One Piece: Investing In Whitebeard At The Start.

Around 3 p.m.

"Alas, I look forward to our continued cooperation."

On the eastern coast, aboard their ship, Doflamingo wore a wicked grin as he let out his signature laugh.

By now, all five of Big Mom's commanders, including Katakuri, had been captured by Vane and his crew. Owen and Perospero, who had been left soaking in the sea for over half an hour, looked disheveled and humiliated. Their defeat, the indignity of being captured, and the frustration of their failure burned in their hearts.

Though Doflamingo still wore a smile, he couldn't hide the lingering shock. Truthfully, he was even afraid.

His eyes lingered on Katakuri and the others, each restrained by Sea Prism Stone shackles. He couldn't believe it.

Doflamingo considered himself a powerful pirate, but he knew better than to think he could defeat someone like Katakuri. The man was a legend in the New World, with a reputation that struck fear into even seasoned veterans. Yet here he was—defeated and bound.

And it wasn't just Katakuri. Four other high-ranking commanders had been captured too, not to mention Smoothie, All three of Big Mom's Sweet Commanders were now in the hands of Vane's crew.

And Vane had done it all with just two people.

Doflamingo glanced at Esdeath—an icy, terrifying woman with long blue hair in a sleek black suit. She had overwhelmed everyone aside from Katakuri, even holding off three of Big Mom's children on her own. She radiated pure menace. Doflamingo knew better than to provoke someone like her.

The New World was ruled by monsters. Vane and Esdeath were monsters among monsters—powerhouses capable of bringing Katakuri to his knees.

But what truly made Doflamingo uneasy was what came next.

Rhett Vane wanted to use Katakuri and the others as bargaining chips with Big Mom.

It was insane.

Capturing her top commanders and using them to make a deal? It was like capturing the Calamities from the Beasts Pirates and demanding terms from Kaido. Unthinkable. It could spark a war that would engulf the entire world.

"Horrifying. Insane. They're... no, he's a lunatic. That's Rhett Vane for you."

That was Doflamingo's private evaluation.

Was it for Devil Fruits? No. It couldn't be just that. If Vane only wanted Devil Fruits, he could have purchased them through Doflamingo's black market connections. There was no need to take such a reckless risk. No sane pirate would directly antagonize a Yonko like Charlotte Linlin, the most terrifying matriarch in the world—one who wouldn't hesitate to kill her own children.

So what was Vane's real goal?

Doflamingo couldn't figure it out. But he knew one thing—Vane wasn't a fool. He wouldn't act blindly just because he was strong.

On the contrary, Doflamingo believed Vane had a much more terrifying purpose. He just didn't know what it was yet.

"I like people like you," Doflamingo muttered under his breath.

He had to stay on good terms with Vane. If he ever had to choose between Kaido and Vane, he wouldn't hesitate to pick the latter. While Kaido was his current business partner, Doflamingo feared him deeply.

"Thank you for the Sea Prism Stone shackles."

Vane nodded toward Doflamingo. It was Doflamingo who had supplied the shackles—easily acquired, given his wide underground network.

With those shackles in place, Katakuri and the others were helpless.

Doflamingo gave his signature "fufufufu" laugh. "I look forward to our future cooperation. Perhaps even friendship."

"Friendship is always based on mutual interest," Vane replied calmly.

"Well then," Doflamingo smirked, "may our interests align."

"You carry yourself with remarkable poise for someone your age. If you need anything, just reach out. You'll always be welcome."

He handed Vane a Den Den Mushi, then descended the ship ramp with his usual arrogant swagger, vanishing down the eastern coast.

"Young Master," said Trebol, sniffing and snorting behind him, "what kind of man do you think he is? A future Pirate Emperor?"

Doflamingo responded, "I don't know about becoming a Pirate Emperor. But his potential... it's terrifying. There's no harm in staying on his good side."

"You're right, Young Master," Trebol nodded.

"I've never been wrong before, fufufu... But it still baffles me. Both Vane and that ice woman can use freezing abilities?"

Back on the ship, Vane and Esdeath were waiting for Kalifa to return with Smoothie. She had already been notified via Den Den Mushi.

Dressrosa was merely a stopover to pick up supplies. Vane wouldn't stay long—especially with high-value captives aboard. There was nothing of interest here anyway.

What truly intrigued him was the Golden City: Gran Tesoro, ruled by the Gold Emperor Gild Tesoro. The largest entertainment hub in the world, with ships stretching ten kilometers long, it was a floating city of pure decadence.

After the trip to Totto Land and Whole Cake Island, Vane intended to set sail for Gild Tesoro.

On deck, Katakuri sat silently, shackled and defeated.

"Your plan is to use us as leverage with my mother?" he asked, voice cold.

"That's right," Vane answered without hesitation.

Katakuri's eyes narrowed. "Do you understand how dangerous that is? My mother's power is unimaginable."

"That's exactly why I have to try," Vane said. "If she can't beat me, she'll have to negotiate."

Running away in disgrace was not in Vane's plans. He would either destroy the Cake Castle or strike a deal—whichever came first.

"You really don't know what you're doing," Cracker growled.

"You're dead," Owen spat.

"Mom will lose it," Brulee added. "Whole Cake Island won't survive her fury."

Esdeath cut them off sharply. "Enough. You lost. Act like prisoners. And you—how many times do I have to tell that bamboo-legged woman?"

She was referring to Smoothie.

Vane chuckled. "Now that all three Sweet Commanders are with me, do you really think I'm afraid of Big Mom?"

He wasn't bluffing. Vane had confidence in his strength. Besides, Big Mom had weaknesses—like that tattered wedding photo she clung to. Destroy that, and she'd spiral into madness.

"You're insane," Perospero sneered. "You've barely been at sea three months and already think you can rise to the top?"

Before he could finish, Esdeath stomped his face into the deck. She didn't stop there—she stepped on him again as he howled.

Esdeath wasn't just cruel. She was a ruthless sadist. Cold-blooded and unforgiving to her enemies.

"Stop it, woman!" Cracker shouted, struggling against his chains. He was bound to the railing like the rest, and lunged forward, only to be kicked in the face.

"Cracker!" Katakuri shouted, "Hold it!"

"But, brother...!"

"We're not in any position to fight."

The deck fell silent.

They knew that resisting would only bring more pain. Vane had kept Esdeath from unleashing her full cruelty, but without his restraint, she would have broken them one by one—body and mind.

"And you," she glared at Perospero, "keep that disgusting tongue inside your mouth. You look like a damn monster."

Half an hour later, Kalifa returned with Smoothie.

Smoothie froze at the sight of her siblings—Katakuri, Cracker, Owen, Perospero, and Bree—all shackled in Sea Prism Stone.

"You..."

She couldn't finish her sentence. Her heart sank. Even as a commander, she felt helpless.

"Smoothie!"

"You're safe!"

"I'm sorry," she said, voice heavy. "I failed."

Katakuri looked down. "No. I made the mistake. I should've warned Mother. I underestimated them."

Now all six were aboard—all three Sweet Commanders included.

Vane stood at the bow and gave the order.

"Set sail. Next stop—Whole Cake Island."

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