North Blue, Donquixote Family Base.
Groups of Mafia members had long been prepared for battle.
Trenches had been dug, ambush points established, and heavy weapons concealed in the dense foliage surrounding the base.
As early as a day ago, Doflamingo had arrived at the family base aboard a Marine warship, courtesy of Raleigh.
Now, he was ready.
"Report, Young Master," a Mafia member whispered, rushing into the observation bunker.
"Byrnndi World's pirate ship has been spotted on the horizon."
A flash of intense killing intent appeared in Doflamingo's eyes beneath his sunglasses.
His fingers twitched, yearning to tear something apart.
But considering Raleigh was standing right next to him, sipping coconut water, he suppressed this murderous desire.
Raleigh seemed to sense Doflamingo's killing intent.
He turned, a casual expression on his face.
"Doflamingo," he asked, "if you were to deal with Byrnndi World alone... how would you do it?"
Doflamingo paused.
He had only seen Byrnndi World's achievements in the newspapers and had no actual combat experience with him.
This lack of context led to his answer appearing exceptionally arrogant.
"If it were me," Doflamingo sneered, "I would distribute my family members to various locations across this island in advance. Crossfire zones."
He gestured to the surrounding hills. "Compared to other Mafia families, our Donquixote Family's advantage is firepower. We possess superior guns, superior explosives. Byrnndi World wouldn't survive a minute under our concentrated artillery fire."
Doflamingo seemed quite confident in his family's arsenal.
But Raleigh shook his head slowly and didn't say anything.
'He's overconfident,' Raleigh thought. 'He thinks World is just a man. He doesn't understand that World is a siege engine.'
Doflamingo was clearly overestimating his own strength while simultaneously underestimating Byrnndi World's capabilities.
One could only say it was fortunate that Raleigh had come with him.
Otherwise, Doflamingo might have attempted to fight Byrnndi World alone and ended up as a stain on the rocks.
"Alright," Raleigh said, turning to his own subordinate. "Cleveland, notify everyone. Proceed according to Plan B. The one with the cage."
Raleigh informed Cleveland standing behind him that the entire crew of the World Pirates was nearing the trap, unaware that the Marines had already set up an inescapable net.
...
On the Sea.
Carrying a full ship's worth of stolen resources and blood money, the World Pirates accelerated toward the Donquixote Family's stronghold on Rubec Island.
Byrnndi World stood at the bow, his tall, imposing figure basking in the admiring gazes of the pirates aboard.
He was thoroughly satisfied with his current achievements.
In less than half a month since arriving in the North Blue, his crew had expanded from a few hundred members in a medium-sized pirate group to over a thousand—a true fleet.
Moreover, with the resources he had acquired, if the Donquixote Family could help him forge that unprecedented cannon... he would be unstoppable.
"Brother," World said to Byojack, "at this rate, once we return to the New World... countless pirates will flock to join us. We will rival them all."
Byrnndi World swelled with pride. Long ago, when he was not as powerful, he had envied the might of the Rocks Pirates.
Later, after his own strength grew, he encountered their remnants—Golden Lion Shiki, Whitebeard Newgate.
These men had vast fleets.
Though Byrnndi World never admitted it aloud, he deeply desired to assemble a grand pirate fleet.
To be a King among pirates.
"That island ahead," World pointed a massive finger. "The Donquixote Family's base. Tell the men to pick up the pace."
"We're not just here to build one cannon," he added greedily. "If time allows, we also need a batch of brand-new, high-quality firearms fresh from their factory. We'll take everything they have."
World's thinking was pragmatic.
Why buy when you can have them all? If he had to step in for every little fight, there would be no point in building such a large crew.
He needed his men armed.
...
The weather today looked particularly grim.
A thick layer of dark storm clouds enveloped Rubec Island, completely blocking out the sun's rays and casting the sea in a bruised, purple light.
However, the unusual weather didn't cause much alarm among the World Pirates' members.
After all, on the Grand Line, they had encountered weather that could freeze a man instantly or rain lightning.
A little gloom was nothing.
"Prepare to land!" World roared.
Though a flicker of warning crossed Byrnndi World's mind—an instinct honed by years of survival—he dismissed it after observing the quiet town through his telescope.
It looked peaceful.
Too peaceful? No.
He arrogantly assumed that Marine Headquarters or the World Government was plotting against him from the shadows, far away in Mary Geoise, too slow to catch him here.
"Unload all the goods! And head to the Donquixote Family's base!"
"Yes, Boss Byrnndi!"
The pirates were all excited.
This matter wasn't just about Bryndy World's trump card; it also affected every ordinary pirate among them.
If they could get their hands on the Donquixote Family's superior firearms, their survival rate in battles would significantly increase.
They all looked utterly jubilant.
Since joining the World Pirates, aside from the major event of raiding World Government ships, their weapons had been a mismatch of stolen, rusty junk.
Therefore, they were extremely excited about "shopping" at the Donquixote factory.
Under the helmsman's control, several ships of the World Pirates lined up and began to enter the narrow port entrance.
"Wait—" Byojack suddenly interrupted, his voice sharp. "STOP THE SHIPS!"
Just as the pirate fleet was about to enter in formation, Byojack's sudden scream brought everything to a confused halt.
The ships drifted, sails luffing.
"What's wrong, brother?" The imposing and towering Byrnndi World turned to look at his older brother sitting on his shoulder.
No matter the issue during their voyage, Byrnndi World unconditionally trusted Byojack's intellect.
On Byojack's aged face, his grayish-white eyebrows were furrowed tightly together.
He was squinting at the port.
"It... it seems completely different from the last time we visited," Byojack whispered.
He carefully observed the Donquixote Family's port.
The original port, though not large, was usually bustling.
Now? It was crowded, yes, but in a strange way.
Several ships of the Donquixote Family—and vessels belonging to various underground bosses of the North Blue—were all anchored near the exit.
Facing outward. As if they were blocking something.
Or waiting.
"World," Byojack said, sweat beading on his forehead. "I suggest we keep some of the ships stationed outside the harbor. As a rearguard. We should only rest after we've resolved our matters."
After some thought, Byojack could only offer this advice.
"Alright, brother," Byrnndi World shrugged, his confidence unshaken. "We'll do as you say."
He turned to his fleet commander. "You heard him! Keep the supply ships outside the bay! The combat ships come with me!"
Bryndy World had no issue with Byojack's cautious proposal.
It didn't matter.
After all, in his view, no one in the North Blue dared to oppose him.
Even the Marines had to weigh their own strength before challenging the World Destroyer.
He didn't know that the scale had already been tipped against him.