"Daren... We have already shown you our utmost sincerity."

With Dragon gritting his teeth in frustration, the Five Elders once again made their final offer, their piercing gazes locked on the Marine Vice Admiral.

"No one outside will ever know what happened today on Philseque Island... as long as we are willing."

"The crimes you've committed can be erased... as long as we are willing."

"You can have everything you've fought so hard to earn, everything you've risked your life to obtain... as long as we are willing."

"Power, fame, status, glory, wealth... all will be granted to you. You will stand above all others..."

Daren raised his head and finished their sentence.

"...as long as you are willing?"

The Five Elders nodded in unison, smug smiles slowly curling on their lips.

"That's right."

Hearing this exchange, Dragon and the others suddenly felt uneasy.

"Hey, hey, hey, Daren, don't tell me you're actually considering these five old geezers?"

Flushed and flustered, Dragon shouted with clenched teeth,

"They're lying to you! You killed so many Celestial Dragons—there's no way they'll ever let you go!"

Daren paid no attention to the stubborn fool, keeping his eyes on the calm, confident expressions of the Five Elders.

Then, he smiled.

"So, in the end, it all comes down to 'as long as you are willing.'"

His voice held a trace of resignation, a hint of self-mockery, and a faint sigh.

"Is there a problem with that?"

Warcury replied nonchalantly,

"The World Government has ruled this world for eight hundred years. We hold absolute power over these seas. Anyone who wishes to live here must do so with our permission and consent."

His tone carried no emotion, as if stating a simple, unquestionable truth.

Daren smiled and shook his head.

"And that's exactly what pisses me off."

The Five Elders raised their brows.

"Because you've misunderstood something."

Lighting a new cigar, the Marine Vice Admiral chuckled casually.

"Remember this, you five old bastards... The power I, Rogers Daren, hold today was never some gift from you Celestial Dragons or the World Government!"

"It's mine. And none of you can take it away from me."

As his words fell—

Four streaks of deadly, cold light suddenly tore through the air from the distance, moving so fast they couldn't be seen with the naked eye, and arrived before the Five Elders in an instant.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Ear-splitting metallic crashes rang out as sparks burst into the air, illuminating the towering, grim figures of the Five Elders.

The fangs of the massive Houki locked tightly onto the black-glowing Enma.

Itsumade's razor-sharp claws seized the edge of the infinitely sharp Ame no Habakiri.

The skeletal horse's cursed blade clashed against the cherry blossom-marked Oto.

And the Sandworm's jagged teeth bit down on the withering blade, Kogarashi.

The expressions of the Five Elders darkened in unison.

"So that's how it is."

"To think you still held on to such a foolish idea."

"It seems you've made your final choice."

"If you're so eager to throw your life away..."

"Then let us show you the power of the World Government."

"You will experience... despair and fear like never before."

Transformed into his hybrid beast form, Saturn let out a chilling laugh, pulled a military Den Den Mushi from inside his coat, and dialed a signal.

The call connected in less than a second.

Saturn stared down at the Marine Vice Admiral with scorn and gave a taunting command.

"Kill those two insects."

No one responded.

One second.

Two seconds.

Saturn's brows furrowed tightly, his voice turning violent.

"Did you hear my order?!"

A hoarse, unidentifiable voice slowly came through the Den Den Mushi.

"Apologies... but all your men are dead, honorable Five Elders."

Saturn's pupils shrank.

Across from him, Daren's calm, amused smile remained unchanged.

Blood vessels began to creep across Saturn's eyes as he growled,

"Who are you?!"

There was no answer—only a cold, mocking laugh.

Click.

The line went dead.

…

At the same time.

Grand Line, a secret CP base.

On the vast expanse of white earth, the heavily fortified CP base had been reduced to rubble.

Thick gray walls were slashed with long, jagged scars, and the bodies of CP agents in black suits lay strewn across the ground—many cruelly torn apart.

High above, a massive white birdcage slowly contracted and faded away.

Polished pointed shoes stepped through the blood-soaked mud, weaving past countless shattered corpses, as crimson droplets dripped from the hem of a pink-feathered coat.

"Fufufufufu... this bunch of arrogant old fossils..."

The blond Celestial Dragon suddenly burst into manic laughter, his body shaking uncontrollably, tears even welling beneath his sunglasses.

"They have no idea what that guy is really capable of!"

Senor silently pulled along a blind father and daughter, following quietly behind Doflamingo.

Snap!

Doflamingo crushed the blood-stained Den Den Mushi in his hand and threw his head back, laughing aloud.

"I'm getting more and more excited."

"Just imagine the looks on those five old bastards' faces when they finally realize what Daren's trump card is!"

"Fufufufufu!!"

"All their so-called plans and ambushes... in that man's eyes, it's nothing more than a game!"

"But..."

Doflamingo gradually stopped laughing and turned to look at Senor.

"Senor, why did that guy Daren forbid me from revealing myself?"

Senor bowed respectfully and replied in a low voice,

"The World Government's trump card is still unknown. Godfather-sama believes it's not yet time for the final battle."

"He needs you, Young Master, to remain in the shadows."

Doflamingo frowned, scoffing dismissively.

"How boring."

He waved his hand, and Senor nodded, quickly leading the father and daughter toward the port.

A secret Donquixote ship was already waiting in that direction.

Left alone, Doflamingo stood there for a long time, as if trying to suppress some swelling emotion.

After a while, he slowly exhaled.

"In that case... let's collect a little interest today, you old fossils."

With a flick of his finger, the blond Celestial Dragon triggered a distant explosion.

The base's armory erupted into a massive fireball, swallowing everything in its path and erasing all traces.

The next instant—

A bloodstained Doflamingo launched into the sky, grinning savagely, a chilling murderous intent radiating from him as he flew toward his next target.

That day, ten secret CP strongholds of the World Government in the Grand Line were attacked by unidentified assailants.

Not even a single distress call made it out—each one was wiped off the map.

The cross-shaped flag of authority was drenched in blood.

Over 800 CP agents of all ranks—dead with no remains.

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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