Just as Corazon arrived beneath the ship, a voice startled him into a cold sweat...
"Corazon."
He looked up to see Doflamingo at the railing, staring down at him with a blank expression.
Corazon's heart skipped. Why did he come back so early today...? He bit down on his teeth.
Then he heard Doflamingo continue:
"Hurry up and get on board. We're setting out."
"The Marines are on to us again. That same Tsuru from Headquarters."
"Move faster."
With that, he turned and walked toward the cabin.
Cold sweat ran down Corazon's back. He let out a breath of relief. That boy... didn't go tattling after all.
Law appeared from the bottom of the ladder, a wicked grin on his face:
"Guess that makes us even now."
"After all, two years ago when I stabbed you, you kept it a secret for me too."
"Heheheh."
With a mischievous grin, he dashed back onto the ship.
Corazon finally let go of the breath he was holding, slumping to the ground in relief.
Watching that bastard boy run upward, Corazon made some sort of decision deep in his heart...
Doflamingo appeared at the railing again:
"Corazon, hurry it up!"
"Hey! Corazon!!!"
...
North Blue, after half a day of fleeing.
The Donquixote Family finally escaped Vice Admiral Tsuru's pursuit, battered and worn.
But Law and Corazon were nowhere to be seen.
They had been too busy fighting to look for them earlier, and now, even after searching the entire ship, there was no sign of them.
At that moment, Diamante came out of the cabin holding a piece of paper:
"Doffy."
Doflamingo took the paper. Written on it were the words:
"I've taken Law to be treated. –Corazon."
Rip—
The paper crumbled into pieces. A nameless rage welled up. For the first time, Doflamingo began to doubt his own brother, Corazon—Rosinante.
Thinking back, ever since Rosinante returned over the past few years, the family's progress had been unusually unlucky.
And the Marines always seemed to find their location... and now, with this pursuit...
I hope my suspicion is wrong. After all, you're my only 'brother'...
"Corazon..."
...
North Blue, unknown waters.
A small wooden boat drifted with its sail raised.
Law was tied up tightly, cursing through his gag:
"Bastard! Let me go!!!"
"What the hell are you doing, Corazon!"
"Untie me right now! Hey!!"
"Say something, damn it!!!"
Buru buru~ buru buru~
The Den Den Mushi rang. Law grew excited:
"Answer it already!"
"It has to be Doflamingo!!"
"Save me!!!"
But Corazon ignored him, calmly scanning the newspaper in search of a famous doctor.
After who knew how long...
Law had already fallen asleep. Corazon sighed, setting down the newspaper with nothing gained.
He picked up the Den Den Mushi and dialed that secret number.
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
In his office, Sengoku was munching on rice crackers when the Den Den Mushi rang from his drawer. His eyes lit up.
Spreading out his Observation Haki, he quickly picked up the receiver:
"Da—sen—bei."
On the other end, Rosinante's calm voice replied.
After exchanging the code, Rosinante said:
"It's me."
Sengoku spoke into the receiver:
"How is it going, Rosinante?"
Rosinante's voice came through:
"Everything's fine, but I need to suspend the mission."
Sengoku casually tossed a rice cracker into his mouth:
"Did you run into trouble?"
Rosinante answered:
"I've got some personal matters to take care of."
Sengoku nodded:
"I see. Understood."
"And those kids over there, how are they?"
"Still sticking with you no matter how much you bully them, huh."
Rosinante gave a soft "mm":
"Those three are probably hopeless."
Sengoku sensed someone approaching:
"They're already a pirate crew famous across the seas."
"You must be extra careful."
"I'll entrust this entirely to you."
"Do as you see fit. I'll await your next report."
Click—
He hung up the Den Den Mushi just as two figures appeared outside his door.
"Reporting, Admiral Sengoku!"
"That transfer request you mentioned has arrived."
Sengoku tidied his desk:
"Let him in."
Tap, tap, tap...
The crisp sound of leather shoes entered. Sengoku looked at the young man who came to attention:
"So it's you."
"I've heard that in your year since officially joining the Marines, you've performed exceptionally."
"You want to transfer to G5, correct?"
"What's your name?"
Click—
The young Marine stood rigidly, heels clacking together:
"Yes, sir."
"My name is Vergo."
...
North Blue.
Lorka and Robin were traveling by merchant ship toward the Grand Line.
Under a parasol, with cold drinks on the table, the two sat in chairs studying a map.
Robin, curious, pointed at the circles Lorka had drawn on the Grand Line chart:
"All these circles are places you've already been?"
Lorka chuckled and nodded:
"Yeah. The weather on the Grand Line changes unpredictably."
"The danger level skyrockets too, so I haven't toured the entire thing."
"From Sabaody, after reaching Reverse Mountain, I didn't turn back. I came straight to the Four Seas."
Robin marveled:
"That's still so many islands."
"I wonder how the Grand Line compares to the Four Seas."
Lorka smiled faintly:
"Each has its strengths."
"It's beautiful, dangerous, and powerful."
"Most of the strong, after all, head straight for the Grand Line."
Robin nodded thoughtfully:
"I see."
"So where are we going this time?"
Lorka spread out the map on the table:
"The Grand Line has several routes. I've already traveled the outer path."
"This time we'll return and take the middle one."
He pulled out another pen of a different color, circling islands from Reverse Mountain all the way to the Sabaody Archipelago.
...
Grand Line, Amazon Lily.
Shortly after returning to Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock used her beauty and her powerful Devil Fruit ability to become the island's Empress.
To keep outsiders from learning she had once been a slave...
She lived in constant fear, gradually putting on a "mask."
She appeared before others as a proud tyrant—arrogant, willful, holding deep contempt for all.
Even a passing cute little animal would be ruthlessly kicked aside.
With such behavior, she maintained her image as Empress. Yet because of her beauty, she always received praise.
Slowly, she lost herself...
And now, as Empress, she prepared for an unprecedented expedition from Amazon Lily—
To secure her position and authority...
...
Meanwhile.
The "Marine Hunter" Dracule Mihawk once again clashed with Red-Haired Shanks.
In the middle of their duel, Beckman rushed over with news for Shanks.
Shanks bid him a grave farewell.
And helplessly, Mihawk once again set off on his search for a worthy opponent...
...
Months later...
Grand Line, Alabasta.
After the East Blue's Cleansing Campaign ended, he ordered the other nine warships to return to Headquarters to report.
He, however, took Douglas Bullet and Enel aboard a single warship and sailed to...
Alabasta, Rainbase.
The moment they stepped into Crocodile's base of operations, countless men in black surged forth.
They forced residents off the streets, issuing stern warnings.
One of the black-clad leaders stepped forward, bowing obsequiously in greeting.
Watching Crocodile's subordinates, hailed by the people as heroes, display such groveling humility...
Many of the forcibly displaced citizens turned resentful glares and discontent toward Sakazuki and the Marines behind him.
Enel, in the rear, raised an eyebrow at the crowd's expressions:
"This guy... he's trying to stir up trouble."
Ahead, Sakazuki gave a cold snort.
Among the street crowd, a man and woman tried to keep hidden in the shadows.
Robin's body trembled involuntarily, frozen stiff...
Lorka gently stroked her back to comfort her. Only after Sakazuki walked past did Robin slowly begin to calm down.
She let out a breath of relief—but before she could escape—
Though Sakazuki had seemingly passed, he suddenly returned with his men.
There, before him, was Lorka, "coincidentally" comforting Robin.
And Robin, her back turned toward him.
Sakazuki's voice, demonic and slow, crept into Robin's ears:
"You're... afraid of me?"
---
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