Marvel: Trading with Worlds

"Hey, what's going on? Why is Doflamingo taking so many people to the first half of the Grand Line?"

When Sengoku received the news, Doflamingo had already crossed the Holy Land of Mariejois with his top cadres and combat crew.

Most Shichibukai wouldn't move so quickly, but Doflamingo was an exception. He held the most privileged pass from the World Government—one even the Marines couldn't obtain.

Now, Sengoku just wanted to know Doflamingo's purpose. The Donquixote Family typically operated in the New World, so why was he bringing so many people to the first half of the Grand Line?

"Tsuru, do you know?"

Sengoku raised his head and asked Vice Admiral Tsuru, who was sitting on the sofa. As his longtime comrade and the one who had clashed with Doflamingo the most, she should be able to make an educated guess.

After calmly thinking it over, Tsuru said, "With that many people… who does he plan to fight? In the first half of the Grand Line, besides the Marines, there's only…"

Sengoku caught on immediately, his expression shifting as he pieced it together. However, he still asked, somewhat puzzled, "The Mage of Alabasta? He's only been a Shichibukai for less than a year. How could he have already come into conflict with Doflamingo?"

Tsuru took a sip of tea and replied calmly, "That's beyond what I can guess. It's either profit or personal enmity.

You should ask the CP agency of the World Government. But the most important thing right now is preventing two Shichibukai from going to war. It wouldn't be good for the World Government's reputation if word got out about internal conflicts among them."

Sengoku sighed. "Doflamingo won't be dissuaded easily… Tsuru, you should go."

Tsuru immediately refused. "No. My warship is still being repaired—unless you give me Garp's warship to replace the one he wrecked."

"Uh, uh… Tsuru, my warship is also being repaired. That's why I've been hitching a ride on yours. Ahahaha!"

Sengoku's expression darkened. Furious, he grabbed the teacup in his hand and hurled it at Garp, who had been quietly stealing his senbei.

"So it was you, Garp! Even if you have to swim, you better get to Alabasta and stop those two from fighting!"

"Ah, come on, Sengoku, that's too much! That's impossible! Just send Kizaru!"

"Kizaru, Kuzan—none of them are at headquarters, you bastard!"

After venting his frustration, Sengoku realized there weren't many options left. Only Vice Admirals remained at headquarters, and the closest Marine branch to Alabasta had Smoker, who constantly defied orders—not the best candidate for diplomacy.

"Send Momousagi."

Tsuru set down her teacup and nodded. "She's the only one in the department who can stop Doflamingo. Unless, of course, you want to convince Garp to go… but if that idiot shows up, it'll turn into the Marines beating a Shichibukai to a pulp."

"Then it's decided—Momousagi it is. Tsuru, go inform her. I'll have the branch coordinate with Smoker."

Sengoku made his decision without hesitation. Between Garp and Momousagi, the former was undoubtedly stronger—but also far more troublesome.

Doflamingo had only been spotted by the Marines when he passed by Enies Lobby. His massive pirate ship, flying the iconic clown-emblazoned flag, stood out even though he didn't linger. It didn't take long for people to notice.

Some opportunistic pirates caught wind of the news and sold it to the World Economic News.

"Shichibukai Donquixote Doflamingo Returns to the Paradise Route!"

The headline spread like wildfire, circulating far and wide through the World Economic Newspaper.

"Hey, that Heavenly Yaksha is back in the first half? What's he up to?"

Don Krieg, the so-called Admiral of the East Blue, couldn't help but grin cruelly as he read the news. He had already been planning to enter the Grand Line—if he could get some valuable information from Doflamingo, even better.

Krieg never considered himself inferior to anyone. His low bounty wasn't a reflection of his strength, just a consequence of being stuck in the East Blue, where there were few opportunities to make a name for himself.

"Pearl, set sail immediately! We're heading to Jaya Island to meet Heavenly Yaksha!"

With an armada of over 50 pirate ships and more than 5,000 men, combined with his own terrifying strength and nearly indestructible armor, Krieg believed he could stand on equal footing with Doflamingo.

And he wasn't the only one paying attention. All across the Grand Line, people took an interest in Doflamingo's movements. The first half of the Grand Line—Paradise—had been quiet for too long, and his sudden reappearance promised chaos.

Meanwhile, in Alabasta's port city of Nanohana, an area had been cleared in preparation. King Cobra had offered to send his newly equipped standing army for support, but Kain refused.

"New weapons are fine for dealing with cannon fodder and low-level pirates with bounties in the tens of millions," Kain had said. "But they're useless against someone like Doflamingo, who has Conqueror's Haki."

When Alabasta had enough long-range laser weaponry, perhaps then they could take on Doflamingo. Once firepower reached a certain level, even Logia users wouldn't stand a chance.

At the Kain Chamber of Commerce headquarters, however, Baby-5 was deeply worried about Kain's safety. But Nico Robin had received strict orders—under no circumstances was she to let Baby-5 leave.

Watching as Baby-5 absentmindedly transformed her body parts into weapons, Robin sighed.

"Instead of worrying about the boss, shouldn't you be worried about Doflamingo?" she asked. "Aren't you afraid the boss will kill your 'Young Master'?"

Baby-5 blinked in shock. "What are you talking about? The Young Master can't lose."

"What if he does?"

"There's no 'if.' The Young Master will definitely win," Baby-5 insisted. "It's always been this way. No matter how many fiancés I've found, the Young Master always killed them in secret."

Hearing this, Baby-5 immediately fell silent, but in the next second, she clenched her fists and declared, "But this time, I will never allow the Young Master to attack Mr. Pent!"

Nico Robin raised an eyebrow. "How long have you two even known each other? And you're already acting like a couple bound for life. Have you… done it?"

"Eh? What?" Baby-5 asked, confused by Robin's words.

"You know," Robin said casually, "the kind of thing couples do after marriage. Or don't you want to marry the boss?"

She then subtly gestured with her fingers in a piston motion. The moment Baby-5 realized what she meant, her face turned bright red. She waved her hands frantically.

"Wh-what?! How could that be possible?! Y-you just said it—it's something that happens after marriage!"

Robin sighed, suddenly losing interest. "So you haven't done it. Boring. Anyway, if you're going to worry, worry about Doflamingo instead. He might die this time."

Baby-5's cigarette slipped from her lips in shock. "No way..."

Then, as if steeling herself, she clenched her fists again. "If that's the case, then I have even more reason to stop them!"

Robin shook her head. "No, you're staying here. I need you."

Baby-5 hesitated for only a second before instantly giving in. "Eh~ You need me? Then… okay!"

Meanwhile, Doflamingo's pirate ship was fast approaching the port of Alabasta. Among pirate vessels, the Donquixote Family's ship had one of the most advanced power systems. With a clear destination in mind, they reached Alabasta's waters in no time.

Kain had been waiting for this moment.

Even from a great distance, he and Doflamingo spotted each other, locking eyes across the sea.

Beyond the approaching Joker ship, several other pirate ships lurked in the distance, choosing to observe rather than get involved. They seemed to be waiting—perhaps holding off until Doflamingo docked before making their move.

As the Joker ship neared the port, two figures suddenly leaped from the rapeseed flower fields and shouted toward the pirate ship.

"Dover! He's the only one here!"

"That's right, Young Master! We've even confirmed the location of the Ark Maxim and the munitions factory!"

The two who had appeared were Diamante and Gladius. The moment they saw Doflamingo, their confidence surged. 

Diamante, in particular, reassured himself that as long as he coated his body with Armament Haki in advance, he wouldn't go down so easily.

Doflamingo stretched out his hands, shooting several nearly invisible strings that latched onto the ground at the port. With a quick pull, he launched himself forward, flying through the air before landing a short distance from Kain.

"Heh heh… So you're the one who hurt a new member of the Donquixote Family?" Doflamingo's grin widened, but his voice carried a sharp edge. "To be honest, that pisses me off more than you rejecting my deal… Shichibukai Magician."

The corners of Doflamingo's mouth curled into a dangerous smile. His words stirred the other Donquixote Family executives, who cried out in tears, shouting, "Dover!" and "Young Master!"

"Where's Baby-5? Hand over my family."

Before Doflamingo could say anything more, Kain interrupted with a smirk.

"Don't even think about it. She's mine now. And soon, you'll personally expel her from the Donquixote Family. After that, whatever kindness you once had for her will be completely erased."

Doflamingo let out his signature laugh. "Fufufufu… You think I'll expel my own family?" He grinned cruelly, as if Kain had just told the most ridiculous joke. "It seems you don't understand the meaning of family at all."

"Oh, I understand it perfectly," Kain replied, still smiling. "But I'm curious… If it came down to a choice between your own life and your so-called family, which one would you pick?"

Though Kain's demeanor was calm and relaxed, his words carried an unmistakable weight. He was not a physically imposing man, especially compared to Doflamingo, yet the information Diamante had given made the Heavenly Yaksha hesitate. 

Even as a new Shichibukai, Kain wasn't someone to be underestimated.

"If I beat you half to death," Kain continued, his voice almost gentle, "and then asked you to choose—save yourself, or expel Baby-5 from your family—which would it be?"

Boom!

A powerful, overwhelming aura exploded from Doflamingo's body, sweeping outward like a violent storm. His Conqueror's Haki filled the air, pressing down on everything around him. Purple lightning crackled through the void as his sheer willpower distorted the atmosphere.

"It's here! The Young Master's Conqueror's Haki!"

The Donquixote executives trembled in awe, their eyes welling with tears as they felt the raw, crushing force of their leader's power.

Only one person in millions possessed this natural kingly presence.

But then they noticed something strange.

Kain, standing directly across from Doflamingo, remained completely unaffected. Not only was he unfazed, but his smile had grown even wider—brighter, as if he were enjoying this.

….

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