Meanwhile, inside the royal palace of Dressrosa—
Doflamingo sat on his throne, draped in his signature flamingo coat, a twisted grin spreading across his face as he stared at the Den Den Mushi's latest fax.
"Young Master, has that arrogant brat arrived?"
Diamante, cloaked in red, sneered first.
As top officers of the Donquixote Family, they knew exactly how elaborate Doflamingo's plan was. Having the new Marine Admiral come in person was only the first move in a much larger game.
"He's here," Doflamingo chuckled, crushing the fax in his hand.
"Violet, can you see him?"
Standing by the window, Violet, user of the Glare-Glare Fruit, could observe anything within a 4,000-kilometer radius. She could see through objects—and even into people's hearts.
It was this terrifying ability that had earned her a rare pardon from Doflamingo, despite her ties to the fallen Riku royal family.
"Young Master, I see the Marine warship. There's definitely an Admiral aboard," Violet reported quickly.
But as she peered deeper, her pupils contracted slightly. A flicker of shock crossed her heart.
She buried it instantly.
Reading others' hearts was easy. Hiding her own? Easier still.
"Violet, what did you see?"
Doflamingo's sudden question caught her off guard.
She hesitated, then quickly composed herself.
"The distance is too great. I can't see clearly. But Vergo did send back a coded message. It's been decrypted—two characters: 'Behave.'"
"Vergo finally sent word?"
Doflamingo blinked, then grinned even wider.
"I thought the Navy had sniffed him out. Didn't expect him to resurface at such a critical moment."
He stood, walking slowly toward the palace doors. The sunlight glinted off his glasses as his smile turned cruel.
"'Behave,' huh? Is Vergo telling me the new Admiral's been ordered to play nice?"
"Looks like the Navy bit off more than it could chew, declaring war on two Yonko at once. Now they're sending an Admiral flying across the sea to apologize?"
"Fine. Let's show him what happens when you cross Donquixote Doflamingo."
"Let's go, boys. Time to see what this arrogant pup looks like when he comes crawling."
"And notify our guest—if needed, he can help us set the tone."
With that, Doflamingo vanished into the sky.
Trevall and the others rushed after him.
Only Violet lingered, her expression shifting before she gritted her teeth and followed.
Three hours later, at the Dressrosa harbor—
The entire Donquixote Family had assembled.
Top executives, mid-level officers, even the lowest foot soldiers—Doflamingo had summoned them all.
Since becoming a Warlord, he had used his cunning to become king of Dressrosa and forge ties with Kaido of the Beasts.
He dabbled in science, ran the black market, and earned the title of "Underworld Broker."
To Doflamingo, the Warlord title was a mere formality.
In his eyes, only the Four Emperors stood above him.
But with Luo Yu's sudden rise—and the humiliating defeats that followed—his pride had taken a serious hit.
Even the morale of his family had wavered.
Now that the Navy needed him, this was the perfect chance to reclaim his dignity.
He wouldn't let his subordinates miss the show.
"Kyros, what's going on?"
From behind a rocky outcrop, Rebecca—dressed in her golden gladiator armor, pink hair fluttering—whispered anxiously.
Kyros, now a one-legged toy soldier, looked grim.
"I heard the Navy declared war on two Yonko. They're summoning the Warlords to join the fight."
"Doflamingo's using this as an excuse to humiliate the new Admiral. That's why he's gathered everyone—to put on a show."
"You mean the one who crushed Pica and forced Doflamingo to retreat?"
Rebecca's eyes widened.
"You said he doesn't play by the rules—that he's the best hope we have. But now he's walking into a trap?"
"And Doflamingo's hiding someone nearby. This isn't just about humiliation, is it?"
"Are we really just going to stand by and watch?"
Though she had lost her memories of Kyros, Rebecca's desire for justice and to reclaim her kingdom remained strong.
But against the might of the Donquixote Family, she felt powerless.
She had hoped Luo Yu's arrival would bring change.
Now, it seemed things were spiraling out of control.
Kyros gripped his toy rifle tightly, his face dark.
"I don't know what we can do. All we can do is hope there's still a chance."
"But one thing's certain—we can't let that Admiral die here. As long as he lives, we still have hope."
"Young Master, the warship is here," Trebol announced.
Thousands of Donquixote Family members erupted in cheers.
After all, how many Warlords could summon a Marine Admiral to their doorstep?
If that wasn't worth celebrating—what was?