Chapter 488: The Four Emperors Aren’t So Easily Defeated!

Chapter 488: Chapter 488: The Four Emperors Aren’t So Easily Defeated!

Usopp stared at Law in disbelief. Contact Doflamingo?

What on earth was this guy planning?

Why contact such a dangerous person?

"Why are you calling such a dangerous guy?"

"Because it’s part of the plan," Law replied calmly.

"Part of the plan?"

Usopp exclaimed frantically, "How come I didn’t know about this!"

Deciding to attack a Four Emperor was one thing, but now they were provoking one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea too? What was going on?

"Because he never mentioned this part of the plan before, so of course you didn’t know," Meiser said.

Law hadn’t told them about the follow-up plan from the very beginning, so it was normal for Usopp to be unaware.

"Looks like another troublesome situation," Nami said, rubbing her temples in frustration.

"Can’t be helped. We’re the ones who formed an alliance with this guy," Sanji shrugged.

Since they were allies now, they just had to deal with it.

Then, Sanji leaned closer to Law and said, "But Law, let me give you a piece of advice. Luffy’s idea of an alliance and yours aren’t quite the same, so you’d better be careful."

Law:

This was already the second member of the Straw Hat Pirates to tell him something like this.

For a moment, Law felt a pang of regret.

But... things had already progressed to this point, and there was no turning back now.

"Hey, you guys!"

Caesar glared angrily at the group and shouted, "Don’t think you can get away with doing something like this unscathed!"

"You fools, just wallow in your own stupidity and wait to be brutally killed by those big shots..."

Thud!

Without giving Caesar a chance to continue his rant, Sanji kicked him squarely in the face, knocking his recently set nose crooked again.

"Oww... that hurts..."

"Hey, Sanji!"

Chopper glared at Sanji disapprovingly. "I’m still treating him! Why did you kick him?"

After a brief pause, Chopper added, "At least wait until I finish treating him before you kick him."

Sanji:

Caesar: !!

Sanji looked at Chopper in shock. What did he mean by "wait until I finish treating him"?

Meanwhile, Caesar stared at Chopper and Sanji with terror in his eyes. These guys really were devils!

"Joker... come save me!"

Watching tears stream from Caesar’s eyes, Meiser shook his head and turned his attention back to Law. "Go on."

"Mm."

"In the New World, most of the major pirates have their own territories somewhere on the sea," Law explained. "They command countless subordinates, appearing like massive criminal syndicates ruling over the ocean. They’re on a completely different scale from the pirate crews we’ve encountered before!"

"Is that true for the Four Emperors as well?" Merry asked curiously.

"Yes," Law replied seriously. "And they are the most formidable among them all!"

"If we were to challenge them with the strength of a single pirate crew, we might not even get to see their captain. So to deal with them, we must unite."

"That’s why you formed an alliance with our Straw Hat Pirates, right?" Brook said.

"Mhm."

Law nodded honestly—that was indeed one of his goals.

"But what does this have to do with Doflamingo?" Perona asked, puzzled.

Why must they provoke that Royal Shichibukai named Doflamingo?

"That relates to what I’m about to say next."

After speaking, Law paused briefly before continuing, "To avoid drawing the attention of the Marines, these major figures on the sea prefer to operate from behind the scenes."

"So when conducting certain transactions, they need a reliable intermediary to complete the deals."

"And the most trusted intermediary among them is the Royal Shichibukai—Doflamingo!"

"Also known as... Joker!"

Hearing Law’s words, Nico Robin instinctively furrowed her brow.

That might be true, but what purpose would attacking an intermediary serve?

Would it help them defeat Kaido?

Out of courtesy, however, Nico Robin did not interrupt Law and instead waited to hear what he would say next.

"I know you’re wondering why I’m so determined to deal with Doflamingo," Law said. "But I can tell you with certainty—this is something that must be done!"

"Why?"

Franky voiced the question on everyone’s mind.

"Because Kaido is Doflamingo’s biggest trading partner!" Law declared. "And that’s precisely our target this time!"

"Kaido..."

Nami thought for a moment before saying, "Are you planning to temporarily cut off Kaido’s ability to trade with the outside world?"

"It’s not that simple," Law replied. "What I intend to do is reduce the combat strength of the Beasts Pirates!"

"Reduce their combat strength?"

Confusion appeared in Nami’s eyes. Would cutting off trade with the outside world really weaken them?

Could it be... that the Land of Wano needs to trade with the outside world to survive?

But that doesn’t make sense. Isn’t that country supposed to be isolated and closed off? Could such a nation not be self-sufficient?

Then how have they survived all this time?

"It must be the items being traded that are the issue," Sanji guessed.

"Black Leg is correct," Law confirmed. "The goods Doflamingo trades with Kaido are indeed problematic."

"What are they?"

"SMILE!" Law said seriously. "Artificial Devil Fruits!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone immediately looked shocked. Devil Fruits could be artificially created?

"You’ve got to be kidding!" Usopp stared at Law in disbelief. "Devil Fruits can be manufactured?"

"If that’s the case, wouldn’t the Beasts Pirates be able to produce Ability Users indefinitely?"

That’s just too unfair!

"Exactly," Law said. "Otherwise, why do you think I said the Four Emperors are so difficult to deal with?"

It’s not just because of their own formidable strength—it’s also because their pirate crews are incredibly powerful!

Nami: ...

That might be true, but hearing this news still sends chills down my spine.

A Devil Fruit army?

Just how strong would their combat power be?

"But you don’t need to worry too much," Law said. "Because Artificial Devil Fruits seem to carry risks."

"So the Beasts Pirates don’t have as many Ability Users as you might think."

"Then how many are there?" Usopp instinctively asked.

"About... over five hundred."

Usopp: .

Over five hundred?!

Their pirate crew had less than ten Ability Users in total, yet the Beasts Pirates had five hundred?

What kind of joke is this, you bastard!

"Don’t get so worked up, Usopp," Meiser spoke up. "Having many Ability Users doesn’t necessarily mean they’re strong."

Ultimately, it depends on their own strength; abilities are just an addition.

Seeing Meiser say this, Usopp gradually calmed down.

Yeah, their pirate crew wasn’t weak either, so there was no need to be afraid.

Well, mainly because being afraid wouldn’t help anyway.

Thinking this, Usopp glanced at the few formidable guys on the ship and silently sighed.

Their eyes were growing more and more excited...

"Don’t worry, from today onward, their Devil Fruit Ability Users won’t increase anymore," Law said.

"Why?" Nami asked, puzzled.

"Glasses," Law glanced at Meiser and said, "do you remember the S.A.D. Production Room I destroyed on Punk Hazard?"

"That room with all the big tanks?" Meiser stroked his chin.

At the time, he thought it was something Caesar used to make weapons, but it was actually for producing Artificial Devil Fruits?

"Correct," Law nodded. "That was the place used to produce the raw materials for making Artificial Devil Fruits."

"Without that, Doflamingo can no longer produce Artificial Devil Fruits."

"But what if Doflamingo has the person who made that thing..." Sanji’s words trailed off before he paused, then he turned to look at Caesar and said, "I get it! The person who made that thing is Caesar, right!"

Now he understood why Law spoke so confidently—the person was already with them!

"Exactly, that’s also why I had you capture him," Law nodded.

With Caesar as an important bargaining chip, no matter how furious Doflamingo gets, he’ll have to listen obediently!

Otherwise... destruction awaits him!

"Hoh~"

"Truly surprising," Sanji said, looking at Caesar, whose face had turned slightly flushed from the praise. "I never expected him to be the one who produces the raw materials for Artificial Devil Fruits."

This scumbag actually has such an ability?

"So impressive!"

Chopper looked at Caesar in astonishment. "You actually managed to research and produce the raw materials for Artificial Devil Fruits?"

"Shurororororo~"

"That’s right, just like that~" Caesar said with a smug smile.

He was just that kind of incredibly brilliant scientist!

Shurororororo~

"I never expected this guy to be so capable."

Meiser also looked at Caesar with surprise. He had previously thought this was just an evil scientist who liked researching weapons, but it turned out he had such skills?

Truly unexpected.

"It’s not as impressive as you think," Law calmly glanced at Caesar and said. "He merely applied the Lineage Factor theory discovered by Vegapunk."

As soon as these words were spoken, the few people still gathered around Caesar immediately showed looks of disdain.

"What? So it was Vegapunk who was actually impressive."

"Tch, how boring."

"This guy really isn’t much after all."

Caesar: ??

Watching them walk away one by one, Caesar instantly bristled with anger.

"Shut up, you bastards!" Caesar shouted furiously. "Could you idiots even make it?"

"You..."

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

Without giving this guy a chance to keep spouting nonsense, Chopper and the others immediately rushed over and gave him a good beating, directly pounding Caesar into submission.

"You have no right to call us idiots," Sanji said irritably.

Honestly, still not seeing the situation clearly at this point... truly reckless and asking for trouble!

After glancing at Caesar, Franky said, "So, after capturing this guy, Hundred Beasts Kaido won’t be able to keep increasing the number of Ability Users, right?"

"That’s correct."

Law nodded and said, "However, there must still be a SMILE manufacturing factory inside Dressrosa, so that needs to be destroyed too."

"Only then can we completely cut off the dealings between Doflamingo and Kaido."

This way... that guy Doflamingo will be utterly finished!

"So, we need to go to war with Doflamingo?" Meiser spoke up.

Although he didn’t particularly care about Doflamingo being one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, casually starting a fight with a Pirate Crew wasn’t exactly a rational thing to do.

So he needed to understand the full picture.

"It might not necessarily come to a fight."

Law said, "If that guy obediently follows my words and resigns from his position as a Royal Seven Warlord of the Sea, then we’ll have a chance to sneak in and destroy the factory!"

"Resign from the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea?"

A trace of surprise appeared in Meiser’s eyes. What kind of plan was this?

Would that guy Doflamingo be willing to resign from the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea?

"Exactly, resign from the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea!"

Law said seriously, "That’s my condition for returning Caesar!"

"Doflamingo definitely won’t want to offend Kaido, so he’ll inevitably resign from his position as a Royal Seven Warlord of the Sea in exchange for Caesar."

Hearing Law’s words, a look of emotion welled up in Caesar’s eyes.

"Joker... I never thought I was so important in Joker’s heart... I’m truly so happy!"

Hearing Caesar’s voice, Meiser glanced at him and then said, "Looks like we need to put this guy to sleep for a while first."

Otherwise, their plan might very well be leaked.

Thinking this, Meiser used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside Caesar, striking before the other could even react.

"Thump!"

With one blow, he directly knocked Caesar unconscious!

After doing this, Meiser clapped his hands and said, "Alright, let’s continue."

Law:

Why did this guy just attack without warning?

Also, wasn’t that speed a bit too fast?

He felt his dynamic vision couldn’t even keep up with the other’s speed!

It seems to catch him, one must use Observation Haki or a Devil Fruit Ability... Law thought to himself.

Thinking this, a trace of gravity appeared in Law’s eyes.

"Continue with your plan," Zoro said.

"Mm."

Regaining his composure, Law nodded and continued, "Just as I said earlier, the purpose of that call was to force Doflamingo to resign from the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea."

"Once that guy steps down from the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, he’ll become an enemy of the Marines!"

"Then the Marine Headquarters will dispatch an Admiral to hunt him down, and he won’t have time to come after us."

"At that point... we can infiltrate Dressrosa and destroy the factory!"

Once the factory there is completely destroyed, Doflamingo will lose all leverage in his dealings with Kaido!

By then... even if he doesn’t take action himself, Doflamingo won’t survive the combined assault of the Marines and Kaido!

And that is his plan!

If the operation proceeds smoothly, he can rely on the power of Kaido and the Marines to eliminate Doflamingo!

In that way... his wish will be fulfilled!