"Uh…"
Ozz rested one hand casually on the ship's rail. He genuinely had not expected that his aimless swim would land him all the way in the North Blue.
From the look of things, quite a crowd had gathered here.
And judging from the mix of auras, there were more than a few familiar ones too.
Before Vergo could even answer his first question, Ozz casually followed up.
"Why are there so many underworld types here Anyway, most of them look like former subordinates of mine. Underworld bosses. Kings of various countries…"
On this question, Vergo did not hesitate at all.
"Lord Ozz, according to Marine and family intelligence, these people are most likely here to…"
"To remove your method of tracking them. They have their eyes on the Ope Ope no Mi and its ability to remove and relocate things."
"..."
So they wanted the Ope Ope no Mi for that reason.
Did they really think he, Ozz, was the kind of man who would go back on his word
Granted, he did sometimes act on petty whims, or indulge the occasional cruel joke. But setting that aside, those factions that were terrified he might cause them trouble… were not exactly wrong, were they
Still, since he had already said he could not be bothered to micromanage them anymore, they could do whatever they wanted. Ozz did not care what they planned to use the Ope Ope no Mi for.
So long as his true foundation remained intact and his core people did not betray him, there was nothing worth worrying over.
"Right, you still have not answered. Is Little Ming here on the island"
Ozz smiled as he asked, the corners of his mouth lifting into the faintest hint of mischief.
Vergo fell silent for a moment. His mind raced.
Because he suddenly realized something horrifying.
If Ozz got the wrong idea and believed that Doflamingo had come to seize the Ope Ope no Mi just to remove Ozz's control, then as one of Ozz's favored inner circle, the Donquixote Family…
Might very well be wiped out today.
Even if that was not Doflamingo's intent, judging by Ozz's old Emperor level ruthlessness and pride, he would probably not listen to anyone explaining.
"Lord Ozz, the Young Master is not here."
At this point, Vergo was already planning to find a chance later to quietly warn Doflamingo that Ozz was on the island so that the Young Master could retreat as soon as possible and avoid any misunderstanding.
"I see…"
Ozz pinched his chin, a faint knowing smile on his face.
The next second.
On the island, a thin jet of strings suddenly shot straight up into the sky like a beam of light.
After reaching a certain height, the strands split apart and fell like a silken rain, forming a massive birdcage that closed around the entire island.
"…"
Ozz turned to look at Vergo with a smile. The usually stone faced Vergo had the corner of his mouth twitching wildly.
In his head, only three words remained.
They are doomed.
To his surprise, Ozz was only amused by his expression. He clapped Vergo on the shoulder.
"Relax. I know Doffy would never turn on me. He did not when I was gone. Why would he when I am back"
Ever since he stepped down from being an Emperor, Ozz had loosened up significantly. The intimidation and pressure he used to radiate at every turn had softened into a more casual, Roger like freedom.
"Lord Ozz, your sudden arrival has left this old body quite ashamed of not greeting you sooner."
Just as Ozz was about to head toward the island, a slightly aged voice sounded. A gray haired old woman slowly emerged from the cabin.
It was Vice Admiral Tsuru.
"No need to be so formal. I am just wandering around."
Ozz did not have much interest in this sharp minded staff officer.
Not just because of her age and appearance. It was mainly that serious, proper people like her did not give him much amusement.
Unlike the younger generation or those stubborn old monsters from the previous era who would instantly darken and explode when teased, Tsuru would probably just give him a calm, withering look.
Like a strict grandmother.
Watching Ozz hop lightly off the ship and step onto the water's surface, Tsuru kept her expression neutral as she gave her orders.
"Lord Ozz has arrived alone in the North Blue. His intentions are unclear. Report to Sengoku and the others at once."
"Yes, ma'am"
She called it "unclear intentions."
But who would have guessed that Ozz, in truth, had no intention at all. This was simply his first cross sea swimming trip and he had gotten lost.
Striding across the water, Ozz stepped onto Minion Island. He looked up at the Birdcage whose threads were slicing and tightening continuously, tearing through the ground.
Curious, he reached out with one hand.
The threads were very sharp. An ordinary body without Haki would likely be sliced clean through.
Although Ozz's physical toughness was more than enough to handle it, he still wrapped his hand in Armament Haki.
A metallic ring echoed as his jet black hand closed around one of the strings, raw power surging.
The moment he gripped it, Ozz's eyes flashed in surprise as a harsh grinding screech sounded continuously.
Such terrifying pulling force. No wonder that in the original history this Birdcage could push back even an Admiral, its advance unstoppable even under the combined power of an entire country.
Even with his monstrous strength and Dragon Claw Fist technique, gripping and pulling it open took effort. For anyone else, brute forcing the Birdcage was practically impossible.
With both hands, he pried a gap open in the cage.
Then Ozz stepped through.
Of course, he could have simply warped inside. Prying it open was just an excuse to test its strength.
On the other side.
Corazon had lost all ability to move. Barely hanging onto consciousness, he pressed a letter into Law's hands and told him to head for the Marines stationed on the coast.
Once they read the contents of the letter, they would understand everything.
Unfortunately, clutching the letter, Law soon ran into someone.
Not Marines.
But a man in a pink feather coat, for once wearing a proper suit, Donquixote Doflamingo.
"Law Why are you here"
The moment Law saw him, his instincts screamed. He turned to run.
But a small child like him had no chance of escape. With a mere crook of Doflamingo's finger, Law was dragged back, helpless, and the letter slipped from his hand.
After reading the contents in full…
Veins bulged across Doflamingo's forehead as the page crumpled in his grip. He clamped a hand around Law's head and strode toward where he had come from.
"Law"
In the distance, Corazon saw Law, head gripped like a puppet in Doflamingo's hand, and his entire body trembled.
Especially when he saw the letter he had meant for the Marines clenched in Doflamingo's fist.
"Doflamingo… cough…"
Corazon tried to push himself up, but his injuries were too severe. He could only glare at Doflamingo through the blood in his eyes.
Doflamingo flung Law to the ground and fixed Corazon with a gloomy stare.
"Why Even knowing I am Ozz's subordinate, and Marines could never kill me…"
"Why go to all this pointless trouble"
Staring down the barrel of Doflamingo's gun, Corazon just smiled without fear.
"Mr. Ozz has never been anyone's 'Mr. Ozz.' You do not have to parade his name around like a fake badge of authority. I am a Marine. I do not fear death. And besides…"
"Your precious Ope Ope no Mi has already been eaten by Law"
"He has the right to live. His dream will not end here"
In Corazon's mind, as long as the fruit was in Law's belly, Doflamingo would be forced to spare his life.
And after the whole Sugar incident, Doflamingo would not dare hide something like that from Ozz.
Whether he himself lived or died did not matter anymore.
"Corazon"
Law's face was streaked with blood as he struggled to keep his eyes open.
All he could see was Doflamingo's expression twisting into something monstrous.
"Why Why do you keep getting in my way"
"Why do you keep forcing me to kill my real family again and again"
The trigger slowly tightened.
Corazon's face was covered in blood, but in the instant before death, he turned his head toward Law, raised his fingers in a silly peace sign, and gave him his usual goofy grin.
"Law, I love you."
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The tides are shifting, and secrets linger in the dark... Step into the shadows early on P@treon, where the next chapter awaits before the world sees it.
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