Chapter 124: The Strategy of Dividing Forces

After several months of preparation, the Donquixote Family was finally ready to depart the North Blue.

Heading to the Grand Line did not mean abandoning the North Blue as a sphere of influence. After all, Doflamingo had spent over twenty years cultivating his roots there. His plan was to maintain his existing power base while expanding into new ventures.

The notion that the Donquixote Family "controlled" the North Blue was a vague, generalized claim. While they were the largest pirate crew and the greatest beneficiary of the status quo in the region, "absolute control" was a myth. Countless pirate crews of varying sizes still operated across these waters, and the family’s dominance was strictly confined to the pirate world; they could not contend with the might of the Marines.

Doflamingo needed a more solid foundation and absolute authority over a specific territory to support his family, and his choice was nothing short of brilliant: Dressrosa, a kingdom that had belonged to the Donquixote lineage 800 years ago.

Moving the family’s center of gravity to the New World was inevitable, but they would not relinquish their "control" over the North Blue. Furthermore, given the immense logistical difficulty of moving an entire organization across the globe, most of the rank-and-file members would remain behind to manage the foundational layers of their various underground businesses. Such personnel were easily replaceable, and once the family was settled in the New World, any manpower gaps could be quickly filled.

In terms of personnel, Doflamingo would only take his top officers and the core members of the crew—the very essence and power center of the organization.

Around mid-year, this massive pirate fleet, which had long been the bane of the North Blue’s underworld, finally sailed away. With their main combat force gone, the remaining members shifted their operations to more covert methods.

The Marines soon detected the unusual movements of the Donquixote Pirates. At first, they assumed it was just routine activity, until their surveillance ships sent a definitive report: the pirate ship *Miss Love Duck* had crested Reverse Mountain, and the Donquixote Pirates had entered the Grand Line.

This was a bombshell that sent the North Blue Marines into a frenzy. The Donquixote crew, who had stubbornly held their ground for so long, had finally entered the Grand Line. What was happening?

Was this a sudden, impulsive decision? Or were they truly abandoning their North Blue base to venture into more expansive waters? Given Doflamingo’s strength, the North Blue was essentially a "newbie village," so his departure was long overdue.

However, it could also have been a short-term voyage; the Donquixote crew had ventured into the Grand Line before only to retreat back to the North Blue. But this time, signs suggested that the pirate crew was truly "leaving" the North Blue for good.

Was this good news or bad?

The pressure on the North Blue Marines would certainly decrease, but the crew wasn't going to the Grand Line for a vacation. Were they planning something major?

Regardless, after much deliberation, the Marines chose not to publicize the matter extensively. Without the Donquixote Family’s iron-fisted suppression, the other pirates in the North Blue might trigger a chaotic uprising, keeping the Marines busier than ever. Choosing not to stir up trouble for themselves, the Marines kept quiet. The Donquixote crew’s movements would eventually come to light, but that was far better than a sudden, explosive power vacuum.

As for the Donquixote Pirates, after entering the Grand Line, they sailed east and quickly reached the vicinity of the Gourmet Island. Their speed was remarkable—Doflamingo had a clear objective. He had no interest in sightseeing, unnecessary stops at random islands, or any desire for exploration.

However, at Gourmet Island, the fast-moving fleet suddenly came to a halt. According to their pre-arranged plans, the group was to split into two here.

"Monet, Ain, from this moment on, you will operate independently. Head to Dressrosa in the New World ahead of the rest of the family. As we discussed, I need you to infiltrate the palace of King Riku..." Since entering the Grand Line, Doflamingo had explained his strategic intent, and now it was time to implement the guidelines.

"Understood, Young Master."

This had been planned well in advance, so Monet smiled and accepted the order without surprise, and Ain nodded in agreement.

"You will board a Marine ship to reach the New World, but that is all the family can do for you. Once you arrive in Dressrosa, you must act on your own. Your goal is to gather as much intelligence on the country as possible."

The Donquixote Family’s reach did not extend that far yet, so they would have to rely on their own efforts. Doflamingo could only ensure they reached their destination safely, for which he had bribed a Marine officer—a task he performed with seasoned ease.

Although Vergo had failed previously, it did not mean Doflamingo’s method of using spies was flawed. If one spy bit the dust, thousands would stand up to take their place—or in this case, two.

As for the choice of spies, Monet was selected because she possessed the talent; or perhaps she was the only one in the family at the time with the aptitude for espionage. Ain served as a secondary insurance policy, as Monet was not a combatant—or rather, her combat strength was effectively zero at this stage—and Ain was there to handle extreme situations.

Of course, Qiubai could technically handle this job, but strangely, Doflamingo no longer wanted him involved. Why? Because keeping him separated from Ain would, to a certain extent, increase Qiubai’s reservations, preventing him from doing whatever he pleased.

"Right," Doflamingo added, stopping Monet after giving his instructions. "As one of my most important subordinates, I have a fitting gift for you."

With that, he pulled out a fruit that looked like a tangerine, but it was covered in a layer of crystalline frost. Beneath the translucent ice lay an orange rind, stained with strange, intricate patterns.

Because Monet’s mission was of such high importance, Doflamingo prepared to grant her the power to protect herself. At least on the surface, she appeared irreplaceable; Ain had always been a bit "dull" and hardly seemed like the type of talent capable of cleverly gathering intelligence.

Although Ain had acting skills, that part of her had always been kept hidden.

The intelligence agents would head to Dressrosa in advance, while the remaining combatants would carry out an operation that was far more significant and direct.

And it was incredibly dangerous.

It was the kind of "playing with fire" that could result in them being consumed by the flames themselves.

Doflamingo was finally ready to make his move on the Heavenly Tribute.