Unlike other characters, the former Celestial Dragon known as Doflamingo shares a peculiar relationship with the Government. He experiences a mixture of emotions towards them, including love, hate, resentment, and a desire to emulate them. Moreover, he holds a significant position of power by controlling the Five Elder Stars, who are also Celestial Dragons.
Doflamingo stumbled upon a secret piece of information, which he once shared with Law. Subsequently, after being defeated by Luffy and imprisoned on the 6th floor of Impel Down, he inquired with Magellan about the potential arrival of an assassin to protect him. Doflamingo pondered whether assassins would be dispatched to ensure the secrecy of Mary Geoise’s hidden treasure. He questioned whether he should disclose the information, considering its diminishing influence.
It is unlikely that Oda mentioned assassins without purpose, as he is known for his attention to detail and the return of characters in a more formidable state. Examples include Buggy and Crocodile. At this point, it is evident that Doflamingo belongs to this group of returning characters who have become even more powerful than before.
Prior to these events, Doflamingo enjoyed significant support from the Five Elder Stars, who turned a blind eye to his illicit activities. Despite ruling over Dressrosa, a country affiliated with the World Government alliance, he maintained their favor. During that time, Doflamingo played a pivotal role for the Five Elders, suppressing the rise of nations, engaging in weapons trade to incite wars, and curbing the power of the other four emperors through the exchange of the Smile fruit with the fourth emperor, Kaido. Above all, he silenced those who were privy to dangerous secrets.
However, the world has now been turned upside down with Luffy becoming a Yonko and teaming up with Dr. Vegapunk. Given that the Five Elders have personally intervened, it is inevitable that the issues surrounding Doflamingo and the underlying secret will come to light. Undoubtedly, it will be an intriguing revelation.
Furthermore, the Cross Guild is making every effort to gain widespread recognition by targeting the Marines. Their first consequential act was the death of Vice Admiral T-Bone, which made headlines in the world economic newspaper. Doflamingo is surely aware of these developments.
Recalling events from two years ago, Doflamingo had attempted to form an alliance with Crocodile, but the latter flatly refused. This rejection left Doflamingo bitter. However, circumstances have changed drastically. Crocodile, who once aimed to defeat Mihawk in Marineford, is now an ally, sharing a common front line due to the mutual benefits they both recognize.
Therefore, it is highly plausible that Doflamingo will experience a similar shift. He might seek to join the Cross Guild on Karabari Island, their headquarters. After enduring the Government’s actions, Doflamingo harbors intense resentment towards their force. Additionally, the Dressrosa incident resulted in the decimation of the Doflamingo Pirates, leaving him powerless on his own. Thus, aligning with the Cross Guild currently represents the optimal choice.
Compared to the Yonko or the Revolutionary Army, the Cross Guild directly declares war on the Marines, which aligns with Doflamingo’s desires. It’s worth noting that under the command of a Yonko, there are typically three powerful key commanders, such as the three sweet commanders under Big Mom, the three Okanban under Kaido, and the trio of Yassopp, Lucky Roux, and Benn Beckman under Red-haired Shanks. Likewise, under the current Yonko, Buggy, there are only two formidable individuals, Mihawk and Crocodile, leaving a vacant position. The most suitable candidate for this position, without a doubt, is Doflamingo. He possesses great strength and, like Mihawk and Crocodile, was formerly a Shichibukai.
Some may argue that Doflamingo, being a person with Haoshoku Haki, would never submit or willingly stand under someone else, let alone Buggy. However, this misunderstanding stems from the failure to grasp the essence of the situation. This is not about submission but rather cooperation. Doflamingo seeks to collaborate with the Cross Guild due to the benefits this alliance can provide.
Considering that Doflamingo possesses a wealth of crucial information about the government’s secrets, including the treasure hidden within Mary Geoise Sanctuary, he poses an immeasurable threat. And now, with his assassination and subsequent affiliation with the Cross Guild, the threat he poses will only intensify. Consequently, it is only natural to expect a significant change in Doflamingo’s bounty—a substantial and noteworthy decrease. The exact magnitude of this reduction remains to be seen.
Boa Hancock, even at the age of 18 when she set sail for the first time, had a bounty of 80 million beli, which remained unchanged for a significant period. It was only recently, following the abolition of the TVH System, that the Pirate Queen’s new bounty skyrocketed to an impressive 1,659,000,000 beli. To put this into perspective, Marco the Phoenix has a bounty of 1,374,000,000 beli, while the Okanban King’s bounty stands at 1,390,000,000 beli. Even someone as formidable as Katakuri has a bounty of 1,057,000,000 beli. It is evident that Boa Hancock’s bounty far surpasses her strength when compared to these individuals. This suggests that the Government perceives Boa Hancock as an exceptionally dangerous threat.
Now, shifting the focus to Doflamingo, he poses an even greater danger due to his extensive knowledge of classified information. His bounty is undoubtedly higher than Boa Hancock’s 1,659,000,000 beli. But what might be the exact figure? Just like Boa Hancock, Crocodile had a relatively low frozen bounty of 81 million beli. However, the situation has dramatically changed, and Crocodile now carries an immense bounty of 1,965,000,000 beli—a well-deserved reflection of his formidable Logia powers and cunning intellect.
Considering the revelations made by Crocodile after the Timeskip regarding his association with the Cross Guild, it is clear that the Marines view him as an extremely dangerous individual. In comparison, Doflamingo’s frozen bounty is 340 million beli, a remarkably high amount and the highest announced by Oda at the time.
Taking all these factors into account, it is evident that Doflamingo surpasses the other two former Seven Warlords in terms of danger and, in my opinion, strength as well. If the Marines were to discover Doflamingo’s alliance with the Cross Guild, the situation would only worsen.
Personally, I believe Doflamingo’s bounty will exceed Crocodile’s 1,965,000,000 beli, potentially reaching a minimum of 200 million beli. This is because, while Crocodile may be a pure pirate with limited knowledge of the Government, Doflamingo is the polar opposite. His understanding of the Underworld, the pirate world, and even the inner workings of the Government is profound.
Regardless, the fact that Doflamingo has successfully escaped from prison adds an exciting twist to the narrative, especially considering his substantial fan base.
