Until now, they had been dealing through Doflamingo as an intermediary.
Even though he clearly knew the Op-Op Fruit (Ope Ope no Mi) was of immense value to the Marines, Doflamingo wasn't satisfied with just earning a broker's fee.
With blue veins bulging on his forehead, Doflamingo walked slowly toward Rosinante, his expression dark.
The Heavenly Yaksha had no intention of merely brokering the deal. He wanted the fruit for himself—after all, the Op-Op Fruit could be sold for 10 billion berries, and its rumored power could grant eternal life through the Perennial Youth Surgery.
Rosinante, undercover for the Marines, had always known Doflamingo would come after the fruit himself.
"I bet you planned to use that Devil Fruit to save that brat's life, right?" Doflamingo said coldly. "You were going to feed it to him and make him your right-hand man."
He was talking about Trafalgar Law, the child Rosinante had risked everything to protect. Infected with the fatal Amber Lead Syndrome, Law had little time left.
Doflamingo took a step closer. Rosinante instinctively grabbed Law and attempted to flee.
"I've already thought of this ending from the day I betrayed you," Rosinante whispered to himself.
He had grown attached to Law. In that short time, he saw him not just as a mission, but as family.
As Law heard Rosinante's warning shout, he ran toward the distance without looking back.
Laughter echoed in the distance—the mocking laughter of Torrepol, the grotesque executive with his ever-runny nose, as he watched the chaos unfold.
Rosinante once wore the Marine uniform, a secret operative working to foil his brother's schemes.
"From the day you turned your back on the Donquixote Family," Torrepol sneered, "you were already dead."
Doflamingo had no plans to chase Law immediately. Instead, he advanced steadily toward Rosinante, drawing his pistol.
"You think you can give the Op-Op Fruit to that dying brat?" he said. "Then you deserve to die!"
The shadow of Doflamingo's past loomed large—the image of him shooting their father in cold blood still haunted Rosinante's mind.
"You want this fruit?" snapped Diez Barreiros, holding up the Devil Fruit. "Then pay the price—10 billion berries! I'm not negotiating!"
But before he could move, his body froze—Doflamingo had used his String-String Fruit (Ito Ito no Mi) to paralyze him.
"Boom!"
A shot rang out as Doflamingo raised his gun and fired.
Rosinante, despite his pain, threw his cigarette to the ground and muttered coldly, "You should have died long ago, Doflamingo."
The Donquixote Family's code was clear—betrayal is death. Rosinante had known this well.
Still frozen, he shouted to Law with everything he had, "Run, Law!"
Meanwhile, Doflamingo's forces closed in on the island.
From the moment they learned the Op-Op Fruit was in Diez Barreiros' hands, the Marines and pirates alike had been closing in.
"Marine won't let this go," Rosinante warned, sweat rolling down his face. "And if we give it to them, we all die."
Rosinante's intentions were noble—he wanted to save Law's life. He didn't care about riches or war. He only cared about the boy.
"I don't have any money," he muttered. "But I won't let you kill him."
"You were once connected to Marine Headquarters," Barreiros accused.
"Not anymore," Rosinante replied solemnly, lighting another cigarette. "It wasn't Doflamingo who sent me. But yes, I came for the Devil Fruit."
Doflamingo, now a Warlord of the Sea (Shichibukai), couldn't afford betrayal.
His rage only grew.
"Fufufufu… So this is where you've been hiding," he said, stepping out of the shadows.
"You don't understand what kind of disaster this fruit will bring," Rosinante warned, "especially if it falls into the hands of someone like him!"
Barreiros and the pirates intended to sell it directly to the Marines—cutting Doflamingo out of the deal entirely.
"If we sell it, we're set for life," one pirate said.
"You fools," Rosinante growled. "You think Marine Headquarters won't turn on you once they get what they want?"
Just as the pirates prepared to strike Rosinante down, he lunged, snatching the Op-Op Fruit from Barreiros.
"You bastard!" Barreiros screamed, swinging a cutlass.
Doflamingo didn't blink.
With the fruit in his hands, Rosinante's eyes softened. He glanced at Law—hidden, watching everything.
"This… this is for you, Law."
The fruit gleamed—its swirls and red flesh glowing like a beating heart.
Rosinante knew Ayr, the monster of the New World, was also searching for this fruit. If he obtained it, the world would never be the same. That man already possessed power rivalling the Sage of Six Paths.
"I won't let that happen," Rosinante muttered.
Doflamingo's men stepped forward.
"Hand it over, traitor!"
But Rosinante didn't run.
Instead, he gave the fruit to Law.
"Eat it, Law. You'll live."
Law hesitated, but finally took a bite. Power surged through his body.
He was now the Op-Op Fruit user.
Rosinante smiled faintly.
Doflamingo's gunshot echoed again.
"BANG!"
This time, it hit its mark.
Rosinante collapsed.
But he had no regrets.
Seeing Law escape into the fog, Rosinante whispered his final words.
"Run, Law... live free."
As the Donquixote Family descended on the scene, blood was in the air.
But the seed of rebellion had already been planted.
The Op-Op Fruit had found its rightful wielder.
And in the shadows, the world's strongest pirate, Ayr, was watching.
{🥳 The Fanfic is now fully completed! 🎉
You can access 300+ advance chapters right now on Patreon—available for subscription or purchase! ✨
👉 patreon.com/Oreski
🥰 Your support keeps me motivated and eager to create even more amazing stories! 💖}