Rosinante looked a little helpless and pulled Law back a step:
"Isn't it because your methods are too brutal?"
Enel stood up with a cold snort:
"Brutal?"
"You're just too soft."
"The child of a Marine Admiral."
"Almost beaten to death by a group of pirates—how laughable."
"They should be grateful you're still alive."
"Otherwise, I would've shown them what true hell looks like."
Rosinante gave a wry smile:
"Yeah, yeah."
Enel shook his head as he looked at Rosinante:
"So, what do you plan to do with this kid?"
"Bring him back to the Marines?"
Rosinante let out a sigh:
"That's the only option."
"I can't just drag him around as a vagabond."
"And he's already eaten that Devil Fruit."
"If the Government holds me accountable for it... sigh."
"We'll think of a solution once we're back at Headquarters."
Enel rolled his eyes:
"Now you're scared? Where was all that caution when you made him eat it?"
Rosinante scratched his head awkwardly.
Enel snorted:
"Don't worry, it'll be fine."
"Fleet Admiral Kong is about to be promoted."
"By then, you'll have Admiral Sengoku behind you."
"It's just a single Devil Fruit."
"You think the future Fleet Admiral can't cover for a kid?"
"Besides, I've got Sakazuki-san at my back. With me vouching, you're safe."
"The Government won't lose its mind over a single Fruit."
Rosinante finally felt some of the weight in his chest lift:
"Is that so..."
"But, Enel, are you sure this news is accurate?"
"Why not Admiral Sakazuki instead..."
Enel replied:
"This news is already known by almost all the higher-ups, what do you think?"
"As for Sakazuki-san—his age is one factor."
"He only became Admiral a few years ago. There's no way he'll get Fleet Admiral so soon."
"Even when he rose from Vice Admiral to Admiral, it was only after grinding until his mid-thirties."
"And now isn't an era of collapsing order. The Government that's ruled the world for centuries has its own rules and systems."
"You have to play within those rules."
"Besides, hunting down pirates everywhere is his real ambition. Becoming Fleet Admiral would mean being chained to Marineford."
"Wouldn't that life be boring?"
Rosinante exhaled in relief:
"Then I can rest easy..."
Enel shrugged and went back into the cabin to continue tinkering with weapons.
Rosinante led Law up to the top deck, staying there for a while.
A cigarette slowly burned out between Rosinante's lips.
The habit ingrained from his years undercover in the Donquixote Family wasn't something he could shake so easily.
He took a deep drag, flicked the butt away, as if steeling himself for something:
"Law, stay here a while."
"I'm going down to the prison."
Without another word, he turned and headed below.
Law stared at Rosinante blankly, confused:
"Corazon..."
...
Bottom of the ship, the prison.
Doflamingo leaned against the wall, his hands and feet shackled with Seastone, his face expressionless as he stared upward at an angle.
Creak—
The sound of the door opening echoed, and a figure in a Marine uniform walked in.
He sat down in front of Doflamingo's cell.
Doflamingo's head twitched slightly, a neurotic laugh escaping him:
"Mmhmhmhmhm—"
"That Marine uniform suits you."
"You look much sharper than when you were with the Family."
"Rosinante."
Rosinante stayed silent for a moment:
"I'll do my best to preserve your life."
Doflamingo chuckled like he'd just heard a joke:
"Still as soft-hearted as ever, Rosinante."
"With that kind of personality, you'll always be at a disadvantage."
"But... I don't need your pity."
"No one dares lay a hand on me."
"It's you who's lucky... truly lucky..."
Rosinante spaced out a little. Lucky, huh...
The two brothers sat in silence, facing each other. Doflamingo's grin slowly faded.
After a long time, he asked in a strangely calm tone:
"Rosinante, my Family... how are they?"
Ever since that day Enel crushed the Donquixote Family in one fell swoop, forcing him to watch as each of them was tormented, he had been locked up in isolation until now.
Rosinante exhaled lightly:
"Vergo and Lao G are dead."
"The rest are still alive."
Doflamingo took a deep breath:
"I see..."
But his clenched fists, veins bulging, betrayed how unsettled he really was.
Rosinante seemed to recall something:
"Oh right—Baby-5 was taken away by Vice Admiral Tsuru."
"Maybe under her guidance, she'll become a normal girl."
Doflamingo froze for a moment, then the corners of his mouth lifted slightly:
"Is that so..."
"That really is good news."
"That idiot's personality... she's always been the one I worried about the most."
Thinking of Baby-5's obliging nature, Rosinante smiled as well:
"Yeah."
Another long silence stretched between them.
Rosinante slowly stood up, stretching a little:
"I had so much I wanted to say, but now that I'm here, I don't even know what words to use."
"I'll come see you again next time."
"Brother..."
Doflamingo slumped against the wall, motionless, even long after Rosinante had left.
Only then did a neurotic laugh echo through the cell:
"Mmhmhmhmhm..."
...
East Blue, Foosha Village.
The Red-Haired Pirates were preparing to set sail once again.
This time, their destination was a small nation on the edge of the Calm Belt in the first half of the Grand Line.
A land world-famous, renowned as the Country of Music and Joy—Elegia.
At the port of Foosha Village.
Shanks carried Luffy in one hand as he walked off the ship.
Uta followed behind with a mischievous grin—she had dragged Luffy out again this time!
Pouting in frustration, Luffy, once again failing to sneak aboard, shouted:
"Damn it! Take me with you!!!"
Shanks sighed helplessly:
"To think you'd sneak onto the ship without permission... what a hassle."
He carried Luffy all the way to the shore.
Makino accepted Luffy from him with a smile:
"Uta found him again, right? Thank you~"
Uta tilted her head proudly and chirped:
"No need to thank me~"
Luffy turned to Uta angrily:
"Didn't you say you'd support my dream!!!"
Uta huffed:
"Shanks said no, so it's no."
Luffy clenched his fists:
"Damn it!!!"
Uta stuck her tongue out at him:
"Shanks, let's go!"
Shanks chuckled softly, gazing at Uta with warmth, and the two of them headed back aboard.
Watching the Red-Haired Pirates preparing to set sail again, Luffy suddenly dashed to the very edge of the dock and shouted after them:
"Shanks! Next time, I'm definitely getting on board!!!"
Shanks and the Red-Haired Pirates smiled back at him:
"Alright, if you've got the guts, then come aboard!"
Luffy turned toward Uta:
"Uta!"
"Nyeh nyeh nyeh!!!"
He pulled a face at her. Uta puffed out her cheeks on both sides:
"Hmph."
The distance between ship and island... grew farther and farther.
---
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