Doflamingo's villa.
After instructing his men to secretly collect a map of Mary Geoise, Doflamingo leaned against the balcony railing, lost in thought.
To be honest, today had been full of surprises, even for him.
Originally, what he valued in his cooperation with Buggy was not money or commerce, but the mysterious powerhouse behind him.
Money itself was trivial—Doflamingo knew better than anyone that in this world, strength reigned supreme.
But now, the connections hinted at in Buggy's words made him realize something unsettling—Buggy was not nearly as simple as he had first assumed.
"My purpose is clear," Doflamingo murmured.
"To drag those pigs down from the altar. And from what I see, there are only a few forces capable of doing it."
"The Navy, the pirates, the Revolutionary Army… and now, the Buggy Delivery Service."
His mind spun with possibilities.
"The Navy's justice could be exploited as a breakthrough," he mused, "but my identity makes direct contact impossible. Not to mention their military expenditure…"
He clicked his tongue. That wasn't a matter of billions or tens of billions—it was hundreds of billions every year just to keep the Navy afloat.
"If you want them to truly enforce justice against those pigs, you'd have to solve their budget problem. As for that 'justice in the heart' nonsense…" Doflamingo smirked darkly.
"That burns out in a few months at best."
He shifted, his gaze sweeping the horizon.
"Then there are pirates. But unless a true Pirate King rises, they'll remain nothing more than scattered sand—hardly a match for the Navy."
He sneered. He had no fondness for pirates. Too many were brutish, uneducated, and short-sighted.
Sure, you didn't need culture to become a top pirate… but if you wanted to go further, beyond brute force, you needed something more.
"And Whitebeard, Kaido, Charlotte Linlin…" His grin widened beneath his glasses. "None of them have the qualities to reach the very top."
Finally, his thoughts turned to the Revolutionary Army.
"Their slogan is strong. Their ability is real. If they stay true to their cause, then maybe… just maybe, they have a chance to succeed."
A slow chuckle escaped his lips.
"What they lack, I can provide. I have the money. I have the arms. If it suits me, I can feed their fire."
The eyes hidden beneath his sunglasses gleamed with sharp intent.
"From that perspective… perhaps it's time I considered making contact with them."
"As for the Buggy Delivery Service…"
Doflamingo's lips curled into a thin smile. "There's no doubt the true core still lies in Rain."
"He has the strength… the brains… and with business tricksters like Buggy at his side, plus all those connections…"
He paused, his thoughts running ahead of him.
"If he's determined, then he has the greatest chance. Especially after annexing the forces of Germa 66. If that power is combined with mine… and then we tie in the Revolutionary Army…"
The moment Buggy came to mind, Doflamingo's eyes suddenly lit up.
Don't tell me… through this path… success is actually possible?
"It seems I'll have to change my plan of action." His smile deepened, voice low. "Rain… let me see what kind of surprise you'll bring me in this little game."
Expectation flickered across his face. The other party's performance would decide his own next step.
But this gamble… this was everything. All his money, all his connections. There would be no second chance.
"I cannot afford to fail!"
Germa 66 – Royal Villa
"Those lunatics!"
Vinsmoke Judge clenched his fists as he recalled the meeting earlier. Rage and unease mixed in his voice.
He had only joined in hopes of making money—funds for his research, nothing more.
Against them, he had no chance to resist, so he bent the knee.
But now, with just a handful of words, the other party was ready to gamble with their lives?
Provoking the Holy Land was that not the same as a death sentence?!
He still remembered. Back in his prime, when he dared step out of line, the World Government warned him instantly. Even then, he had no choice but to pull back.
Since then, he hadn't dared stir up trouble. Not even once had he considered challenging the World Government head-on.
His dream was much smaller now: negotiate, strike deals, and use whatever leverage he had to gain territory for Germa.
"But… maybe this is my opportunity?" Judge's eyes gleamed. "If I tip off the World Government… I might gain credit."
He glanced around quickly, making sure no one was watching, before pulling out a Den Den Mushi to contact his government informants.
But when he flipped it open
Nothing. No sound. No signal.
"What—?" Judge's eyes widened. "The signal… is blocked?!"
His pupils shrank in realization. They're guarding against us.
It made sense. If Buggy dared reveal such a plan, it meant he wasn't afraid of leaks.
Signal jamming was the most basic precaution. Judge suddenly felt the weight of invisible eyes pressing down on him.
He was certain...outside this villa, countless people were watching.
If he so much as tried anything suspicious… he could easily be killed before he got the chance to act.
"Forget it… just pretend you don't know anything."
In the end, Judge could only grit his teeth and force himself to stay quiet. He couldn't gamble with his own life.
...
Inside the secret chamber.
Buggy, Kuro, and Rain gathered once more, continuing their earlier discussion.
"Buggy," Rain said, fixing him with a steady look, "you can speak freely now. If you have any backup plans, lay them all out. There are no outsiders here."
Buggy grinned slyly, eyes glinting. "Rain, I remember you said before… that Hundred Beasts Kaido owes you a favor, right?"
Rain raised a brow. "So...are you planning to ask Kaido to help draw the Navy's attention?"
His eyes narrowed slightly, the pieces falling into place. He immediately understood Buggy's angle.
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