Athena's Office:
Although Nox had his own office, which was much more luxurious than Athena's, Nox always liked to relax in Athena's office after training.
Perhaps it was because Athena in her work uniform was too alluring, or maybe it was because the office had such a nice style!
After an hour of secluded relaxation in Athena's office, Nox was refreshed. The moment he opened the window, the fatigue from several days of intense training vanished, leaving him with a feeling akin to a sage or wise man gazing from a height.
"Husband, why do you always like to mess around!"
After getting dressed, the blush on Athena's face lingered. Remembering the thrilling feeling from before, Athena glared at Nox with annoyance.
"Wife, you didn't say that before. Just now, I wonder who was shouting so loudly, as if afraid others wouldn't know!"
Nox teased with interest.
"Hmph, Husband, if you say that again, I won't wear stockings anymore!"
Seeing Nox bring up such an embarrassing matter, Athena wished she could find a hole to crawl into. Unable to shut Nox up, she could only resort to the most primitive form of threat.
"Oh dear, oh dear, Wife, I was just joking. These stockings are so beautiful, how can you not wear them? After putting on stockings, Wife's temperament has simply soared to perfection!"
Upon hearing this, Nox immediately stopped teasing Athena, afraid that this girl would really stop wearing stockings in the future. Wouldn't the hundreds or thousands of pairs of various stockings he had prepared for Athena all go to waste?
"Buruburu, Buruburu!!"
Just as Athena was looking for a way to save face, the den den mushi on the desk rang, and the avatar on the den den mushi was one she had never seen before.
"Moshi Moshi, I am Athena, the Captain's Wife of the Limitless Pirates!"
Athena skillfully picked up the den den mushi. After more than ten years of development, anyone who had dealings with the Limitless Pirates knew that Athena, as Nox's woman, managed the various affairs within the Limitless Pirates. Furthermore, almost all the managers within the Limitless Pirates were trained by Athena. It could be said that Athena's power within the Limitless Pirates was second only to Nox's!
"Fufufufufu, esteemed Captain's Wife Miss Athena, I am Shichibukai Doflamingo, the Limitless Pirates' largest arms dealer in the North Blue!"
From the other end of the den den mushi came Doflamingo's classic laugh. Nox was very familiar with this distinctive laugh.
"Doflamingo, I know you. Is there something you need?"
Athena asked with some surprise, not understanding why Doflamingo was looking for her.
Although she knew Doflamingo, his level was clearly not high enough. And concerning the arms trade, aside from the first time she handled it, she had left it to her subordinates to deal with Doflamingo.
"Fufufufufu, esteemed Captain's Wife Miss Athena, I heard that the Limitless Pirates are actively searching for all sorts of Devil Fruits. Coincidentally, I have two powerful Paramecia Devil Fruits in my possession, the Golden Fruit and the Spring-Spring Fruit. I would like to give them to the Limitless Pirates!"
Doflamingo felt a pang of pain as he spoke. He had originally planned to use these two Devil Fruits to strengthen his family's power, but he didn't have suitable people to eat them, so he could only use them as a trade to give to the Limitless Pirates.
"What do you want in return?"
Athena inquired.
She knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this World. It was obvious that Doflamingo had an agenda by offering two powerful Devil Fruits to the Limitless Pirates; how could she not see through it?
"Fufufufufu, my power, the Donquixote Family, wants to move from the first half of the Grand Line to the New World to develop, but the New World is too dangerous. I want to use the name of the Limitless Pirates to protect my power."
Doflamingo stated his idea. His strength was not enough in the eyes of the great pirates in the New World. Once his power developed, the vast wealth would definitely attract the greed of those great pirates, so finding a backer was essential. Otherwise, after he fattened himself up, he wouldn't even know how he died.
"If you want the Limitless Pirates' nominal protection, these two Devil Fruits can only protect you for two years. After two years, the Limitless Pirates will withdraw their nominal protection for you. If you want to continue using the Limitless Pirates' name, you will need to continue submitting Devil Fruits that are at least not inferior to the Golden Fruit!"
"Of course, your power is moving to the New World, so you should need a good territory, right? I can help you find a good territory to use as a base, and the price is not high, just two Devil Fruits similar to the Golden Fruit will do."
Hearing Doflamingo's request, a "shrewd" smile appeared on Athena's lips. Doflamingo was not the first force or individual to come to her seeking the Limitless Pirates' protection. Athena had a lot of experience in this area and knew exactly what these guys' demands were.
Anyway, this was no loss for the Limitless Pirates; it was just lending their reputation to the other party. Taking this opportunity, Athena could make a hefty profit from the other party.
"."
Hearing Athena's words, Doflamingo's heart twitched violently a few times. This was too dark. His two powerful Devil Fruits could only get him two years of protection, and he had to add two more Devil Fruits for territory. This was even darker than him, the middleman.
"Doflamingo, you need to understand that the New World is occupied by various Pirate Crew, and only a very small number of territories are left for other pirates to contend for. The competition and slaughter are beyond your imagination. Without the protection of our Limitless Pirates, you will not be able to move an inch in the New World!"
"More importantly, the territory you choose to develop your power must be stable. Otherwise, when those great Pirate Crew expand, if your territory happens to be in their direction of expansion, then what awaits you, I believe you know without me saying."
Seeing Doflamingo hesitate, Athena began her professional "explanation." She was already very familiar with this and had her own set of persuasive methods.
"Okay, I will provide two more Devil Fruits to the Limitless Pirates. I hope Miss Athena can help me find a suitable territory for development."
Doflamingo said through gritted teeth, biting down hard. To develop steadily in the New World, he was going all out.
"That's not a problem. Our Limitless Pirates value credibility the most. We will naturally do what we promised!"
"I can tell you now that there is a large island in the New World. This island is not in the direction of expansion of the Limitless Pirates and the Flying Pirates. It is one of the many territories we two great Pirate Crew have deliberately left for other Pirate Crew."
"However, there are quite a few pirates stationed on this island now. If you need our Limitless Pirates to step in and help you drive these pirates away, you will need to add another Devil Fruit that is not inferior to the Golden Fruit."
"A friendly reminder, there are three major pirates on this island, each with a bounty of over 300 million. As far as I know, your Donquixote Family's power is likely to lose when fighting against these three major pirates and their subordinate forces!"
Athena continued.
"."
Hearing Athena's words, Doflamingo felt like his lungs were about to explode with anger. Two Devil Fruits would only get him an island, and this island was not an island belonging to the Limitless Pirates, but an ownerless island occupied by many pirates.
In other words, the Limitless Pirates simply pointing out that this island was not in the direction of expansion of the Limitless Pirates and the Flying Pirates would cost two Devil Fruits.
To get this island, he had to pay extra. This was simply layer upon layer of exploitation. If he knew the identity of the person on the other end of the den den mushi, he would have cursed directly. This was too dark, simply the darkest person he had ever met, without exception!
"No need, Miss Athena. At that time, I want to try to conquer that island with my own strength."
Doflamingo said through clenched teeth, suppressing the anger in his heart. Not relying on the Limitless Pirates to conquer that island was his last stubbornness and pride. Otherwise, if he relied on the Limitless Pirates for everything, he would be completely tied to the Limitless Pirates, and without the Limitless Pirates, he would be nothing!
This was something he absolutely would not allow!
"Since that is your choice, then when you enter the New World, our people will be waiting for you at Fish-Man Island. The transaction will be completed then!"
Hearing Doflamingo's answer, Athena didn't waste any more time. After stating the transaction location, she hung up the den den mushi.
"Damn Limitless Pirates, I will definitely not yield to you. It's just an island, isn't it? With my ability, even if I can't beat those great pirates, can't I beat those stinking fish and rotten shrimp?"
After hanging up the den den mushi, Doflamingo's suppressed anger finally erupted. The entire house instantly exploded, and the surrounding ground was stomped into cracks over ten meters deep!
Sharp, invisible threads swept like a hurricane, cutting apart all the surrounding buildings.
This was the first time he had been butchered so severely, and it was the kind where he stood there and was butchered, unable to move!
"Nah nah nah nah nah, Young Master, what happened? Did an enemy attack?"
Trebol saw the commotion and immediately ran over.
"Fufufufufu, it's nothing. I'm just too happy. I've already contacted the Limitless Pirates, and we can use the Limitless Pirates' name to go to the New World and seize territory belonging to our Donquixote Family!"
"Immediately issue orders to establish the base territory in the Grand Line as soon as possible, and then head to the New World."
"After we take territory in the New World, I want to connect the New World to the first half of the Grand Line and then to the North Blue. Then, even if we are in the New World, we can remotely control the business in the North Blue!"
By the time Trebol arrived, Doflamingo had mostly vented his anger, so he regained his composure and issued a series of orders.
As the territory where he started and made his fortune, he didn't want to give up the North Blue. Even if he was going to develop in the New World, the basic business in the North Blue couldn't be abandoned. This was where wealth was continuously provided to him!
"Nah nah nah nah nah, Young Master, I'll go and urge them right away!"
Seeing that nothing was wrong here, and then looking at the gloomy smile on the Young Master's face, Trebol immediately ran off.