Pirates: Your emperor has returned!

"So, this is the second time."

Rowan grinned, and the sand table in his pupils began to rotate again.

"The first time is 'lighting the fire,' the second time is 'pouring oil.'"

[100. Chapter Ninety-Eight: The So-Called "Plan"]

Adding fuel to the fire?

Crocodile pondered Rowan's words.

Meanwhile, the broadcast outside continued.

"Ahem! Residents of the Kingdom of Aden, this is an urgent broadcast from the World Government!"

"Please listen carefully to what I'm about to say, while ensuring your own safety!"

Caesar's voice wasn't pleasant, but his speech certainly had the style of a "world government."

But Crocodile still couldn't understand why the person who claimed to be a scientist from the World Government would broadcast a second time.

However, just as Crocodile was about to listen to what the other side was up to, the broadcast suddenly went silent.

The silence lasted for several minutes, until Crocodile began to grow impatient.

Several dozen seconds later, a sound came from the loudspeaker.

Crocodile listened intently, and what he heard was... sobbing?

Suddenly, a strange scream came from the other end of the broadcast, so loud that the broadcast equipment crackled.

Crocodile, who was concentrating intently, was so shocked by the loudspeaker that his ears rang, and he almost cleaved the broadcast in two with his sword, but he managed to hold back.

He wanted to hear what that bastard had to say before hacking him to pieces and throwing him into the sea to feed the fish!

……

"Waaah" is not a strange cry, but a sound of crying.

The man on the other end of the radio was crying his heart out.

Although they could only hear his voice and not see him, the listeners could easily imagine that the man must be weeping uncontrollably at that moment.

"I'm...sorry..."

The man cried for a while before he finally calmed down and slowly said in a still-shaken voice:

"My name is Caesar Clown, and I am a scientist belonging to the World Government's Science Force..."

Then came a desperate roar.

"Everyone in the Kingdom of Aden, the World Government has not abandoned you!"

"Look, I'm right here, that's the best proof!"

The man named Caesar shouted until his voice almost cracked.

This commotion naturally attracted the attention of the entire Kingdom of Aden.

Caesar's voice resounded in every corner of the Kingdom of Aden.

Some of those infected with the Crystal Demon virus were already planning to risk storming the Four Seas Alliance camp, but Caesar's words stopped them.

"I am deeply saddened by what you have suffered."

Caesar's voice trembled, as if he were filled with immense sorrow.

"The merciless 'Platinum Lead Disease' has appeared in your homeland. That terrible infectious disease has already claimed the lives of some of the people of the Kingdom of Aden, turning them into horrible monsters!"

"Upon learning of this news, the World Government immediately began preparations to dispatch a medical team to provide assistance."

"But in fact, even the world's recognized number one scientist, Vegapunk, was helpless in the face of this terrible infectious disease that had no solution!"

"Therefore, when the World Government was discussing solutions, many people suggested abandoning you!"

"But I—the scientist Caesar Courant—will never abandon you!"

Caesar's voice was full of confidence.

"After a month of research, I have successfully developed a vaccine and antidote for platinum lead poisoning!"

"With this vaccine, even patients who have completely turned into monsters can be cured!"

"But, as you know, the Four Seas Alliance received the news and launched a surprise attack on the fleet escorting the vaccines."

"Although I narrowly escaped with my life, that entire batch of vaccines fell into the hands of the Four Seas Alliance!"

"I...I'm so utterly incompetent!"

At this point, Caesar burst into tears again.

"If I were any more powerful, no one would die from this damn disease, and everyone could go back to their old lives!"

"Right now, right now, a lot of people are likely to die!"

Caesar spoke as if the one who had died was his closest friend or relative.

At this point, many people in the Kingdom of Aden were moved to tears, and in their hearts, they had already equated "Caesar" with "savior".

……

"Mr. Caesar, please don't blame yourself!"

"You've already tried your best!"

"Thank you!"

"..."

……

Finally, Caesar added:

"I really, really want to atone with my death... but it's not enough!"

"I haven't done everything in my power to save you, I can't die yet!"

"Please be patient, I will definitely think of a way, everyone will be safe and sound, please don't do anything out of line!"

"Click!"

After the words were spoken, the Den Den Mushi was immediately switched off.

……

The Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Aden.

The broadcasting room.

After Caesar put down the radio, the sadness on his face vanished instantly, replaced by excited, maniacal laughter.

"Whoosh! Is that all you need to do, [Joker]?"

From the shadows behind Caesar emerged a man draped in a pink feather cloak.

That man was none other than Rosinante's older brother, Donquixote Doflamingo, who had the nicknames "Heavenly Demon" and "Joker"!

Doflamingo nodded, a signature excited smile on his face, but his brows were furrowed.

Caesar was taken aback and asked curiously, "Hey, [Joker], what's wrong? Isn't everything going according to plan?"

……

On the other side, Crocodile was also quite displeased, frowning at Rowan and saying:

"Everything is proceeding according to their plan. We are the passive party and can only let them do as they please!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Wen shook his head and smiled, "So what?"

……

Doflamingo shook his head. "So what?"

He pushed up his red sunglasses and leaned back on the sofa. "Caesar, you still don't understand what the 'plan' really is."

Caesar was even more puzzled.

"I knew!"

"As long as we appear in the Kingdom of Aden as the 'savior' and gain the upper hand in public opinion, then no matter what the Four Seas Alliance does, they will be constrained. Isn't this the plan?"

……

"Do not."

Rowan shook his head and looked at Crocodile. "What you're describing is the content of their 'plan,' but what I'm asking about is the word 'plan.' What exactly is it?"

……

"What is all this nonsense?"

Caesar was full of questions, but the answer he received was Doflamingo's signature loud laughter.

“Fufufufufufu…”

The laughter contained the usual arrogance, but Caesar also detected a hint of... self-mockery?

……

Rowan looked at Crocodile and said slowly with a smile:

"The so-called plan refers to the means by which the weaker party overcomes the stronger party when facing the stronger party."

"Through the successful implementation of the plan, the weaker party can do its best to pull down the stronger party, so that both parties can be on the same level as much as possible."

Rowan beckoned with his finger, and the surrounding sand began to move.

He leaned back in his chair, resting his chin on one hand.

"Now, Doflamingo has taken the initiative to use 'Plan,' playing the cards in his hand, so it was his turn just now, and we could only watch him set up his strategy."

"But looking at it from the other side..."

A faint rumbling sound came from all around, indicating that the earth was trembling.

As the user of the Sand-Sand Fruit, Crocodile was the first to notice Rowan's actions.

Under Crocodile's astonished gaze, Rowan smiled and said: