"The Golden City has indeed fallen. According to the intelligence we received, a fierce battle broke out between Tesoro and Kaido, almost wiping out half of the Golden City."
Law said in a very solemn tone.
He didn't expect that at such a critical moment, Kaido would dare to take the risk to attack the Golden Emperor Tesoro.
Originally, he thought that after the public execution that shocked the world, Kaido should be exhausted and shrink in Wano Country to recuperate.
Unexpectedly, such a thing happened.
"Tesoro was captured alive."
"It seems Kaido intends to seize control of the trade routes in the New World," Liu Feng mused, his narrowed eyes gleaming like twin blades, radiating an icy sharpness.
"Trade routes?" Law echoed in confusion, his brow furrowed.
Doflamingo, still in his black cat form, looked equally puzzled.
Liu Feng took a deep drag from his cigar, the curling smoke shrouding his face in an air of inscrutable depth. Then, he sneered.
"That's right. Killing Tesoro means nothing to Kaido," he said. "If all he wanted was revenge, he could've simply eliminated Tesoro. With his strength, that wouldn't have been difficult."
Golden Emperor Tesoro was undoubtedly powerful—he had even awakened the full potential of the Gold-Gold Fruit, making his combat abilities nearly on par with an admiral. Yet, Kaido hadn't just killed him. That meant there was something bigger at play.
Compared to Kaido, a battle-hardened Four Emperor with near-invulnerable defenses, Tesoro didn't stand a chance. He might not have even been able to scratch Kaido's skin.
"And yet, that lunatic Kaido chose to capture him alive," Liu Feng mused. "That means he wasn't after revenge—he wanted the resources Tesoro controlled."
"But with the underground world's illegal trade completely shut down, what's left that could be worth this effort?"
"There's only one answer—the trade routes of the New World."
Even if Kaido managed to reopen those blocked routes, it wouldn't change the fact that no nation or power in the New World would dare cooperate with him.
At this point, the New Navy's influence extended to every corner of the New World. Aside from a small portion of the Red-Haired Pirates' territory and the seas around Wano, they had taken control of everything.
"In this situation, even if Kaido restores the trade routes, what island or nation would risk offending the New Navy just to do business with the Beasts Pirates?"
Liu Feng smirked. "That's the key point. Which force in these seas would actually work with Wano?"
Law and Doflamingo's black cat form exchanged glances before answering in unison.
"The World Government!"
The black cat suddenly let out a sneering chuckle. "Fufufu… I didn't expect those government rats to still be clinging to their dealings with Wano Country."
Liu Feng glanced at him with a knowing smile. "You seem to know quite a few secrets."
Puffing out his chest, the black cat proudly patted it with his paw. "Of course!"
"On the surface, Wano may be a closed-off nation, but their trade with the World Government never stopped. At least, when I was still around, more than half of Kaido's arms shipments came through me and went straight to the government."
He flicked his tail and smirked. "And do you really think it's that simple?"
"Punk Hazard's artificial Devil Fruit experiments, the human gigantification projects, and all sorts of other forbidden research… none of it would have progressed so smoothly without the World Government's support and silent approval."
Grinning, he pushed his tiny sunglasses up with a claw.
Law, listening intently, took a deep breath.
So it was all connected. The inhumane experiments, the weapons factories in Wano—everything had ties to the World Government.
Seeing the shock on Law's face, Doflamingo seemed to revel in his reaction.
"Don't forget—war and chaos actually benefit the world government."
"Thanks to Kaido's constant warmongering across the world, many independent nations were left with no choice but to seek protection and assistance from the World Government. And in the end, they were forced to sign treaties to join it."
"And we all know the kind of sky-high Celestial Tribute those treaties impose, don't we?"
"By exporting turmoil, the World Government ensures it remains the only force capable of 'maintaining peace.'"
"Fufufufu… This world is nothing more than a toy in their hands."
Liu Feng sneered. "A thief crying thief, huh?"
"The biggest source of war is actually the world government itself. If this truth were exposed, no one would believe it."
Still, as he pieced everything together, he couldn't help but acknowledge the reality.
This wasn't new to him—history in his previous world had played out in eerily similar ways.
Keeping the enemy alive… sometimes, that was the best strategy.