Chapter 176: Doflamingo: Allocate 10 Billion Berries to Me
"Mihawk and Doflamingo's words… they're strange. Are they questioning the Navy's strength?"
Sengoku sat in the Marine Headquarters conference room, lost in thought for the first time in a long while.
He possessed not only overwhelming power, but also exceptional strategic acumen. Back when he was still an active Marine, he had orchestrated numerous operations that outwitted the pirates—he had even played a major role in cornering the Pirate King, Roger, multiple times.
But no matter how he analyzed it, he couldn't make sense of Mihawk and Doflamingo's sudden change in behavior.
Mihawk was a lone wolf—that made sense. Losing his Warlord title and standing against the Marines wouldn't affect him much.
But Doflamingo…
Could he seriously believe the Game Merchant could protect Dressrosa from a full-scale Marine assault?
Impossible.
No nation or faction had ever successfully defied the World Government. Even Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world, could be captured if the Navy was willing to pay the price.
There's no way the Game Merchant has more power than Whitebeard.
It made no sense.
—
At the center of the ghost town on the Island of Death, near a chasm as dark as the abyss itself,
a thick stench of blood and Yin energy rose together, stirred by a violent wind that erupted from the massive heart deep within the rift.
"Is this heart… the Lord-tier monster?"
The first to arrive was a noble knight squad, led by Outeluck, who had long since become a player.
"My apologies. Even nobles must obey the rules of the World Government. Leave at once. The Lord-tier monster can only be claimed by the Marines."
Also arriving was a captain from the East Blue branch, followed by two hundred Marines.
"Attack!"
Outeluck sneered. Without a hint of hesitation, he ordered his knights to strike.
The Marine captain's face darkened. "Outeluck of the Goa Kingdom—an allied noble of the World Government… have you gone mad?!"
As a full captain acting on orders from headquarters, he had shown restraint by negotiating instead of expelling the nobles outright.
But they actually dared to attack?
Even in the East Blue, captains—aside from exceptions like Morgan and Nezumi—were strong enough to handle pirate crews with bounties in the tens of millions.
And now a mere noble knight squad wanted to challenge them? Suicidal.
Allied nations under the World Government were deliberately kept weak. If they grew too strong, they'd be suspected of disloyalty.
After all, with the Navy and Government already protecting them, what reason would they have for powerful militaries?
"If you dare attack the Navy, prepare to pay the price. I'll report this to headquarters!"
The captain raised his hand, signaling his men to counterattack.
But something was wrong.
This noble knight squad… was far stronger than expected. They began to overwhelm the Marines.
When the captain's standard-issue Marine saber clashed with Outeluck's level-5 purple scimitar—
Crack.
The Marine blade snapped in two.
The scimitar sliced across his left shoulder, tearing open his chest and sending him into resurrection mode.
"Navy? World Government?"
Outeluck sneered with contempt. "Once I get stronger equipment and skills, this whole ocean will kneel before me. I'll even buy the Celestial Dragon bloodline—and you Marines will be my dogs!"
Allied nation?
Just a loyal dog with its fangs pulled, paying absurd heavenly tribute every year, groveling at the Reverie before the Celestial Dragons. Not even as free as pirates in the New World.
Power breeds ambition.
The nobles of the allied nations were beginning to reject their subservience to the so-called World Nobles.
"Kill them all!"
Captain Zango and the Black Cat Pirates broke through Marine lines, charging to the edge of the chasm.
They were pirates—they didn't hesitate to attack the Navy.
In the blink of an eye,
Marines across the island were under siege from all sides.
And this wasn't a silent ambush—it was all being broadcast live by countless Den Den Mushi. It was a public severing of ties with the Navy, broadcast to the world.
"Have they all gone insane?!"
Marineford, the conference room.
Sengoku watched Marines being slaughtered and felt a massive headache coming on.
He could accept pirates rebelling. But for noble factions—who'd lived comfortably under the Government's protection—to dare raise weapons against the Navy…
What kind of prize could be worth that?
"The dignity of the Navy is not to be violated!"
Sengoku's voice turned cold. "Inform Vice Admiral Tsuru and Akainu—any group that attacks the Marines, pirate or not, is to be arrested. No exceptions."
"Reinforce the East Blue immediately!"
If this kind of insubordination wasn't crushed now, Sengoku had no business being Fleet Admiral.
—
"Do I have to destroy the heart?"
Doflamingo stood at the chasm's edge, gazing down at the enormous heart, unsure how to proceed.
He extended his hand, releasing dozens of thin threads.
Super String Whip!
The threads twisted and condensed into thick, pillar-like cords that lashed toward the heart, which was the size of a town.
It was one of his stronger attacks.
Thwack!
The whip struck the heart, but the seemingly soft organ was so tough it repelled the blow, producing a sound like steel being hit.
"Damn, it's hard."
"My String-String Fruit is rated as a level 19 blue skill. If I could unlock its full potential, maybe I could tear this thing apart."
Doflamingo frowned.
He had targeted the visible veins and arteries—weak points, supposedly. But he still couldn't break through.
Pulling out his Den Den Mushi, he called back to Dressrosa.
"Young master, what are your orders?"
Trebol, who had been waiting by the line, answered immediately.
He was deeply displeased with Doflamingo's recent behavior—especially attacking the Navy.
He had followed Doflamingo because of his ruthlessness and kingly aura, helping him seize Dressrosa and become an underworld emperor.
But now, it seemed he was losing his mind.
"Open the national treasury of Dressrosa. Announce that all the funds belong to me, Heavenly Yaksha Donquixote Doflamingo!"
The treasury's Berries were for national operations—and the Celestial Dragons' heavenly tribute.
Even though Doflamingo was king, the game system prevented him from using that money directly for purchases.
Hence the announcement.
"Do you realize what you're doing, Doflamingo?! You'll cause unrest across the kingdom!"
Trebol's face twisted in horror.
Even with the kingdom's expenses and tribute demands, the "Nation of Love, Passion, and Toys" always kept a reserve of at least 10 billion Berries.
And now Doflamingo wanted to give it all to the Game Merchant?
Madness!
Doflamingo, the man chosen by heaven with Conqueror's Haki, was being fooled by some mysterious outsider?
"Is there a problem, Trebol?"
Doflamingo's cold voice came through the line.
Trebol sighed and answered, "No. I'll issue the decree immediately."
"Doflamingo… where are you taking us, the Donquixote Family?"
But he had made his choice—and would follow it to the end.
"So, Diamante, have your fighter division prepare to crush any rebellion."
"Now, open Dressrosa's vaults. Reassign all assets as the young master's personal property. Kill anyone who resists."
Well then…
If we're going insane,
we might as well go all the way.
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