Chapter 32

Title: Beyond the Four: The Arrival of the Fifth Emperor, 200 Billion Super Order

Without lingering at Naval Headquarters for long, Xilan swiftly departed to return to the G0 base. Whitebeard's offer had been too enticing to turn down.

Nevertheless, the task of eliminating Blackbeard, who harbored the soul of Rocks, was no simple feat. The 15 billion Beli bounty on offer was certainly enticing.

Luckily, Xilan had a plan of his own. After all, didn't Doflamingo sever the kidneys of all the members of the Blackbeard Pirates? Blackbeard must harbor a burning grudge against him, and it was only a matter of time before he sought revenge.

Xilan's strategy involved making Doflamingo even more high-profile, thus drawing the wrath of the Blackbeard Pirates.

Half a day later, Xilan arrived back at the G0 base. The scene before him was just as he remembered it: money gambling, pursuing women, and the most absurd part was that a mixture of Marines and pirates were openly drinking and chatting in broad daylight. Such was the normal state of affairs at the G0 base.

"Boss!"

"It's time to make some donations, Mr. Xilan!"

"Our brothers are dying of poverty lately."

Upon seeing Xilan, the Marines enthusiastically welcomed him. Xilan was not one to be stingy, and with a casual wave of his hand, he distributed hundreds of millions of berries.

These comrades had all followed him in the past. While money was important, there were still matters more significant, and they had returned primarily for those reasons.

Within the Admiral's office, Xilan instructed Chitong to summon Doflamingo.

In recent days, Doflamingo had been laying low in the G0 base. His connections with the Black Dragon had incurred the ire of both the World Government and the Marines, leading to the revocation of his Shichibukai status.

Furthermore, due to his numerous "kidney" endeavors, the atmosphere in the seas had shifted. Once dominated by the Four Emperors, it was now referred to as the "Five Emperors," with Doflamingo joining their ranks as the "Kidney Emperor."

While his reputation may have risen to the level of the Four Emperors, his actual strength paled in comparison. Recent actions had garnered him countless enemies, both inside and outside the pirate world. Fearing retribution, Doflamingo had sought refuge in the G0 base.

"What? You want me to go out and attract attention?" Doflamingo exclaimed upon receiving the mission.

Upon hearing Xilan's plan, he was left speechless. Wasn't it a bit too late to attempt to divert Blackbeard's attention now?

"What are you worried about? Don't forget, you still have me. This time, I'll protect you without charging a fee," Xilan snapped. "Once that guy shows his face, I promise to take him down!"

Doflamingo hesitated, clearly conflicted.

Seeing the youth's hesitation, Xilan added, "Do you plan to hide in my G0 base for the rest of your life? Eventually, you'll have to face the world outside."

Doflamingo clenched his teeth as if trying to resolve his inner turmoil.

Blackbeard was undoubtedly formidable, but before him stood Marine Admiral Xilan and the infamous "Dragon of Doom," Black Dragon. With such a powerful bodyguard, there was little cause for concern.

"Then, I'll do as Master Xilan wishes," Doflamingo finally conceded. As long as Xilan didn't renege on their deal, he had little to worry about—especially since he stood to gain 10 billion berries each year.

"Go back to Dressrosa right away," Xilan emphasized. "Remember, be conspicuous, and carry yourself like the king of the world."

Half an hour later, Doflamingo departed.

With the plan in motion, all they needed to do now was wait for their prey to take the bait.

With nothing else to occupy his time, Xilan called for Chitong to inquire about any recent major assignments.

During his idle moments, Xilan often took on lucrative tasks like assassinations or the destruction of certain countries and organizations. These assignments were typically carried out under his alter ego, the Black Dragon.

"The Beasts Pirates have placed a substantial order worth hundreds of billions," Chitong informed him.

Xilan's eyes lit up with interest. "Tell me more."

"They're requesting Vegapunk," Chitong explained, his brow furrowing.

Xilan scoffed in frustration. "Are you kidding me? Vegapunk is typically accompanied by high-ranking Marine personnel. Kizaru is usually by his side, and other Marine Admirals are quick to respond if he's attacked. This 100 billion berries contract won't be easy to fulfill. Reject it."

Chitong nodded, then sighed. "It's a shame. They were offering 200 billion berries."

"Wait a minute," Xilan interjected, stopping Chitong. He paused, contemplating the situation. In a hushed tone, he continued, "Ultimately, it's about resourcefulness. While the defense is tighter, nothing is impossible in this world. As long as you're determined, don't turn it down. Just accept it for now."

Chitong shot Xilan an amused yet exasperated glance. When it came to money, there was seemingly nothing their boss wouldn't do.

"In any case," Chitong questioned, "is Vegapunk really worth 200 billion berries? He's just a scientific researcher with relatively weak combat abilities."

Xilan replied confidently, "Of course he's worth it. Otherwise, do you think Kaido would bother? This man claims to be 500 years ahead of human thought. He possesses cutting-edge technologies, from artificial Devil Fruits to Pacifista units, and even the top-secret Marine special unit, the 'SSG.' He's the mastermind behind it all."

"With him, they'd be one step closer to realizing Kaido's ambition of world domination."

Dreams, they say, are priceless. Kaido certainly exemplified this notion.

The Beasts Pirates, although not as wealthy as the Whitebeard Pirates, had nearly emptied their coffers with this 200 billion berries deal.

—

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