Unexpectedly, when Vane arrived in Dressrosa, he crossed paths with none other than Fujitora—though this Fujitora was from the future. The encounter caught him off guard.
Fujitora's calm smile didn't match the terrifying power he wielded. His Gravity-Gravity Fruit was one of the most fearsome abilities in the world. Not every Marine Admiral was equal in strength—Akainu, for example, was stronger than Aokiji—but Fujitora's ability to manipulate gravity to the extent of floating an island or crushing it with increased gravity was monstrous. If such a suspended island were to plummet… the devastation would be unimaginable.
Still, Vane didn't dwell on the meeting. To him, it was just a one-sided acquaintance.
About twenty minutes later, Vane entered Dressrosa's most prosperous district. After enjoying a hearty meal, he made his way to Doflamingo's palace.
Inside, Doflamingo was present as expected.
The flamboyant underworld broker was visibly surprised by Vane's sudden appearance.
"Well, well, I didn't expect you to drop by. Forgive me for not giving you a grand welcome," he said, his usual smirk tinged with genuine surprise.
Vane's status in Doflamingo's mind was no small matter. The man was cunning—his influence spanned both the pirate world and the dark underworld. In the New World, aside from the Yonko themselves and a handful of powerful pirate crews, the underground was a place where Doflamingo thrived as an irreplaceable figure.
He still remembered the time Vane and Kaido had gone to the Holy Land, Mariejois, together. That had shocked him to his core. The person Doflamingo feared most was the Hundred Beasts Kaido, and yet Kaido had cooperated with Vane? Such an alliance was terrifying enough to make even the Navy Headquarters nervous.
As a former Celestial Dragon himself, Doflamingo knew far more than most about what had transpired that day in the Holy Land. The newspapers never mentioned the death of one of the Five Elders, nor the mysterious figure known as Im. Over 130 Celestial Dragons had been killed, yet Doflamingo knew that to Vane, killing one or a hundred made no difference—it was simply a matter of numbers.
And the World Government? They still couldn't do anything about Vane. One of the Five Elders was gone, and the Government could only grit its teeth.
Doflamingo also possessed insider knowledge few others had. His top undercover agent, Vergo, was a Rear Admiral in the Navy, on the verge of promotion to Vice Admiral. Only Doflamingo and a select few knew Vergo's true allegiance. On that day, Vergo had taken part in suppressing the chaos at Mariejois.
"I need your help with something," Vane said plainly.
"Help?" Doflamingo chuckled. "You're being too polite. For someone of your caliber, I'd be happy to lend a hand." He gestured toward a luxurious sofa, inviting Vane to sit.
Vane didn't stand on ceremony and sat down immediately. In truth, it was Doflamingo who insisted on politeness. Get full chapters from NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Taking a seat opposite him, Doflamingo snapped his fingers. A moment later, Violet entered, serving an exquisite selection of Dressrosan fruit wine and delicacies.
"So, what exactly do you need from me?" Doflamingo asked, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. A favor requested by someone like Vane was bound to be significant.
"I need you to transport a shipment of goods," Vane said. "Clothing for men, women, and children—preferably the styles from Sabaody. As many as you can get. Also, cosmetics and jewelry for women, all shipped together."
Doflamingo blinked, taken aback. "That's it? Are you serious, Vane?"
He had expected something far more dangerous. If Vane had asked for hundreds of artificial Devil Fruits, Doflamingo wouldn't have been surprised. That would fit the image of a Yonko. But clothes, cosmetics, and jewelry?
"That's it," Vane confirmed.
"Are you sure I heard you right?"
"You heard correctly."
Doflamingo leaned back, almost amused. "You're the most powerful Yonko in my eyes, and now you're looking to run a… serious business?"
"I recently took over Wano Country," Vane explained. "I'm working on transforming it."
Doflamingo's shades glinted as he processed the words. "Wait… you took Wano from Kaido?"
The truth was clear enough—Kaido had ruled Wano for over twenty years. For Vane to claim it now meant he had defeated Kaido and taken his territory.
"Wano is mine now," Vane said simply. "It was in ruins, so I'm cleaning up the mess."
"I see," Doflamingo said slowly. "So, all I need to do is send clothing, cosmetics, and jewelry to Wano?"
"That's all for now," Vane replied. "I'll let you know if I need more."
Doflamingo studied him carefully. The fact that Kaido had given up Wano spoke volumes. It wasn't just a loss, but submission. Vane had forced Kaido and his entire crew to bow their heads.
It was terrifying. No wonder Kaido had stood alongside Vane during the chaos at Mariejois.
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