After piecing everything together, Doflamingo turned toward Ortoren and said,
"Admiral, I more or less know who did this. It was probably my useless little brother, Corazon. But rest assured, I'll give you a proper explanation!"
As his words fell, killing intent surged in Doflamingo's eyes. He raised a hand toward the sky, and massive amounts of white threads burst forth from his palm.
Ortoren recognized it at a glance. This was Doflamingo's signature technique, Torikago.
"Corazon?"
Ortoren asked, feigning confusion.
While releasing the Torikago, intending to seal off the entirety of Minion Island, Doflamingo explained,
"Yes, Corazon… Donquixote Rosinante, my own younger brother. I never imagined he'd do something like this. But the corpse is still warm, which means that idiot hasn't been dead for long. Given Corazon's speed, he definitely hasn't escaped Minion Island yet. I'll lock the whole island down. Even if I have to scrape the ground three feet deep, I'll find him and recover the Ope Ope no Mi!"
"There's no need to go to such lengths…"
Ortoren said with a smile.
"If this had happened days ago, he might have gotten away. But in this situation, if he could still escape, wouldn't that make me, a Marine Admiral, look completely incompetent?"
As those words landed, Doflamingo saw arcs of electricity flicker across Ortoren's hair. Immediately afterward, Doflamingo sensed an invisible pressure and power radiating from Ortoren, rapidly spreading outward. Even Doflamingo's feathered coat crackled as sparks jumped across it.
Observation Haki!
An Observation Haki of terrifying range instantly enveloped the entire Minion Island.
Alto's already formidable Observation Haki, combined with the power of the Goro Goro no Mi, directly formed a "Mind Thread," scanning every single person on the island. Ortoren closed his eyes briefly, then the corner of his mouth lifted.
"Found them…"
In the next instant, Ortoren grabbed Doflamingo by the shoulder. Before Doflamingo could fully complete the Torikago, Ortoren's figure flashed, and the two of them vanished from where they stood.
Meanwhile, Rosinante was racing through the jungle, Lami on his back and Trafalgar Law's hand clenched tightly in his own. When he had arrived earlier, he had already hidden a small boat on another beach on Minion Island. That was his planned escape point.
As for the Surgery Fruit, Rosinante had already forced Trafalgar Law to eat it.
He knew all too well that keeping the fruit on himself meant it could still be stolen. Only by having Law consume it could it truly be secured. That was why, the moment he obtained the Ope Ope no Mi and reunited with Law, he made Law eat it immediately.
Watching the white threads spreading through the sky, Rosinante quickly realized what they were. His brother's Birdcage.
Once it descended and sealed the entire island, escape would be impossible. And judging by the situation now, it already seemed impossible.
His thoughts flashing by in an instant, Rosinante spoke while running,
"Roronoa, remember this. You know nothing. I brought you out this time using the same excuse as before, saying I was taking you to find a doctor. Then I forcibly fed you the Ope Ope no Mi. That bastard Doflamingo really likes you, so even if we're caught, as long as I take responsibility for everything, you'll be fine."
Worry filled Trafalgar Law's eyes.
"Then what about you, Mr. Corazon?"
"Don't worry about me. Did you forget? I'm Doflamingo's own brother. No matter how angry he gets, things have already gone this far. At worst, he'll just lock me up. I'll be fine.
"But you… if I'm imprisoned, we probably won't see each other again for a long time. You have to remember this. Never fall into his dark traps. Don't become a bastard like him. On the surface, you must obey him. You're still too young to escape his grasp.
"You have to endure. Be patient. When you grow up, when you have a chance to sail on your own, leave the Donquixote Family. Leave Dressrosa. Go find the Marines…
"And… I'm sorry. I never told you my true identity."
As he said this, guilt showed clearly on Rosinante's face.
"My true identity?"
Trafalgar Law asked, confused.
"Yes… I know how much you hate the World Government, hate everything they did to Flevance. That's why I never dared tell you. The truth is, I'm a Marine. A Captain-Commander at Marine Headquarters.
"Keep the letter I gave you safe. When you get the chance to go to the Marines, find Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Give him that letter and tell him you're the person I was willing to risk my life to save.
"Once he knows, he'll protect you. As long as he's protecting you, Doflamingo… no, no one will ever be able to hurt you again."
Rosinante spoke with firm resolve.
But then his expression softened, guilt returning as he added quietly,
"When the time comes, please help me pass along a message to Admiral Sengoku… Tell him that Corazon is truly sorry."
For a moment, Trafalgar Law seemed unable to process everything Rosinante had just said.
After several seconds of silence, he finally spoke,
"I do hate the World Government. But if you, Mr. Corazon, are a Marine… then I believe the Marines must stand for justice. I won't hate the Marines anymore."
Hearing this, Rosinante looked faintly relieved.
Just as he was about to say something in response, a sharp crack of thunder erupted from ahead. Rosinante's expression changed instantly.
In the next moment, the figures of Marine Admiral Ortoren and Doflamingo appeared before them.
Rosinante suddenly came to a halt, yanking Trafalgar Law to a stop with him.
He met Doflamingo's gaze head-on, and the atmosphere fell into a heavy silence.
Doflamingo took a deep breath. What had once been suspicion was now certainty. Still, he forcibly suppressed his anger, steadied his emotions, and looked at Rosinante.
"Corazon… where is the Ope Ope no Mi? Hand it over now, and I'll pretend none of this ever happened…"
"You'll never get the Ope Ope no Mi. Law has already eaten it!"
Rosinante stared straight at Doflamingo, his eyes filled with calm resolve and not a trace of fear.
Doflamingo froze, shock and disbelief flashing across his face.
"You can speak?"
He had always believed that Rosinante was mute, incapable of uttering a single word.
Before Doflamingo could recover from the surprise, Ortoren turned his gaze to Rosinante.
"First, I'll ask you a question. Rosinante, do you know that this transaction involving the Ope Ope no Mi was a political mission of the Navy? This mission was issued by the Five Elders of Mary Geoise, accepted by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and assigned to me for execution."
Hearing this, Doflamingo felt even more confused. Why ask something like that?
Before he could sort out his thoughts, Rosinante looked at Ortoren, guilt flickering in his eyes.
"I know…"
"Then my second question," Ortoren continued. "How did you learn the details of this mission?"
Doflamingo seized the chance to speak up.
"It should've been my Den Den Mushi. Back then, I—"
Before he could finish, Rosinante cut in.
"At first, I learned about it by chance from one of Doflamingo's Den Den Mushi conversations with someone else. After that, I immediately left Dressrosa and headed for Minion Island. During the journey, I contacted Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Relying on the trust he had in me, I learned the full details of this mission."
Doflamingo???
What the hell!?
You contacted Fleet Admiral Sengoku?
How did you contact him? How could you even contact him!?
As Doflamingo felt his mind completely short-circuiting, the world suddenly seeming far too insane and complicated—
Ortoren let out a soft sigh.
"So… what you're telling me is this. You deliberately deceived Fleet Admiral Sengoku to obtain this information. Then, despite knowing full well that this was a confidential and critically important political mission of the Navy, you still chose to act as you did, completely sabotaging the operation and privately feeding the mission target—the Fruit—to this brat. Is that correct?"
Rosinante's expression grew even more ashamed, but he still nodded.
"That's right."
The moment Ortoren heard this answer, his expression hardened sharply. His voice turned cold and fierce as he roared,
"Do you think this is worthy of Fleet Admiral Sengoku's trust in you? Worthy of the Navy's trust in you? Huh? Commander Rosinante!?"
Ortoren's shout thundered through the air.
Rosinante stood there, overwhelmed with shame.
And Doflamingo was completely dumbfounded.
Wait—what the hell?
Rosinante is part of the Navy? And an undercover agent at that?
Why would the Navy plant someone like that at my side?
I'm Navy too, damn it! I have an official record! I'm a Rear Admiral at Marine Headquarters!
Why would they send a mere Commander to go undercover next to a Rear Admiral!?
Isn't that completely insane!?