Chapter 45: Provoking Doflamingo

"Hmph, if this wasn't Mariejois, if it were anywhere else, I would definitely kill you."

Gecko Moria backed down.

But he didn't completely surrender, maintaining an arrogant expression as if he possessed great strength.

"Trash who already lost his qualification to be here."

Yami replied without restraint.

After speaking, he immediately seated himself in the empty chair designated for the final Shichibukai.

The other Shichibukai also focused their attention on Yami.

They sensed that his speed had been remarkably fast.

"Damn kid…"

Gecko Moria seethed on the side.

"Uchiha, that's the name of your organization, correct?"

“Recently, you've made significant progress in the first half of the Grand Line. I wonder if your group can withstand the unpredictable weather of this world...”

Doflamingo suddenly interrupted.

His tone carried clear threats.

If a fight erupted in this setting, it would deal a massive blow and disrespect the World Government.

However, threatening warnings seemed acceptable enough.

Seeing someone offering assistance, Gecko Moria stopped his complaints and prepared to cooperate with Doflamingo in teaching the newcomer a lesson.

But before he could do so, Yami spoke up.

"I heard that underground arms trading runs rampant in the New World. Apparently, a certain country even colludes with one of the Four Emperors. I have some free time recently and could resolve this matter."

"I don't know how much compensation the Navy is willing to provide. As long as it's reasonable, I can help eliminate the problem and reduce the Navy's losses."

He didn't respond to the provocation directly.

Instead, he looked toward the nearby Navy personnel and spoke calmly.

Doflamingo's expression hardened once again.

He stared at Yami with eyes full of wariness.

Everyone knew he engaged in underground arms dealing, but few people were aware of his transactions with one of the Four Emperors.

After all, this violated the World Government restrictions.

If discovered, his Shichibukai title would likely be revoked, and the Navy would target him directly.

These were consequences he couldn't accept.

"Oh?"

"Is this information reliable?"

Vice Admiral Tsuru asked with surprise.

She had reviewed the intelligence regarding this newly risen Shichibukai.

However, the information was extremely limited, barely filling ten pages total.

This included intelligence that the Navy had collected and recent reports of Uchiha clan operatives hunting pirates throughout the Grand Line.

The only specific information about Yami himself was his capture of the Straw Hat Kid and defeat of Bartholomew Kuma.

His precise combat capabilities remained unknown.

"I don't know where you heard such rumors, but bringing them to this occasion seems rather irresponsible…"

Doflamingo responded calmly, as if he wasn’t the person in question at all.

He wanted to divert everyone's attention elsewhere.

"It should involve the Beast Pirates among the Four Emperors. Beyond arms trading, there appear to be some other special deals as well."

Yami ignored Doflamingo completely, maintaining steady eye contact as if issuing a threat.

‘Who is it?!’

‘Who leaked this information…!’

Doflamingo suspected there was an undercover agent among his associates, but he increasingly suspected the Beast Pirates were the source.

At this moment, he didn't dare continue provoking this newcomer.

If more information was revealed, the situation would become truly dangerous.

"Didn't we come here because there's some major event requiring the Shichibukai's assistance?"

"Let's discuss arms smuggling later. I don't have time to listen to this crap…"

Doflamingo backed down.

He framed his words as if he were genuinely disinterested and might leave at any moment.

Although Gecko Moria was naive, he wasn't stupid.

He could see that Doflamingo seemed wary of this newcomer.

So he stopped talking as well.

Seeing this, Yami also stopped talking.

"Very well, let's discuss this major event first."

"In half a month, Portgas D. Ace, captain of the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates, will be executed at the Marine Headquarters."

"The Whitebeard Pirates have begun destroying all Navy surveillance vessels and are preparing to go to war…"

“…”

Vice Admiral Tsuru began explaining the event's details.

The others had somewhat anticipated what was happening, but naturally lacked the Navy's detailed intelligence.

'Just executing Ace?'

'Are they planning to save Luffy and eliminate him later to boost the morale, or are they genuinely afraid of Garp?'

'I suspect they'd be targeting the Revolutionary Army in the future. It seems the War at Marineford won't change much from the original plot. I just don't know if Luffy can still escape from Impel Down…'

Yami pondered these thoughts while listening to Vice Admiral Tsuru's explanation.

He had just asked the system whether attacking Blackbeard Teach here would count toward his mission, but unfortunately, it wouldn't.

Therefore, Yami concluded that the Blackbeard Pirates should be destroyed as a complete group during the specific event period, during the War at Marineford.

As for rescuing Ace and saving the Whitebeard Pirates, acting as an infiltrator offered high success chances.

Using just the [Shadow Clone Technique] combined with [Transformation Technique], he could operate in the chaos, rescue Ace before execution, directly notify the Whitebeard Pirates to begin fighting and retreat, leaving a shadow clone for the World Government to eliminate.

He felt there wouldn't be major problems.

Vice Admiral Tsuru then informed everyone that they must arrive on the designated day to serve as the second line of defense, positioned before the Admirals.

Naturally, she couldn't reveal other specific details to these individuals.

After all, the exposure risk was too high, and the Navy wouldn't make such foolish mistakes.

"Please arrive punctually. This is an order from the World Government."

Vice Admiral Tsuru concluded.

She wouldn't show courtesy to these individuals.

Naturally, the Shichibukai maintained equally poor attitudes toward the Navy.

The Navy representatives departed first.

Hancock also left immediately.

She had no interest in remaining any longer.

Yami also stood and walked toward the exit.

Doflamingo followed behind Yami without hesitation, while Gecko Moria tagged along to observe the spectacle.

Mihawk decided not to return immediately, planning to remain nearby until the major event concluded.

Bartholomew Kuma essentially resided at the Navy Headquarters for now and showed no intention of leaving.

Blackbeard displayed his characteristic naive smile, wiped his mouth clean, and wandered away.

Knowing the Navy's recent strength was concentrated at the headquarters, and preparing for the Whitebeard Pirates, he would continue implementing his next plan.

He didn't take these Shichibukai seriously at all.

Once he completed his scheme, everything he desired would be within reach.

"Hey, newcomer, I need to discuss something with you…"

In the corridor, Doflamingo called out to Yami with a swagger that would definitely earn him a beating if he were an ordinary person.

The deal with a Yonko being exposed had struck his nerves too severely, and he couldn't confirm whether this individual truly possessed evidence.

But he couldn't afford to gamble, so he had to inquire directly.

If exposed, it would disgrace both sides and might result in abandonment by both the Navy and Kaido.

He simply couldn't take that risk.