After witnessing Marco and Luo Fan descend like gods from the heavens and easily deal with the Vinsmoke Family's ships, the Captain of this ship, Rosinante, and one of his assistants walked toward the two.
"Thank you very much for your assistance. Let me introduce you: this is a Top Officer of the Donquixote Family and the leader of the Heart Army, Corazon," Rosinante's assistant said to Marco.
Marco nodded to Corazon as a greeting.
Then, Corazon's assistant turned to greet Luo Fan, but Luo Fan interrupted him directly, saying, "No need for pleasantries. My name is Luo Fan, and I am also a member of the Whitebeard Pirates."
"Marco and I came looking for you because we want you to take us to see Doflamingo. Can we set off now?"
Corazon was stunned for a moment, then nodded to his assistant. The assistant immediately ordered the men to set sail and return to the Donquixote Family's headquarters.
On the way, Corazon didn't show much enthusiasm toward Marco and Luo Fan. Luo Fan didn't mind this at all and was even somewhat relieved.
Because no matter what, Corazon was a Marine undercover agent planted in the Donquixote Family and the foster son of Sengoku; he was definitely on the Marines' side.
If Corazon had been too enthusiastic, Luo Fan would have felt that he, or Sengoku behind him, had some designs on the Whitebeard Pirates.
The journey was peaceful, and the ship soon docked at the Donquixote Family's port.
Pica, one of the Top Officers of the Donquixote Family, was already waiting at the port.
"Good work, Rosinante!" Pica said to Corazon as soon as he stepped off the ship.
Rosinante waved his hand, pointed toward the ship, patted Pica on the shoulder, and then turned to leave.
Pica had come to the port to welcome Marco and Luo Fan on behalf of Doflamingo. After the two disembarked, Pica went Up to greet them, and after some pleasantries, led Luo Fan and Marco to the Donquixote Family's base.
As soon as they entered the base, that well-endowed maid from four years ago approached, respectfully greeted Luo Fan, and then opened her arms.
Beside them, Noy's eyes went wide. Were women outside all this big? A crisis, this was an unprecedented crisis!
Luo Fan glanced at Doflamingo sitting in the pavilion and bypassed the maid expressionlessly.
Noy was stunned for a moment. What was going on? The crisis ended before it even began?
"Fuffuffuffuffu~ Luo Fan, I remember you quite enjoyed being held by her four years ago, didn't you?" Doflamingo asked with a strange laugh.
"As you said, that was four years ago. Besides, we're here today on serious business."
Doflamingo frowned upon hearing this and looked at Marco. Clearly, in Doflamingo's eyes, the one with the authority to speak was Marco, not Luo Fan.
Marco suppressed his inner worry for Whitey Bay and said in a flat tone, "We've come to see you for two things."
"First, Whitey Bay's Pirate Crew has gone missing in the North Blue. We need your help to find her location as soon as possible."
"Second, so many years have passed, it's time to fulfill our previous agreement. Luo Fan and I will help you deal with the Vinsmoke Family and obtain their scientific technology."
"Fuffuffuffuffu~ Ice Witch Whitey Bay? You didn't keep her life card?"
"If we had a life card, would we still need to come to you?" Marco retorted.
"True enough. I'll send people to look for her."
"If I may ask, is the Whitebeard Pirates finally going to make a move against Vinsmoke?"
"Don't misunderstand. It's Luo Fan and I making a move against the Vinsmoke Family, not the Whitebeard Pirates. Furthermore, Luo Fan and I won't help you wipe out the Vinsmoke Family; our goal is only their scientific technology," Marco added.
Doflamingo didn't care after hearing this, because through the recent war with the Vinsmoke Family, he knew very well that scientific technology was the most important thing to them.
No matter who it was, as long as they targeted their technology, the Vinsmoke Family would counterattack desperately; there was absolutely no possibility of compromise.
In Doflamingo's view, if Marco and Luo Fan wanted the technology, they would inevitably end Up in opposition to the Vinsmoke Family, perhaps even going to war directly.
With the strength this man and cat displayed four years ago, not only would they be unable to handle the entire Vinsmoke Family, but they might even fall into danger.
At that time, as long as the news was sent back to the Whitebeard Pirates, Whitebeard, who treated his crew like family, would definitely join the fray.
If Whitebeard intervened, would the Vinsmoke Family still exist?
And once the Vinsmoke Family was wiped out, it would mean the Donquixote Family would become the uncrowned king of the North Blue.
Thinking of this, Doflamingo's mood became increasingly pleasant.
Marco and Luo Fan didn't know what Doflamingo was plotting. They just wanted to use his influence to investigate Whitey Bay's whereabouts; as for the Vinsmoke Family, that would have to wait until she was found.
Doflamingo also knew that the Whitebeard Pirates valued their comrades greatly. To borrow their power, he ordered his men to start searching for Whitey Bay throughout the North Blue.
It had to be said that Doflamingo's operations over the years were quite effective; his influence reached almost every corner of the North Blue.
Only a few hours later, Doflamingo received a report from his subordinates stating that they had seen Whitey Bay's Icebreaker near Flevance.
After receiving the news, Marco, Luo Fan, and Noy rushed to Flevance together.
Unlike when they visited Flevance four years ago, plumbism had fully broken out by now.
Under the deliberate propaganda of the World Government, the surrounding countries treated plumbism as a very serious infectious disease. Fearing that the people of Flevance would spread it to their own countries, they blockaded Flevance.
Now, on the borders between Flevance and its neighbors, large numbers of soldiers were stationed. If the people of Flevance attempted to cross the border, the soldiers would shoot without hesitation.
The Royal Capital of Flevance had also completely changed compared to four years ago. The once harmonious city had now almost become a dead city.
Everywhere, people afflicted with plumbism could be seen struggling in pain or simply dead.
Looking at the tragic scene before her, Noy said sympathetically, "The people of this country are so unfortunate to catch such a disease."
Luo Fan shook his head and said, "Noy, you're mistaken. This country's disease isn't natural. It's because toxins passed down through generations accumulate to a certain point and then break out. To be specific, it starts with the lead-platinum ore..."
Luo Fan told Noy all about the secret of the lead-platinum ore and the World Government's ambitions. Noy was shocked after hearing it.
She used to think Ohara was tragic enough, but she hadn't expected a country more miserable than Ohara. More importantly, the people of this country had clearly done nothing to deserve such destruction.
This sort of thing was something Noy found hard to accept for a moment.