Kaido stood in stunned silence after hearing Doflamingo speak.
He hadn't seen the man use a Den Den Mushi. There were no signs of Haki, no aura flaring, no whisper of communication.
So how did he know Ryuunosuke's message?
Either Ryuunosuke had predicted this meeting and given Doflamingo exact instructions—or Doflamingo had some unfathomable way of relaying his captain's intent.
Either possibility was terrifying.
"…Fine," Kaido grunted, folding his arms. "Let's do this deal as usual."
"Give me all the artificial Devil Fruits you have. I'll pay in full—metal and weapons."
Doflamingo's grin widened.
"If it's a deal, I can authorize it myself," he said, lounging lazily in his seat. "But our captain has a new policy. No special treatment, no matter who you are."
He lifted a hand, shrugging.
"That said, since you're an old customer, Captain Kaido, I'll make an exception—10% off. But that's the best you'll get. If you've got a problem with it… talk to my boss, Ryuunosuke."
He slid a new price list across the table.
The updated policy reflected Ryuunosuke's approach—no forced labor for the dwarves, only voluntary craftsmanship. Production had slowed, but quality had soared. The price hike reflected that shift.
Kaido scanned the list, his brow furrowing deeper with every line.
"…Fine," he muttered. "I'll send Queen to handle the details. Just have the stock ready."
But he wasn't finished yet.
"Doflamingo, you really won't reconsider? This price is steep."
Kaido's voice carried more edge now, the thin veil of civility peeling back.
Cutting off this supply line would be dangerous. Doflamingo had spent years building his empire in the underworld. Replacing him would be next to impossible.
"No," Doflamingo replied bluntly, already gesturing toward the door. "Please, see yourself out."
Kaido's fists clenched. But he said nothing more.
This wasn't the time to start a war.
Ryuunosuke had already declared open conflict with the World Government. And despite the Navy sending Buster Call-class warships to annihilate him, the Dragon Hunter Pirates had flipped the board and sent those ships to the bottom of the sea.
No. Best to back down.
As Kaido stormed off, Doflamingo activated a Den Den Mushi with a flick of his fingers.
"Captain, Kaido's gone," he reported. "And clearly rattled by your little message."
"He'll come to me soon enough," Ryuunosuke replied calmly. "Is the research finished?"
"That Caesar clown is still working on it. Even with outside help, he's hitting walls. He says if he had access to bloodline factor research, he could crack it all."
"I see," Ryuunosuke said. "Handle it."
"And remind your people—we're not just some scattered crew anymore. If we're climbing to the top of the world, we need to look the part. Discipline. Order. Purpose."
Doflamingo pushed up his sunglasses and chuckled.
"Discipline, huh… yeah, we've got strength, but we're still a mess."
With a smirk, his body unraveled into shimmering threads—just a clone all along.
Back in Dressrosa, the real Doflamingo stood atop his palace, surveying his empire.
It was time for a full overhaul.
Meanwhile, across the sea, a strange fog rolled in.
Thick, choking, unnatural. It swallowed the sun and turned the horizon to shadow.
From within that fog, a massive three-masted brig emerged—its silhouette ghastly against the gray.
Aboard the deck, kneeling, was Gekko Moria.
Once a Warlord. Once feared.
Now, reduced to this.
"Sir…" he began, voice low. "Regarding the Dragon Hunters—"
"You did what you had to," came the voice from the mist. Cold. Measured. Powerful.
"It was all within expectations."
"As for your removal from the Warlords—don't be concerned. I'll provide you a body. All I need from you is a shadow."
Moria nodded stiffly.
"And stay away from the Dragon Hunter Pirates," the voice continued. "I haven't finished analyzing their capabilities. They have… unfamiliar monsters among them."
"I understand," Moria said. "Should I regroup my subordinates?"
"Only Perona," came the reply. "The others are expendable. But she's important. Protect her."
The fog swirled—and vanished.
Moria slumped to the deck, sweat pouring down his brow.
"Perona… she's with Mihawk. No one's touching her there."
"Time to gather shadows again…"
The brig creaked forward, slipping back into the mist—onward, toward the unknown.
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