Chapter 261-265

Chapter 261: Is Crocodile Also Working with Dragon?

Just as Hina was about to draw her sword and hack Diarmuid, the "old pervert," to pieces,

The Den Den Mushi placed on the deck next to Diarmuid suddenly rang.

Both Hina and Diarmuid turned to look. The Den Den Mushi was mimicking Gion’s appearance, which immediately quieted them both down.

Diarmuid glanced back at Vergo, who was reading a book. Vergo looked startled and quickly said, "Admiral, I haven't sold you out..."

As he spoke, he stood up, looked behind him, and the rest of the Marines also wore expressions that clearly said, "Not me."

"Go, go, go! All of you just want to watch me make a fool of myself!" Diarmuid growled angrily.

Vergo chuckled, nodded, and then quickly led the petty officers on the deck away.

"Is there some kind of surveillance Den Den Mushi hidden on my ship?" Diarmuid looked around, muttering to himself. He then turned to Hina. The fiery indignation she had moments ago had significantly lessened; the flush on her face had faded, and her eyes darted nervously left and right, as if she, too, was searching for a surveillance Den Den Mushi.

How could it be such a coincidence? I just 'pecked' the Admiral, and immediately, Gion-nee's call comes in?

It shouldn't be that coincidental, right?

Diarmuid took a cursory look around, decided it was unlikely, and didn't give it any more thought. He picked up the Den Den Mushi and asked, "Hello? Gion?"

"Hmm? Why does your tone sound so guilty?" Gion asked from the other end.

Diarmuid was taken aback, she could even hear that?, but he quickly covered it up. "Guilty about what? I'm fishing right now, and your Den Den Mushi just made me miss a fish."

"Is that so?" Gion didn't dwell on it. Instead, her tone became serious. "We have a bit of a problem."

"What kind of problem?" Diarmuid asked calmly.

Hina, curious, sidled up to listen. But the moment she got close, Diarmuid glared at her and pointed to his mouth.

Hina, fuming, lifted her leg and kicked Diarmuid in the shin, pulling a vicious, teeth-gritting face.

Diarmuid just rolled his eyes and ignored her.

Gion, naturally, hadn't noticed the situation on his end, as she couldn't see them. She spoke directly, "That little brat Robin ran off."

"???" Diarmuid was utterly confused. That can't be, can it?

Why would she run? She was well-fed and well-looked-after in the Marines. Gion and he both took good care of her, and she was periodically approved to visit her mother at Impel Down. She was a Captain in Marine Headquarters now. He heard Gion was preparing to promote her to Commodore recently, moving her even closer to her goal. Why would she run away at a time like this?

"No way? Why would she run? Did she defect?" Diarmuid asked, astonished.

"No, not that. You wouldn't know, I just found out myself. During the time we went to the New World to catch Shanks, Robin applied to join the Intelligence Division's special unit. Tsuru-nee wasn't paying attention, and she successfully pulled one over on her. Then, yesterday, she accepted a mission from the Intelligence Division and secretly left Headquarters. I couldn't find her today, which is how I discovered all this," Gion said softly.

"Ah..." Diarmuid finally sighed in relief. So it wasn't defection; she was just out on a mission. That was understandable.

The more dangerous the mission, the greater the merit upon successful return. Robin had been dragging her feet in the Intelligence Division for so long; she must have been eager to go out and earn a significant achievement.

"What kind of mission?" Diarmuid asked.

"Undercover. She chose Crocodile..." Gion said, sounding a bit helpless.

Diarmuid paused, then asked, "Why? Is there something happening with Crocodile lately?"

"For one, among the current Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile is the one the Marines are most dissatisfied with. Robin happens to be aware of this and is also privy to our Warlord infiltration plan. She knows the Marines will move against Crocodile eventually. If she can infiltrate beforehand, then when the time is right, she can coordinate with us and help us eliminate Crocodile in one fell swoop. That would definitely be a major achievement. Given how much we've taken care of her, her own efforts, and her accumulated years of service, she might even jump straight to Rear Admiral..." Gion analyzed.

"That's a fair point," Diarmuid nodded.

Among the five active Warlords of the Sea, there's Boa Hancock. Robin had a good relationship with her back at G-7 and knew she was a Marine agent. Hancock had only recently become a Warlord, so there was nothing much to say there.

Smoker was a veteran Warlord and a Marine agent, so nothing needed to be said about him either.

Bartholomew Kuma was a sleeper agent, handled by the Intelligence Division and the Special Science Group. Diarmuid didn't pay much attention to Kuma’s issues, but the man was now essentially marching in lockstep with the Marines and didn't require extra management.

As for Mihawk, Diarmuid brought him in just to fill the quota because he was the perfect candidate to occupy the Warlord position when the Marines didn't have enough manpower. After all, he wasn't a pirate in the true sense, and after gaining the title of the World's Strongest Swordsman, his threat level plummeted. He wouldn't randomly start cutting people down in the streets anymore...

He was a carefree vagrant, nothing to worry about; just let him roam the seas in his little boat.

Therefore, the only one the Marines had always been dissatisfied with was "Desert King" Crocodile. The Marines never intended for him to become a Warlord, but he managed to worm his way in.

Since becoming a Warlord, the man had never contacted the Marines or made any gesture of cooperation. He just holed up in Alabasta and refused to budge.

Based on Robin's own analysis, if the Marines were to move against the Warlords, Crocodile would likely be the first target. Therefore, after much thought, she made up her mind when Hancock officially became a Warlord.

"Of course, that's just one aspect. There are two other reasons," Gion added.

"What reasons?" Diarmuid asked.

"The situation in Alabasta has been very unstable recently, with a lot of internal conflict. It’s rumored that the Nefertari family's reputation has been affected, so Headquarters also suspects there is a problem in Alabasta..." Gion whispered.

"You suspect that Crocodile fellow is stirring up trouble?" Diarmuid asked.

Gion hesitated, then said, "Huh? No, why would you suspect Crocodile?"

"Wait? Shouldn't I suspect Crocodile? He's holed up in Alabasta. Alabasta was fine before, and now it's having problems..." Diarmuid said, a little surprised.

So the Intelligence Division didn't even suspect Crocodile?

Gion paused for a moment, then said softly, "It shouldn't be Crocodile, right? He’s a pirate. There's no need for him to do something so pointless, is there? Is he trying to usurp the throne? Heh heh heh..."

In fact, before Doflamingo used his status as a Warlord of the Sea and his cunning to seize Dressrosa, no one truly believed a pirate could usurp a kingdom.

After all, the reputation of pirates was too notorious.

Even after Doflamingo seized the throne of Dressrosa, everyone still treated it as an isolated incident.

Doflamingo had a special background; his ancestors were indeed the royal family of Dressrosa, so it couldn't be considered a widespread phenomenon. Therefore, people still didn't take it seriously.

It wasn't until Alabasta was nearly destroyed by Crocodile's machinations that the world's nations truly recognized the danger posed by the Warlords of the Sea.

Right now, with trouble brewing in Alabasta, Marine Headquarters' Intelligence Division hadn't focused their suspicions on Crocodile.

From Diarmuid's perspective, this was both unbelievable and foolish. But if viewed from within the logic of this world, without considering his "cheat," perhaps it was reasonable?

Diarmuid didn't say much. Instead, he counter-questioned, "Then who does the Intelligence Division suspect?"

In his heart, he already had the answer.

"The Revolutionary Army," Gion whispered.

"I knew it," Diarmuid clicked his tongue.

Yes, at this stage, whenever there was political instability, rebellion, or uprising in any nation, the Revolutionary Army was the first and foremost suspect.

It was normal for the Marine Intelligence Division to first suspect the Revolutionary Army when Alabasta ran into trouble. It was even highly probable that Crocodile had already fabricated evidence to pin the blame on the Revolutionary Army.

"Alabasta is different from other countries. It is one of the oldest human kingdoms, the sole nation on the super-island 'Sandy Island,' and a descendant of the twenty founding kings. It hides who knows how many secrets. But most importantly, Alabasta is a military powerhouse on a global scale. If the Revolutionary Army were to genuinely gain control of this nation's power... the consequences would be unimaginable," Gion said softly.

Even though Marine Headquarters had various ties to the Revolutionary Army, it didn't mean Headquarters wanted the Revolutionary Army to rapidly grow and become powerful.

At the very least, they absolutely did not want the Revolutionary Army to seize control of Alabasta and instantly command an army of over a million.

Diarmuid wasn't so foolish as to ask if the Marines had contacted Dragon through Bartholomew Kuma to confirm the situation or anything similar. It was a joke; if the Revolutionary Army was truly behind this, Dragon would deny it to his dying breath.

So, there was no need for the Marines to ask; they had to investigate the truth themselves.

"..." Diarmuid said softly, "It seems the merit Robin is eyeing this time is far greater than I initially thought."

Before, he was locked into a fixed mindset, instinctively and subconsciously believing that Crocodile had begun causing trouble in Alabasta. Now that he thought about it, he'd already veered this world off its original course. If the Revolutionary Army was causing trouble, it wasn't impossible, was it?

In fact... what if Crocodile and the Revolutionary Army had teamed up?

After all, Gecko Moria had become an officer in the Revolutionary Army. If Dragon managed to win over Crocodile, it didn't seem entirely impossible either.

It seemed Robin's trip to Alabasta was two-fold: one, to see if she could infiltrate Crocodile's side, and the other, to investigate the truth about Alabasta and see if the Revolutionary Army was involved. That would indeed be a significant achievement.

Diarmuid thought it over and realized he couldn't blindly assume Crocodile was the one causing trouble anymore. Since Robin had already left, he would let her investigate. What if there was a surprise?

Moreover, the CP agencies should have already taken action, right? But that was none of his concern. "What's the third aspect?" Diarmuid asked.

"There's a rumor that there's a Poneglyph in Alabasta. I imagine Robin is also interested, given her background... but that's irrelevant," Gion said with a chuckle.

"It truly is irrelevant," Diarmuid nodded calmly.

In his mind, however, he wondered if Robin might actually find the Ancient Weapon Pluton in Alabasta.

Though, what would be the point? At least for now.

But if she did find Pluton, it would certainly be a huge achievement. However, given Robin's character and principles, she would never unleash such a weapon. She would probably pretend she didn't find it.

No matter what, if she could achieve even one of those three goals, it would be a major accomplishment. If she could achieve all three, she could easily become a Vice Admiral.

It certainly satisfied her eagerness to earn merit.

With that thought, Diarmuid shook his head and smiled. "That little one, Robin, has always had her own ideas since she was a child. Since things have come to this, we can't exactly go and drag her back, can we? She's out on a mission... just let her go."

"Agreed. That's what I thought, too. It’s better to guide than to obstruct. How many times can we stop her? It's better to just let her go. I just called to inform you," Gion said with a smile.

Chapter 262: Sengoku: Go to Hell, You Old Bastards!

After discussing the matter of the disobedient young girl, Robin, Gion continued, "Oh, by the way, are you aware of Admiral Sengoku's political mission?"

"Of course. The Op-Op Fruit, right? What about it? Is there a lead?" Diarmuid asked softly.

"Yes, there is," Gion replied, then added, "Tsuru-nee just left Headquarters, leading a team to the North Blue."

Diarmuid's expression became slightly more serious. He said, "Give me all the details."

He was well aware of the Op-Op Fruit's true significance, but he was worried about potential complications.

After all, this concerned the life of Rosinante. Rosinante considered Diarmuid an older brother, and over the years, Diarmuid had received no small amount of care from Sengoku. He couldn't just stand by and watch Sengoku suffer the loss of a child in his old age.

Therefore, Diarmuid was determined to save Rosinante, no matter what.

Gion was a bit surprised. Why was Diarmuid so concerned about a simple political mission to retrieve a Devil Fruit?

But since he asked, Gion didn't hold anything back. She began, "Do you know about former Marine Headquarters Commodore, Diez Barrels?"

Gion asked casually. Barrels was not a prominent individual, nor was he part of Diarmuid's faction, nor did he have any backing—otherwise, he wouldn't have been foolish enough to defect from the Marines. There were many Commodores like him in Marine Headquarters. As a Marine Admiral, how could Diarmuid possibly know all of them?

To Gion's surprise, Diarmuid replied without hesitation, "I know of him. Just a greedy fool."

"Well, that's about right," Gion murmured, then continued, "While he's a greedy fool, he seems to have gotten lucky. Recently, he found the Op-Op Fruit in the North Blue, and he was greatly tempted by the World Government's five billion Berry bounty in the Underworld for it. So, he wants to sell it to the World Government."

"And Admiral Sengoku was informed of this, correct?" Diarmuid said with a slight smile.

"Exactly. That man used Doflamingo as a middleman. The World Government assigned Admiral Sengoku to handle the matter, so the Admiral sent the Chief of Staff to the North Blue to take care of it," Gion said, smiling.

Diarmuid frowned.

Judging by her tone, it seemed neither Sengoku, Gion, nor even Tsuru was taking this seriously. Did none of them think Doflamingo was someone to worry about?

In fact, the "future" Diarmuid knew had already changed regarding this incident.

In the original story, after Barrels used the Donquixote Family as a middleman, Sengoku immediately recognized an opportunity. On one hand, he suspected Doflamingo would betray them, but on the other, he also took the chance to request authorization from the World Government to arrest Doflamingo. The World Government readily agreed.

So, in that incident, the Marines not only wanted to secure the Op-Op Fruit but also wanted to take down Doflamingo.

They just failed in the end.

But now, perhaps because Doflamingo had been on his best behavior these past few years, or perhaps because Sengoku had become a bit too arrogant and felt that with the Marines' current strength, Doflamingo wouldn't dare provoke them.

Therefore, they didn't take Doflamingo seriously at all.

There was no intent to arrest him, and Sengoku didn't think Doflamingo would dare steal food from the Marines' mouths.

"I suspect Doflamingo will double-cross them," Diarmuid said gravely.

Gion paused on the Den Den Mushi. "No way, right? Would he dare steal our Marine goods?"

"Though the man has been quiet for a few years, don't forget he's not a good person. Whether he dares to target the Marines or not depends on whether the profit is large enough, and the Op-Op Fruit is worth the risk to him," Diarmuid said very seriously.

"It's only five billion Berries..." Gion said, sounding confused.

"It's not about five billion. What was the political mission description the Marines were given regarding the Op-Op Fruit? Do you know?" Diarmuid asked again.

"Uh, that the Op-Op Fruit is one of the most powerful healing abilities, and if Mariejois could acquire it, it would better secure the lives of high-ranking officials, nobles, and even the Celestial Dragons... That's what Admiral Sengoku told me," Gion said, frowning.

Diarmuid was stunned. He thought Admiral Sengoku already knew the Op-Op Fruit grants eternal youth!

So he didn't know the whole time?

Perhaps he only found out afterward?

The reason given by Mariejois was indeed reasonable. The Celestial Dragons were now lording over everyone, and apart from the reckless Dragon, no one dared to target them. Therefore, Celestial Dragons generally faced no external threats. Their lives were only truly threatened by illness and disease.

If they could obtain the Op-Op Fruit, it would significantly reduce this danger. Using this reason to issue a political mission to the Marines was perfectly justifiable.

At this point, the World Government probably hadn't realized that Doflamingo, a former Celestial Dragon, was involved. They likely assumed Barrels simply found an Underworld middleman. If they knew Doflamingo was involved, they absolutely wouldn't have kept the secret from the Marines.

In fact, this was the case: because Sengoku didn't take Doflamingo seriously, he didn't mention him in his report.

In the original story, it was only because of Doflamingo's involvement that Sengoku learned the secret of the Op-Op Fruit.

In any case, due to various reasons, the current situation was completely muddled.

Diarmuid took a deep breath and said, "The Op-Op Fruit has a hidden secret, one perhaps only the Celestial Dragons know, and one I only learned of by chance: this Devil Fruit can grant a person eternal life. Now, do you think Doflamingo will make his move?"

"He will!" Gion said, shocked to her core.

She didn't doubt Diarmuid's words, knowing he had no reason to lie to her or joke about such a matter.

"So, if Doflamingo gets the Op-Op Fruit from Barrels first, the Admiral's mission will have failed?" Gion asked.

"Pretty much," Diarmuid chuckled.

"And you can still laugh?" Gion asked, annoyed.

"Since the higher-ups didn't clearly state the importance of the Op-Op Fruit, even if the mission fails in the end, the Admiral will at most get a verbal scolding. Are they going to demote him? So, it's nothing to worry about," Diarmuid said with a laugh.

Thinking about it, that was probably the situation. Gion also let out a small sigh of relief.

"What do we do now?" Gion asked.

"Luckily, I'm already in the North Blue. Chief of Staff Tsuru might not make it in time. Of course, I'll have to go myself," Diarmuid said casually.

After a brief pause, before Gion could speak, Diarmuid said, "Alright, you stay out of this. The water here is deep. I'll contact Admiral Sengoku right now..."

Seeing his resolve, Gion didn't say anything more and quickly ended the Den Den Mushi call.

At this point, Hina quietly asked, "Admiral, is it very troublesome?"

"Extremely troublesome..." Diarmuid said softly.

With serious business at hand, Diarmuid and Hina both implicitly ignored the little "peck" from before. Neither of them brought it up.

Diarmuid was indeed unbothered; it was just an unintentional kiss, what's the big deal?

However, Hina's heart had experienced a subtle change, though she hadn't displayed it yet, or perhaps, she hadn't even realized it herself.

Wasting no time, Diarmuid quickly dialed Sengoku's Den Den Mushi.

"Diarmuid? I heard you went to the North Blue. Are you looking for trouble with Doflamingo? The Gold-Gold Fruit?" Sengoku asked, chuckling on the Den Den Mushi.

He seemed to be in a very good mood.

In fact, he was. The mission to find the Op-Op Fruit, which he thought was impossible to complete, had suddenly shown a lead out of nowhere. From Sengoku's perspective, things were already on the right track. Once Tsuru arrived in the North Blue, handed over the money, and the transaction was completed, his task would be fulfilled.

Before Diarmuid could speak, Sengoku continued, "If you're going after Doflamingo, hold off for a bit. We have business with him, too. Wait until our matter is concluded, and then you can—"

"Hold on a second, listen to me," Diarmuid couldn't take it anymore and directly interrupted Sengoku.

Sengoku was taken aback, then he heard Diarmuid say, "The Op-Op Fruit's true value lies in its ability to grant eternal life; that's a secret only the Celestial Dragons know."

Diarmuid only spoke that one sentence.

Sengoku's once cheerful expression instantly changed, filled with shock, fury, and perhaps a hint of sorrow?

With just one sentence, a man as clever as Sengoku immediately understood many things. Wasn't that Doflamingo fellow a former Celestial Dragon?

If he was the middleman, there was no way the fruit would ever reach the Marines!

A mission that was originally a sure thing suddenly became completely uncertain. It would be strange if he wasn't furious.

Are these World Government people out of their minds?

Something so important, and they were still being vague about it. Who were they guarding against? Me?

With this attitude, they expect to get the Op-Op Fruit? Go to hell, you old bastards!

They had bungled the whole thing by being so secretive!

After the shock and fury subsided, a trace of sorrow appeared in Sengoku's eyes. "Two hours ago, Rosinante asked me about the Op-Op Fruit. I told him, and when I asked what he wanted it for, he just said he was curious... That child betrayed me."

He was heartbroken about this. Since Rosinante was also a former Celestial Dragon, if Doflamingo knew the secret, Rosinante must have known it too. Yet, he hadn't told Sengoku; instead, he was gathering intelligence and details of the Marine's operation from him.

Sengoku could only conclude at that moment that Rosinante had betrayed his trust to gain eternal life. That's what caused his sorrow.

"Stop with the self-pity!" Diarmuid scoffed.

Sengoku: "???"

My own son betrayed me, turned into an unfilial child! Can't I be sad for a moment?

"Rosinante is not after eternal life, so you don't need to be overly sad. However, since he didn't explain the situation to you, it proves he did betray your trust. He's looking after a child with Amber Lead Disease, you know that, right?" Diarmuid quickly explained.

"I know," Sengoku nodded. He had even recommended Rosinante go to Drum Kingdom back then.

Thinking about it this way, the root cause might also lie with Sengoku?

The whole tangled mess was truly a complicated knot.

"When I contacted him earlier, I learned some secrets. Rosinante wants the Op-Op Fruit, that's true, but not for eternal life. He's an idiot who separates neither work nor private life and has indeed betrayed your trust, but he's not so despicable as to betray you for something like eternal life. How should I put it? He's having a saintly fit and wants to use the Op-Op Fruit to save that kid..." Diarmuid said without hesitation.

Though Rosinante had betrayed his trust, hearing that it was to save a life and not for eternal life made Sengoku's sadness significantly lessen.

In fact, he felt a hint of pride?

See? What a kind and upright child! He's willing to give up eternal life just to save someone. What does this show? It shows I, Sengoku, have taught him well!

Diarmuid had no idea what Sengoku was thinking. If he did, he might have spit in his face. Taught him well, my foot!

"I heard from Gion that Chief of Staff Tsuru just left Marineford, right? She's probably not going to make it in time. Tell me the rendezvous point. I'm already in the North Blue. I'll see if I can salvage this... But don't get your hopes up. What Rosinante is doing is not only a betrayal of your trust but also an attempt to crash Doflamingo's business. That guy is vicious enough to kill his own father. If Rosinante messes this up, he's dead for sure. I won't guarantee the Op-Op Fruit, but my main objective this time is to save Rosinante," Diarmuid said heavily.

The World Government hid the truth of the Op-Op Fruit from Sengoku, leaving him completely passive, and his son was now in grave danger in the North Blue.

Sengoku was naturally furious. He didn't care about the mission anymore. He immediately said, "Minion Island, North Blue's Minion Island... Diarmuid, I'm entrusting Rosinante's life to you."

He didn't mention the Op-Op Fruit at all, only entrusting him with Rosinante's life. Diarmuid naturally understood Sengoku's meaning.

Sure enough, it's Minion Island. The location hasn't changed...

"Don't worry. That guy practically grew up under my watch. I won't let you suffer the pain of a white-haired man burying his black-haired son, will I?" Diarmuid replied with a smile.

Chapter 263: I, Rosinante, Am a Big Shot Who Deals in Both Black and White, Got It?!

Since Diarmuid arrived in the North Blue, his main focus has been on this matter.

He didn't know if anything would change, if the Op-Op Fruit transaction would still take place on Minion Island, but he chose to hang around in the seas near Minion Island anyway.

After all, he had no other option.

What if there were no changes?

In fact, he bet right; the transaction was indeed still on Minion Island!

Thinking about it, it was inevitable. Minion Island is the North Blue’s largest unregulated territory, a Pirate Paradise and the core region for the North Blue's Underworld. Any illicit transactions in the North Blue would typically take place there.

After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Diarmuid looked at Hina and said, "Pass on the order: proceed immediately to Minion Island."

"Yes, Admiral," Hina replied, her expression serious.

"Also, be sure to avoid Vergo. Just say that I haven't been back to the North Blue in a long time, and since I first clashed with Shiki on Minion Island, I thought I'd stop by and take a look while I'm here," Diarmuid added as an instruction.

Hina knew Vergo’s true identity, so she smiled and said, "I understand, Admiral."

Sengoku and Kong knew that Diarmuid’s real purpose for this trip to the North Blue was to cause trouble for Doflamingo and try to get the Gold-Gold Fruit. But on the surface, Diarmuid was actually here for a vacation and leisure, claiming he wanted to visit his homeland. This was perfectly reasonable, and no one suspected a thing. Diarmuid had spent the last few days drifting around the North Blue without doing anything significant, which seemed to further confirm this cover story.

Vergo had previously received orders from Doflamingo to only contact him regarding major, critically important issues. Diarmuid coming to the North Blue for a vacation was certainly not a major issue, so Vergo naturally did not contact Doflamingo. Thus, he was unaware that Doflamingo was also rapidly heading to Minion Island.

Therefore, as long as they could keep Vergo in the dark during this trip, Doflamingo wouldn't receive any news.

A wave of emotion briefly washed over Diarmuid as he thought about this. Barring any surprises, it was time to confront Doflamingo. Vergo would likely transition from a secret agent to an overt one, becoming someone like Bartholomew Kuma, used specifically for future contact with Doflamingo.

Frankly, if Vergo wasn't a spy, Diarmuid would genuinely admire him. He would have promoted him to Rear Admiral or Vice Admiral long ago. The guy was highly efficient, had a good reputation, and his strength was impressive. His only flaw was that he served under Doflamingo.

As Diarmuid's group began heading toward Minion Island, on the other side of the island's waters, the Heavenly Yaksha Donquixote Doflamingo’s ship, the Numancia Flamingo, was also advancing toward Minion Island.

Doflamingo sat on the deck, his expression shifting between moods, at one moment slightly pleased, at the next, visibly angry.

"Have you figured it out yet? Who exactly took that merchandise?" Doflamingo asked his executives, his tone laced with a sense of danger.

Initially, he had been quite delighted that the Navy, those simpletons, were going through him, the middleman, to conduct a trade for the Op-Op Fruit with Diez Barrels. Was this not a gift delivered right to his doorstep?

Doflamingo agreed without a word and acted extremely deferential toward the Navy. He even hinted at his desire to become a Warlord of the Sea to put the Navy's minds at ease. As expected, the Navy didn't grow suspicious.

So, Doflamingo's mood was excellent at the time. How good? So good that he was ready to personally shell out five billion Berries to generously reward that idiot, Barrels. Doflamingo felt the matter was a sure thing; as long as the Navy didn't pull any stunts, the Op-Op Fruit was bound to fall into his hands.

Upon receiving the news, he started wondering if he should arrange for Rosinante to become the Op-Op Fruit user. Once his abilities were fully developed, he could perform the Eternal Youth Operation on Doflamingo.

Or... even Trafalgar Law would do.

Though the little brat had Amber Lead Syndrome and likely wouldn't live long, eating the Op-Op Fruit should solve the problem. In that case, he would have a life-debt to Doflamingo, who had also looked after him for years. When the time came for the Eternal Youth Operation, asking him to repay this debt should be non-negotiable, right?

Just as Doflamingo was fantasizing about a brilliant future, becoming an immortal “Lower God,” he suddenly received news: his merchandise was stolen!

Not long ago, he had acquired the Paramecia-type Gold-Gold Fruit. As a fellow merchant, Doflamingo naturally understood how important this fruit was. Therefore, he had no intention of selling it and planned to keep it for now until he found a suitable person to eat it and earn him a massive fortune.

He hadn't found that person yet, and he wasn't in a hurry, so he simply stashed the fruit away.

But today, during the monthly inventory check, his subordinates actually reported that the Gold-Gold Fruit had vanished into thin air!

What the hell!

I, Doflamingo, am the only one who swindles others! Who dares to swindle me, Doflamingo!?

Who? Who is this audacious person?

Doflamingo’s good mood rapidly soured. He secretly swore that if he found the suspect, he would torture them thoroughly before sending them to the bottom of the sea!

Trebol shook his head at the question. "No progress yet, Doffy..."

The anger in Doflamingo’s eyes grew fiercer, but his self-control was strong. After a period of stifled frustration, he suppressed his rage and said in a deep voice, "Before I get the Op-Op Fruit and return, those damned fools better give me an explanation, or I will give them one!"

"Yes, Doffy," Trebol quickly responded.

After slightly calming his tone, Doflamingo asked, "Where is Rosinante? Has he run off with that kid, Law, again?"

Ever since Rosinante met Trafalgar Law, he frequently took the boy and ran off, claiming he was trying to cure Law's disease. Doflamingo never stopped him. Rosinante was his little brother, and Law was a boy who greatly resembled his past self; Doflamingo was extremely lenient with both of them. Moreover, every time Rosinante ran off for a while, he'd return with Law empty-handed, never pulling any other stunts, so Doflamingo never suspected Rosinante of anything. He had simply grown accustomed to the routine.

"Yes. He left a day earlier than us. We don't know where he went," Trebol answered.

"He really doesn't make it easy for his older brother to relax..." Doflamingo sighed, a faint hint of affection even visible in his eyes.

Before Trebol could speak, Doflamingo continued, "Once I get the Op-Op Fruit, contact both of them. Tell them to come back immediately. Say I need to see them and that it might save Law's life."

Whether Rosinante ate it or Law ate it, the ability would be in their hands and could be used to save Trafalgar Law. Doflamingo was genuinely intending to save the little brat.

"I understand, Doffy," Trebol nodded and replied.

Meanwhile, at the port of Minion Island, a small ship was docking, and two figures quickly disembarked.

It was Donquixote Rosinante and Trafalgar Law.

Standing on Minion Island, Rosinante glanced at the boundless sea in the distance and hefted the small bundle in his hand. "I guess Doflamingo has already discovered that the Gold-Gold Fruit is missing, right? The end-of-the-month inventory check is right around this time."

That’s right, the person who stole the Gold-Gold Fruit was Rosinante himself.

After learning about the Op-Op Fruit from Sengoku, he decided to snatch it and save Law’s life. However, he knew that by doing so, he would not only mess up the Navy's business and betray Sengoku's trust, but also completely destroy Doflamingo's operation. He might be able to conceal it for a while, but Doflamingo would inevitably find out what he did.

In other words, the moment he decided to go after the Op-Op Fruit, it became impossible for him to return to the Donquixote Family as an undercover agent.

Therefore, he had no more reservations. He didn't need to worry about how to quietly sneak away the Gold-Gold Fruit.

He simply took the Gold-Gold Fruit without any disguise before setting sail. Since stealing one was the same as stealing two, and he wasn't planning on going back anyway, a few extra debts didn't matter. This Gold-Gold Fruit could be somewhat of a "meritorious deed" to offset the trouble he was causing the Navy. He couldn't make up for the Navy’s loss, but it might slightly ease his conscience.

After a brief moment of reflection, Rosinante looked at Law beside him and said, "I told you I would save you. You won't die, Law. Look at this island. I've gotten accurate intelligence. The Op-Op Fruit is right here. Now, let’s go get it, and once you eat it, it will definitely cure your disease. You won't have to die, Law!"

Law looked at Rosinante with a touch of emotion and spoke, "Cora-san, if you do this, you won't be able to go back to the Donquixote Family, and you'll have offended the Navy. In the future..."

"It's fine. Doflamingo is my blood brother. If he catches me, at most he'll beat me up and yell at me. What else can he do to me? I'm his little brother. Would he really kill me over a five-billion-Berry Devil Fruit?" Rosinante said with a smile.

He was lying to Law, trying to keep the boy from feeling too much burden.

Law had been around the Donquixote Family long enough to know that Doflamingo dealt with businesses worth hundreds of billions of Berries constantly. Five billion Berries didn't really seem like much.

How could Doflamingo possibly kill his own brother over a five-billion-Berry loss?

Realizing this, Law accepted Rosinante's explanation.

After all, he didn't know the true significance of the Op-Op Fruit.

He was even more unaware that Doflamingo had once killed his own biological father!

"As for the Navy side..." Rosinante smiled and patted the small bundle hanging from his waist. "My big brother is Diarmuid, and my foster father is Admiral Sengoku. The Gold-Gold Fruit is a sort of atonement. The Navy won't really do anything to me, hahaha! Don't let this fool you; I'm actually a big shot who deals in both black and white, you know? Just set your mind at ease. We have nothing to worry about now. We just need to focus on how to get the Op-Op Fruit!"

He was also comforting the kid. Precisely because his foster father was Admiral Sengoku and his big brother was Diarmuid, he might not die after this incident, but a trip to Impel Down would certainly be unavoidable.

But he didn't mind that. It was a consequence he could accept; anything was better than falling into Doflamingo’s hands. After a brief visit to Impel Down as a formality, he might even be released quickly once the heat died down, though his career in the Navy would likely be over. That thought brought a bit of regret.

Law, unaware of Rosinante's two big lies, foolishly believed him.

He was now full of confidence for the future and asked, "So, Cora-san, are you going to impersonate a Donquixote Family executive to trade with that Barrels? Did you prepare the five billion Berries?"

"No. All the money I've had these past few years has been spent taking you to doctors. Where would I get five billion Berries?" Rosinante replied without hesitation.

"Huh? Then what do we do?" Trafalgar Law asked, surprised.

"We steal, we rob, we deceive... In short, no matter the means, I will get the Op-Op Fruit!" Rosinante declared in a deep voice.

In that moment, his expression was firm and resolute.

He had betrayed his biological brother, and he had betrayed the trust of the Navy and his foster father, Sengoku. At this stage, there was no way he could give up on the Op-Op Fruit.

We steal, we rob, we deceive...

Hearing those words, Law vaguely understood the meaning behind what Cora-san had told him back in Drum Kingdom.

This world cannot be simply separated into black and white, good and bad.

Even if Cora-san had to steal, rob, and deceive, in the heart of Law, wasn't he still the best person in the entire world?

Chapter 264: Doflamingo: I Was Supposed to Have a Happy Day

It must be said that Barrels was truly an idiot. How he managed to climb to the rank of Commodore at Marine Headquarters was anyone's guess.

Perhaps he achieved a great feat through sheer chance, then slowly accrued seniority until he became a Commodore. It was likely his stupidity that prevented him from building connections or being trusted with any real authority, causing him to be marginalized into obscurity. Then, one day, a wire must have crossed in his brain, and he defected from the Navy.

The man actually kept the Op-Op Fruit, valued at five billion Berries, right by his side. Then, before the transaction with Doflamingo, he drank himself into a stupor, seemingly celebrating his imminent status as a tycoon. Wouldn't a normal person only start celebrating after the transaction was complete? Before the deal was sealed, one should be on high alert!

But this guy simply had to take the road less traveled.

The result was unsurprising. While Rosinante’s combat strength was nothing special, he had received professional training in intelligence work and was a specialist in undercover operations. As long as he didn't succumb to his usual carelessness or trip himself up, he was actually quite formidable.

Using the Calm-Calm Fruit, Rosinante managed a series of daring maneuvers, successfully stealing the Op-Op Fruit from a group of drunkards.

Of course, he was discovered as he left, but he managed to escape with minimal injury, barely making it to the rendezvous with Law.

As Rosinante and Law were fleeing near the port, they happened to see Doflamingo's ship, the Numancia Flamingo, docking. His older brother, the Heavenly Yaksha Donquixote Doflamingo, was slowly descending from the ship.

Doflamingo had already adjusted his mindset. Losing the Gold-Gold Fruit was merely the loss of a major moneymaking opportunity, and such opportunities would come again. Right now, he was about to get the Op-Op Fruit, which was the most critical priority and a cause for genuine celebration! What was there left to be unhappy about?

Thus, Doflamingo’s expression as he disembarked was quite cheerful.

However, he was a cautious man. After standing on the dock for a moment and waiting for his executives to follow him, he said in a deep voice, "Trebol, take some men and seal off this port. No ship is allowed to leave this island until I return. If anyone tries to run, kill them all. Ship and crew!"

Now that he was this close, he absolutely couldn't afford any accidents.

Trebol quickly responded, "Don't worry, Doffy. No one will escape from here."

"Good," Doflamingo nodded.

For this transaction, he had intentionally avoided his usual flashy attire. Although he still wore his signature pink flamingo feather coat, he was otherwise dressed in a complete black suit underneath.

Wearing a suit, tie, and leather shoes, Doflamingo looked quite dashing and imposing. As the biggest pirate boss and Underworld kingpin in the North Blue, Doflamingo commanded immense respect on Minion Island. When he said no ship could leave before his return, absolutely no one dared to challenge him.

The Donquixote Family executives followed Doflamingo, quickly moving off the port and heading toward the arranged meeting spot with Barrels.

Law, hiding in the shadows, even caught sight of his two good friends, Baby 5 and Buffalo, among the crowd. Yes, at this stage, Law was still close friends with both of them.

"Cora-san, what do we do?" Law turned and asked Rosinante, whose face looked terrible.

Rosinante looked at the port, then at the departing Doflamingo. In the end, he decided not to rush the blockade, saying in a low voice, "Come on, let's find some desolate spot to hide and wait for things to change."

After speaking, he took out the Op-Op Fruit he had just stolen and looked at Law. "I originally planned to find a powerful doctor, have him eat this Devil Fruit, and then cure your illness. But now, I might not be able to get this fruit off the island. Law, you once said your dream was to become a surgeon, right?"

Law's parents were both doctors, so he grew up in that environment and naturally aspired to the medical profession.

Hearing Rosinante's question, Law nodded. "Yes, Cora-san."

"Then, you should be the one to eat the Op-Op Fruit, Law. Go and fulfill your dream of becoming a doctor," Rosinante said, reaching out to ruffle Law's hair.

Law's expression was astonished, his mouth slightly agape, but before he could speak, Rosinante quickly shoved the Op-Op Fruit into his mouth. Law instinctively swallowed it whole...

Looking at the bewildered Law, Rosinante smiled and nodded. "Good. Now no one can casually kill you anymore. Let's go!"

He was certain that even if Doflamingo caught them now, Law wouldn't die. His brother would undoubtedly find a way to nurture Law so the boy could perform the Eternal Youth Operation on him later.

"Young Master... Doflamingo has sealed the port. Where are we supposed to leave from? Is it useful to hide on the island?" Law asked hesitantly.

"It is useful. If we can't find a chance to escape, we'll hide on the island. The Navy fleet will arrive in maybe three to five days. Once the Navy is here, we'll surrender to them. Don't worry, it'll be fine," Rosinante said with a reassuring smile, his tone remarkably relaxed.

That's right. Because Rosinante had successfully acquired the Gold-Gold Fruit, along with certain changes to events and his own change in character—plus the fact that he was unharmed—he no longer held the original storyline’s death wish to protect Law. On the contrary, he still had options. As long as he wasn't captured by Doflamingo, he could hide on the island for a while, wait for the Navy warships to arrive, and then simply turn himself in.

Rosinante’s current information came from Sengoku, leading him to estimate the Navy would take three to five days to arrive. Therefore, he didn't linger at the port. He quickly took Law and slipped into the wilderness, where the heavy snow naturally covered their tracks.

If he had known that Diarmuid’s warship was already close to Minion Island, he would have waited at the port for a short time. The moment Diarmuid disembarked, he would have gone straight to his big brother for sanctuary.

Not long after, a standard Marine Headquarters warship appeared on the horizon.

Trebol, who was enforcing the island's blockade at the port, was stunned by the sudden appearance of the warship. That fast?

However, he dared not make a move to attack a Navy warship on his own initiative. He could only watch as the ship slowly sailed into the port. Meanwhile, he quickly contacted his Young Master via Den Den Mushi.

His Young Master didn't answer the call. At that moment, Doflamingo was staring furiously at the drunken Barrels and his men, who were kneeling before him.

"Say that to me one more time?" Doflamingo asked, his eyes savage.

"I... It's lost. It was just snatched away. I really didn't mean to. That guy was too cunning..." Barrels stammered nervously.

Doflamingo held a flintlock pistol in his hand, trying to force a smile onto his face. He asked, "What did the guy look like?"

"I couldn't get a clear look..." Barrels replied.

"What about his voice?" Doflamingo asked, his eyes growing darker.

"I didn't hear anything..." Barrels said again.

"Where did he escape to?" Doflamingo asked once more.

"I don't know..." Barrels replied, trembling.

As soon as he finished speaking, Doflamingo raised the pistol and shot Barrels right in the head, his voice exploding with rage. "Useless trash! Idiot! What good are you!?"

Next, he fired several more shots, killing everyone in the room. He was still unable to quell his fury and fired two more shots into Barrels’ corpse...

Among the people shot was a young boy, Barrels' biological son, Diez Drake. Although they were father and son, Drake had been physically abused by Barrels since childhood and had no affection for him. Conversely, since Barrels had once been a Navy Commodore, Drake grew up in Marineford and felt a natural fondness for the Navy. Having been deprived of his father's love, he received much care from the Marines at Marineford.

Unfortunately, his father was insane and suddenly defected from the Navy, and Drake was helplessly dragged along by Barrels.

In the original story, Drake rejoined the Navy during this incident, resolving to become an outstanding Marine. He later joined the Intelligence Division's spy unit and infiltrated Kaido's Beasts Pirates. He also abandoned the surname Diez, which was a stain on the Navy, becoming X Drake.

However, in this timeline, the enraged Doflamingo shot him directly in the chest.

But he wouldn't die. Doflamingo didn't know that the boy, Drake, was a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, possessing the rare Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Zoan, Allosaurus Model. Though he appeared young, Drake was already nineteen and had been a Devil Fruit user for many years.

In the original story, when he fled the Birdcage alone, Barrels' subordinates cursed him, saying he was the strongest fighter yet ran away, indirectly confirming that Drake was already a Devil Fruit user before he joined the Navy.

Drake was clearly quick-witted. After being shot, he immediately fell to the ground and played dead, not fighting back or revealing his ability.

Doflamingo clearly didn't give it another thought. After shooting Barrels a few more times, he raised his hand to the sky, and massive amounts of threads spilled out from his palm.

Birdcage!

At least he got one useful piece of information from that trash Barrels: the Op-Op Fruit had only just been stolen. He had already ordered the port sealed upon his arrival. Therefore, there was no way the thief could have left Minion Island.

Now, he would seal off the entire island and search every inch until he found that damned thief!

After finishing this, Doflamingo turned and walked out of the dilapidated courtyard with his executives. His anger finally seemed to have subsided somewhat. As he took out the frantically ringing Den Den Mushi, he ordered, "Go find them! Find everyone suspicious!"

Then, Doflamingo answered the Den Den Mushi. "What is it?"

"Doffy, the Navy warship has arrived! It's Diarmuid, and you're right in his path!" Trebol quickly reported.

Doflamingo: ???

What the hell is going on?

I just dropped the Birdcage, and the Navy is already here?

You've gotta be kidding me...

I was supposed to have a happy day today...

Meanwhile, at the port, Diarmuid reached out and touched the fine thread of the Birdcage, which he had just watched slowly descend onto the port ground. Honestly, Doflamingo's technique had truly reached the realm of manipulating the very laws of nature. The Birdcage was a true barrier, blocking everything, even Den Den Mushi signal waves. It was genuinely mind-boggling.

Reflecting on it, Doflamingo was indeed outstanding in developing his Devil Fruit power. The only pity was that his potential was limited by the string-string nature of the String-String Fruit. If he had been given a stronger Devil Fruit, he probably could have soared to the heavens.

Thinking this, Diarmuid glanced at the trembling Trebol not far away. Was it this idiot who gave the fruit to the young Doflamingo? He really screwed Doflamingo over for life. Doflamingo must have a decent temper; if it were Diarmuid, Trebol would have been sent to the bottom of the sea long ago.

Chapter 265: Diarmuid: I'm Coming to Chop Off Your Dog Head Right Now!

Diarmuid studied the state of the Birdcage for a while but made no attempt to destroy it, as there was no point.

Furthermore, being inside the Birdcage, he had a very simple way to dismantle it: just smash Doflamingo to pieces.

However, there was simply no need for that yet.

Diarmuid withdrew his finger and waved at Trebol, who had just hung up the Den Den Mushi.

Trebol's face stiffened slightly, but he quickly approached Diarmuid. He didn't dare to let his snot run or use his usual outlandish tone, speaking with extreme deference. "Admiral Diarmuid, I have already contacted my Young Master. He will be here to meet with you shortly."

"No need," Diarmuid waved his hand and said. "I came here specifically for him. There's a matter to attend to. Headquarters transferred the responsibility for this Op-Op Fruit transaction to me. And now Doflamingo has put up the Birdcage here. Heh, he's showing off, is he?"

Hearing Diarmuid’s words, Trebol felt helpless. He knew his Young Master was no match for this powerhouse. Now that the Admiral was here in person for the Op-Op Fruit, even if no accident had occurred, the Young Master might not dare to keep it for himself.

Because the Op-Op Fruit was so important, if the Young Master dared to try and steal it, and Admiral Diarmuid killed him on the spot, the World Government probably wouldn't even hold him accountable. As long as he secured the Op-Op Fruit, regardless of the process or who died, it would be considered a tremendous merit for the Navy Admiral.

Therefore, the moment Diarmuid stood there, Trebol’s heart sank by half.

"Admiral Diarmuid, this may sound incredible, but my Young Master actually hasn't acquired the Op-Op Fruit from Barrels. Before we arrived, the Devil Fruit was already lost—stolen by someone. However, we immediately sealed off the port upon arrival, and now the Young Master has deployed the Birdcage. That damned thief must be on the island right now and won't be allowed to escape. Please wait patiently here for a moment. My Young Master will come to see you immediately after dealing with this issue," Trebol quickly explained.

"Do you think I have a good temper?" Diarmuid suddenly smiled and asked Trebol.

Trebol’s face instantly changed, and he replied, extremely nervous, "No, I wouldn't dare."

"I don't need you to tell me how to do my job," Diarmuid said softly.

If Trebol hadn't been covered in mucus, Diarmuid, given his temper, would have already slapped him across the face.

Before Trebol could speak, Diarmuid said, "Alright. Since there's a problem with the transaction and the Op-Op Fruit is lost, Doflamingo is no longer needed. Tell him to stop meddling. I'm taking over this island."

After speaking, Diarmuid turned to Vergo and Hina. "You two follow me onto the island. The rest of you seal the port. I want to see if the Donquixote Family dares to challenge our Navy!"

With that, Diarmuid completely ignored the grim-faced Trebol, walked past him, and stepped onto the island.

Vergo's expression was also very serious, his heart filled with anxiety, and he followed Diarmuid. As he passed Trebol, he glanced at him, but the executive gave no reaction, which only frustrated Vergo further—what should I do next?

Hina, however, followed Diarmuid nonchalantly, completely unbothered by the situation.

With the three of them heading inland, only Captain Shu was left guarding the warship. This young man was Diarmuid's dedicated ship handler and had recently accumulated enough merit to exchange for a Paramecia-type Rust-Rust Fruit from Marine Headquarters.

Despite that, his strength was still mediocre. If Trebol and his men had malicious intent, they could definitely take him out quickly.

But the problem was that Shu was under Diarmuid's protection, and Trebol truly didn't dare to attack. If he made a move now, he might defeat the Marines, but if his Young Master ended up in Diarmuid's hands, things would certainly go completely cold for them.

Diarmuid, Vergo, and Hina disembarked onto the island, walked straight through the port town, and emerged onto the outskirts of the settlement.

Simultaneously, Diarmuid took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed a number.

Meanwhile, at the edge of the dense forest covered in heavy snow, Rosinante looked up at the Birdcage that had sealed the entire island, his expression also quite grim. He had witnessed this technique from his brother, Doflamingo, and understood how powerful it was. Nothing could enter, nothing could leave, and all forms of communication, including Den Den Mushi, were severed.

This is trouble. I hope the Navy gets here soon.

Just then, the Den Den Mushi he carried rang. He pulled it out, looked at it with some hesitation, but answered the call. "Diarmuid-nii?"

"Rosinante, don't you dare tell me you're not on Minion Island!" Diarmuid’s voice came through, filled with furious cursing.

Beside Diarmuid, Vergo froze. Rosinante?

It must be a coincidence. It must be someone with the same name, right?

It couldn't possibly be Donquixote Rosinante, could it?

Hahahaha, how could it be? That's the Young Master's own brother, after all!

"I am..." Rosinante quickly replied.

"Then you tell me, is the Op-Op Fruit that Doflamingo was after, the one Admiral Sengoku was going to buy, in your damn hands!?" Diarmuid angrily demanded.

Rosinante could certainly hear Diarmuid’s rage, but falling into Diarmuid’s hands was better than Doflamingo's. Therefore, he decisively admitted, "Yes, but I've already made Law eat the fruit..."

"I'll be damned!" Diarmuid cursed, then said, "Did you do the undercover job so long you became an idiot? Did you forget if you're a good guy or a bad guy, a pirate or a Marine? Is there something wrong with your brain? If you hadn't asked Admiral Sengoku for the intelligence, I wouldn't care, but what the hell is the meaning of this move after you got the info? What do you take your old man for? What do you take the Navy for? You enjoy being a swindler so much? Fine, I'll delete your records right now. You can be a pirate for the rest of your life, and I won't have to be annoyed anymore, got it? I'm going to kill you today, believe me!"

Vergo was stunned speechless. Undercover agent?!

Just then, he heard another bombshell announcement.

"I’m telling you, Donquixote Rosinante, you're finished as a Marine, so get ready to die! I'm on Minion Island right now. Tell me your location, and I'll come over and chop off your bastard dog head!" Diarmuid roared.

Donquixote Rosinante?!

Vergo was completely dumbfounded. Isn't that the Young Master's own brother? Seriously, he was a Marine?!

However, Vergo quickly masked his shocked expression. The Young Master’s own brother was a Marine. This guy tricked the Donquixote Family, then played the Navy, stole the Op-Op Fruit, and made a boy named Law eat it. Who is Law?

Hina glanced meaningfully at Vergo from the side but remained silent.

Meanwhile, on the other end, after hearing Diarmuid’s furious scolding and his threat to chop off his dog head, Rosinante wasn't nervous; instead, he felt relieved. He quickly stated, "I'm in the dense forest about two kilometers southeast of the port."

"Got it. Stay put and don't move," Diarmuid's anger seemed to have subsided this time.

He hung up the Den Den Mushi, then, without another word, he and Vergo and Hina began heading toward Rosinante’s location.

Minion Island was a winter island, covered in snow year-round. Diarmuid, Hina, and Vergo were all wearing thick winter coats.

Vergo followed behind Diarmuid and Hina, his fingers constantly fiddling with something beneath his heavy cotton coat. If one looked closely, they would see he was holding a black Den Den Mushi.

On the other side, Doflamingo was holding a black Den Den Mushi, listening to the tapping sounds coming from within—tap, tap, ta-da, tap, da-da-tap...

The Donquixote Family must have used some kind of code, but Doflamingo’s face quickly became extremely dark. Vergo had transmitted all the information he had received to Doflamingo.

Rosinante is a Navy undercover agent?

The Op-Op Fruit was stolen by Rosinante and eaten by someone named Law.

Diarmuid is heading toward Rosinante, who is in the dense forest about two kilometers southeast of the port.

Doflamingo was boiling with rage. He looked up and calculated the distance. Isn't that just around the next corner?!

Thinking this, Doflamingo didn't hesitate. He had to rush over and find a way to take Law away! With Law, there was still room to salvage the situation.

Meanwhile, Rosinante was squatting behind a snowdrift, chatting casually with the shivering Law.

"Hahaha, don't worry, my big brother is here. We're safe now. Once we see him, no one can touch us," Rosinante said cheerfully.

Law looked at Rosinante with some concern and said, "Cora-san, I heard the Den Den Mushi, too, okay? Admiral Diarmuid clearly said he was coming to chop off your dog head..."

"Hahaha..." Rosinante laughed awkwardly, then patted Law’s head. "Don't worry. My big brother has a terrible temper, but he's very good to me. The fact that he asked for my location right after saying he'd chop off my dog head means he has no intention of actually killing me. But he might beat me up a bit, sigh..."

He wasn't lying to Trafalgar Law about this part; Rosinante genuinely trusted Diarmuid.

"Oh? Is that so? You have another older brother besides me?"

A cold, malicious voice, barely suppressing intense fury, came from behind the snowdrift where Rosinante was hiding.

The expressions of both Rosinante and Law froze.

They both recognized the voice: it was Donquixote Doflamingo.

"That truly breaks my heart, Corazón. I always thought you couldn't speak. Was it just that you had nothing to say to me?" Doflamingo repeated.

Rosinante and Law slowly emerged from behind the snowdrift.

After all, there was no longer any escaping.

Doflamingo stood behind the snowdrift, accompanied by a group of Donquixote Family executives. The heavy snow had slightly dusted his pink feather coat and his golden-blond hair, and white steam billowed from his breath, suggesting the cold.

But the truly cold part of Doflamingo right now was his heart.

"Donquixote... Doflamingo..." Rosinante raised his pistol, aiming it at Doflamingo's chest. "Don't come any closer. You should know you don't want to mess with Diarmuid!"

Doflamingo watched Rosinante with a deeply sinister gaze. "Perhaps..."

Afterward, he looked at Law and said in a low voice, "How long are you going to follow this traitor? Get over here, now!"

"No, I'm staying with Cora-san!" Law said without hesitation.

But the moment he finished speaking, he felt his body moving involuntarily, like a marionette, walking toward Doflamingo.

Rosinante noticed Doflamingo's fingers twitching and immediately fired his pistol at Doflamingo’s hand.

The next second, a bullet was clamped between Doflamingo's fingertips.

"You shot at me?" Doflamingo looked at Rosinante, killing intent flaring in his eyes.