"Brother, why would the king of Flevance do something like this?"
Rocinante's confusion and doubt were evident through the Den Den Mushi.
Instead of answering directly, Doflamingo tapped his forehead and asked in return,
"Rosi, what is Flevance most famous for?"
"Of course, the Amber Lead mines."
"Then, Rosi, have you ever seen an Amber Lead mine? Does it serve any other purpose?"
Rocinante recalled the pitch-black mines he had once seen, dark pits that seemed to devour everything.
"I've seen them... Like the corpse of the land, abandoned and lifeless."
Doflamingo smirked knowingly. "Fufufufufu... Amber Lead is a mineral of immense wealth. And people... are no different."
"People... mines?" Rocinante's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Once a human mine is fully exploited, the best way to deal with it is to simply forget it ever existed."
This was the flaw inherent in all rulers.
Spreading silver among the poor? A sin in itself.
The World Government and the royal family of Flevance took it a step further, guiding the citizens toward their own demise.
With an overwhelming force ensuring control, and no external interference, this country would eventually vanish from history—erased from the world's memory, only mentioned when Amber Lead products were being sold to inflate their worth.
Click.
Doflamingo rested his chin on his hands, gazing into the darkness of the Red Line.
At its center, lights shone brightly, a pinnacle of extravagance—the masterpiece of a world that thrived on draining others dry.
The commoners of Flevance were human mines.
Just like the class he had once belonged to.
"But this isn't Earth..."
Doflamingo's calm expression twisted into one of arrogance and madness.
That was why he had to climb, step by step, to the very top of this world.
Everything... would belong to him in the end!
"Vergo, we'll stop here."
"Understood, Doffy. I'll hold down the fort at Raijin Island."
"Raijin Island isn't important. You are. Don't end up like Diamante and the others."
The mighty dragon-like figure lowered his head slightly. "I understand, Doffy."
"Good."
Like a flamingo in the dark, Doflamingo crossed the Red Line, heading toward Skypiea.
...
Hanging up the call, Rocinante barely had time to process what he had just heard when he noticed the man beside him murmuring to himself.
"Amber Lead mines? Human mines? Abandoned?"
"Bone-san, are you alright?"
Having lived through it all, Bone felt the weight of the situation even more profoundly than Rocinante.
That mysterious man, Doflamingo, was absolutely right.
The people of Flevance carried the blood of miners.
And they were human mines, about to be completely exhausted.
Their only future was abandonment and oblivion.
He couldn't just sit and wait for the inevitable anymore.
He was too weak.
"I'm fine."
Closing his eyes for a moment, Bone suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Bone-san?!"
"Rocinante, please forgive me for my earlier foolishness."
Ignoring the fresh wound splitting open on his leg, Bone stared into Rocinante's eyes with desperation.
"I beg you, take Lina, Law, and Lami away from this country. They still have a future. There must be a cure for them overseas. They can't lose their mother, too."
Rocinante firmly helped him up and agreed without hesitation.
"I will help them. But what about you, Bone?"
"I was born in this country. My father traded Amber Lead for Belly so I could study medicine. I owe everything to this land."
Bone clenched his fists, then declared with resolve, "I will continue researching Amber Lead disease here... or die alongside this country."
"I'll keep helping you find what you need for your research, but..."
Before Rocinante could finish, he sensed movement outside the door and asked, "Will Lina agree to this?"
Bang!
"Lina?" Bone turned in shock. "You... I..."
"Rocinante, please take Law and Lami away."
"I'll arrange for them to leave under the guise of a merchant caravan. You two should prepare a proper excuse for them."
Rocinante, sensing the little eavesdroppers behind the door, pulled a wry face.
Helping a friend was always a good thing, but something about this situation felt oddly off.
...
Meanwhile, on Whole Cake Island.
The captain of the Sloth Pirates, Flash, a sloth Mink, was sharing a blood oath with Big Mom.
"Mamama~, our SlowSlowPirates will now~ follow you~ with unwavering~ loyalty."
His sluggish tone did nothing to dampen Big Mom's excitement.
"Mamama~ma! Another race has joined Totto Land! Eat to your heart's content, my children!"
"Ohhh! Mama!"
...
In the midst of the grand festivities, Smoothie slipped away unnoticed.
She had already packed her bags and was making her way toward the docks, her steps light with excitement.
The island was in the middle of a feast, and Mama was too busy indulging to care about one of her children's whereabouts.
She was going on an adventure!
At the port, she picked a random visiting pirate ship and climbed aboard without hesitation.
The stationed crew members quickly took notice. One of them, a rough-looking pirate, stepped forward, glaring at the newcomer.
"Hey, long-legged brat, get lost! This is the Black Pearl, the flagship of the Blood Mist Pirates, led by the great Blade Reaver!"
The first mate, Ray, leered at Smoothie's well-developed figure, his eyes gleaming with vile intent.
They respected Big Mom, but this was just some random young girl—not someone worthy of their deference.
If this weren't Big Mom's territory, she would've already been on her back, serving them.
Smoothie's expression turned icy.
Her flawless body was meant only for her future husband. How dare these sea rats even dream of defiling it?
She drew her towering, spiral-shaped greatsword.
Seeing this, Ray laughed and turned to his crewmates.
"Heh heh heh! The little girl wants to put on a show for us!"
"Kekeke! And it doesn't look like she's even from the Charlotte Family. Maybe she's a runaway gift?"
"Ooooh, I want a taste of those long legs! They look delicious! Let's take her! No one will ever know!"
"Spiral Execution!"
Her jet-black blade, infused with the monstrous power of Big Mom's bloodline, sliced through the air.
Could these lowly pirates possibly stand against it?
In an instant, her powerful swing cut through them. Fragments of skull and flesh splattered across the deck.
As the blood pooled around her feet, Smoothie remained spotless, not a single drop staining her figure.
The two surviving deckhands dropped to their knees, trembling in terror.
"Set sail."
Smoothie issued her cold command.
My excitement for this journey has already been ruined. Lowly pirates like these... deserve nothing but death.
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