In the New World, a massive, magnificently decorated pirate ship sailed through the treacherous waters.
It was the Donquixote Pirates, having just left Fish-Man Island. They had been in the New World for three days, and it had not been an easy journey.
The climate of the New World was nothing like Paradise. It was bizarre and unpredictable. One moment there would be a torrential downpour, the next a blinding blizzard. The crew had already suffered greatly from its whims.
But the weather was a minor inconvenience. With their strength, such small difficulties were nothing to worry about. The real danger came from the pirates of the New World, who were always lying in wait for crews coming from Paradise, ready to teach them a lesson. And for a crew as notorious as the Donquixote Pirates, a special "welcome" was certainly being prepared.
Though Doflamingo didn't know the specifics of what awaited them, he was well aware of the situation. Now that he had arrived, he knew the sharks of the New World would be circling. But who was the real shark in these waters? That remained to be seen.
The Ark Maxim sailed smoothly along the New World route. The weather finally cooperated, granting them a bright, sunny day, which swept away the gloom that the recent chaotic conditions had cast over them.
Having arrived in the New World, the members of the Donquixote Pirates were visibly more excited, their faces filled with anticipation each day. Doflamingo noticed this change and was pleased to see it.
Purupurupuru...
His exclusive Den Den Mushi rang, and he answered it immediately.
"Doffy?"
"It's me."
"I've left the G-5 base. Doffy, where are you now? We can meet."
"Sorry, my dear brother, but our meeting will have to be delayed for a little while," Doflamingo said apologetically.
"What's wrong, Doffy?" Vergo asked.
"Something fun has come up. Vergo, I need your help with something," Doflamingo said, his tone serious.
"Just tell me what to do, Doffy," Vergo replied without a moment's hesitation. It didn't matter if the task was difficult; what mattered was that Doflamingo had asked it of him, and he would see it done.
Doflamingo then laid out his plan.
A short while later, their discussion concluded. "I understand, Doffy," Vergo said. "Then let's meet in Dressrosa."
"See you then."
"Don't worry."
Having entered the New World, Doflamingo's first objective was to secure some territory. His first stop was, of course, Dressrosa. Although the island was somewhat small and rather close to a Marine base, it held many treasures. Not to mention the Tontatta tribe, there was also the Heal-Heal Fruit. For that alone, the trip was worth it.
Moreover, Dressrosa had originally belonged to the Donquixote family. In his eyes, he was simply taking back what was rightfully his. As for making it his main base, he had no such plans. Its geographical location and size were not ideal. After much consideration, he had decided against setting up camp there.
Even so, he had no intention of letting Dressrosa go. The Riku family, who currently ruled the island, were his greatest obstacle. To take control of Dressrosa and sever its ties with the World Government would require a certain degree of cunning. And the Tontatta tribe, who had once been slaves to the Donquixote family, were another asset he intended to reclaim.
The Dressrosa of today was not as prosperous as it had been in the past, but it was still doing reasonably well. The people lived and worked in peace under the rule of King Riku, content with their lives. But that peace was about to come to an end. The clouds of conspiracy were gathering once more. How would they fare this time?
Aboard the ark, Diamante approached Doflamingo to ask about their next move. After all, aimlessly wandering the vast sea was exhausting. They were not some powerless pirate crew; their ambitions were great. They needed to secure a territory first.
"Doffy, where are we heading next?" Diamante asked, looking at him with anticipation.
"Dressrosa," Doflamingo stated calmly.
"Dressrosa?" Diamante repeated, quickly searching his memory for information about the island. "Doffy, isn't Dressrosa a member nation of the World Government? Wouldn't it be a bad idea to make it our base? And it's so close to the Marines."
"True, its location isn't ideal," Doflamingo said. "If we're talking about the best places in the New World, that would be Wano Country. Unfortunately, it's currently occupied by Kaido. With our current strength, taking him down would be too difficult."
"If we take Dressrosa, won't we be besieged by the World Government?" Diamante pressed.
"It's just one member nation. Even if we wipe out Dressrosa, what can they do to us?" Doflamingo sneered. "This isn't Paradise; they don't call the shots here. And making a move against us won't be so simple. Who knows who will come out on top in the end."
"Sorry, Doffy. I didn't consider that," Diamante apologized.
"It's fine. Don't worry too much about the Marines. In any case, Dressrosa must be in our hands," Doflamingo said.
"I understand," Diamante nodded.
"I've already spoken with Vergo. We can have a proper reunion in Dressrosa."
"Vergo? Really, Doffy? That's great!" Diamante's face lit up with nostalgia. "It's been so long since we've seen him. I really miss him."
"If Vergo knew you missed him this much, he'd be very happy," Doflamingo teased.
"Haha, you know Vergo wouldn't show it. You know what he's like, Doffy. What kind of expression would he even make?" Diamante laughed, his mood greatly improved.
"True," Doflamingo nodded in agreement.
"But I'm sure he misses us too," Diamante said wistfully.
"Vergo will always be our family. Of course he misses us," Doflamingo said, his tone sentimental.
"Of course. There will always be a place for Vergo in the Donquixote Family," Diamante said with conviction.
At that very moment, the man they were reminiscing about, Vergo, was leading a force of New World Marines toward Dressrosa. Acting on Doflamingo's secret orders, he was preparing to make his move. He intended to have everything settled before Doflamingo arrived—a gift for their long-awaited reunion.
Over Dressrosa, dark clouds gathered. A storm was coming.
"Rebecca, stop playing! It's about to rain!"
In a beautiful field of sunflowers, Scarlett, in an orange dress, called out to her daughter, who was playing happily among the flowers.
"I know, Mother!"
The young and innocent Rebecca ran into her mother's arms.
Outside a small house hidden in the flower field, Kyros was waiting for them. The moment he saw them, he greeted them with a happy and contented smile.
"Rebecca, Scarlett, let's go home," he said, his voice full of concern.
"I don't know why the weather turned so suddenly. It was so nice just a moment ago," Scarlett complained.
"Haha, that's just how the weather is—fickle. You get used to it," Kyros said with a laugh.
"Father!" Rebecca, in her mother's arms, called out happily.
"Rebecca!"
Kyros joyfully took his daughter from Scarlett, lifting her high into the air.
"Be careful, you two," Scarlett said, watching them with a blissful smile.
They were a happy family. But the dark clouds over Dressrosa grew thicker and heavier, casting an oppressive shadow over all its citizens.