"You've got a sharp mind. But trying to outsmart me… clearly you don't understand your place well enough."
Vladimir grinned and stepped toward him. "You must have been wondering to yourself just now, why I go by the name Accelerator, right?"
Doflamingo's body tensed up. The next moment, he felt Vladimir place a hand firmly against his chest.
"What are you doing?" Doflamingo had a very bad feeling.
"Relax, it's nothing," Vladimir said calmly.
"Your heart rate is far above average, your blood flows exceptionally fast, and there's strong bio-electricity across your skin… After assessment, the conclusion is: your body is in excellent health."
As he spoke, Vladimir's gaze sharpened. In an instant, Doflamingo's face drained of color. He felt his heart stop dead, while his blood seemed to reverse its flow entirely.
Thump!
Doflamingo collapsed to his knees, gasping and drenched in cold sweat.
"Just now… what was that?!"
"Mild manipulation."
Vladimir shrugged. "I only slightly altered the direction of your blood flow. I am a Special Envoy… you might not understand what that means, so let me put it simply: my combat power is equal to that of a Dominant Commander."
Doflamingo didn't know exactly what a Special Envoy was, but he understood perfectly well what a Dominant Commander meant.
"What?!"
His eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
No matter how he looked at him, this white-haired youth, only fifteen or sixteen years old, seemed like an ordinary, flesh-and-blood human.
Granted, knowing he was a member of Phantom, he couldn't possibly be as simple as he appeared.
But Doflamingo never imagined he would be such a terrifying figure, ranking equally with the organization's top commanders.
"What's there to be so surprised about? The so-called Dominant Commanders are just… never mind. You're only a probationary member; you haven't earned the right to know those details yet."
Vladimir waved his hand again.
Seeing he was about to leave, Doflamingo quickly spoke up: "Wait! I might be able to offer some assistance."
Without waiting for a reply, he continued, "The Marines are currently holding the World Conscription, and it's entering its final stage. Top fighters from all over the world are gathering here at Marine Headquarters. And to keep order, they've issued a summons for all Warlords of the Sea."
Seeing Vladimir already walking out the door, he hurried to follow.
"Wait! Your mission is surely to disrupt the conscription, isn't it? If so… I can get you into Marineford. Even though that old man Sengoku didn't invite me personally, I am still a Warlord. If I want to enter, they cannot stop me!"
Hearing this, Vladimir finally stopped.
"Is that so? You're certainly eager. Very well… go prepare the ship."
"Fufufu… Consider it done!"
Doflamingo grinned widely and rushed off to make arrangements.
Watching him go, Vladimir shook his head.
This guy was desperate to advance from probationary status to full membership, and was seizing every single opportunity he could find.
Not that Vladimir minded. Disrupting the conscription was only a side task anyway. His real purpose was to "ask" the Marines about the mystery of the Devil Fruits.
---
Half an hour later, Doflamingo was ready.
A pirate ship departed from the port of Mysteria, heading toward the Red Line.
Normally, pirates returning from the New World to the first half of the Grand Line had to pass through Fish-Man Island.
But Warlords had access to special routes provided by the World Government…
Even so, it took nearly a week of travel before they finally arrived at Marine Headquarters — Marineford.
---
Meanwhile, inside the Fleet Admiral's office at Headquarters.
Sengoku listened solemnly to the report from Admiral Fujitora.
"That is the situation. The one who acted seven days ago was most likely the Divine Archangel," Issho said.
"So it was Phantom after all!"
Sengoku's expression darkened. He fell silent for a moment, then asked, "How is the World Conscription progressing?"
"Everything is proceeding smoothly. Currently, around one hundred and fifty top fighters from across the globe have gathered on the island."
"Only one hundred and fifty?" Sengoku gritted his teeth.
"That strength is nowhere near enough to oppose Phantom. A single Archangel of theirs was enough to wipe out an entire Sky Island Kingdom… If we don't—"
Suddenly, a laugh interrupted him.
"An Archangel, you say? Sengoku… if I help you kill him, would you step down and let me sit in the Fleet Admiral's seat?"
"Who's there?!"
Sengoku's face flashed with rage, and he whipped his head toward the window.
There, the window stood wide open. Perched casually on the sill was a young white-haired boy, looking at them with an amused glint in his eyes.
"I'm just one of the fighters here for the conscription. No need to be so wary," Vladimir said with a grin.
"A civilian fighter has no business being in the Headquarters building!"
Fujitora moved instantly. His staff-sword flashed, releasing a black slash that carried immense gravitational force, shooting straight toward Vladimir.
"Gravity Slash!"
Vladimir didn't dodge or evade. He simply reached out and grabbed the attack directly.
"Showing off gravity manipulation in front of me? You're teaching your grandmother how to suck eggs!"
Speaking casually, Vladimir caught the black slash in one hand.
Sengoku was stunned. Is there someone this skilled among the recruits?
But in the next moment, his expression turned to horror.
"Reflection."
Vladimir whispered. Instantly, that very same black slash — with all its original power — shot back toward Fujitora in the opposite direction.
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion shattered the entire Fleet Admiral's office into rubble.
Moments later, a squad of soldiers rushed in.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Admiral Fujitora!"
Everyone looked up at the white-haired boy sitting by the window, and collectively gasped in shock.
Who could be this bold? To come and cause trouble right inside the Fleet Admiral's office at Headquarters?!
Is he insane?!