**Rekt Sea:**
A ship carrying Sky Gold left the Rekt Kingdom and began following a specific route.
Since the last time the Sky Gold was stolen by Rocks, the routes for transporting the Sky Gold had become much more complex and secretive.
Perhaps the increased complexity and secrecy of the route had strengthened the protection around the Sky Gold. Since then, no one had dared to steal it again.
With the World Conference still not having begun, the Sky Gold would not typically be due for collection yet. However, the Rekt Kingdom, a new allied country, was required to pay their Sky Gold in advance.
Given the World Government's urgent need for funds, it was only natural that the faster they could get the money, the better. Thus, this ship carrying the Sky Gold appeared on its way.
"Fufufufufu, this is definitely Sky Gold!"
"Birdcage!!!"
Using clouds to hide his strings, Doflamingo watched the ship below, sending out numerous white threads that formed a cage, completely enveloping the ship beneath in a birdcage.
"Not good, enemy attack!!"
"Quick, notify the higher-ups!"
The World Government members on the ship immediately tried to contact their superiors via transponder snail after seeing the birdcage appear.
"The transponder snails won't work, the signal is being blocked!"
When they tried to call, they discovered that the transponder snails were all asleep and couldn't be awakened.
"The attacker is Doflamingo, a pirate from the North Blue!"
The World Government members, tasked with guarding the Sky Gold, looked grimly at the incoming Doflamingo.
"Fufufufufu, leave the Sky Gold to me!"
"Five-colored Threads!!"
After setting up the birdcage, Doflamingo dove down, extending his fingers and using ten five-colored threads to pierce through the bodies of the World Government members, effortlessly eliminating them.
"Fufufufufu, now that I have the bargaining chips, it's time for the negotiation phase!"
Doflamingo laughed wildly as he took the Sky Gold ship and hid it away.
"Did you say what? A ship carrying Sky Gold was stolen, and we don't even know who did it?"
The officials in charge of the Sky Gold soon realized that it had been taken. Every half hour, the guards responsible for the Sky Gold would report their progress, and if they failed to respond, it meant something had gone wrong!
The World Government members quickly launched an investigation into the missing Sky Gold, but they found no leads. In the end, they had to report it to the Gorosei.
**Holy Land Mariejois:**
"The Sky Gold has been stolen, and it's likely premeditated. The other ships transporting Sky Gold should change their routes, and the confiscated Sky Gold should be put on hold until we can figure out what happened!"
The Finance God, Saint Nasushou, said.
This year's Sky Gold was of utmost importance to the World Government, a key element in their recovery, so they couldn't afford to take any risks.
"Agreed!"
"However, could this disappearance be related to the pirates from the New World? They've stolen our Sky Gold before!"
The Scientific Defense God, Saint Satan, said.
"Have CP investigate the movements of those pirate crews. If it's them, then we'll be in trouble!"
The Agricultural Affairs God, Saint Piet, added.
"Brulubru!!"
Just then, the exclusive transponder snail for the Gorosei rang.
"Moshi Moshi, this is the Gorosei's Saint Piet."
The Agricultural Affairs God, Saint Piet, was closest to the transponder snail and answered it immediately.
"Fufufufufu, respected Gorosei Saint Piet, I am Donquixote Doflamingo. I know where the Sky Gold you lost is."
The voice on the other end of the transponder snail carried Doflamingo's signature laugh.
"Donquixote? You're a pirate now. Since you know where the Sky Gold is, does that mean you stole it?"
Saint Piet, the Agricultural Affairs God, asked without hesitation.
"Fufufufufu, as expected of the Gorosei, you figured it out right away. I can return the Sky Gold to you."
Doflamingo laughed.
"You, a pirate, stole our Sky Gold, and now you want to return it? You think the Sky Gold can be stolen and returned just as easily as that?"
"You should know that we can catch you anytime. If we catch you, do you think we won't get the Sky Gold back?"
Saint Piet's voice betrayed his anger. They were being threatened by a pirate!
"Fufufufufu, the World Government is currently in an unprecedented state of weakness. Do you really have the extra strength to capture me? If you push me too far, I'll take the Sky Gold and bring it to the New World. How will you catch me then?"
"Besides, you don't want to lose more Sky Gold, do you?"
Unfazed by the Gorosei's threats, Doflamingo had anticipated this response and was prepared. He wasn't afraid of the World Government.
Saint Piet fell silent for a moment after hearing Doflamingo's words and then exchanged glances with his four colleagues.
As Doflamingo said, the World Government truly didn't have the extra resources to deal with him, and the issue was further complicated by Doflamingo's unique position. They couldn't just kill him outright.
"What do you want?"
Eventually, Saint Piet decided to listen to Doflamingo's demands.
"A seat in the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Just give me one, and I'll return the Sky Gold to you right now and stop interfering with other shipments."
Once Doflamingo saw the Gorosei yielding, he immediately stated his terms.
"I can agree to that, but you need to tell us how you found the Sky Gold's shipping route!"
Saint Piet immediately agreed, as the Seven Warlords weren't at full capacity. Giving Doflamingo a seat didn't matter much to him.
What was more important was the intelligence Doflamingo had gained. He didn't believe Doflamingo had simply stumbled upon the transport ship carrying the Sky Gold by luck.
"Fufufufufu, I don't know who exactly gave me the information, but I bought the intelligence for 100 million Berries in the Underworld."
Doflamingo didn't want to reveal his source because when he made the deal for the information, he had promised the Sand Pirates' people not to disclose where it came from.
The Sand Pirates' guild had grown rapidly, and Doflamingo could tell it was backed by a powerful force. It couldn't have expanded so quickly without significant support.
Unlike the World Government, he wasn't eager to provoke the Sand Pirates.
Facing the World Government, he had a unique position, and they wouldn't dare kill him.
But with the Sand Pirates, he had no way to protect himself. If they came after him, their network spread across the Four Seas, and they could find him even faster than the Marines.
"You have one day to return the Sky Gold!"
Saint Piet wasn't pleased with Doflamingo's answer, but he knew that pressuring him wouldn't work. After speaking, he hung up the transponder snail.
"Check all the members in charge of the Sky Gold and replace those in important positions. We must ensure the secrecy of the Sky Gold routes!"
The Finance God, Saint Nasushou, said.