"Young Master, a battleship has appeared at the port. It seems to be the ship of Admiral Christian Raleigh, one of the Navy's newly appointed Three Admirals."
A member of the Donquixote Family ran into the crowded meeting hall and anxiously reported to Doflamingo.
As an old-timer who had also come from the North Blue and experienced Raleigh's rule, he knew the terror of Raleigh.
It was precisely because Raleigh had consolidated all power in the North Blue into his own hands that Doflamingo had decided to withdraw all their people from the North Blue ahead of schedule.
This led to Doflamingo's development in Dressrosa. Doflamingo's face darkened, his expression filled with displeasure.
Upon hearing this news, the reactions of the people below varied greatly.
Most recalled that terrifying figure before whom no one dared to resist.
However, they also remembered that Doflamingo now held the status of one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and should not fear the Navy.
Only Corazon remained silent, though his heart was churning intensely.
'Admiral Raleigh... why would he come here?'
Judging by these people's reactions, their relationship with Raleigh seemed to run deep.
Although Corazon had been adopted by Sengoku, he was not groomed as Sengoku's successor in many respects.
Sengoku had not shared many secrets with him.
'Regardless, if there was an opportunity, I should help Admiral Raleigh.'
Corazon did not know Raleigh's methods, but he knew Doflamingo's and the Donquixote Family's.
He worried that Raleigh might be rebuffed by Doflamingo.
Suppressing the killing intent in his heart, Doflamingo asked, "Do we know where they are headed now?"
The Donquixote Family member who had just delivered the message kept his head down and said nothing.
Seeing this, a trace of anger appeared on Doflamingo's face.
"Then why haven't you gone to find out?"
After this rebuke, the family member lowered his head and hurried out.
"Now, immediately, clean up our mess. This guy doesn't play by the rules and doesn't care about status. Although our Donquixote Family isn't afraid of him, we can't let him find any evidence of our crimes."
"Aside from weapons trafficking, clean up everything else. Don't let him discover anything."
A person's reputation is like the shadow of a tree.
Doflamingo had also "cooperated" under Raleigh for a period and knew very well that Raleigh hated human trafficking and drug smuggling the most.
These two were Raleigh's unbreakable iron laws.
Once discovered, even Doflamingo's status as a Warlord would be of no use.
After all, back in the North Blue, when Raleigh was just a moderately capable Commodore, he had already trampled Doflamingo, a former Celestial Dragon, into the mud.
Now that Raleigh had become an Admiral, it went without saying.
The Donquixote Family's base immediately descended into chaos.
Slaves were taken away in batches, and drugs that couldn't be transported were thrown into the sea by the family's members.
...
In the distance, as soon as Raleigh stepped off the battleship, he noticed someone surveilling the port.
Without much thought, he knew they were Doflamingo's people.
However, he showed no reaction and simply walked straight toward the Donquixote Family's base.
"Quick, inform the Young Master—an Admiral is heading toward our family's base!" In a hidden corner, two members of the Donquixote Family were secretly communicating.
One of them took out a Den Den Mushi, preparing to alert the family.
"You two, are you keeping an eye on us?"
The sudden remark startled the two Donquixote Family members so much that they dropped the Den Den Mushi.
A sturdy figure emerged from the shadows and caught the Den Den Mushi.
"That's rather impolite. Do I look that ugly?" Raleigh's adjutant spoke with a forced smile.
"N-Navy! How did you get here? We're members of the Donquixote Family. Our Young Master is Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. You can't kill us!"
Seeing the gleaming military blade in the adjutant's hand, the two Donquixote Family members trembled in fear, invoking Doflamingo's name as a shield.
The adjutant found it all rather tedious.
"I must be out of my mind, wasting time with small fries like you. I'd better finish you off quickly and report to Admiral Raleigh."
With a swift slash of the blade, the two Donquixote Family members stared in disbelief, clutching their slit throats before collapsing to the ground.
The adjutant wiped the blade clean and took the Den Den Mushi with him.
In other nearby areas, similar incidents occurred.
Many pirates and spies from other underground organizations who had been secretly surveilling were also uncovered by the Navy and beheaded.
Raleigh paid no mind to the deaths of these minor players.
After all, he knew that none of them were innocent.
Their deaths were meaningless.
"Admiral Raleigh, it seems Doflamingo is already aware of our arrival."
Raleigh nodded.
In fact, he already knew this.
Doflamingo had been operating many ventures in Dressrosa, including smuggling weapons, people, and drugs.
The port was one of their most crucial locations.
It was only natural that there would be more than one or two Donquixote Family members here, and their discovery was to be expected.
As the saying goes, when you are powerful enough, even being discovered is no issue.
In Raleigh's view, aside from the fact that Doflamingo couldn't be killed, everything else was inconsequential.
However, not long after he began walking, a squad of guards arrived before Raleigh.
Judging by their attire, they were likely the King's Guard.
Yet Raleigh was puzzled.
Why would King Riku want to see him? Could it be because of Doflamingo?
"Admiral Raleigh, our king wishes to invite you to the palace for a discussion." The leader of the guard squad appeared young and likely wasn't the official captain, as his presence felt too weak.
Raleigh thought it over.
He didn't mind one more or one less matter and nodded in agreement.
Soon, in the palace on the high ground, he met King Riku, whose hair had already turned quite gray.
"Admiral Raleigh, I am very pleased that you could come to our Kingdom of Dressrosa. I am King Riku, the ruler of the Kingdom of Dressrosa." King Riku did not seem to put on airs, instead, he immediately shook hands with Raleigh.
Raleigh had no desire to engage with him and got straight to the point.
"Your Majesty King Riku, may I ask what do you need of me?"
King Riku's smile remained on his face, but he suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
He didn't expect Raleigh to be so direct.
"Since you wish to know, Admiral Raleigh, I will speak plainly."
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