Doflamingo returned to Dressrosa in high spirits, carrying the newly obtained [Small Turret] from Mork's fortress.
On the way back, every member of the Donquixote Family took turns experimenting with the turret. Everyone praised it endlessly.
Even after arriving back at the palace, they were still buzzing with excitement.
Trebol said to Doflamingo:
"This kind of weapon has incredibly wide applications. Whether handheld or mounted on a ship, it can show its full value."
"Of course! Its greatest value lies in large-scale warfare."
Doflamingo nodded. "Exactly."
"The terrifying part is that anyone can use it. As long as we gather enough of them, we could build an unbelievably powerful army."
Saying so, he sat back in his throne-like high-backed chair.
"It's a pity that the mysterious man in that fortress doesn't want to keep trading with us," Baby 5 said regretfully.
One turret was nice, but having only one felt limiting.
But Doflamingo didn't seem to regret anything. He flashed his iconic grin.
"No."
"It's not a pity at all. I said earlier—after the first time, there'll be a second, a third…"
"What we need to do now is raise our presence in front of that mysterious man, and increase his favorability."
"Then we'll have a high chance at getting another transaction."
"Young Master, you mean…?" Senor Pink asked while chewing on his pacifier.
Doflamingo chuckled. "Didn't that mysterious man want entertainment goods?"
"Then we'll send him entertainment goods every single day."
With that, he issued the order: "Trebol, I'll leave this matter to you."
"I'll have someone else temporarily watch over the underground port."
Trebol wasn't surprised by the decision. After witnessing the power of that [Small Turret], he could easily judge what mattered more.
If they could really build a long-term supply relationship with that mysterious fortress, the Donquixote Family's strength would skyrocket.
"Young Master, leave it to me!"
He paused, then asked, "Right… what kind of entertainment goods should we gather?"
Doflamingo waved dismissively. "Doesn't matter. We'll slowly figure out what he likes."
"Magazines, den-den mushi video tapes, manga… anything entertaining!"
He smirked. "Including adult content."
A strange look appeared on the faces of the officers.
Trebol said, "Young Master, although we haven't seen the one inside the fortress… based on his tone and mannerisms, he's extremely overbearing…"
"Wouldn't this offend him? He might think we're insulting him."
Doflamingo laughed sinisterly.
"As long as it's a person, he can't escape mortal desires. Just do what I say."
But Trebol reminded him, "Young Master… that mysterious person really doesn't seem worldly at all."
"Think about it: if he cared about worldly interests, he could've supplied us with tons of weapons and made a fortune. With firepower like that fortress, he could become a major hegemon—but he hasn't made a single move."
Doflamingo froze for a moment. Trebol indeed had a point.
With the ability to easily annihilate a group empowered by the Dark-Dark Fruit, the man in the fortress could have carved out a territory of his own.
Yet he chose to do nothing.
That meant he truly had no interest in worldly power—and Doflamingo remembered that the mysterious man had said so himself.
The thought only made Doflamingo more curious.
"Could it be… him?"
But after recalling that man's ambitions, he shook his head. Impossible.
"In any case, prepare entertainment goods like I said. If he doesn't like them, we'll adjust later."
Time passed. A few days later—
Marine Headquarters, Marineford!
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku was shouting at Garp:
"If not for your contributions to the Marines, I'd drag you down and court-martial you right now!"
"Look at your grandson! Look at what he's doing out there in the seas!"
Garp, unfazed, said, "If the Marines can't catch my grandson, that means the Marines have gone soft. As Fleet Admiral, you're responsible, Sengoku!"
"Bullshit!!!"
Sengoku slammed the desk, furious.
"Your grandson—during the Loguetown incident—you should know exactly who appeared! Garp!"
Picking his nose, Garp casually took out a packet of tea leaves.
"I brought good tea. Sengoku, bring out your senbei."
"GET OUT!!!!"
Sengoku's face twisted in rage. He truly wanted to swallow the entire Garp family whole.
Just then, a Marine intelligence officer knocked and entered.
"Fleet Admiral, we've received new intel."
Sengoku forced himself to breathe and calm down.
"Come in."
He returned to his seat, regaining composure.
"Whose intel?"
"The Donquixote Family's."
"Oh?"
Sengoku's eyes narrowed. A cold glint flashed within them.
"Speak."
"Recently, our informants discovered that the Donquixote Family has been purchasing huge quantities of entertainment goods…"
Sengoku froze.
Even Garp, who was secretly stealing senbei, stopped moving.
Garp blinked. "What? That brat going into the entertainment business now?"
"Planning to overthrow the Queen of the Pleasure District?"
Sengoku frowned, unable to guess what Doflamingo was thinking.
"We're not sure. However, we also received reports that Doflamingo has obtained a very technologically advanced cannon. In performance and firepower, it surpasses all Marine small and medium artillery."
"It can heavily injure a 100-million-berry pirate with a single shot."
Sengoku and Garp's expressions shifted.
"When did that bastard get such powerful weapons?"
Garp poured tea while thinking aloud.
"Could it be something Caesar developed?"
"One shot to heavily injure a 100-million pirate… that's serious."
"Other than Caesar, no one else comes to mind. That guy has been causing trouble ever since he escaped our custody…" Sengoku muttered, brows tightly furrowed.
"Fleet Admiral, it probably isn't Caesar."
"According to the informant, the weapon most likely comes from a mysterious force…"
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