"Young master, I've heard there's an extremely rare kind of brewstone ore in the North Blue.
This ore is produced in very small quantities, and the protective rock layer around it is so hard that it's extremely difficult to mine.
If a person isn't overwhelmingly strong, they can't dig it out at all, but most people strong enough to mine it look down on such work and can't be bothered.
However, brewstone ore is incredibly useful. Just a small piece can act as yeast for liquor, and in only a few days it can ferment a thousand jin of fine wine.
A lot of the good liquor in the world gets consumed at a frightening pace, so this ore is practically a tool made for boosting alcohol production.
For every family out there, if they could obtain it without caring about the upfront cost, the profit from putting it into use would be so astronomical as to be unimaginable.
And I just happen to know where this brewstone ore is located. As long as we mine it properly, then send some people disguised as merchants, take out a portion of the ore as bait, and set up a trade fair in some neutral kingdom, I'm sure Dominic and the others won't be able to resist a temptation that big.
We just need to lay our ambush in advance, and we'll be able to make sure none of them make it back alive."
"I see. In that case, leave the mining operation to me to lead. Lao G, you're coming with me. No problem, right?"
Doflamingo didn't put on any airs and insist that his subordinates handle everything.
If the plan had to be executed perfectly, then in terms of pure strength, going in person was obviously the best option.
"Absolutely no problem, young master, G."
Lao G struck a golden-rooster-stance on one leg, his two hands forming the shape of a G.
Thinking of what still needed to be arranged, Doflamingo continued asking,
"As for choosing the neutral kingdom, Trebol, do you have any suggestions?"
Trebol was an old rogue who had been crawling around the North Blue underworld for many years. Naturally he was very familiar with the North Blue's geography. He rummaged through his memory and then said,
"The Gubarrigus Coal Kingdom is perfect.
The Coal Kingdom is rich in coal. All we have to do is set up our ambush in their Sacred Flame Plaza.
We secretly plant explosives underground ahead of time. Once Dominic and the others arrive, our people quietly withdraw and detonate the bombs.
With the high temperatures in Sacred Flame Plaza and the coal seams under the ground, we'll definitely be able to put on one hell of a sea of fire.
Our family's people only need to guard the perimeter and wait to pick off the ones who slip through the net."
"Good. Then we'll use the Coal Kingdom.
Mobilize every combatant we have in the North Blue and split them into two teams. One team goes with you to the Coal Kingdom to set everything up.
The other team will be led by Scylla to strike directly at the bases of the Dominic Family and the other three families. I want the North Blue to never again hear the voice of the Dominic Family.
As for you, Yulian, once we've found the brewstone ore, you'll head back and stay at the family base. Your job will be to keep intelligence flowing in real time."
"Young master, this ol– …this girl really wants to go with you…"
Scylla stomped her foot and spoke in a coy, sulky tone.
"My damn eyes!"
That was the thought in everyone's heart on the spot.
A hulking brute of a woman whose gender you could only tell from her face acting all cutesy like that… who could endure such a sight?
Even Doflamingo had to forcibly hold himself back from gagging.
He shot Scylla a vicious glare, and only then did she finally rein in her little expressions.
Trebol found it very strange. Ever since the young master showed up, Scylla had been like a completely different person.
Where was the woman who relied on that powerful body of hers to conquer men? This was way too different, and frankly a bit too entertaining, wasn't it?
Once Doflamingo finished assigning tasks, he departed with Lao G and Yulian, heading for the brewstone deposit.
Since mobilizing the manpower would still take some time, Trebol and Scylla were in no rush to leave. They stayed at the base to prepare war supplies and would set out once everyone had assembled.
The Donquixote Family didn't bother to conceal its movements, so a lot of people noticed that Doflamingo had returned to the North Blue.
They also noted that he was taking several hundred men on a large sailing ship toward some unknown region of the sea.
Dominic Family boss Sisyphus was the first to receive word.
He was shocked that Doflamingo had actually come back to the North Blue from the New World, but how could a crime boss be afraid of a strong man? In this business, violence was the only real king.
Besides, Sisyphus didn't really believe that Doflamingo was as strong as the rumors claimed. In the end, he was still just a kid in his teens. How strong could he really be?
Even so, to be on the safe side, Sisyphus still informed the other three families and contacted the pirate crews backing them.
The Sword Dragon Pirates, led by a great pirate with a bounty of 700 million Beli, an Ancient Zoan Sword Dragon-type Devil Fruit user by the name of Tuanwan Moha.
While Dominic and his allies were quietly making their own preparations, the Marines had also picked up on Doflamingo's presence.
How could a man who had become a New World big pirate in such a short time suddenly appear here?
The Marines had no choice but to grow tense and immediately contacted headquarters. When they learned that only Doflamingo himself had returned, they let out a small sigh of relief, but still had to stay on high alert.
Considering that Tsuru was currently stationed in the North Blue, Kong ordered Tsuru-san to keep an eye on Doflamingo.
Out of respect for Doflamingo's terrifying power, Kong assigned three vice admirals to support Tsuru: Vice Admiral Saul, Vice Admiral Aphrodite, and Vice Admiral Nanki.
Saul set out this time full of confidence. With Tsuru-san taking point and three vice admirals working together, Saul did not believe they still wouldn't be able to catch Doflamingo.
He had originally planned to apply to Kong for a transfer to the New World, especially after hearing that Doflamingo had seized Hive Island there. But before the reassignment orders could be signed, Doflamingo had turned up in the North Blue on his own.
With such a rare opportunity delivered right to his doorstep, how could Saul possibly let it slip by?
Time flowed on. Five days passed in a flash.
In those five days, the North Blue was eerily quiet. Even Vinsmoke Judge, who was usually stirring up trouble in the shadows, was uncharacteristically calm.
Everyone understood that this was nothing more than the calm before the storm. The main reason no one was making a move was the sudden appearance of "World-Shattering Thunder Emperor" Doflamingo.
Most people were wary of Doflamingo's power. They were afraid something unexpected would happen if they made the first move, so they all tacitly held their hands.
However, as time went on, the underworld of the North Blue could not possibly endure sitting on their hands forever after five silent days.
They simply convinced themselves that Doflamingo's appearance wouldn't really change anything.
Thus, on the sixth day, war between various nations broke out again and even showed signs of escalating.
For the underworld families of the North Blue, war meant money. The bigger the war, the bigger the profits.
So the Dominic Family and the three allied families began aggressively expanding their arms and drug businesses, hammering away at the Donquixote Family's industries.
To mislead the Dominic Family, Scylla led a portion of their forces in continuous raids against the four families.
This made them think that the Donquixote Family was being stretched thin on every front and that even with Doflamingo's dramatic appearance, nothing substantial would change.
Scylla truly lived up to her reputation as a woman capable of winning men's hearts. Once she started acting, there wasn't a hint of it looking like "acting" at all, and the four families were fooled almost instantly.
Their initial wariness and caution regarding Doflamingo's appearance gradually faded, transforming instead into the impression that Doflamingo was nothing special and that the Donquixote Family was far weaker than rumored.
(End of Chapter)
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