The white-haired man pushed open the door, looked at Spandine, and said:
"Congratulations, Boss."
Another one taken care of...
Spandine smiled without speaking. He walked to the window, gazing at the distant figure of Firth.
His smile gradually froze, replaced by a cold sneer.
"If you want to blame something, blame your ambition... you damned mutt."
Still dreaming of turning the tables and becoming the master...
He then turned to the white-haired man and asked:
"How's the progress on the sea train in Water 7?"
...
North Blue, Donquixote Family stronghold.
On the ruined coast behind Spider Miles.
Law sat quietly on the rubble, staring at the sea.
Because today involved an important deal, most of the family executives, along with Doflamingo, had gone out.
That was the only reason he had free time like this.
Baby-5 and Buffalo sat beside Law, both looking angry.
"Law! We've already told you our real names!"
"So you should tell us yours too!"
Law wasn't interested in humoring them.
"I don't care to know."
"Pointless."
Baby-5 pouted.
"You're so unsociable, not fun at all."
Law calmly replied:
"Whether it's fun or not doesn't matter."
"Either way, I'm about to die..."
Baby-5 glanced at the white spots spreading across Law's body.
"True... the marks are spreading more and more."
Law looked down at his hands.
"I don't know if I can even last another year."
There wasn't much time left...
"Maybe I'll die even sooner than expected."
Buffalo, however, looked excited.
"Doesn't matter! Hurry up and tell us your real name!"
"Or else I'll tell Young Master that you stabbed Corazon two years ago!"
Baby-5 quickly followed along, distracted by the thought.
"Yeah, we'll tell on you!!!"
Law raised an eyebrow. These two damned brats...
He closed his eyes and sighed.
"Trafalgar D. Water Law."
"This name was never supposed to be told to anyone."
"But saying it now doesn't matter—since I'll be dead soon anyway."
"D is the hidden name. Water is the taboo name. My family, for generations..."
Suddenly, he was grabbed by a tremendous force and lifted off the ground.
"Hey, let go of me!!!"
"What are you doing, Corazon!!!"
"Bastard!!!"
"Hey!!!"
Law flailed his arms as Corazon dragged him further and further away.
Baby-5 and Buffalo didn't look surprised.
"Ah, Law's getting bullied again."
"But this time, Corazon's face looks scarier than usual."
...
Deep inside an alley.
Bang—
Corazon threw Law directly onto the ground.
Veins bulged on Law's forehead as he took deep breaths and stood up.
"Bastard!!!"
"You want to fight me, Corazon!!!!"
But Corazon, his back facing Law, was visibly uneasy. He forced himself to stay calm.
"What you said just now... was it true?"
Law was dumbfounded.
"Huh? Huh?"
"Who's there!!!"
He looked around. The alley was empty.
"If your hidden name really is D..."
"Then leave quickly. Stay far away from Doffy..."
Corazon turned around, his face pale with fear.
"You cannot stay by his side!!!"
Law finally realized where the voice was coming from—it was Corazon!!!!!
"You... you... you can talk?!"
Corazon took a deep breath.
"I've always been able to talk."
Law couldn't believe it.
"You've been lying to Doflamingo this whole time..."
Corazon sat down on the steps nearby.
"I never once said I was mute."
"They just assumed it."
Law shouted.
"Stop joking!"
"That's no different from lying!!!"
"You—"
Corazon had to cut him off.
"Hey, hey, quiet down."
He snapped his fingers with his right hand.
"Silence."
A pale violet ring of light shot from his fingertips, expanded instantly, and enveloped the alley before vanishing.
"You're too noisy."
"I've set up a wall of silence."
"Now you can't hear outside, and no one outside can hear us."
He said this, lighting a cigarette with a mysterious air.
Law was stunned.
"So all those stupid things you usually do were also..."
Corazon chuckled.
"That's right, all an act."
Law's face darkened.
"Who are you trying to fool!!!"
"Your clothes literally caught fire!!!"
Just then, the cigarette he'd lit caught the feathers of Corazon's cloak on fire.
He hurriedly patted it out and exhaled.
"Can't help it. I've been clumsy since childhood. No cure for it."
Law was unconvinced.
"Stop joking, you mean the worst, most ridiculous slip-ups weren't even an act?!"
"Who would believe that crap?! Why would you hide this from your comrades!"
Corazon calmly spoke.
"I've never thought of them as comrades."
"My true purpose is to stop my brother, Doffy, from losing control—using the identity of his younger brother, if necessary."
"His fearless, demonic nature is something he was born with."
"Only four executives, including myself, and Vergo, know of Doffy's brutal nature."
Law frowned in confusion.
"Vergo?"
This was the first time he'd heard the name of an executive he'd never met.
Corazon explained:
"He was sent on a secret mission before you joined the family."
"A powerful guy. Even I don't know the details of his mission."
"It doesn't concern you."
"In any case... you must never become a monster like my brother, Law."
"Leave this place quickly."
Law shouted back.
"I'm not leaving!"
"I joined this family precisely because I want to become someone like that!!!"
Corazon sighed at Law's resolve.
"Your hidden name is D."
"You belong to that clan of fate—the Clan of D."
"In my 'hometown'... adults often warned children."
"'If you don't behave, D will come and eat you.'"
"And whenever more people with the name of D rose to prominence in the world..."
"The elders in my hometown would frown and mutter that D would one day stir up the world again..."
Law was baffled.
"What are you even talking about? You make it sound like I'm some kind of monster."
Corazon took a deep drag of his cigarette.
"Huuuh—"
"Maybe. Nobody really knows what D is."
"But it undeniably exists throughout the history of the world."
"This name that has been passed down generation after generation."
"On one land, they even call the Clan of D..."
"'The Natural Enemy of God.'"
"If 'God' refers to the Celestial Dragons..."
"Then as the natural enemy of God..."
"Perhaps your true purpose is to overthrow this world."
"But Doffy's 'destruction' is pure annihilation—different from D's 'destruction.'"
"D should carry the will to oppose the gods and destroy their rule, not destroy the world itself..."
"You cannot walk Doffy's path..."
Faced with Corazon's cryptic words, Law exploded with rage.
"What are you saying! I don't understand a damn thing!!!"
"But!"
"I'm not your underling! Doflamingo is my boss!"
"I joined this family for more killing and destruction!"
"My hometown! My friends! My parents! My sister! They're all dead!"
"Why do so many idiots like you get to live in this world!!!"
"In another year I'll be dead anyway! What the hell else can I do if I leave here!!!"
Corazon clenched his fists.
"Then go find a cure."
Law suddenly bolted toward the mouth of the alley.
"There is no cure!"
"I'm going to tell Doffy everything—about your voice and your ability!"
"Die, Corazon!!!"
Corazon shot to his feet.
"Damn... you brat!"
In a few strides he reached Law, kicking at him—then his pupils contracted.
"What!!!"
Law dodged instantly, as if he knew exactly where Corazon's kick was aimed.
As Corazon's kick missed, Law twisted his leg and threw him straight into a trash heap.
Law smirked wickedly.
"I haven't been standing still these past two years, bastard!"
"You're dead!!!"
He sprinted off into the crowd.
...
Bang—
Corazon smashed through a trash can as he climbed out, scanning frantically. Law was gone.
"Damn... is it over then."
He staggered toward the port, half in a daze.
"I trusted him just because of the name D."
"What a rookie mistake..."
"I should never have trusted that boy. I revealed everything, dragged it all out into the open... now it's too late."
"Doffy shouldn't be back yet today."
"I'd better get out of here while I still can..."
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