"Doffy has taken care of everything."
Hearing this, Trebol let out a long sigh of relief. His massive body deflated like a punctured balloon as he collapsed onto a nearby chair.
"Ohohoho! Is the Young Master okay? Should we call little Zoffy to check on him?" Jora leaned toward the Transponder Snail.
Vergo thought back to the scene he'd just witnessed—Barrett's body riddled with holes and Doffy's face filled with satisfaction.
"Doffy is fine. Barrett has been dealt with and is currently resting on the island. However, Diamante has suffered serious injuries."
Trebol immediately sat up. "What happened to Diamante?"
"He took a hit from Barrett, but Judge has treated him, and he's out of immediate danger."
"Huh?" Trebol gaped in disbelief. "Diamante actually held out against Barrett?"
...
On the Shores of Whole Cake Island
The mochi soldiers reeled in the anchor of the Candy Ship.
"Perospero, you just got back, and you're already leaving again? Katakuri hasn't visited us in ten days."
Charlotte Smoothie, now towering over two meters, stood at the shore alongside her siblings, their gazes filled with reluctance as they watched their elder brother prepare to leave.
"A band of pirate raiders has drifted into the Fruits Island waters. I need to go protect Fruits Island, perorin."
Perospero leaned on his candy cane staff, his bloodshot eyes betraying his exhaustion as he stepped onto the ship. He turned back and smiled gently.
"Be good, all of you. Don't make Mama angry, perorin."
With the complete disappearance of the Golden Lion in the New World, and the growing alliance of Kaido, Big Mom, and Doflamingo, the Charlotte Family's influence had expanded significantly.
However, not everyone had the luxury of a fortress like Skypiea, an almost impenetrable domain.
As their sphere of control widened, conflicts with other pirate crews intensified. It wasn't just Perospero, Katakuri, and Cracker who were frequently away in battle—Amande, and even the newly adult Brûlée had few chances to return home for rest.
"Mm-hmm, we'll be good. We won't make Mama angry," Smoothie nodded obediently.
As the Candy Ship vanished beyond the horizon, a subtle smirk tugged at the corner of Smoothie's lips—one that her siblings couldn't see.
...
Meanwhile, in the Once-White City of Flevance
Now tainted with blood, the kingdom's guards patrolled the streets. A Transponder Snail broadcasted over the city:
"Amber Lead does not exist."
"Trust in the king. He will lead us through this crisis."
"Do not be deceived by foreign forces seeking to disrupt our borders."
"..."
"Disgusting!"
In a shadowed alley, Bone tossed a gnawed bone into the sewer and covered his mouth and nose as he carefully approached the gathering point.
"Contact everyone we can. At dawn two days from now, we launch our attack."
"I've already reached out to some of the kingdom's guards. Get ready."
"We will break free from this land of death. We all have a future!"
"..."
For a moment, even Bone was nearly swept away by the grand vision painted before him. But this was life or death. Remembering the patrolling guards outside, he voiced his concerns.
"The royal guards? Can we really trust them?"
"Yeah, isn't this too risky? The kingdom's guards are all noble-born."
"Right. Their families left the country long ago."
"..."
"Of course, they can't be trusted."
A heavy voice rang out from the darkness, silencing the heated discussion.
Footsteps echoed—precise, synchronized.
Dressed in white hazmat suits and gas masks, palace guards emerged from the shadows.
"Hahaha, Commander, my family can finally get treatment now, right?" The rousing orator from earlier immediately dropped his act, groveling in fear.
"RUN!"
"..."
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"ARGH!"
Pain shot through Bone' leg, but he gritted his teeth and sprinted into the darkness without looking back.
"After him! Kill every last traitor!"
"If they're dead, identify them and wipe out their families!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
His comrades fell one by one.
Bone pushed himself even faster. He couldn't die here. He had to survive—for Lina, Law, and little Lami.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, a force lifted him off his feet.
"Huh?!"
Suspended in midair, dread filled his heart. Was this the end?
A calm voice spoke from the darkness.
"Bone, it's me—Rosinante."
"Rosinante!"
"Clomp. Clomp. Clomp."
"Damn it, where did he go?!"
"I shot him in the leg—he couldn't have gone far. Search the area!"
Watching the guards scatter below, Bone sighed in relief, then immediately tensed. Now wasn't the time for reunions. Keeping his voice low, he asked:
"What are you doing here?"
"Bone, you can speak normally. With my ability, they won't hear us."
Rosinante landed lightly, moving swiftly and silently with Bone in his arms.
"I just returned to this country. I stopped by your house, but you weren't there. Lina told me you'd just left, so I came after you."
"Thank you, Rosinante. If I had died here, Lina and the others wouldn't have escaped either."
"It's nothing, Bone. But tell me—how did things get this bad?"
Rosinante's face was puzzled. When he had left, the people had only just learned about the disease. Wasn't that a good thing? Awareness should have helped them work toward a solution together.
"It's all because of..." Bone' face paled as he recalled the words of the commander from earlier. His voice turned urgent.
"Rosinante, we need to go back. Many of our comrades have been killed. The palace will investigate every doctor in the kingdom. If I'm not there, Lina and the others will be in danger."
"Don't worry. I am Donquixote."
...
Nightfall
Using his family's influence and his identity as a merchant, Rosinante easily dealt with the guards who came to inspect the house.
Bone exhaled in relief, then glanced at Rosinante's graying temples and forced a wry smile.
"Rosinante, you shouldn't have come back. Staying in this country will only shorten your lifespan."
"Enough of that." Scratching his head, Rosinante awkwardly changed the subject. "Tell me what happened after I left."
Bone sighed deeply before beginning his tale.
"After you left, many of us grew more vigilant about the disease. We planned to develop antidotes ourselves. But as word spread among the citizens, panic took hold.
"So, we formally petitioned the royal family for support in researching a cure. We thought they'd agree.
"But the nobles and the royal family denied everything. They refused to acknowledge the disease.
"They continued to claim that Amber Lead was a lie.
"Meanwhile, as Flevance, a major importer, struggled with dwindling medical supplies and food shortages...
"The resistance began.
"I never wanted to be part of it. But if we don't get Lina the treatment she needs soon...
"She won't have much time left."
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