"You… why are you here?!"
Corazon clutched the Ope-Ope Fruit tightly in his bloodied hands.
In his mind, there could only be one reason for Malverick's presence—
the fruit.
No, not "could be."
Definitely.
After all, the Ope-Ope Fruit was the only treasure on this entire island worth such attention.
But even if he were at full strength, Corazon knew he'd stand no chance against Malverick.
And right now, he could barely stand at all.
Malverick could clearly read the suspicion in his eyes.
He smiled faintly and said,
"Relax. I didn't come here for the fruit."
He waved his hand, opening his Dark Void Space, and gently laid an unconscious Law onto the ground.
Seeing Law, Corazon's eyes widened—he immediately ran over and held the boy in his arms.
"What did you do to him?!"
He couldn't make sense of it—how could Law be with Malverick?
"Calm down," Malverick said. "If I wanted to harm you or the kid, you'd both have been dead five or six times already."
"The Ope-Ope Fruit—it's why you came, isn't it? Give it to him. Let him eat it."
Corazon stared at him for a moment.
He was right—if Malverick had come for the fruit, he'd already have taken it by force.
So, right there in front of Malverick, Corazon pressed the fruit into Law's mouth.
Law's body didn't recover instantly—after all, the Ope-Ope Fruit wasn't some miracle medicine.
Its power had to be used by the user themselves.
Still, Corazon finally let out a long sigh of relief.
His strength gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, pain wracking his body.
Malverick caught him before he hit the dirt, then returned Law to the safety of his dark space.
"What do you really want?" Corazon asked weakly.
If not the fruit, then what was Malverick's purpose?
"I came here just to stir things up," Malverick said with a smirk. "But now, I've changed my mind."
"Donquixote Rosinante… I want you to become my subordinate."
–––
Meanwhile, Doflamingo had also landed on Rubeck Island.
He took one look around and instantly realized the chaos.
"Not good! Everyone—go! Find the Ope-Ope Fruit! Don't let anyone else get it!"
At his command, Trebol, Pica, Diamante, and the rest of his officers charged inland.
Their goal: the Ope-Ope Fruit.
And just beyond the island's shore, Vice Admiral Tsuru's fleet was closing in fast.
–––
"Be your subordinate?"
Corazon stared at Malverick, shocked.
Had he heard right?
"You do realize," he said bitterly, "by taking that fruit, I've made enemies of the Donquixote Family, the Marines, and the World Government all at once."
"If nothing unexpected happens, this will be the last day of my life."
He wasn't wrong.
The World Government offering fifty billion proved how important the Ope-Ope Fruit was to them.
If they found out he had stolen it—
and worse, given it to a dying child who hated the Government itself—
Even if Doflamingo spared him, even if Sengoku tried to protect him, he'd still be a dead man walking.
"That's exactly why I'm interested in you," Malverick said.
"It'd be a waste to let someone like you die here."
"So, I'm giving you another choice."
He smiled faintly.
"You'd better decide fast. Your brother—Doflamingo—is already on the island. He and his men are coming straight for you.
If you hesitate, you won't have another chance."
Corazon clenched his fists. He had no way out anymore.
Finally, he dropped to one knee.
"Captain… from today onward, I'll serve under you. You have my loyalty."
"Good," Malverick said, lifting him up with a grin.
He didn't need a binding contract for Corazon—not like with Judge or Tesoro.
Rosinante was the kind of man he could trust.
Just then—
"Corazon!!"
A furious roar echoed across the clearing.
Doflamingo had arrived.
The moment he saw his brother, the last shred of denial in his heart vanished.
It was true.
His brother had betrayed him.
"I'm sorry, brother," Corazon said quietly.
"Oh? You can talk?"
Doflamingo's eyes narrowed, his smile twisting.
"So you've been pretending all these years. Hiding it from me."
"Damn you, Corazon! Die!"
Before Doflamingo could move, Pica plunged his hand into the ground—
and a massive stone fist erupted upward, smashing toward Corazon.
But before it could strike, the attack dissolved into nothingness, devoured by a swirling field of blackness.
"What—?!"
Pica stumbled back, staring in shock.
"Malverick…" Doflamingo muttered darkly, recognizing the power.
"The son of Silvers Rayleigh… the Dark King—Malverick!"
He instantly knew things had taken a bad turn.
Malverick, meanwhile, was calmly reviewing the data his system presented.
[Target: Donquixote Doflamingo]
[Devil Fruit: String-String Fruit (Paramecia)]
[Power Level: Star Glory]
[Defeat Reward: +2000 Supreme Points]
[Subordinates: Trebol, Pica, Diamante—Paramecia Users, Peak Diamond Rank]
The rest of the crew wasn't even worth mentioning.
"So," Doflamingo said, forcing a smirk, "you're here too.
Don't tell me—you want the fruit as well?"
"Do I need to answer you?" Malverick said coldly. "Who do you think you are?"
Boom!
An overwhelming surge of Conqueror's Haki exploded from Malverick,
sweeping across the battlefield like a hurricane.
Everyone—except Doflamingo—was blown back several steps by sheer pressure.
Out at sea, Vice Admiral Tsuru's eyes widened.
She'd felt that same aura countless times from the world's strongest.
"Full speed ahead!" she ordered. "Something's happening on the island!"
Doflamingo gritted his teeth, fury boiling over.
"Damn you, you maniac!"
He unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki, but when their wills collided, the difference was obvious.
Doflamingo's aura shattered instantly.
If not for Trebol and the others steadying him, he would've been thrown back hundreds of meters.
"Leave," Malverick said coldly. "Before I change my mind. Otherwise, none of you will walk away."
He turned toward the sea. "Those Marines out there—they're not here for me, are they?"
The massive silhouette of a Navy warship loomed on the horizon.
Doflamingo's face darkened.
"Damn it… her again!"
He'd been chased by that ship too many times not to recognize it.
Vice Admiral Tsuru.
And this time, he wasn't just dealing with her—
he was staring down the Dark King's heir himself.
~~--------------------------
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