The Dark World of the New World.
The rumor that Doflamingo, Giberson, and Drago Pairo were joining forces against Dongye Huanglong had shocked even the Dark World.
But King of Loan Sharks Dufeld and Sea Transport King Umit merely wanted to watch the show and had no intention of getting involved.
They were all businessmen who believed in making money through harmony. They would not provoke a madman like Dongye Huanglong, someone who even dared to slaughter Celestial Dragons.
Especially not a group of ruthless people who could use the Paw-Paw Fruit ability at any moment and bounce right in front of you.
On a bustling neon-lit pleasure street, inside a luxurious secret chamber, a short-haired blonde woman wearing a lady's hat lit a slim cigarette and gently exhaled a ring of smoke.
"Is the doctor actually working for a madman like this?"
Stussy, the Pleasure District Queen, murmured softly, her tone carrying a casual, helpless sigh.
As a multi-layered spy who also served as a CP Agent, she now had to help cover for Vegapunk while completing the World Government's mission of dealing with Dongye Huanglong.
Over the past two days, the Five Elders had instructed her to assist Doflamingo and make this joint Dark World plan against Dongye Huanglong happen.
They wanted to completely cut off Dongye Huanglong's channels for purchasing all kinds of rare resources in the Dark World.
That would indirectly slow Vegapunk's research progress.
"Let's see how to strike a balance..."
Stussy's delicate cherry lips curved into a faint smile. She would definitely handle this mission from the Five Elders with the interests of Vegapunk, her creator, in mind.
"If I can help the doctor successfully escape the World Government's control, I hope to meet you soon."
Stussy lightly tossed aside Dongye Huanglong's Bounty Poster. As a clone herself, she also wanted to see this strongest experimental subject.
Aboard the Gran Tesoro.
Inside a secret chamber, a man swirled a glass of red wine with one leg crossed over the other. He held a Den Den Mushi in his hand, while a white anti-eavesdropping Den Den Mushi sat beside him.
"I was just thinking of finding you. I didn't expect you to come knocking on my door yourself."
Golden Emperor Tesoro grinned with interest. He greatly admired this man who had killed Celestial Dragons.
But he would not abandon the Gran Tesoro and go head-to-head with the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. That would not end well, and he was currently enjoying his lofty wealth and power.
Still, he was more than happy to fund Dongye Huanglong's efforts to cause trouble for the Celestial Dragons.
"Tesoro, let's get straight to the point. I know about the thing on your back and about Stella. You are destined to work with me to take down the Celestial Dragons."
Dongye Huanglong's voice slowly came through the Den Den Mushi, and those words instantly silenced Tesoro.
Tesoro's face filled with killing intent. He had not expected Dongye Huanglong to know the secret buried deep within his heart.
"Don't worry, I won't be foolish enough to expose your secret. Perhaps we can begin with a secret partnership.
"You provide us with funding and gather all kinds of resources. Once we have enough power, you can decide whether to personally take revenge on the Celestial Dragons."
Dongye Huanglong spoke calmly, but his words had completely taken hold of Tesoro.
This former Celestial Dragon slave had no other choice.
If the Celestial Dragons learned that Tesoro had once been their slave, they would definitely take everything from him.
They would never, as they did now, grant him the status of a king of an affiliated nation and show him a little respect just because of his money.
"How did you know?"
Tesoro spoke coldly. Back then, he had even killed the subordinate who removed the slave brand from his back.
By all rights, no one should have known.
If he could, he wanted nothing more than to kill Dongye Huanglong, the one who knew his secret.
"I can see a little of the past. You have no secrets before me, Tesoro. Don't get any wild ideas."
Dongye Huanglong chuckled softly. Through his constant sparring with Kuma over this period, he had learned that his strength was no weaker than that of Ability Awakening users like Doflamingo and Tesoro.
He had enough strength to speak to Tesoro on equal footing, which was why this conversation was taking place.
"Hmph! Tell me, how much do you want?"
Tesoro suppressed his displeasure and spoke coldly. He suddenly hoped Doflamingo's alliance could kill Dongye Huanglong, so he could have one less threat to worry about.
"I don't lack money either. I have plenty of gold. Like I said, I want you to collect all kinds of rare materials and capture all kinds of Devil Fruit Users for me. When necessary, you'll also help me clean up certain people."
Dongye Huanglong said with a smile. He knew Tesoro did not lack money and often executed wanted criminals aboard the Gran Tesoro for entertainment.
It would be far too wasteful to simply execute Devil Fruit User criminals.
It would be better to send them to Vegapunk as experimental subjects.
For Zoan Devil Fruit Users, their Lineage Factors could be extracted to create perfect artificial Zoan Devil Fruits.
For Paramecia Devil Fruit Users, their Lineage Factors could be extracted to create the Seraphim's Paramecia Green Blood.
As for Logia-types, there were not many of them on these seas.
"...Fine. Don't come bothering me unless it's necessary, and don't threaten me!"
Tesoro spoke in an icy tone. He had initially admired the man who killed Celestial Dragons, but now Dongye Huanglong knew the secret of his past as a Celestial Dragon slave and was coercing him into cooperation.
That alone had stirred Tesoro's killing intent. However, even the World Government could not find Dongye Huanglong's whereabouts, so he could only cooperate with him.
"Don't worry. I see you as my ally. Maybe one day, you'll thank me for giving you the chance and courage to kill the Celestial Dragons!"
Dongye Huanglong grinned at this ambitious man who had already forgotten his original resolve.
He intended to reignite Tesoro's shame at having once been a slave, as well as his hatred over Stella's death.
Even if Tesoro had now become the World's Richest Man and enjoyed power almost equal to that of the Celestial Dragons.
Those experiences and that hatred would not fade away.
Most importantly, Dongye Huanglong had set his sights on Tesoro's Superhuman: Gold-Gold Fruit ability and that Superhuman Lucky-Lucky Fruit ability.
He needed to find a way to obtain both abilities. His Seraphim army could not do without them.
"Recently, Doflamingo has been joining forces with other Underworld Emperors to deal with you. Be careful when you come to take the goods."
Tesoro spoke coldly. He could not expose his partnership with Dongye Huanglong now, or it would be no different from exposing his identity as a former Celestial Dragon slave.
After all, Dongye Huanglong's act of killing Celestial Dragons was exceptionally vile, and the World Government was currently searching for him across the world.
"I know. Before long, I'll deal with Doflamingo. When that happens, you can have a bite too and seize some of his territory and businesses."
Dongye Huanglong said indifferently. Doflamingo would fall into his hands sooner or later, so he would let him jump around for a few more days.
That man would probably join forces with the World Government and a Marine Admiral to deal with him.
So there was no need to visit Dressrosa and join the excitement for now. Once the heat died down in a few months, he would launch a surprise attack on Dressrosa.
He would make Doflamingo understand that he had truly provoked a madman.
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