Doflamingo's plans were proceeding methodically.
Sengoku noted the sudden near-halt in the supply of Seastone, coupled with the ambiguous stance of the World Government. These developments validated his earlier suspicions based on the intel Wright had brought regarding X Drake.
Doflamingo and the World Government were negotiating a new deal.
"What's the content of the deal?"
In the Fleet Admiral's office at Marineford, Sengoku sat with a grim expression. Sharing the room were Garp, who was munching noisily on rice crackers, and Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Grand Staff Officer.
"Doflamingo is hiding in Dressrosa, and I can't pursue him further."
Tsuru took a sip of her tea, savoring the aroma. The tea was of an exceptionally high grade, far beyond what Sengoku usually indulged in.
"This tea is quite exquisite."
"...Oh, that? Wright brought it back for me during his last visit," Sengoku replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "You two weren't around, but he already delivered some to Zephyr."
"You'll find some here as well. Take it with you later—it's said to be the finest quality available. I have no idea where he got it."
Tsuru stayed silent, while Garp burst out laughing.
"Ha! That kid really knows how to win people over! First, it was Fish-Man Island's snacks and wine, and now it's top-grade tea. Not bad, not bad!"
"Cough! Focus, Garp," Sengoku said with a sigh. "There's something else that's been bothering me... It's been ages, and the World Government still hasn't announced the appointment of the new Warlord of the Sea."
"Could it be that Weevil declined? Given Miss Buckin's personality, that seems unlikely."
"How is Zephyr handling it?" Tsuru asked, taking another sip of tea.
"Zephyr seems unbothered," Garp replied, though he hesitated. "Actually, he's been unusually indifferent, which feels... off."
Tsuru cast a sidelong glance at Garp, then shifted her gaze to Sengoku. "The CP agents—where did they go to contact Weevil? Could it be they still haven't found him?"
"That... I'm not sure," Sengoku admitted, rubbing his temples. "The World Government is keeping us in the dark."
"Could Doflamingo have learned something and is now pressuring the World Government to seize the last Warlord position from Weevil?"
"Not seize…" Tsuru tapped her fingers on the desk. "Have you considered another possibility?"
Sengoku lifted his head, and Garp stopped mid-bite, the room falling into an uneasy silence.
"Heh, men…" Tsuru shook her head. "You've thought of it but don't dare confirm it, right?"
"Weevil has vanished. Doflamingo must have caught wind of it. With the last Warlord slot in limbo, he's taking advantage of the situation to pressure the World Government."
"And with no Warlord invitation issued, Doflamingo becomes a viable candidate," Tsuru concluded. "The two parties will likely reach an unspoken agreement to finalize this. It's almost certain now that Doflamingo will become the seventh Warlord of the Sea."
"And Weevil's disappearance?" Sengoku pressed.
"At first, I wasn't sure," Tsuru said, pointing to her teacup. "But this tea? It's a top-tier product exclusively reserved for the Celestial Dragons."
"If there's another source of this tea, it can only be from—"
"The only neutral territory in the world, Gran Tesoro, the Golden City," Tsuru declared.
"And that Weevil's mother, Miss Buckin, is both greedy for money and addicted to gambling," she added.
Sengoku sighed. "So, there's a high chance Weevil is in the Golden City. And Wright, clearly, recently acquired this tea there…"
"Considering the history between Wright and Weevil, and his sudden disappearance..."
Garp laughed heartily. "That kid must've found out and made his move! Sengoku didn't even notice. Well done!"
"Shut it, Garp!" Sengoku shouted, rushing over to clamp a hand over Garp's mouth. "Idiot! Do you think you can shout about such matters so openly?"
"Only the three of us know this. No—Zephyr probably knows too. Fine, it stops here!"
Letting go of a now-silent Garp, Sengoku said solemnly, "Let's focus on preparing for the aftermath of Doflamingo becoming a Warlord. We'll need to reassess our strategy for Dressrosa…"
"As for Weevil, it's as if he never existed. If the World Government wants to keep it hidden, then we Marines know nothing!"
"Understood."
...
A month passed.
The latest news from Rosinante, who had infiltrated Wano, confirmed Sengoku's expectations ahead of time.
The Shogun of Wano, Kurozumi Orochi, had issued orders to resume the mining and processing of Seastone.
As expected, the World Government soon announced the new Warlord of the Sea: Donquixote Doflamingo, also known as the "Heavenly Yaksha."
Weevil vanished without a trace, as though he had never existed.
"There's nothing we can do about Doflamingo for now," Sengoku said as he and Wright exchanged intelligence regarding Wano. "His appointment as a Warlord was inevitable, and we couldn't stop it."
"This time, he kept himself completely hidden. It seems the last encounter left a deep impression," Wright commented. "All we can do now is increase surveillance in Dressrosa and gather evidence. He's bound to slip up—stealing a kingdom isn't something that goes unnoticed."
"If it weren't for the heavy workload at G-5, I'd consider going there myself."
"For now, we'll wait. The New World's situation is too complex, and we still need to prepare for Wano," Sengoku said, gesturing to the intelligence in his hands. "Rosinante has done well. He's secured detailed maps of Wano, even intelligence on the Flower Capital."
"Good to hear. I'll check in on him soon," Wright said. "The Lightforged Beacon in Wano can be upgraded, allowing Rosinante to travel between G-5 and Wano more easily."
"That would be ideal…"
The World Government's announcement of a full roster for the Warlords of the Sea bolstered their perceived strength against the great pirates of the New World.
However, the celebration was short-lived. A bombshell of news rocked the world:
In the New World, the infamous pirate captain of the Red-Haired Pirates, "Red-Haired" Shanks, had rapidly expanded his sphere of influence within just a few short months.
Although his domain still fell short compared to the three established "Emperors of the Sea," the results of skirmishes and battles with them revealed an astonishing fact: the average combat power of Shanks' crew clearly outmatched that of the other three!
Despite their smaller numbers and less extensive influence, the collective strength of the Red-Haired Pirates was enough to rival the likes of Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom, standing shoulder to shoulder with the other emperors as equals.
The title of the "Fourth Emperor of the Sea" quickly spread, and shockingly, the other three legendary pirates tacitly acknowledged it!
In the months following the establishment of the World Government's Seven Warlords of the Sea, which posed a direct threat to the New World, the great pirates of the New World wasted no time in mounting their response.
The structure of the "Four Emperors" was solidified, and Shanks, previously maintaining a low profile, erupted onto the scene. With a meteoric rise and unmatched momentum, he claimed the title of Emperor before the World Government or the Marines could even react.
Thus, the New World's power dynamics reached a new equilibrium on the Grand Line: the Marine Headquarters, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and the Four Emperors, forming a precarious balance among the three great forces.
Though "balance" was a term that, at best, described a fragile façade.
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