwhile, in a corner of the room.

Kuro's pirate ally, Captain Krieg of the Krieg Pirates, the "Admiral," frowned as he watched the scene unfold.

He wasn't surprised that Kuro had attacked his crew member, as rumors painted Kuro as a cold-blooded and cruel individual.

Krieg was more concerned about himself at the moment.

"I still don't understand,"

Krieg murmured, "Why did you choose Loguetown as the location? And why did you reveal it in front of that World Government official?"

Honestly, Krieg wasn't the brightest.

But even he, after a brief moment of excitement, quickly realized the implications.

"After this is over, the World Government won't honor their promise; they'll silence us all!"

"Hahahaha, you're not entirely stupid after all, Brother Krieg!" Kuro laughed heartily.

Seeing this, Krieg became even more displeased. He stood up and said coldly to Kuro, "I'm warning you, if you keep me in the dark, I'll leave with my crew immediately!"

He did want that gold and the Grand Line's navigational chart, but that didn't mean he was willing to risk his life for Kuro without knowing the full picture.

Kuro just smiled at this and found a chair to sit down.

"Brother Krieg, it's not that I don't want to tell you, but the entire plan must be executed in secret. Any leak, and we won't survive."

"Now that the plan has begun, can you tell me?" Krieg snorted.

"Of course."

Kuro nodded, then asked, "Brother Krieg, what do you think we are to the World Government?"

"Ants."

Though he hated to admit it, Krieg's answer was without hesitation.

To a behemoth like the World Government, pirates with bounties of only tens of millions were no different from ants!

However, Kuro smiled and said:

"That's right, we are ants."

"Ants can't make deals with the World Government, so we must rely on another behemoth."

"Brother Krieg, meet my second partner!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Krieg felt a presence lock onto him and quickly turned his head.

In another corner of the room, a man in a Marine uniform had appeared at some point!

The man had shiny mushroom-shaped hair, and a skewer of grilled meat seemed to be stuck to his cheek.

"Why are the Marines here!"

Krieg looked at Kuro in surprise.

While the World Government might have a reason to use pirates, the Marines and pirates were fundamentally opposed forces, like fire and water.

Kuro couldn't possibly have the ability to broker such a cooperation!

And indeed, that was the case.

"Brother Krieg, this friend isn't backed by the Marines, but by a powerful figure from the North Blue," Kuro introduced. "That person is known as JOKER in the underworld."

JOKER?!

Krieg had only heard of this name from other villains; that person was a legend in the underworld, a true Dark Emperor.

Such a figure seemed capable of going toe-to-toe with the World Government, but…

Why would JOKER cooperate with Kuro?

As if sensing Krieg's doubt, Kuro replied:

"Even if they're using us, the cooperation between Pirates and the World Government is still an indelible scandal, enough to be used as leverage against the World Government."

"JOKER needs leverage to threaten the World Government, and 'we' are willing to be that leverage—provided our safety can be guaranteed."

Kuro burst into laughter.

"In fact, after I informed the World Government of the news, JOKER was the first to contact me!"

Krieg finally understood.

So, from Kuro gathering them on that deserted island, and even all the actions before and after, the support of that JOKER was behind it all!

Kuro was merely a puppet acting on behalf of JOKER.

"It seems even ants have their way of living,"

Krieg chuckled self-deprecatingly, then turned to look at the oddity with barbecue sauce smeared on its mouth.

"Hey, friend, what should I call you?"

The oddity nodded slightly and replied:

"Vergo."

Meanwhile, somewhere in the North Blue.

Donquixote Family stronghold.

Sunlight from outside streamed onto Doflamingo.

This newly crowned king of the underworld was enjoying the warm sun.

Behind him, a family executive and Devil Fruit user, Trebol, bowed and said, "Young Master, Vergo has made contact with 'Kuro's' side."

"Fufufufufu, Vergo intercepted information from the Marines, and at first, I thought it was some unknown pirate boasting wildly!" Doflamingo laughed heartily. "It seems we've really caught a big fish!"

"This way, once Lynn Barek is dead, the scandal of the World Government cooperating with pirates will be confirmed. Then, as long as we keep that Kuro safe, we'll have leverage over the World Government."

Trebol chuckled with a sticky sound and asked, "But Young Master, why do you need leverage over the World Government?"

Doflamingo handed the documents in his hand to Trebol.

The latter's eyes widened after a few glances. "Young Master, you intend to…"

"Is that what they call 'Shichibukai'? As long as I get leverage over the World Government, those fools will have no choice but to let me join. The World Government has really created something amusing! Fufufufufufu!"

Doflamingo roared with laughter. "A pirate 'recognized by the World Government'—isn't that the most ironic thing in the world!"

His signature laughter echoed throughout the stronghold.

At the same time, a commotion could be heard from outside the room.

Doflamingo's eyebrows twitched, and he grinned. "Is that Law?"

Trebol nodded. "Honestly, that kid, thinking he doesn't have many years left because of the Lead Disease, he's been causing trouble everywhere like a madman…"

"Fufufufufu, that's what makes it interesting!"

Doflamingo stood up and said with a smile, "Let's go, let's go see our family's new member."

I originally wanted to play the victim, but on second thought, happiness is more important!

The story in Loguetown is about to reach its climax, requesting recommendation votes!

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