Roger's ascent to the top, ultimately, didn't concern Doflamingo. At the moment, he was only focused on his own goals. He concentrated on his purposes and advanced step by step towards the pinnacle.
Drum Kingdom, a winter island, lived under constant snow. The harsh climate made life quite difficult for the residents, and few pirates ventured there, as the hostile environment itself was a strong deterrent.
The current king was Wapol's father, who would later become a cruel and selfish tyrant known as "Tin Plate." Wapol's father, unlike his son, kept Drum Kingdom in a more stable situation. Although it wasn't a prosperous kingdom, it was a paradise compared to what it would become twenty years later under Wapol's brutality, which terrorized his subjects.
Drum Kingdom, this snowy winter island covered in white snow, looked lonely and helpless. A pirate ship slowly approached, about to dock in that stunning snow country.
"Young Master, Drum Kingdom is ahead."
"Ah, have we finally arrived? Then let's enjoy the scenery of Drum Kingdom," Doflamingo said calmly, wrapped in a cotton coat. Although he looked somewhat frail, his kingly aura was unparalleled.
Crunch, crunch. A group of people wearing thick cotton clothes walked through the snow, braving the blizzard and quickening their pace. They were the royal guard of Drum Kingdom. They had just received news that a group of pirates was about to disembark. For the peaceful residents of Drum Kingdom, pirates had always been their greatest fear, and this made them very worried.
Therefore, upon spotting the pirates, the guards immediately headed to the shore, hoping to drive them away before they officially set foot on their land, thus ensuring a peaceful and safe life.
Stepping onto the snowy island, Doflamingo marveled at the landscape. Snowflakes fell softly from an infinite sky, floating and scattering... They were pure and white as jade, like jade leaves and silver flowers scattered by celestial fairies, or like white angels sent from the heavenly palace. They were of indescribable beauty, transforming the land into a white fairy tale kingdom.
"What a beautiful place... but, what a shame..."
No one understood why Doflamingo suddenly sighed and said "what a shame." With their simple minds, they didn't dare to investigate the meaning behind the Young Master's words, merely keeping the doubt in their hearts.
"Someone's coming."
Diamante and the others immediately prepared for a counterattack.
Suddenly, a group of people, weathered by snow and wind, calmly approached Doflamingo and his companions. The leader, with a serious expression, said to Doflamingo, who had just stepped onto the island:
"Despicable pirates, our Drum Kingdom doesn't welcome you. With our guards here, don't think you'll enter to cause trouble. Leave immediately, or you'll suffer the consequences!"
Of course, what could be so capable in the snow-covered Drum Kingdom? A small place is always a small place, full of people who overestimate themselves, not knowing their own worth! "Are their minds filled with abundant snow? You're really asking for a beating. Know that our Young Master's temper isn't the best. You're poking the beast, may luck be with you." This was the thought of every member of the Donquixote Family; they were truly speechless with despair.
Although the bravado was great, and the will to protect the kingdom and its people was commendable, by rushing to appear and acting so arrogantly, they barely knew how they would die.
Of course, that was the pirates' view. The guards, on the other hand, felt energized by their captain's eloquent speech. To defend their home and country, they would face death with courage, and each one looked at the captain with admiration. "He really is our captain!"
"Fufufufu, don't worry, we won't harm anything on this island. We only admire the medical skills of Drum Kingdom and have come seeking treatment. You don't need to be so suspicious. Although we are pirates, we never loot civilians. That doesn't mean we are good people, but we have no ill intentions," Doflamingo said, smiling, in a very sincere tone.
This left the pirate crew members somewhat confused. For them, it was unusual for the Young Master not to get angry at such a provocation to his dignity. If Doflamingo knew what they were thinking, he would only be depressed: "Do you see me as such a petty person? Who reacts to every provocation? That would be very undervaluing."
Excessive cruelty would only incite even greater popular resentment. Revenge with violence is not a good idea; there are countless examples throughout history that serve as a warning to Doflamingo. If he continued to rule with the same brutality and repression as in the original story, failure would be inevitable. Being more flexible, on the other hand, could bring unexpected results. The support of the people is fundamental for his domination.
Doflamingo's gentleness caught the guards by surprise. To them, every pirate was notorious for their wickedness and hostile words. Encountering such a polite and courteous pirate was truly unexpected. "In the vast ocean, anything can happen, and all kinds of people exist," they thought.
However, this didn't immediately lessen their suspicion. Although Doflamingo's first impression was very good, in this world, there was no shortage of cunning and treacherous people. They could be deceived and still help count the money. Anyway, they couldn't let their guard down.
However, since the pirate showed such courtesy, they also wouldn't drive him away with hostility. On one hand, to not lose the kingdom's dignity, and on the other, to show their own magnanimity, they politely said:
"Since you came seeking medical treatment, we were a bit hasty. However, as you are pirates and it's our duty, you cannot all enter Drum Kingdom."
Doflamingo knew it would be difficult to convince the other side to give them easy passage with just a few words; after all, he didn't possess the "art of glibness." To show sincerity, he allowed only Diamante to accompany him to the town, while the others would remain at the location, awaiting news.
Seeing Doflamingo being so sensible, the guards' hearts calmed down. After all, for them, it was just two people, and one of them was a kid, nothing to fear.
Doflamingo dared to take only one person with him, of course, out of his own confidence. If someone underestimated him just because of his young age, they would certainly take a big fall.
While Doflamingo followed the guards towards the town, the News Coo had already spread Doflamingo and his crew's new bounties throughout the world. A new pirate star was on the rise. Although insignificant compared to the shocking news of the Pirate King a few days ago, and little noticed by common pirates, for attentive observers, Doflamingo left a small impression.
"Doflamingo? A bounty of 100 million Berries? It seems a new era truly is coming," a golden-haired man drank sake and read the newspaper. The news described the deeds of Doflamingo and his crew. Although there were no major atrocities, for the Marine, opposing them was the greatest atrocity, and the Marine was justice.
"A rookie, huh? Roger, is this what you expected?" In the New World, aboard the Moby Dick, Edward Newgate, Whitebeard, read the latest news and suddenly smiled. "Gurararara, it's still too early, kids."
The news about Doflamingo didn't attract much attention. Most pirates were still focused on Roger. They continued searching for the whereabouts of the Roger Pirates, but couldn't find any trace, which frustrated them. They could only continue the search patiently.
The lack of a big repercussion for Doflamingo's new bounty pleased Fleet Admiral Kong. After all, the recent news of the Pirate King had already put them on edge. If, in addition, it came to light that a World Noble had become a pirate, not only would the credibility of the Marine and the World Nobles be destroyed, but the World Government's dominance would be shaken. This was not what Fleet Admiral Kong and the others wanted to see.
Therefore, taking advantage of the buzz from the news that Roger became the Pirate King, they quickly issued Doflamingo's new bounty.
"It seems our era has come, old men. Prepare to exit the stage."
Rookies always pay more attention to other rookies. Although the Pirate King had already been established, for ambitious and impetuous rookies, the title of Pirate King was never an impediment, but rather a great mountain in their path, which they could conquer.
The Pirate King, perhaps, was more of a symbol. Earthly kingdoms have their changes of crown, let alone the Pirate King? If someone managed to conquer the Grand Line, why couldn't they?
Being humans, why could they conquer the Grand Line, and why couldn't they do the same? The ambition of rookies would not be scared away by the dangers of the Grand Line. Everyone was driven by a burning passion, aiming for that supreme position.
However, when that passion cooled and reality shattered illusions, when surrounded by the dangers of the Grand Line, who knows how many would regret their decisions, paying with their precious lives for their impulsiveness.
We shouldn't complain about the injustice of fate, for this is our own choice. Since you chose this path, you must follow it firmly. Instead of lamenting, it's better to improve your skills and think about surviving. Giving up is easy, getting up is very difficult.
Even in hell, we must have hope, because once we give up, there's truly nothing left.
Reality is cruel, life is tough.
In the Marine, in Marineford, after settling matters related to Roger, Fleet Admiral Kong made a surprising decision. To prevent Doflamingo from continuing with impunity and to silence the World Nobles, Fleet Admiral Kong had to send Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Marine's strategist, to capture Doflamingo.
Although it was an excessive use of resources, it showed the great importance given to Doflamingo. But there was no choice. The Roger Pirates were missing, and Garp needed to be on standby. Sengoku, as the only Admiral, had to remain at Marine Headquarters to appease the World Nobles. Zephyr, already retired, was training the new generation. Other Marines had their own military duties, protecting the world's stability in various regions. Vice Admiral Tsuru was, in fact, the best choice.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru, the capture of Doflamingo is in your hands," Fleet Admiral Kong was very frustrated. If it weren't for the lack of options, he wouldn't have sent Vice Admiral Tsuru. Although her strength wasn't as "monstrous" as Garp's or Sengoku's, she was, after all, one of the super-elites among the Vice Admirals, having sailed the seas for many years. Not to mention her intelligence.
Vice Admiral Tsuru understood Fleet Admiral Kong's pressure and felt deep concern for Doflamingo. Although her mission seemed like an exaggeration, it was, without a doubt, the best option.
"I'll handle this well. These impetuous youngsters are so unreliable, they need to be well-trained."
Receiving the operational order, Vice Admiral Tsuru set out with her fleet for the mission to capture Doflamingo. Doflamingo still didn't know that he had become a target, and precisely from one of the people he could least face at the moment.
If Doflamingo knew that Fleet Admiral Kong had sent Vice Admiral Tsuru to capture him, he would probably explode in curses. "It was just a tough draw against a Colonel, and he was still severely injured! Why on earth send his natural enemy, as in the original story? In the original story, Doflamingo was 'taken care of' by Vice Admiral Tsuru. It was said that not being able to defeat her would be understandable, but what if he defeated her and injured her? That would anger those who loved her, as Vice Admiral Tsuru was 'the darling of the crew'. If she were injured, those guys would become mad dogs and wouldn't let go of Doflamingo, which wasn't what Doflamingo wanted."
However, for the current Doflamingo, his own strength was his greatest weakness. The pressure was immense; his arm couldn't twist his leg. Moreover, Vice Admiral Tsuru's strength couldn't be underestimated.
In Drum Kingdom, Doflamingo followed the guards towards the town center. The snow and wind didn't impede their advance.
A good while later, the guards took Doflamingo to the town hospital. To avoid causing panic among the residents, the guards didn't reveal Doflamingo's pirate identity. The two sides, in turn, were aware of the situation and neither intended to expose the truth.
"Hey, you two are pirates, aren't you?"
The sudden remark alerted the guards, but upon seeing who was approaching, the security team relaxed.
Doflamingo, however, was quite curious about the newcomer's identity. Regarding Drum Kingdom, he was more curious about Dr. Kureha, a doctor of exceptional skills, and Chopper's adoptive father.
"Ah, it's you, the quack Hiluluk."
The people of Drum Kingdom didn't have much regard for Hiluluk. After all, in a country with such skilled doctors, a third-rate doctor who lived in daydreams, trying to invent a "universal cure," wasn't viewed favorably.
"Instead of daydreaming, it would be better to be more practical and improve your medical skills, to get rid of your quack title." That was the guards' thought, very realistic and, in fact, the best option for Hiluluk.
Upon seeing that the newcomer was Hiluluk, Doflamingo showed some interest. He was curious about Dr. Kureha and how he could find her. Now, it seemed like a godsend, bringing his friend Hiluluk to him.
The newcomer was indeed Hiluluk. He wore a black coat over a green shirt. The most notable feature was his characteristic hair, which looked like a cross without the lower part, although the top was covered by a black bowler hat. His young face showed an excitement like someone who had found prey.
"That's right, we are pirates," Doflamingo openly admitted.
Upon receiving confirmation, Hiluluk's eyes lit up even more with excitement. He was full of curiosity about Doflamingo and his crew, after all, it was the first time he had seen real pirates in the flesh.
"This is Kureha's house, but she's a difficult person to deal with. You need to be prepared and..."
Doflamingo and Hiluluk talked amiably. In the end, Doflamingo explained the reason for his visit, wishing for the best doctor to treat his injuries. Taking the opportunity, under Hiluluk's leadership, they arrived at Kureha's house.
"Hiluluk, you brat, you were badmouthing me behind my back!" Hiluluk, who hadn't finished speaking, was interrupted by Kureha, who suddenly opened the door and scolded him, ceaselessly hitting him with "love fists."
Upon seeing this scene, Doflamingo showed a glimmer of nostalgia in his eyes, although his face remained expressionless to others, who saw him as calm.
"Youngsters, want to know the secret to my eternal youth?" Kureha said, finally stopping hitting, addressing the group.
Upon seeing Kureha like that, the guards weren't surprised. Indeed, eccentric people always get along very well with other eccentric people.
"I'm very curious about your secret to eternal youth, but before that, I hope you can heal me," Doflamingo said, seriously.
"Oh, of course, kid. Come in and talk," Kureha led Doflamingo and his companions inside her house. Without looking around much, Doflamingo just took a quick glance and looked away. Out of respect for Kureha, it was inappropriate to snoop around someone's house, and Kureha noticed this, becoming very interested in the young man.
"Please sit down. Young man, come with me, I'll treat your injuries," Kureha didn't delay and went straight to the point. Doflamingo calmly followed Kureha out of the room, leaving the guards, Hiluluk, and Diamante looking at each other in the room.
Soon, in the infirmary, Kureha said to Doflamingo: "Let me see your injuries."
Doflamingo took off his coat and revealed himself wrapped in thick bandages, receiving treatment from the best doctor in the world.
"Kid, you're not even twenty yet, are you? And you're already destroying your body like this? Not taking proper care... you're really hard on yourself. Besides being beaten to this state, you also train a lot, don't you?" Kureha said seriously. "It's a miracle your body hasn't been completely destroyed, despite so many accumulated injuries and internal wounds."
Upon hearing this, Doflamingo thought to himself: "Twenty years from now, Zoro will be truly strong! I'm nothing compared to him."
"I hope Dr. Kureha can heal my injuries and restore my body, after all, you are the strongest doctor."
"Haha, kid, you have good taste! But do you want to know the secret to my eternal youth? Don't worry, just accept my treatment," Kureha laughed loudly and shamelessly.
During the period Doflamingo received treatment from Dr. Kureha, the sea was in an unusual calm, but no one knew that it was just the tranquility before the storm.