Doflamingo was still musing about his good brother Vergo. Little did he know, Vergo was currently doing quite well in the Marines, treading a path similar to his original story, and was already stationed at the G-5 Marine branch in the New World, awaiting Doflamingo's orders.
Vergo was naturally aware of Doflamingo's latest news. As a top executive of the Family, he paid close attention to all their movements. Although, during this time, to smoothly establish himself at G-5, Vergo and Doflamingo hadn't communicated secretly, both understood that when Doflamingo arrived in the New World, it would be time to stir up a storm.
During the long sea voyage, Doflamingo, accompanied by his family, didn't find it too boring. Besides training brats like Law and Baby 5, he could also discuss life's philosophies with Monet and Ibes. Life didn't lack for amusement; one just had to learn to discover it.
On this day, the sun was warm and gentle. The Ark Maxim sailed steadily upon the sea. Doflamingo, bare-chested, lay on a deck chair, sunbathing. He allowed himself to relax and enjoy the moment; after all, with his current level of strength, it was unlikely he could achieve any further significant improvements for the time being.
While Doflamingo was enjoying himself, Law, Baby 5, Buffalo, and the others were training arduously. Who asked them to be weak? Baby 5, seeing Doflamingo's leisurely state, felt a bit indignant. However, she wasn't angry at Doflamingo, but rather at her own inadequacy. She knew her own weakness. If things continued like this, she might be abandoned by the Young Master. Doflamingo had told her before: his family had no need for trash.
Whether it was to avoid being abandoned or to be able to rest leisurely like Doflamingo, Baby 5 gritted her teeth and persevered.
Law and the others shared similar thoughts. Happy days were built upon a foundation of strength. They were currently just cannon fodder, not qualified to enjoy life like Doflamingo.
Life is short; one must seize the day for pleasure! Doflamingo would never shortchange himself. Fine food, beautiful women, wealth, power – these were all wonderful things. The weak could only hear of them; the strong, however, could possess them.
As Doflamingo was enjoying himself, a World Government ship suddenly appeared before the Ark Maxim.
"Reporting to the Young Master! There's a World Government ship blocking our path ahead!" a subordinate respectfully came to Doflamingo's location to report the situation.
"The World Government? What do they want with Doffy?" Ibes, accompanying Doflamingo, voiced the question for him.
Doflamingo didn't reply. He rose from the deck chair, his gaze fixed on the distance, recognizing the familiar World Government vessel.
"We are also unclear about the World Government's purpose. However, they have not attacked us; they merely wish to negotiate," the subordinate replied respectfully.
"Alright, I understand."
The subordinate, having received his instructions, quickly withdrew.
Doflamingo also wanted to know what the World Government was scheming. Since they had come knocking, as their former "dogs," he, as their "original master," would magnanimously grant them an audience. Who asked him, Donquixote Doflamingo, to have such a kind heart?
"Ibes, go get Robin. We'll go see them together," Doflamingo said, an inexplicable glint in his eyes as he reminded Ibes.
"Okay, I'll go right away," Ibes quickly headed towards Robin's room. Robin, that great scholar, hadn't been idle. Life at sea was rather dull, so she spent her time in her room, engrossed in her studies. Even Bepo, who followed Robin around, had learned a lot.
Soon, Ibes returned with Robin. When the World Government was mentioned, Robin no longer felt the heart-pounding terror of the past. She calmly accompanied Doflamingo to face the World Government officials. The Robin of today was no longer that lonely, helpless little girl. She now had a family. No matter what happened, Doflamingo would definitely not hand her over. She had firmly believed this for so long, trusting Doflamingo without reservation.
Doflamingo had no intention of personally receiving the World Government officials. Not only because they were merely the World Government's dogs and lacked the status, but also because they didn't possess the strength to make Doflamingo bow his head.
As a pirate, Doflamingo actually had nothing much to discuss with the World Government. Their standpoints were fundamentally different; they were not on the same path. This had been destined since the day Doflamingo left the Holy Land Mariejois.
The person who had come was an old acquaintance of Robin's: Spandine, the Director-General of the government's direct intelligence agency "CP9" during the Ohara incident. It was he who, under orders from former Marine Admiral Sengoku, obtained the authority of the Golden Den Den Mushi to activate the "Buster Call," annihilating Ohara and all its inhabitants. He was also the one who issued Nico Robin's first wanted poster.
Doflamingo sat on his throne, with Robin and Ibes by his side. The other family executives and members were arranged in two rows, flanking Spandine's delegation, surrounding them. Everyone looked at Spandine and his men with stern, unfriendly expressions.
Spandine, however, was an old fox. Although the current environment was very hostile towards him, he didn't panic. He was merely here to deliver a message and bore no personal grudge against Doflamingo. Moreover, in his mind, he was here to announce good news, which Doflamingo surely wouldn't refuse.
"Donquixote Doflamingo, I come bearing the orders of the World Government. The reason for my visit is that the World Government wishes for you to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!" Spandine arrogantly stated his purpose, dropping a bombshell that caused a huge reaction on Doflamingo's Ark.
"Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
"Is the Young Master going to become a Warlord?"
Hearing Spandine's words, the subordinates reacted. To ordinary grunts, the Seven Warlords of the Sea were already great figures. And now their Young Master was to become one? How exciting was that! This meant that even the World Government had to fear their power!
If Doflamingo knew his subordinates were thinking this way, he would only scoff. The Seven Warlords of the Sea? A nice title, perhaps, but they were nothing more than the World Government's dogs. Doflamingo would never believe the World Government was being so benevolent. Were they eyeing his potential? Wanting to recruit him to deal with Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido? It had to be said, it was a good plan.
The executives, however, weren't overly excited. For those who knew Doflamingo's ambitions, the Seven Warlords of the Sea was merely a stumbling block. Besides, what benefit was there for Doflamingo and his crew to become the World Government's dogs? Just for legal plunder? Would the Marines really not attack them?
Ridiculous. As long as Doflamingo was strong enough, all these things were rightfully his. Nothing was more fitting than taking things with one's own hands. What is bestowed by others is ultimately still others'; one day, it will surely be lost.
Spandine looked at Doflamingo with confidence, listening with satisfaction to the joyous cheers of Doflamingo's subordinates, secretly pleased with the objective he was about to achieve.
There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. In the original story, Doflamingo had seized the Heavenly Tribute to become one of the Seven Warlords. Now that they were offering it themselves, Doflamingo wouldn't believe it if there were no conditions attached.
"State the World Government's conditions," Doflamingo said, intending to hear what the World Government had prepared.
Hearing Doflamingo's words, Spandine glanced maliciously at Robin beside Doflamingo, making Robin feel a chill run down her spine, extremely uncomfortable.
"The condition is her! The Demon Child, Nico Robin! We must take her away!" Spandine raised his hand without hesitation, pointing at Robin.
Robin, being pointed at, turned icy cold, looking coolly at Spandine's clownish performance. She was very confident now and wouldn't fear the World Government. Even if the Donquixote Family were to be annihilated, she planned to perish along with Doflamingo and the others, absolutely not choosing to live alone.
"Yahahaha! What audacity!" Seeing this, Enel couldn't hold back. Spandine's arrogant demeanor had already displeased him. Now, he even wanted to take away their family? This infuriated Enel.
"The World Government has such confidence. Otherwise, what awaits your Donquixote Pirates is only destruction!" Spandine was indeed Spandine. With the World Government backing him, he was truly arrogant. Unfortunately, he had forgotten where he was now.
"Hahaha!" Hearing Spandine's grand pronouncements, the others laughed in concert, somewhat lightening the originally tense atmosphere.
"What are you laughing at? This is a fact!" Spandine said indignantly.
Indeed, like father, like son; if the upper beam is not straight, the lower ones will be crooked. He was just like Spandam.
Doflamingo asked Spandine with a cold smirk, "On what grounds do you think I would hand over Robin? Merely because your World Government generously bestows the title of a Warlord?"
"Donquixote Doflamingo, I think you won't refuse this condition," Spandine said, hearing Doflamingo's words. He then prepared to throw out another condition.
"Oh? Is there any other condition that could move my heart?" Doflamingo asked curiously. Even the Family members looked at Spandine with curiosity, wondering what condition he could possibly state that Doflamingo wouldn't refuse.
"Donquixote Doflamingo, what if your status as a Celestial Dragon is restored?" Spandine stated his trump card without hesitation.
Hearing Spandine's words, the Family members were greatly shocked. They hadn't known Doflamingo's true identity.
"Is the Young Master a Celestial Dragon?"
"I never imagined! The Young Master is actually a World Noble!"
The clamor from the subordinates also made Doflamingo recall his past experiences in the Holy Land Mariejois. However, he quickly regained his composure, showing no trace of lingering attachment.
Robin also looked at Doflamingo curiously. She hadn't known Doflamingo possessed such an identity either. However, she still didn't panic, continuing to believe in Doflamingo. He was the one who had saved her from dire straits, brought a ray of light into her life, and they had become family who trusted each other. These things wouldn't change so easily.
Apart from Pica and Diamante, the other executives also sized up Doflamingo with curiosity. They too hadn't known Doflamingo's background was so grand – a once lofty World Noble, a Celestial Dragon! This was an existence many people would spend their entire lives looking up to.
"Fuffuffuffuffu!" Doflamingo laughed very happily. Even the others were infected by his laughter, but they didn't laugh. They didn't quite understand what Doflamingo was laughing about – was it happiness, or something else? They couldn't tell.
"Hahaha!" Spandine, seeing Doflamingo's happy demeanor, considered the matter settled and laughed along in concert.
"Celestial Dragons," Doflamingo mused.
Spandine watched Doflamingo intently, eagerly anticipating him to utter that familiar word he longed to hear.
"Just a bunch of stinking dog shit!" Doflamingo voiced his true feelings without any hesitation.
"You!" Hearing Doflamingo's words, Spandine was startled, not expecting this outcome.
The Family members were also awestruck by Doflamingo's statement. Robin looked at Doflamingo, her eyes filled with gratitude.
"You think I care much about this Celestial Dragon status? In my eyes, Celestial Dragons are just a bunch of trash. I feel ashamed of my former identity as a Celestial Dragon. Bearing that status, even breathing was difficult for me," Doflamingo said coldly to Spandine.
"Donquixote Doflamingo, this is great disrespect to the Celestial Dragons! How dare you insult the Celestial Dragons! Don't think that just because you once were a Celestial Dragon, you can be disrespectful to them!" Spandine said angrily.
"Truly a loyal dog of the Celestial Dragons! Since I too was once a Celestial Dragon, shouldn't you also be wagging your tail and begging me for scraps?" Doflamingo said, covering his forehead with his hand, as if sighing with emotion.
"Donquixote Doflamingo, you!" Spandine was choked with anger, momentarily speechless. Doflamingo's words weren't wrong; he was indeed a loyal dog of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. However, for Doflamingo to say it so bluntly made Spandine lose all face.
"Hahaha! Loyal dog! Wag your tail for our Young Master!"
"Quick, kneel down!"
Hearing Doflamingo's words, the Family members all let out malicious laughs. Listening to the surrounding mockery, Spandine hadn't expected this matter to go so poorly. This was not how he had imagined it when he arrived!
Spandine also felt a little flustered. He now realized he was in a dragon's den and a tiger's lair. He might very well lose his life here. After all, the other party was a ruthless pirate lord, and he himself possessed no great strength to protect his own life. Moreover, there was an enemy (Robin) eyeing him covetously!
"Since it has come to this, Donquixote Doflamingo, if you are unwilling, then I can only report this truthfully to the World Government," Spandine said, forcing himself to remain calm, preparing to take his leave. After speaking, he intended to turn and depart.
"Hold on! Director Spandine, we still have some matters unresolved. Since you've come aboard my ship, how can I not entertain you properly?" Doflamingo's words reached Spandine's ears, making his heart pound with panic.
Indeed, what was bound to come could not be avoided.
"Withdraw!"