Aboard the Leviathan.
The only bed, once scrubbed clean, was given to the juice-loving kid so he could rest.
Sakura and Corazon sat in deck chairs, admiring the full moon overhead.
No precious beer left, but each held a bottle of rum instead.
Fresh water's tough to store at sea, so seasoned navigators stockpile low-proof rum for long voyages.
With rum warming his throat, Corazon wasn't as jittery as when he'd been caught contacting Sengoku.
He stole glances at the beautiful girl beside him, watching her squint contentedly against the cool ocean breeze.
"You're a weird one, you know that?"
She does good deeds but insists on trashing her own reputation. Does she get a kick out of playing the villain? Man, she's really… not very girly.
"What's so weird? Pirates are selfish scum who do whatever they want—including me. I'm self-aware enough to admit it!"
The bland rum tasted flat on her tongue, and Sakura huffed in annoyance.
"But you could be one of the good guys!"
Corazon, sensing her heart wasn't rotten, tried to "save" this "wayward girl."
He forgot one thing: in a death-match with the World Government, telling Sakura Haruno to "go straight" was basically asking her to commit suicide.
"Pass. Being a good person in this crapsack world is dangerous."
Listless, Sakura waved him off, draped a black coat over herself, and turned away.
"Get some sleep. We've still got more treatments for little Law tomorrow."
Hearing the drowsiness in her voice, Corazon's expression grew complicated.
Long-buried exhaustion crept in, soft as clouds, dragging him toward sleep.
The salty sea wind carried him into a dream.
Darkness and flames.
His mother's gentle face before she died. Him and his brother digging through trash for food. The whole family strung up on their mansion for villagers to torment. His father's chest torn open by bullets…
"—!"
He jolted awake. Sunlight poured down, waves gently rocked the boat, gulls sang overhead.
"Just a dream…"
Corazon wiped his forehead—his face was soaked in cold sweat.
Brr brr brr…
He looked down. The Den Den Mushi in his arms was ringing.
Click.
He picked up. A familiar voice crackled through.
"It's me, Corazon!"
The whole boat froze.
Seawater splashed the hull, white foam smacking Corazon's face and snapping him out of it.
He instantly layered a soundproof bubble around himself. The world went silent.
Fingers tapped the receiver—tap tap—their old signal.
"You two vanished without a word six months ago. How's Law? Found a doctor?"
Corazon glanced at Law, freshly treated by Sakura, still pale but improving. He raised a finger to his lips.
Seeing the boy heal day by day, Corazon made a choice.
He wanted to stay with this kid who'd suffered the same fate—watch him grow, guide him onto a better path, keep him from repeating the tragedy he and his brother lived.
Time to end his old life for good.
Tap tap—two quick taps. No.
"…Knew it. Bring Law back to the ship. We might actually cure him this time!"
On the other end, Doflamingo lounged with legs crossed, grinning like a shark.
"I got intel on the Ope Ope no Mi!"
Corazon—former Celestial Dragon—gaped. Cold sweat poured down his temple.
He remembered the Holy Land legend: a fairy tale about eternal life.
"Some pirates who don't know its value are trying to trade it to the Marines. The real buyer's gotta be the Government, right?"
Doflamingo leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
"Two weeks. We'll hijack it. My most trusted brother—you'll eat it. Then you can cure Law. Happy, Corazon?"
Before Corazon could respond, Doflamingo's laughter cut off with a click.
Both brothers knew the other suspected treason. Miles apart, they snorted in unison.
Back on the Leviathan, Corazon pocketed the snail.
He forced a casual smile, walked over, and ruffled Law's hair.
"Great news! One step closer to a cure, Law!"
"Yeah! Once I'm better, we can travel together, Mr. Corazon!"
Law grabbed his hand, white patches fading, face glowing with joy.
Corazon tapped Sakura's shoulder. A soundproof dome snapped up around them.
"Miss Sakura… could I ask a favor?"
Sakura frowned. The guy had been off ever since hanging up that call.
Did Sengoku say something? Setting a trap?
"I need to get off early. Please take Law and this to Algiers Island. Someone will pay the medical bill."
He handed her a small film-canister-like container.
Sakura's eyes narrowed, but the resolve radiating from him was unshakable.
She knew: he was going to settle things with his brother.
Nothing stops a man heading to his battlefield. She didn't try.
"Got it. I'll look after Law."
And so, on a small island in the northeast North Blue called Rhein-Aachen, the Leviathan dropped Corazon off.
The boat raised sail. Law stood at the stern, waving.
"Mr. Corazon! Promise—we'll meet on Algiers once I'm cured!"
Wind whipped past. On shore, the man turned, flashed a goofy grin at the boy finally free of lead poisoning.
"Promise! And Law… I love you!"
"Pfft—hahaha! What kinda dumb face is that, Mr. Corazon?!"
Laughter drowned the sadness. Law clutched his stomach, rolled on the deck, legs kicking.
Corazon watched Sakura sail out of sight, then pulled out his Den Den Mushi and dialed a familiar number.
"Semla, it's me. Admiral Sengoku—do you know about the Ope Ope no Mi deal?"
Meanwhile, southeast North Blue.
A warship with a razor-sharp ram cleaved through massive waves, full speed ahead.
At the bow, a Marine chomping two cigars climbed the steps alongside a pink-haired female Marine.
"Old man, two days guarding the ship—don't work yourself to death."
Hearing that, the woman bared shark teeth and punched his head. "That's no way to talk to Teacher Zephyr, Smoker! Hina's pissed!"
" Tch."
Smoker didn't argue with women. He just sucked his cigar brighter.
"Kid, ignore him, Hina. That's just how he is."
The purple-haired veteran turned, pride flickering in his eyes as his students bickered.
Still, a teacher stays strict—even pride stays buried.
"But I've told you before: arrogance gets you hated at HQ."
"Yeah, yeah. We're close to the target zone!"
"Yesterday, someone spotted their boat near Rhein-Aachen."
Smoker switched to work mode, handing Zephyr an intel report.
"Right in front of us. Signal the fleet—full speed ahead!!!"