North Blue, an underground palace on a hidden island.
Donquixote Doflamingo sat on a luxurious throne.
He toyed with a delicate wine glass between his fingertips, the scarlet wine swirling slowly within.
Doflamingo's expression appeared calm.
But those sitting below, such as Trebol, Diamante, Pica, could all feel the oppressive atmosphere in the air.
Since his humiliating retreat from the New World back to the North Blue two years ago, Doflamingo has never truly laughed.
The first time, in Mock Town, he was easily defeated by Roy's men and fled in a sorry state.
The second time, on Crystal Island in the New World, he led his revitalized family to prepare for an invasion of the New World.
However, they suffered another crushing defeat at the hands of the Roy Pirates, once again utterly powerless to retaliate.
He didn't even have the ability to fight Roy; he was easily and severely injured by that Rumble-Rumble Fruit Devil Fruit User!
Those two defeats were etched into Doflamingo's soul like a brand.
"Fuff...
He chuckled softly, but the sound was so cold that it seemed to lower the temperature in the palace.
"It's been two years..."
Doflamingo slowly stood up, his tall figure casting a long shadow in the dim light.
" North Blue is already ours; our Underworld trading network spans the Four Blues."
The family's strength is more than double what it was two years ago.
He applied slight pressure with his fingers.
"And all of this is thanks to that man... Roy."
Trebol sniffed and said cautiously,
" Doffy, are we really going to enter the New World again?"
"The news of Roger becoming the Pirate King has spread throughout the seas, and the situation in the New World is in complete chaos..."
"Chaos?"
Doflamingo's smile turned sinister.
"Chaos is good! The more chaotic it is, the more opportunities we have!"
" Dressrosa... that was once the homeland of our Donquixote Family, and the best springboard to the New World."
He walked to the huge nautical chart and pointed to the location of Dressrosa.
"By controlling that place, we can trade with the World Government as a legitimate nation."
They openly engage in underground trade, and even...
Diamante excitedly brandished his longsword.
" Doffy, I can't wait to reclaim our kingdom!"
Pica's shrill voice rang out.
"Those lowly Riku Royal Family are utterly unworthy to rule Dressrosa!"
Vergo stood silently in the corner, his eyes deep behind his sunglasses.
Several family members also looked excited.
Doflamingo turned around and opened his arms.
"Then let's get ready! In three days, we will..."
Before he could finish speaking, the palace doors were suddenly pushed open, and a wounded intelligence officer staggered in and collapsed to the ground.
"Lord Doflamingo! Something terrible has happened!"
Doflamingo frowned. "What's the matter that you're in such a panic?"
" Dressrosa... all our undercover agents in Dressrosa... have all lost contact!"
The palace fell into a deathly silence.
Doflamingo's smile froze, then gradually disappeared.
"All of them?" His voice was eerily calm.
"Yes... yes!"
"Seventeen outposts, one hundred and thirty-seven members, all missing!"
"Our people went to investigate and found that the outpost had been destroyed, and there were signs of a battle at the scene, but..."
"But what?"
"But we couldn't find the body, nor any valuable clues."
"The only thing we can be sure of... is that the Roy Pirates were in Dressrosa during the time their infiltrators went missing!"
"Roy... Pirates..."
Doflamingo pronounced the name slowly and deliberately, veins bulging on his forehead.
The exquisite wine glass shattered in his hand, the crimson wine mixed with shards of glass splattering all over the floor.
"It's him again!!"
The uncontrollable Conqueror's Haki erupted, causing the palace to tremble violently.
Cracks appeared in the walls, and documents were scattered all over the table.
Trebol and the others were almost suffocated by this terrifying aura, and even Vergo took a slight step back.
It's been two years.
That name haunted Doflamingo's mind like a nightmare.
Every time he thought he was strong enough to avenge his previous defeats,
Roy will then appear in a more forceful manner and shatter everything that he has worked so hard to build.
Now... is he even going to ruin his meticulously planned Dressrosa project, which he's been developing for years?
" Doffy, calm down!"
Trebol forced himself to speak,
"It's still uncertain whether Roy did it; it might just be a coincidence..."
"Coincide?"
Doflamingo slowly turned his head, his eyes behind his sunglasses like those of a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey.
" Trebol, do you think such a coincidence is possible?"
He walked up to the intelligence officers, looking down at his trembling subordinates.
"Tell me, what did the Roy Pirates do in Dressrosa? Who did they meet?"
"They... they went to the arena and watched Kyros fight."
After that... it seems they made contact with Kyros, but I don't know exactly what they discussed. However, after Roy left, all of our undercover agents went missing.
" Kyros... that undefeated gladiator of three thousand matches..."
Doflamingo narrowed his eyes.
"That old bastard King Riku actually dared to collude with Roy..."
As a ruthless and powerful figure, Doflamingo knew all too well the relationship between King Riku and Kyros.
Having started planning long ago, he knew Dressrosa inside and out.
"Foohoo! That's interesting! So interesting!"
Doflamingo's expression turned incredibly sinister.
"Since he insists on interfering, then I'll play along to the end!"
"Pass down the order: halt the plan to advance into the New World."
"What?"
Diamante was surprised.
" Doffy, we've been preparing for so long..."
"Our pieces in Dressrosa have been removed; going there now would be suicide."
Doflamingo was frighteningly calm; two years of experience had taught him to be patient and restrained.
The current whereabouts of Roy Pirates are unknown.
"First, investigate the movements of the Roy Pirates with all our might. I need to know where he goes every step of the way."
"Secondly, we need to reorganize Dressrosa, this time in a more secretive and cautious manner."
King Riku thinks he's safe just by removing a few pieces? How naive!
"Third..."
A fierce glint flashed in Doflamingo's eyes.
"Contact the World Government and say... I'm willing to join their ' Shichibukai ' proposal."
The condition is that the World Government recognizes my legitimate rule over Dressrosa.
Trebol gasped, " Doffy, are you going to bow down to the World Government?"
"Bowing down? Fufffufff... This is just a deal."
Doflamingo sneered.
"With the status of Shichibukai, I can legally enter the New World."
"To legally conduct underground trade, and even... legally mobilize naval forces."
As for Roy...
He walked to the window and gazed at the gloomy sky over North Blue.
"I'll show him what happens when you offend the Donquixote Family."
"I will repay him a hundredfold for the humiliation he inflicted on me two years ago!"
Inside the palace, Doflamingo's murderous intent was so palpable that it made everyone feel suffocated.
They knew that the man was serious.
This time, it wasn't a momentary impulse for revenge, but a meticulously planned act of retribution.
Meanwhile, Roy, far away in Paradise, was completely unaware of this.
Even if he knew, he would probably just laugh it off.
In his eyes, Doflamingo was nothing more than a troublemaker he left behind for this world.
They can do whatever they want as long as it doesn't affect them.