Ezra D. Vale silently thought to himself as he stepped back onto the Pluton.
"Set course back. Rosinante."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Ezra D. Vale!"
At his command, the massive Pluton turned toward Marine Headquarters and began to sail away.
Lying back on a deck chair, Ezra D. Vale lightly tapped the armrest with his fingers.
"I wonder how things are going on Doflamingo's side…"
This time, he intended to wipe out the Straw Hat Pirates in Dressrosa.
Pirates…
Forget Pirate King.
This world would become a world without pirates.
With that thought, Ezra D. Vale picked up the Den Den Mushi and dialed Doflamingo.
"Puru puru puru…"
"Fuffuffuffu… Young Master, what is it?"
"Doflamingo, how are your preparations going?"
Doflamingo grinned on the other end.
"Don't worry, Young Master. I've used the Flame-Flame Fruit as bait. I refuse to believe that the Straw Hat brat can resist it!"
Ezra D. Vale nodded slightly.
"Good plan. I will also send someone over."
Doflamingo paused slightly.
"Young Master, what do you mean by this?"
Ezra D. Vale smiled faintly.
"First, it is to prepare for your return to the Celestial Dragons."
"Second, to capture Monkey D. Luffy."
Doflamingo raised a brow.
So the young master really intends to eliminate Luffy this time.
"I understand, Young Master. Don't worry, I will defeat the Straw Hat Pirates!"
Ezra D. Vale responded calmly.
"Be careful. If a real battle breaks out, remember what I told you."
"Don't worry, I won't give him any chance to breathe."
The call ended.
Ezra D. Vale then contacted the Zero Division.
"Puru puru puru…"
"This is Ryokugyu."
"Ryokugyu, go to Dressrosa. Do this… and then that…"
After half a minute, Ezra D. Vale asked:
"Understood?"
"Ahh, so troublesome… but yes, I understand!"
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"Leave it to me, Fleet Admiral!"
After preparations were completed on Ezra D. Vale's side…
Elsewhere, within Dressrosa.
Doflamingo also contacted his subordinates.
"Young Master! What are your orders?"
"The arena can begin operations. As for the prize… use the Flame-Flame Fruit!"
"Yes, Young Master!"
With a single command, the massive tournament arena began to operate.
Doflamingo also contacted Morgans.
"Fuffuffuffu… Morgans, I have a big story for you."
Morgans' eyes lit up.
"What big news?"
"Promote this for me. A tournament with the Flame-Flame Fruit as the prize will be held in Dressrosa!"
Morgans' eyes flashed with excitement.
"I see… so it's for the Straw Hat brat. Understood!"
He immediately hung up and spread the news across the world.
To ensure Luffy would not miss it, Morgans even released messenger seagulls along his route.
Not long after, the Straw Hat Pirates, just departing from Punk Hazard, spotted the newspaper delivery seagulls overhead.
"Huh? Those are World Economy News birds!" Carina said, tilting her head.
"Looks like something big happened again," Zoro said calmly.
They bought a newspaper.
The moment Luffy saw the headline, his eyes locked in place.
Everyone else also tensed.
The image on the front page clearly showed the Flame-Flame Fruit.
"That's Ace's fruit!" Luffy said in shock.
Zoro and the others nodded.
As people who understood Luffy best, they immediately understood his reaction.
"So what do we do, Captain?" Zoro asked while sipping his drink.
Luffy adjusted his straw hat, his expression turning serious.
"Obviously… we go take it back!"
No one objected.
That fruit represented Ace.
"We understand, Captain!" they replied with smiles.
"Yosh! Set sail! Everyone!" Luffy shouted.
"Destination: Dressrosa!!!"
"OOOOHHH!!!"
The Thousand Sunny changed course and headed for Dressrosa.
Unaware of what awaited them.
Hell itself.
Days passed in the blink of an eye.
The Thousand Sunny had already arrived at Dressrosa.
Luffy, disguised as "Lucy," entered the tournament and quickly won his group by defeating Chinjao in Block C.
Meanwhile, Doflamingo used his Observation Haki to locate Luffy.
"Found you…"
He called Trebol over.
"Go keep eyes on the Straw Hat brat."
"Yes, Young Master."
Trebol immediately dispatched men to monitor Luffy.
Doflamingo looked at Luffy's fake beard and smirked.
"Monkey D. Luffy… your end is near."
He then picked up the Den Den Mushi.
"Puru puru… Young Master Ezra D. Vale, I've found Luffy. He's in the tournament, and I've already got him under surveillance."
Inside his office, Ezra D. Vale raised a brow.
"I see. Then you can proceed as planned. Don't worry, Ryokugyu should arrive soon."
Doflamingo paused.
"I understand, Fleet Admiral Ezra D. Vale!"
The call ended.
Doflamingo stared at Luffy intensely.
"You are my final task…"
"Whether I can return to the Celestial Dragons or not… depends entirely on you."
Desire burned in his eyes.
He had sacrificed too much for that goal.
And now, everything would be decided here.
Doflamingo turned away from the arena.
Countless strings erupted from his body.
The power of the String-String Fruit unleashed in full force.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"Birdcage."
-----------------------------
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