Karon stood by the ship's rail, his metallic prosthetic jaw nearly dropping off in disbelief. The orders he had received ten days ago were simple: pick up Aaron Kyle and the other executives from an uninhabited island. Kyle had described the trip as a "vacation and team-building exercise," but the scene before Karon was anything but relaxing.
Half of the island had been completely wiped off the map. The towering mountains Karon remembered were gone, replaced by a bottomless, giant pit that scarred the landscape. The dense primeval forest had been obliterated; not a single intact tree remained, leaving only charred remains and mounds of gravel scattered across the wasteland. To Karon, this looked like the aftermath of a war capable of destroying an entire nation.
At the bottom of that massive crater, the participants of this "vacation" lay sprawled out like broken dolls.
"Aaron Kyle... sir?" Karon called out tentatively, his voice trembling with uncertainty.
Deep within the pit, Aaron Kyle laboriously raised a single hand and gave a weak wave. "Karon... you brat, you're right on time," Kyle's voice was raspy. "Quick, get us out of here. I'm starving..."
Only then did Karon confirm that the man covered in blood, wearing clothes so tattered they looked like rags, was indeed his master. He wasted no time, shouting orders for the crew to lower rope ladders and bring down stretchers.
As the crew carefully hoisted the six men onto the deck, everyone onboard was horrified by the state of the executives. Aaron Kyle appeared the most stable; thanks to his abnormal recovery abilities, his numerous wounds were already beginning to scab over. The others, however, were in a terrible state.
Mihawk was deathly pale, his breathing so shallow it seemed he might slip away at any moment. Crocodile's arm was twisted at an unnatural angle, clearly snapped in the fray. Moriah looked as if his very essence had been drained, having thinned down a whole size. Tesoro's legendary golden armor was nothing more than scrap metal, some pieces even embedded in his skin.
The most shocking sight was Doflamingo. His iconic pink feathered coat was gone, save for a few stray feathers clinging to his frame. His sunglasses—which he was never seen without—were missing, revealing bloodshot eyes that looked exhausted. Karon immediately summoned the ship's doctor to provide emergency treatment.
---
After hours of intense medical care and bandaging, the six men finally recovered enough vitality to gather in the ship's lounge. Karon entered with a tray of carefully prepared food and drinks, expecting a heavy, somber mood. Instead, he found an atmosphere that was unusually harmonious.
Doflamingo wasn't using his creepy "Fufufu" laugh; he was sitting close to Crocodile, the two of them whispering like old friends. "...Your 'Desert Sunflower' was too early," Doflamingo noted. "If you had waited until Aaron Kyle used his 'Dragon Slayer' move before releasing it, the effect would have been ten times greater."
"Hmph, that's easy for you to say," Crocodile shot back, though without his usual malice. "Could you have even used your 'Birdcage' to trap him at that point?"
Moriah and Tesoro were huddled together, gesturing wildly. "Kishishishi! Listen, next time we should cooperate like this: I'll attach my shadows to your golden soldiers so they can move independently!" Moriah suggested.
Tesoro nodded thoughtfully. "It's a good idea, but gold is highly conductive. Your shadows might get countered by Kyle's energy abilities if we aren't careful."
Even Mihawk, the ultimate loner, wasn't in a corner sharpening his sword. He sat next to Aaron Kyle, actually listening to him talk. "...See, Mihawk? I'm not boasting, but your 'Divine Departure' is still far from perfect!" Kyle said between bites. "Back in the day, when Captain Roger and I sparred, he'd just spam basic attacks until I found an opening..."
They were all talking and laughing as if they hadn't just survived a hellish struggle. They analyzed their mistakes, broke down Kyle's techniques, and were already planning for their next "challenge".
Karon stood at the door with his tray, feeling a faint sense of loss. He realized he was completely out of place in this room. He didn't understand the complex moves they discussed, and he couldn't relate to the combat experiences of world-class powers. He used to charge into battle alongside Kyle, but as his master reached the pinnacle of power—the level of a Fleet Admiral or Pirate King—Karon had been left behind. He had become the butler, the logistics manager.
"Karon! Why are you standing there like an idiot?" Kyle's voice broke his train of thought. "Bring that food over! I'm starving!"
Karon snapped back to reality and hurried into the room, placing the delicacies on the table. The executives pounced on the food like hungry wolves.
"Karon, we owe you one," Kyle mumbled through a mouthful of chicken. "We would have starved on that broken island without you."
"Kishishishi! Exactly! Karon, you're our savior!" Moriah added, raising a wine glass in a toast.
"Fufufufu, Karon, next time bring more medicine," Doflamingo complained while rubbing his ribs. "Aaron Kyle's attacks are absolutely ruthless."
The warmth in the room washed away Karon's sadness. He realized that while he wasn't on the front lines, he was the support this "home" couldn't function without.
---
By the time they reached the villa in Sabaody, it was deep into the night. Robin was waiting for them, her face sporting a helpless but understanding smile. "Welcome back," she said, looking at the tattered executives. "It seems your 'team-building' was quite... pleasant."
"Of course it was! Kishishishi!" Moriah puffed out his chest, only to wince as the movement pulled at his stitches.
"Sakura, Suzu, get the hot water and bandages ready," Kyle ordered weakly before collapsing onto the sofa.
Robin waited until the servants began helping the injured away before approaching Kyle with a thick stack of documents. "A lot has happened in the world during your ten-day 'vacation,'" she said softly.
Kyle's eyes, previously dull with exhaustion, instantly sharpened. The laughing companion was gone; in his place was the underground emperor who strategized against the World Government elites.
"Tell me," Kyle said, leaning back and closing his eyes. "Let's hear what new 'fun' the world has prepared for me."
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