"Oh? What do you mean, Godfather-sama?"
At those words, Doflamingo couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Daren smiled.
"The Shichibukai candidates chosen by the World Government are really just second-tier contenders in these seas... Those who truly stand at the top would never accept the government's summons."
"We can't control who the World Government considers, but we can shrink their options... until they're left with no choice at all."
The moment he said that, a chill ran down Doflamingo's spine.
He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but even separated by thousands of miles through a Den Den Mushi, he could feel the suffocating murderous intent and arrogance in Daren's voice!
Yes—murder!
No matter who the government selects, if they don't meet Daren's standards, he'll eliminate them without a sound.
And the scariest part? With Daren's current strength and mobility, it wasn't just talk.
"Cut down the weeds, and in the end, the one that blossoms will be the most beautiful rose."
Daren gave a half-smile.
"Doffy, this is your chance."
Doflamingo took a deep breath. For a moment, he was speechless.
This man's spirit, his vision, his madness—even the audacity to defy the World Government itself—was enough to shake even someone like him, a natural-born "bad seed."
Lighting a cigarette, Doflamingo took a long drag before slowly speaking.
"But... even if I go that far, what if those five old geezers still refuse to grant me the title of Shichibukai?"
"No, no, Doffy. You've misunderstood something important."
A reckless grin tugged at the corners of Daren's lips.
"My godson doesn't need charity."
"We don't need the Five Elders to bestow the title of Shichibukai... Remember this—you're my godson, Rogers Daren's godson. If we want something, we just take it."
Doflamingo's breath caught.
Take it?
How?
Even though he'd long since fallen from the World Nobles' inner circle, as a former Celestial Dragon, Doflamingo understood better than anyone just how deep and powerful the World Government truly was.
Those wasteful pigs—the Celestial Dragons—had ruled from atop the Red Line for centuries not by luck, but through real, undeniable power.
The World Government's authority was absolute. That was a truth Doflamingo had learned firsthand.
"Godfather-sama, I don't understand what you mean."
Still too young... Daren chuckled to himself.
"Doffy, on these seas, absolute strength is certainly crucial... but just as important is learning to ride the tide."
"Ride the tide?"
"Exactly. Ride the tide."
Taking a slow puff of his cigar, Daren spoke with ease.
"You have something no one else on these seas does—your bloodline."
"Running through your veins is the noble, supreme blood of the Celestial Dragons."
"Even if the Five Elders stripped you of that status, it's a fact they can't erase or deny."
At that, something clicked in Doflamingo's mind. A glint flashed behind his sunglasses.
"Please continue, Godfather-sama."
That title rolled off his tongue more naturally now. Daren smiled and went on.
"If you can make full use of that identity, many problems that seem insurmountable will suddenly become trivial... Things others think impossible will be child's play to you."
"So let's return to the original question. In your view, what is the World Government's greatest weakness—or rather, its Achilles' heel?"
The World Government's... weakness?
Doflamingo was stunned.
Could such a massive entity, sitting atop the world, really have a weakness?
His mind kicked into high gear.
He knew this was Daren's way of guiding—or testing—him.
A man as overbearing as Daren would never keep useless trash at his side.
If he failed to give a satisfactory answer, Daren would lower his expectations of him.
At that thought, a strange sense of unease welled up inside Doflamingo.
He forced his brain to think faster, digging deep through his memories.
Countless pieces of intelligence on the World Government surged through his mind.
Soon, a thin sheen of cold sweat began to form on his forehead.
...
Five seconds,
Ten seconds,
Half a minute...
A full minute of silence passed, and Doflamingo's back was unknowingly drenched in cold sweat.
Suddenly—
"Heavenly Tribute!"
He abruptly stood up from the sofa and shouted in disbelief, his face filled with shock.
"That's right."
Daren smiled contentedly.
With Daren's confirmation, Doflamingo's pupils contracted sharply.
Then—
"Fufufufufufufu!!!"
He suddenly threw his head back and burst into maniacal laughter, his fingers curling in excitement.
His entire body began to tremble from sheer exhilaration and agitation.
"Heavenly Tribute!"
"That's it!!"
"How did I not think of it before?!"
"The weakness of the World Government—those useless pigs—their weakness is the Heavenly Tribute!!"
"If I steal the Heavenly Tribute, even if those five old geezers still hate me, they'll be forced to give me the title of Shichibukai under political pressure!"
"Fufufufufufu!!! And the most important thing is—I'm a Celestial Dragon!! A supreme Celestial Dragon... Even if I raid the Heavenly Tribute, they wouldn't dare lay a finger on me!!"
"Fufufufufufu!!! Godfather-sama, I get it now!!"
Doflamingo's laughter grew increasingly deranged. His Conqueror's Haki burst out uncontrollably, sweeping through the empty conference hall with surging gales.
If Daren had been present, he would have been astonished to find that Doflamingo's Conqueror's Haki had suddenly surged in strength—by at least 10 points!
"Very good. You finally understand... Truly, you are my most trusted godson."
Daren smiled with satisfaction.
"But don't rush things. There's something else you need to handle first."
Doflamingo quickly suppressed his grin and said in a serious tone,
"Godfather-sama, I'm listening."
This time, unlike his earlier pretense, there was a genuine trace of respect in his voice.
Daren smiled lightly.
"Leave the North Blue, my godson..."
He paused briefly.
"...I'll be waiting for you in the New World."
With that, the Den Den Mushi communication was cut off.
...
On the warship.
Daren put away the Den Den Mushi and leisurely exhaled a puff of smoke.
He stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking up at the sky with a proud and defiant gaze.
Suddenly, a curious thought flashed through his mind.
The so-called 'Shichibukai'... won't they be just the Seven Warlords of the Sea under the command of the 'King of the North Blue'?