at the port.
Amidst the stunned gazes of many, Ichiji, who had just disembarked at the port, directly handed his motorcycle over to the Marines for safekeeping.
"You've kept a low profile for over a year, but you make such a high-profile entrance the moment you appear, brat..." Momousagi walked over, scrutinizing Ichiji up and down, speaking somewhat playfully.
She had to admit, this guy, after disappearing for over a year, probably became even stronger than before. He carried an invisible aura that made people's hearts pound, giving off an extremely dangerous feeling.
"Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral 'Momousagi,' is this your attitude towards the king who came to participate in the World Conference?"
Ichiji, dressed in casual clothes, his hands in his pockets, his blood-red long hair fluttering in the wind, said indifferently: "Then I suppose I can directly complain to your Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku, or perhaps 'Red-Haired Shanks,' at the World Conference."
"Hmph, 'escorting' King Ichiji of Germa to Mary Geoise..." Momousagi snorted nonchalantly, not at all bothered by Ichiji's threat. However, she clearly had no intention of continuing to argue with Ichiji. She directly turned to the government official specifically responsible for receiving those kings and spoke.
"Then, Lord Ichiji, please follow us..." Several government officials walked up, politely bowing to Ichiji: "From here, take the elevator up to the Red Line, and after about half a day's journey, you will reach Mary Geoise."
A journey of about half a day, spanning the width of the Calm Belt and half of the Grand Line, clearly implied there should be transportation tools similar to cars on it. However, considering that this world even had trains in the sea, then land trains seemed quite normal.
"The battle on the Tenryuubi Archipelago, I expect it to continue..."
Just as he was about to pass Momousagi's tall figure, Ichiji's footsteps suddenly slowed. He chuckled meaningfully at her: "Believe me, that day won't be far off."
And then, under Momousagi's raised eyebrow gaze, his lips seemed to be saying something, but there was no sound.
"Haha..."
Amidst the puzzled gazes of several government officials and many Marines, Ichiji laughed loudly and walked into the large elevator. Momousagi, left behind, trembled all over with anger.
"Bastard! Shameless scoundrel!!!"
Momousagi's beautiful eyes were filled with rage, glaring fixedly at Ichiji inside the elevator, furious beyond words. If he weren't here to attend the World Conference, she would truly have wanted to pull out "Konro" and hack this bastard down.
"Vice Admiral Momousagi, please calm down!"
...
Half a day later.
Holy Land Mary Geoise, a somewhat dilapidated train station.
"What a truly magnificent sight..." Ichiji, stepping off the train, looked at the World Government's large, imposing buildings, wreathed in clouds and mist, and couldn't help but feel a surge of amazement from within.
No matter how much hostility or disdain one harbored towards the World Government, whether it was the somewhat exaggerated Gates of Justice, the World Government Headquarters building, or even one of the three major organizations under the World Government, like the somewhat infamous Enies Lobby, they were all so magnificent that it made one feel instinctively shaken.
Perhaps, this was the so-called "great nation's prestige."
"That is the World Government Headquarters building, symbolizing the highest authority of the World Government..." A World Government official introduced. "On the other side, is the residence of the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons. No one is allowed to disturb them. Lord Ichiji, please bear this in mind."
"Fufufufu~~~Fufufufu~~~"
A demonic laughter echoed, and Doflamingo's figure appeared in Ichiji's line of sight. He walked over with swaggering steps: "Ichiji, I didn't expect you to come too..."
"Didn't you come too?" Ichiji's lips curled up, a faint smile playing on them. "How does it feel to be back in your 'hometown'?"
"Hmph—"
Veins instantly bulged on his forehead.
"You really don't spare anyone with your words, fufufufu~~~"
Doflamingo's expression darkened. He suddenly couldn't help but laugh wryly, his tone heavy and sinister, a cold chuckle escaping his teeth: "But instead of mocking me, you should worry about yourself, fufufufu~~~ I heard that quite a few kingdoms are preparing to propose a resolution at the World Conference to remove Germa 66 from the World Government's allied nations list! Fufufufu~~~"
"Isn't that something that happens at every World Conference?" Ichiji shrugged, his face calm, saying, "It's not like it's the first or second time..."
Many kingdoms in the North Blue that harbored animosity or even contempt for Germa 66 would propose at every World Conference to remove Germa 66 from the list of World Government allied nations. However, the number of votes in favor never exceeded half, and the World Government itself never took a stance, so no resolution ever passed.
After all, quite a few kingdoms didn't want to offend Germa 66, or even wanted to borrow Germa 66's power, so there were many of those as well.
Moreover, in recent years, quite a few kingdoms have successively hired Germa 66 to fight. These "old grudges" still remained.
"This time is different from before..." Doflamingo shook his head, then burst out laughing: "And your Germa 66, for over a year now, has stopped accepting any war commissions. For those kingdoms, you have lost your 'value'!"
He received a message from his highest-ranking spy embedded in the Marines, Vergo. Marine Headquarters Fleet Admiral Sengoku had specifically mentioned Germa 66 at the most recent high-level Marine officers' meeting. In other words, it was likely that Marine Headquarters would also cast a vote.
As guardians of peace and order in this vast ocean, the Marine's opinions are sometimes seriously considered even by the World Government. This is no longer just a matter of a vote or two.
But Doflamingo, of course, would not kindly inform Ichiji of these things.
"Is it a case of 'people leave, tea cools'?" Ichiji chuckled, his face calm.
Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku, at the meeting, pointed out Germa 66's unusual actions over the past year or two, and expressed vigilance and caution.
Doflamingo had received this information early on from his spy embedded in the Marines, the newly promoted Marine Headquarters Major "Raijin," who had recently graduated early from the Marine Academy and was already working under Grand Admiral "Kizaru."
But since he dared to attend this conference, how could he show the slightest bit of fear? In the past year, he had barely taken action himself, but that didn't mean Germa 66 had been inactive...
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