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Caesar slumped into a chair, muttering to himself in panic. Law's gaze sharpened the moment he looked at Neji's transformed appearance.
He shot a glance toward Monet, who had tucked away her wings and was quietly slipping toward the door. Law pointed his blade, Kikoku, at her neck.
"Don't even think about leaving."
Monet froze instantly. Behind Law, his palm flipped upward as he growled a low
"ROOM."
His spatial domain expanded across the laboratory.
Within that moment, he swapped the heart in Caesar's hand. Once he realized the true identity of the man standing before him, he'd already revised his entire plan.
Neji didn't seem surprised by Law's actions. With a small chuckle, he walked toward Caesar while letting his transformation fade away.
"Surprised to see the old me? Don't tell me you had a hand in what happened back then?"
Caesar's face twisted. He waved furiously.
"No, no! Nothing to do with me! I had zero involvement!"
"Vice Admiral Norsen, back then I was already being hunted through the New World by you. How could I participate? I only heard a few things afterward!"
Caesar forced out a dry laugh, too afraid to even pretend resistance. The time for resisting had long passed.
The strength of the former Vice Admiral Norsen wasn't something he could challenge, even with his Gas-Gas Logia powers.
"Don't use my old name anymore. These days, you can call me Neji."
"Yes, yes, No– Neji-sama! Please spare me… I just got my life back on track…"
Caesar immediately changed his attitude. He knew he couldn't run from this man.
On the side, Law was silently confirming the truth.
So he was Vice Admiral Norsen. After the Paramount War four years ago, the man who had unexpectedly defected was erased from the World Government's records.
Nobody knew whether he lived or died. The Government wiped every trace of him.
They'd done this countless times in history. Many great pirates who were captured simply disappeared, swallowed by silence.
"Neji-sama," Law said, "I have information… and a proposal for cooperation. If you're interested."
Neji didn't answer immediately. He casually slapped a pair of seastone cuffs onto Caesar, then onto Monet, tossing them both into a corner.
He took a seat, motioning for Law to do the same.
"Alright then. Tell me what you know. And your 'proposal.' I'll decide if I care."
Law's voice lowered.
"You're part of the Revolutionary Army, aren't you? If so, helping liberate a World Government affiliate nation should be valuable to you."
Neji's brow rose slightly.
"You knew my identity?"
"I only overheard it by accident," Law replied. "Would you consider working with me?"
Law's gaze was sharp. He didn't care for the Revolutionaries much, but Norsen's old record spoke for itself.
Four years ago, the man appeared across the seas with overwhelming power and a terrifying combat style. Pirates feared him. Civilians adored him.
Law himself had clashed with him once when he first entered the Grand Line. After sharing drinks, Neji let him go.
That was why Law dared to propose this partnership.
Neji laughed softly.
"A good idea… but I refuse."
A flash of disappointment crossed Law's face.
But before he could speak again:
"Neji-sama… then… can I have Caesar afterward? To deal with him myself?"
Neji refused again, "Not for now. I need to confirm something."
He walked up to Caesar. His eyes went cold. He slipped a hand into Caesar's chest not physically rummaging but using the power of the Tenseigan to read his memories directly.
He checked what he needed, then pulled his hand out and placed it into Monet's chest next.
A moment later, his expression darkened.
"So the one behind everything… was him. Fitting, yet irritatingly predictable."
He turned back to Law.
"I'll accept your proposal but no need for complications."
"As for Doflamingo? I'll take care of him.
If you want the final blow, I'll let you have it."
Law's eyes widened with relief and excitement. He hadn't expected the situation to flip so suddenly.
Then Caesar's Den-Den Mushi began ringing.
Law's expression tightened, "It must be Vergo."
"Vergo? The one stationed at G-5?" Neji asked casually.
Law nodded.
"He's Doflamingo's mole. He infiltrated the Marines years ago and became one of the Donquixote Family's top officers."
"If he realizes something is wrong here, Doflamingo will be on guard."
Neji glanced toward the port, where Vergo's ship was docking.
He could see Vergo clearly through the walls. The man stood there, calmly sucking on a spoon stuck to his cheek as usual, staring at his ringing Den-Den Mushi.
Nobody was answering.
Suspicion slowly crept up Vergo's face.
Still unaware of the danger, he marched toward the laboratory with his bamboo staff.
Neji looked at Law, who was pacing nervously.
"Relax. Keep an eye on those two. I'll be back in a moment."
His body flickered then vanished.
Law froze.
That wasn't teleportation.
Not like his power.
Something entirely different.
What kind of Devil Fruit was that? Back then, he'd never shown anything like it…
Law sank into thought as Neji appeared on the opposite side of the island.
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat crew had already arrived, and the guards left behind on the ship were being knocked out and dragged toward the lab by Caesar's men.
Near the entrance of the research facility, Vergo suddenly halted.
Neji stood right in front of him.
Vergo's eyes narrowed behind his sunglasses.
Not Law.
But the movement felt like Law's ability.
So the brat really had gone rogue.
Time to "remind" him of the lessons from back then.
Vergo's bamboo staff coated itself in Armament Haki with a low hum. He tapped it on the ground, cracking the stone floor beneath his feet.
The fight was inevitable.
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