"Is this right? This can't be right. Normally, small talk starts with 'How've you been?' Why'd yours turn into 'How've you been living?'" Doflamingo sank deeper into the sofa opposite Michael.
"If you really want to know, I've been living alright... though personal safety has been... less than stable."
"Doflamingo, don't forget your position. You're one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. If even your safety could be guaranteed, then the Warlord system would have no reason to exist anymore." Michael's lips curled into a barely perceptible smirk.
"By the way, you've been thriving in the New World lately, haven't you? With Kaido's help, you took over the entire Pleasure District. Must be raking in the profits."
"The earnings... not as much as you'd think, but decent enough." Doflamingo shrugged, feigning nonchalance while cold sweat soaked his back.
"As for working with Kaido... I didn't mean to hide it from you. It's just that after seizing the Pleasure District, things got hectic. Kept putting it off."
"No matter. I don't care who you collaborate with—just remember the boundaries I set for you Warlords." Michael glanced out the window, where the midday sun blazed across a clear blue sky.
"Oh, and I'll take 70% of the Pleasure District's profits."
"Seventy percent? Are you—"
Doflamingo shot to his feet, choking back the words "outright robbing me."
"Problem?"
"No, no." Doflamingo forced a laugh. "I thought you'd demand 80%! Only 70%? Your appetite's gotten smaller lately."
"Well, since you suggested it... 80% it is. How generous of you."
"For fu—"
Doflamingo instantly clamped his mouth shut.
One more word, and he might as well hand the entire Pleasure District over to Michael.
If the people of the Grand Line ever witnessed this scene, their jaws would hit the floor.
The infamous JOKER, one of the Seven Warlords, the newly risen Underworld Emperor, who unified the underground networks across the Four Seas and Paradise, now flourishing in the Pleasure District...
This very man was bowing and scraping before a Marine—without a shred of his trademark arrogance or audacity.
No wonder Doflamingo outlives them all.
Speaking human language to humans and ghost language to ghosts is the basic quality of a schemer.
Though Doflamingo appeared reluctant, the moment he heard "Kaido" from Michael's lips, he knew most of his profits were as good as gone.
Yet he didn't feel the slightest bit of heartache—this was money to buy his life!
No price is too high for that!
...Well, maybe just a little heartache.
But this was already the best possible outcome!
"Before the official World Government Summit convenes, I will first hold a meeting for the Seven Warlords of the Sea," Michael stood up, his four Wings slowly unfurling behind him.
"To be honest, you're stronger than I imagined. I thought you'd suffer more misfortune because of this title."
Doflamingo curled his lip.
This marine's malice toward them was more obvious than lice on a bald man's head.
Whether it was him, or that old man Chin Jao who had regained his prime.
Or those two brothers from Whole Cake Island and that shadow-player Moria.
And that guy called Shanks...
Michael seemed genuinely eager for them to stir up some life-threatening trouble.
"So, does this mean all Seven Warlords will gather here today?"
"Of course. Any Warlord who misses the meeting will be immediately stripped of their title and become a primary target for the marines."
Michael glanced at Doflamingo.
"Frankly, I'm more interested to see when you might choose not to attend a Warlords meeting."
...
"Chief Issho! We've been in Water 7 for a whole week! Tom and his two apprentices have all returned! Why haven't we launched an investigation around them yet?"
"Aren't you CP9's finest spies? Why so impatient now?"
"Fujitora" Issho idly strolled through Water 7's streets.
Following the clacking sound, Rob Lucci—not in his black suit but dressed as a shipwright—walked beside Issho.
Yet his furrowed brow revealed...
Had he not known for certain he was no match for this newly promoted CP0 agent, he might have already struck!
This man was simply... excessively cautious!
With the entire Water 7 already under their surveillance, why delay the search?
"See? Impatient again." Issho pointed at Rob Lucci with an amused smile.
"How can you accomplish anything significant with such haste?"
"Very well. Tonight, I'll host a dinner for master Tom and his apprentices Iceberg and Franky. You thoroughly search their residences for any clues."
With a dismissive wave, Issho walked away, leaving Rob Lucci standing dumbfounded.
"My, my, Michael. I've used every ounce of my acting skills for your sake."
"Using CP9's actions as pretext to make our move, leveraging the World Summit timing to elevate Water 7—fresh from opposing the World Government—from a free trade city to nationhood..."
"Now that's what I call ruthless!"
...
"So this is... Mariejois?"
Under the escort of Jinbei and the Marine officers from the "Sea God" branch, Neptune, the King of the Ryugu Kingdom, and Queen Otohime set foot on the soil of Mary Geoise.
The couple exchanged a glance, both far calmer than they had expected.
The past was the past, and the present was the present.
In the past, the Ryugu Kingdom had made countless efforts to ensure that Fish-Man Island could truly live under the sun—all for the day they could stand proudly before the world as an official member nation of the World Government.
To declare that fish-men and merfolk were intelligent beings, no different from them!
But back then, everyone had treated them as a joke, laughing as they exploited the people of Fish-Man Island.
Now…
Though they were no longer a member nation of the World Government, the World Government had practically begged them to attend the Reverie and rejoin as a member nation.
The very same royals who had once dismissed them as "jokes" and "beasts" now watched their arrival with eager, ingratiating gazes.
All of this… was thanks to that man named Michael.
"Letting him into the Ryugu Palace was the best decision we ever made in our lives."