New World, waters controlled by the Buggy Pirates.
A massive ship, filled with fierce pirates, plowed recklessly across the sea, seemingly showing no respect for the mighty Yonko Buggy.
On the deck, Katakuri stood with his arms crossed, coldly observing the island ahead.
Beside him, the equally expressionless Kuzan stood like a statue at the bow, his gaze seemingly not fixed on Karai Bari Island, as if lost in thought.
"Fufufufu, are we just going straight in? Isn't that a bit abrupt? After all, he's a newly crowned Yonko—Buggy the Clown. Fufufufu, that name has suddenly risen to prominence these past two years. Before, he was just some insignificant pirate from the East Blue. Who would've thought he'd suddenly appear during the Summit War? True to his name, he really is a clown." Doflamingo let out a strange laugh while holding a glass of juice in his hand.
Queen glanced at him curiously, pointing at the juice with suspicion.
"Doflamingo, where did you get that juice? I don't recall the ship stocking anything like that."
Doflamingo paused. "Really? Smoothie just gave it to me. Tastes pretty good, actually."
Queen's chubby face twitched as he subtly inched away from Doflamingo.
Doflamingo looked utterly confused, examining the juice in his hand.
Nothing seemed off about it.
King no longer wore his full black face mask like before.
Instead, much like Katakuri, he now proudly displayed his face.
His current status was on par with Katakuri's.
Though slightly weaker in raw strength compared to the present Katakuri, when it came to the affairs of the Beast God Pirates, King held the highest authority below the God-level figures.
King's appearance was strikingly handsome.
He sported a trendy hairstyle—one side shaved down to stubble, the other cascading in long locks.
Tattoos resembling vines adorned his eyes, giving him the air of a noble who could effortlessly rely on his looks yet still chose to work hard.
"Doflamingo, isn't your epithet also 'Joker'? Why does it sound like you look down on this clown Buggy? He's now one of the Four Emperors!"
King, Queen, and Katakuri were all roughly the same towering height.
At three meters tall, Doflamingo would normally be considered tall, but next to these giants, he seemed like a child.
Doflamingo forced a stiff smile.
If anyone else had joked with him like this, their ashes would be scattered at sea by the next day.
But the one teasing him was King—a powerhouse whose current status surpassed his own.
With a strange laugh, he replied, "It's not that I look down on him. It's just that ever since he became a pirate, his rise hasn't seemed to come from strength. Fufufufu, honestly, it makes me a little jealous. My Donquixote Family has been grinding relentlessly since I was eight, barely scraping our way into the Shichibukai position.
But this guy? Captured in the East Blue, then suddenly becomes a Shichibukai after leaving Marineford. And now, out of nowhere, he's a Four Emperor. Fufufufu, it's a slap in the face. Hard work sometimes just can't compete with a stroke of luck."
"Luck is part of strength, Dofflamingo! Hahaha! Look, isn't luck on your side now? Getting into Impel Down and coming out unscathed, living free and easy on the seas—how many can boast that kind of fortune? Besides, it seems Buggy's luck has finally run its course."
King burst into laughter, only for Smoothie to suddenly appear beside him, offering a glass of pale yellow juice.
King's cheerful grin froze.
Stuttering, he said, "Smoothie, I—I'm not thirsty right now."
A flicker of disappointment and sadness crossed Smoothie's face, making King's heart twinge.
After a brief internal struggle, he reluctantly accepted the mysterious liquid.
Smoothie's expression brightened.
Then, unexpectedly, she drew her sword from her waist and handed it to King.
"Your longsword seems to be missing. Use my sword to fight!" Smoothie said with eager eyes.
Katakuri, arms crossed, gave a slight smirk and subtly glanced at the stiffened King.
Queen squinted his small eyes, teasingly staring at King until the latter's face flushed red.
Forcing his composure, King coughed and confidently accepted the longsword Smoothie offered while thanking her.
Then, with complete nonchalance, he suddenly wrapped an arm around Queen's thick neck, grinning.
"Queen, I just heard you asking Doflamingo where he got his juice from. Seems you're thirsty, huh? Here, have this cup."
Queen's flabby body trembled as he opened his mouth to explain, only for King to force-feed him a cup of pale-yellow juice.
"Pfft—!" Queen instantly felt his throat burning as if he'd swallowed chili oil.
His eyes rolled back, and he gasped weakly, trembling as he looked at Smoothie.
"What... what kind of drink is this?"
Smoothie replied matter-of-factly, "It's a specialty of Totto Land—Oolong Juice."
"Oolong Juice?" Doflamingo looked baffled, staring at his own drink.
He had thought it was alcohol—it did give a slight buzz, but for someone with his iron tolerance, it was nothing.
In the distance, Judge and his children stood in a corner, appearing somewhat gloomy.
A trace of envy crossed Judge's face as he watched Doflamingo and the Beast God Pirates' executives chatting and laughing.
We were all exchanged here together—why are you so outstanding?
We're not the same!
"Niji, Ichiji, Reiju, Yonji—when the battle starts, make sure to showcase Germa's might. Don't let others look down on us, the former rulers of the North Blue. Yonji, how's your hand?"
Judge glanced at his children.
Sanji had been given special treatment by Caesar and wasn't assigned to this combat mission.
Yonji, clad in a green cape, flexed his mechanical hand and grinned.
"Father, it's been fixed for a while now. No problems in battle!"
"Good! Fight freely later—don't tarnish our reputation!"
Judge desperately wanted to prove his worth to Caesar's group, just like Doflamingo had.
But compared to the shrewd Doflamingo, Judge—a scientist who had spent years buried in research—had nothing to offer beyond technology.
"All hands, attention! Prepare to land!"
Katakuri's cold voice rang out.
He uncrossed his arms, and a sharp, gleaming spear materialized in his grasp.
Clatter—
The sound of weapons being drawn echoed as pirates aboard the massive Queen mama charter, eagerly armed themselves for battle.
"Fufufufu, let me cage this island!" Doflamingo laughed arrogantly, suddenly leaping into the air and spreading his arms towards the island ahead.
"Birdcage!"
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