On the other side, at this moment, Crocodile had already arrived at King's Plateau and met with Doflamingo.

Doflamingo was visibly surprised — he hadn't expected Crocodile to show up.

The two actually had a decent relationship.

"My captain is here too" Crocodile cut straight to the point, wasting no time with small talk.

"The one behind you actually came himself?"

Doflamingo's expression changed. He knew that someone like him wouldn't come just to sightsee.

"What's he here for? And what does it have to do with me?"

Doflamingo chuckled.

"To work for him."

"Work for him? You mean… join you?"

"That's right."

Crocodile's mission was clear: inform Doflamingo, get him mentally prepared, and try to make him voluntarily join Elior. Of course, that was unlikely. If persuasion failed, then conflict was inevitable.

Though calling it a "war" would be an exaggeration—neither Doflamingo nor his Donquixote Family were remotely qualified to go to war with Elior. Even Elior's second-in-command would be enough to obliterate the entire crew.

So what did Doflamingo possibly have that could stand against Elior?

"Does working for him mean surrendering to him?" Doflamingo asked bluntly. He was naturally wary of Elior's power. After all, he had worked with Kaido and knew just how terrifying the King of the Beasts was.

In front of Kaido, Doflamingo — king of Dressrosa and a man who danced between the worlds of crime and politics — was as insignificant as an ant.

Yes, an ant.

That vast difference in power made Doflamingo feel helpless and even fearful.

And Elior? He was someone who defeated Kaido. Someone who slaughtered his way through the War at Marineford.

Doflamingo had witnessed it firsthand. He understood.

But asking him — a proud and rebellious man — to surrender?

That was a step too far.

Doflamingo's dream had always been to overturn the existing order and replace it with a new one under his control. In other words, Doflamingo himself wanted to become the king of the world.

So how could he possibly kneel to Elior?

Of course, if it were a business relationship, like the one he had with the Beasts Pirates, that would be acceptable.

But surrender? Never.

He ruled Dressrosa from above. He had the blood of the Celestial Dragons flowing through his veins. Bowing to anyone was beneath him.

"That's right" Crocodile replied coldly.

Elior's intention was indeed for Doflamingo to surrender. If he didn't, the consequences would be… grim.

Most likely, Elior would kill Doflamingo and take everything he owned.

Doflamingo simply shook his head and smiled.

"I think I can talk to him. Hey, don't get worked up, Crocodile."

He still hoped he could negotiate with Elior, strike some kind of deal. But of course, that was wishful thinking.

Elior's power was in a league of its own. To think he could speak on equal footing was delusional.

If Doflamingo was a wolf, then Elior was the largest, fiercest Sea King in the ocean.

Negotiating with Elior? Not a chance.

—

Elsewhere, with Reiju by his side, Elior casually walked past Admiral Fujitora.

Fujitora walked past him too, instinctively sensing that this man was not ordinary.

No—far from it.

That pressure… that overwhelming aura.

This was definitely someone strong. Very strong.

"Who was that?"

"This pressure… It's on par with mine. Someone weaker could never give off a presence like that."

Fujitora was now deeply curious. He hadn't expected to encounter someone this powerful here.

Even though they merely passed by each other, it had left an impression.

And yet, no one on the street recognized Elior.

He wasn't like Big Mom or Kaido, who had roamed the New World for decades. He hadn't built that kind of visual reputation — yet.

But he didn't need to.

Elior's overwhelming aura alone made civilians instinctively avoid him, turn away, or glance back in shock. And as Cavendish once said, Elior's face alone was enough to turn heads — without fail.

—

Meanwhile, a squad of Marines was looking for Fujitora. During their search, they stumbled upon Elior.

And the moment they recognized him, they collapsed in terror.

It was understandable that civilians didn't know Elior on sight—but Marines? They had to memorize the faces of the Yonko.

Now, with a Yonko standing in front of them, how could they not be afraid?

Several sailors were paralyzed with fear, drenched in sweat like they had just escaped a nightmare.

It wasn't until Elior had left that they were finally able to breathe again.

They immediately ran off to find Fujitora — and with more urgency than ever.

Ten minutes later, they finally found him.

"I told you… I prefer walking alone" Fujitora sighed when he sensed them approach, but there was no blame in his tone.

"Admiral Issho… S-Sir!" one of the Marines stammered.

"Something terrible has happened!"

They were so shaken they could barely speak coherently.

"What happened?" Fujitora asked, confused. Though blind, he could feel their fear.

Why were they so scared?

"Just now… we ran into Elior—the Yonko!"

"Yes, it was definitely him!"

"That oppressive aura—it was overwhelming! It could only be him!"

"The Yonko… Elior?"

Fujitora's expression turned serious. He didn't doubt their words for a second.

Now it made sense — the powerful aura he had sensed earlier.

No wonder.

It had to be Elior.

"What is he doing here…?"

Fujitora was both shocked and unsettled.

Right now, the number one threat to the World Government and the Marine wasn't the Revolutionary Army anymore — it was Elior.

Once upon a time, the Revolutionary Army was the world's biggest enemy. But now, the Gorosei had declared Elior the most dangerous man alive.

He was that powerful.

Both the Marine and the World Government had concluded that if they ever had to confront Elior, it would take at least two admirals to engage him.

And if they truly wanted to kill him?

They would need three.