In the year 1508 of the Sea Circle Calendar, on Fish-Man Island, Jinbei, a guard of Ryugu Palace, was specially recruited into Marine Headquarters and awarded the rank of Captain.
At the same time, Fish-Man Island sent two hundred Fishmen to join the Marines.
The Marines moved swiftly. They immediately formed a special operations team with Jinbei at its core. The team was composed entirely of Fishman Marines and placed directly under Admiral Finn's command.
Rumors circulated that Captain Jinbei remained deeply wary of his immediate superior, Admiral Finn. Whether this was true or mere gossip, no one could say for certain.
Regardless, after several decades, fresh blood from Fish-Man Island had once again joined the Marines.
The relationship between Fish-Man Island and the Marines had undergone a subtle but significant change.
As for the matter, the World Government wasn't as obstructive as Finn had suggested. In fact, the Five Elders supported the initiative.
They were unable, or perhaps unwilling, to change the slave culture among the Celestial Dragons in Mary Geoise. But they were still very supportive of easing the relationship between Fish-Man Island and the World Government.
Though there had been conflicts and disputes between the World Government and the Marines in recent years, overall, the two sides remained integrated. What the Marines accomplished also benefited the World Government, so there was no reason to interfere.
Perhaps this small, seemingly insignificant change could alter the course of the world in the future.
However, not many people noticed this shift within the Marines.
The world's attention had been drawn elsewhere, to the North Blue.
Flevance, which had held the top spot in the North Sea for wealth for many consecutive years and was known as an economic powerhouse throughout the world, had been struck by an outbreak of "white disease" that swept across the entire country.
The disease was soon officially named "Amber Lead Disease."
With the outbreak of Amber Lead Disease, the price of amber-lead plummeted. Countless people developed a deep fear of the material. Yet behind the falling prices, sales were strangely increasing, a phenomenon completely at odds with normal market behavior.
The royal family of Flevance applied for asylum to the World Government, and the World Government immediately granted it. Before fleeing their chaotic country, the royal family of Flevance went completely mad, selling off all the inventory that had accumulated over the years in one massive liquidation.
However, after they arrived in Mary Geoise, the World Government organized a large number of internationally renowned doctors and announced that the origin of Amber Lead Disease was due to improper mining practices, and that finished amber-lead products contained no toxins whatsoever.
At first, naturally, no one believed it. But the Celestial Dragons continued to use amber-lead, and many nobles refused to abandon it. People began hiring professional institutions to conduct tests, only to discover that the finished amber-lead was indeed harmless.
As a result, the prices that had fallen began to rebound, and even showed signs of explosive growth.
After all, Flevance was now in a state of chaos. The mining of amber-lead had come to a complete standstill. Many shrewd businessmen saw the opportunity behind the crisis. At least until amber-lead mining resumed, prices would continue to rise while supply dwindled.
As for when mining would resume? No one knew. It might never resume at all.
As time passed, due to the outbreak of Amber Lead Disease in Flevance, the royal family's evacuation, and the country's descent into anarchy, pirates began plundering what remained of the once-wealthy kingdom. The surrounding nations harbored deep fears of Amber Lead Disease, and rumors that it was contagious spread like wildfire.
Neither the neighboring countries nor the World Government provided humanitarian aid to Flevance. Instead, they blockaded the borders.
For the World Government, there was no point in rescuing Flevance anymore. They'd already bought up massive stockpiles in the amber-lead market and were the biggest speculators behind the scenes. They would simply wait two years for the price of amber-lead to reach its peak, then dump their stocks and reap enormous profits.
Moreover, Amber Lead Disease truly was terminal. There was no cure.
As for the surrounding countries, though the royal family of Flevance had fled, the common people remained relatively wealthy. Now, with all of them suffering from a terminal illness, those nations allowed the rumors of contagion to spread unchecked, creating further chaos.
When refugees from Flevance began attacking the borders, the three countries surrounding Flevance officially declared war and quickly dispatched troops to slaughter the refugees and seize their wealth.
This prosperous nation, the North Blue's greatest economic power for nearly three hundred years, was completely destroyed by the outbreak of an epidemic at the end of 1508 in the Sea Circle Calendar.
Countless people stood on the corpses of Flevance's citizens, gorging themselves and making fortunes.
This naturally included the Marines, who claimed to stand for justice.
The world was sometimes just that cruel.
Smoker had been secretly acquiring amber-lead since mid-to-late 1507. In 1508, he'd even partnered with Doflamingo, who had approached him. With financial support from Marine Headquarters, he'd made enormous profits.
At this time, in the North Blue, at the Donquixote Family's residence, Doflamingo was speaking with Smoker.
Smoker was powerful now, even stronger than he'd been at his peak in the original timeline. After all, this time he hadn't been sent to the East Blue to waste over a decade as a big fish in a small pond.
On the contrary, at a young age, he'd been driven out of Marine Headquarters by Finn and forced to live as a pirate, constantly learning about the dangers of the world. Combined with his Logia-type Devil Fruit ability, the solid foundation he'd built in the Marines, and years of life-and-death combat experience, Doflamingo didn't dare underestimate him.
It would be impossible for Doflamingo to defeat Smoker instantly, as he had in Punk Hazard in the original timeline. The two of them were roughly equal in strength now.
Doflamingo, holding a glass of red wine, looked at Smoker, who sat on the sofa across from him in the courtyard, three cigars smoldering between his fingers. He smiled. "Smoker, the amber-lead business with Flevance is almost finished. Our cooperation in that area is coming to an end. However, regarding the business relationship between Amway and my Donquixote Family, I hope we can deepen it. I hope the friendship we've built over the past year of working together won't dissipate so quickly… Fufufu."
Smoker nodded. The amber-lead acquisition was indeed winding down. There was basically nothing left to continue. The next step was to wait, to let the World Government, that massive speculator, drive up the price of amber-lead. Then he could sell off his stockpiles and reap huge profits.
Therefore, cooperation with Doflamingo on amber-lead acquisition should come to an end.
As for cooperation with Amway, there was nothing to object to. With the continuous development of the Calm Belt, Smoker had more and more supplies. He was willing to sell Doflamingo as much as he could handle. There was no reason not to cooperate.
So Smoker nodded. "Of course. I also hope to continue working with someone as sharp as you."
"Fufufufufu, we're the same kind of people," Doflamingo said with a grin.
Ever since Smoker had started Amway, Doflamingo's respect for him had grown steadily. His abilities and instincts were truly impressive, unlike Mihawk or that Bartholomew Kuma, who had completely failed to capitalize on their Warlord status. Doflamingo didn't even understand what the point of those two occupying those positions was.
Smoker was the real deal.
Moreover, Smoker's keen sense of smell had led him to the North Sea to secretly purchase amber-lead, which made Doflamingo feel like he'd found a kindred spirit.
As for where Smoker had obtained insider information about Flevance, Doflamingo didn't suspect anything unusual. He was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Who knew what kind of deals he'd made with the World Government? Maybe they'd sold him the information directly.
In any case, as of now, Doflamingo felt it was time to begin full cooperation between the Donquixote Family and Smoker. Perhaps with Smoker's resources, the Donquixote Family could reach even greater heights.
After chatting for a while, Doflamingo suddenly said, "Smoker, you were the first of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. I'm quite interested in that organization myself. Do you think I have a chance of joining?"
Smoker glanced at Doflamingo. As an undercover Marine agent and one of Finn's confidants, he naturally knew that Admiral Finn had reserved a position for Doflamingo. But he couldn't hand it over easily. After all, things that were easily obtained were never cherished.
After a moment's thought, Smoker nodded. "I think it's possible. Your reputation as 'Heavenly Yaksha' is quite significant among pirates, and you also wield considerable influence in the underworld. As far as the requirements for becoming a Warlord, you're qualified. So as long as you can gain the approval of the World Government and evade Marine pursuit, becoming one of the Seven Warlords shouldn't be a problem. Do you need me to recommend you?"
Doflamingo's mouth twitched slightly, and he shook his head. "No, there's no need for a recommendation. But if I need it, you can just put in a good word for me."
Doflamingo knew very well that given his relationship with the World Government, they wouldn't easily agree to let him become one of the Seven Warlords. Even if Smoker recommended him, it would be useless. He wouldn't be able to follow the World Government's path.
His only option was the Marines.
However, this Smoker sitting in front of him was supposedly a Marine traitor with an extremely bad relationship with the organization…
Still, after thinking it over, Doflamingo asked, "Do you think the Marines would agree?"
Smoker feigned surprise. "How is that possible? Everyone knows the Marines opposed the Warlords plan from the beginning. If it weren't for those damn bureaucrats getting in the way, the Seven Warlords would have been filled long ago!"
"Really?" Doflamingo murmured, then added, "But you may not know that there are some… misunderstandings between me and the World Government. They won't allow me to become one of the Seven Warlords. I can only take the Marine route…"
Smoker was silent for a moment, then said, "Not necessarily. If you could find a way to threaten the World Government into making concessions…"
Doflamingo's eyes lit up, as if struck by an idea. But he soon smiled. "That's not easy to do…"
"Nothing's impossible if you put your mind to it," Smoker said with a smile.
The two sat by the swimming pool in the courtyard. As Devil Fruit users, neither had any intention of going into the water. However, there were quite a few beautiful women in the pool, wearing swimsuits and bikinis. The scene was quite pleasant.
Just then, a commotion erupted outside the courtyard gate. Diamante strode in quickly. "Young Master, there's a little lunatic who insists on seeing you."
Doflamingo, still engaged in conversation with Smoker, waved dismissively. "I don't have time for that. You deal with it."
But at that moment, a figure walked in from outside the courtyard. He held bombs in both hands, with more strapped all over his body. White spots covered his skin. His eyes burned with destructive madness, and a crazed smile twisted his lips as he stared at Doflamingo.
It was in that instant, as Doflamingo looked into the child's eyes, that something shifted. Behind his orange sunglasses, a gleam of recognition flashed.
Similar. So similar.
That look, that aura of madness and destruction, it was exactly the same as his own when he'd been young.
It was a gaze filled with hatred toward the world, a desire to burn it all down.
Realizing this, Doflamingo ignored Diamante. He stood and walked up to the boy without any fear of the bombs. He looked down at him, an evil smile spreading across his face.
"What's your name, brat?"
"Trafalgar Law!" the boy answered, his eyes wild with madness, his voice unwavering.